Hi all,

I just graduated Navy bootcamp, and am currently going to school to become an engineer in the Navy. My commitment is four years and I plan on doing only those four and getting out to become an airline pilot like I've always planned. I'm 18 now, and will have just turned 22 when I get out. My goal to get on with Skywest by the time I'm 23-23.5. I have a PPL SEL right now, and with this new job I'll have little time to fly as much as I would like, and can't really predict how much I'll be able to get done in these quck four years. I'm really looking into ATP's 3-month flight program, because they are close to home (I'm in Orange County, or was, but will be going back) so I'd dig their RIV facility, but they don't take VA beneifits, and Skymates and Ari both do/are in the process of becoming a Part 141 school.

Anyway, does anyone have any advice on what I guy like me should do? I want to start a "flight fund" savings account now to save some money so I won't need to finance the entire cost of the flight program, and start building an investment portfolio, and begin contributing to some sort of IRA or mutual fund as well. If anyone has any investing ideas for someone in my position, or advice about getting to an airline please reply.

Also, how much are ATP's instructors flying on average during a month? I've been hidden from society the last 2.5 months, but how's life at Skywest these days? Will the EMB-120's be around in about 5 years?

Thanks all!

 

First off, don't count on going to Skywest. Especially 4 years from now, by that time Skywest could either go bankrupt or they could be the next Independence Air. It's very hard to look ahead more than a year or two. Keep your options open.

What do you mean by school? College, or just a trade school for the navy? don't you have to do 4 years after you complete college? Doesn't that mean you will be 26 when you get out of the NAVY? Anyways whatever the age is take this time to focus on your job in the NAVY don't worry much about being a pilot. Keep the air knowledge fresh in your mind but when you know you are getting out then I would get back into the mode of thinking about a school. Good luck.

ATP is a great school but they require you to be a Full time student, Aviator in Florida seems like a good place also. Also you might want to consider doing the Mesa PD in Farmington, NM. I hear that's a great place with a good placement record for guys that don't care much about being a starving CFI.

 

Skywest actually has a better track record than that...I rode on them when I was a child, and their immediate future still looks pretty good. Nothing is for certain in this industry, but there are no obvious clouds on the skywest horizon.

But keep your options open like BUR said...living at or near your domicile is a key to regional QOL. Try to identify all of the regionals that are in the area you want to live in. If you don't care where you live, then you will have more flexibility.

 

Just a thought: but why not get your degree while you're enlisted, let them pay for your school, pick up a comission, and let the military teach you to fly. Skip the regionals go straight to the Majors, and when the industry takes a dump as it so often does you just pick up extra flying in your Reserve unit. And you will probably have a lot more fun, make more money, and be a lot more likely to get on with a major. It may sound like a long road but in the end you will be a lot further ahead. Just my two cents. Good Luck.

 

Look up the seamen to admiral program in the Navy. Got a buddy here that did that and he couldnt be happier, school paid for and he gets to fly airplanes for a job now. Its a great deal.