I have a bachelor's degree and a MBA. I am 29 years old. I want to be a pilot and I am willing to do the full-time 0-to ATP program. I am able to finance it and pay some of the costs. I will have to move no matter what as I am not in an area that I can live at home and do it. What are the best options?

I’m sure plenty of people will have great ideas for you. When I went through I did a part 141 school and instructed for 900 hours (took a year and a half) after that. Got picked up by a regional with a little over 1k hours.

Now you need your ATP to get picked up by a regional.

If I were to do it again I would have seriously considered part 61 training at an FBO or bought my own airplane and hired a CFI. After training there are plenty of 206 operators in Alaska willing to hire you with a commercial, and work on your ATP from there.

Just my 2c

Thanks for the info. I guess I'll add, I can't afford to buy a plane. I also aside from always wanting to be a pilot, live in one of the most economic depressed areas in the US. I am moving no matter what. It's just deciding where to go to do this and who with. Alaska is not really my first choice on things but it's something to consider. I was looking more into learning and flying full-time and going to a regional. I just am trying to decide the best way to go. I have been accepted to programs and have options but I hear bad things about all of them. It's hard to trust what people say but I want to make the right choice given the amount of time and money I will invest, along with it being my future career.

Owning an airplane is perhaps easier than you think. For example, you can buy a well maintained, used, Piper Arrow for $50,000ish (an example). Many people do what's known as a lease back and the club/school manages the aircraft for you, and you get money from the aircraft if it's revenue exceeds the expenses. You can "rent" your airplane for only the cost of fuel. At least that's how it works at the club I belong too.

But that's just one way.

The "best way" to get your goals accomplished is highly subjective. And, as pilots, we're all super opinionated as to the "right" way to go about it. In truth, so long as you and the school are compliant with all applicable FARs, you'll be fine.

Here's what I recommend. Since you seem to already know the basics of getting to a part 121 cockpit, I'll tackle the issue of the "bad things" you hear about certain schools. Take them with a grain of salt, but carefully consider them. People like to bash stuff online for a variety of reasons, mostly just to make themselves feel better. Also, don't fall for slick marketing campaigns conducted by most of the larger, well known schools. They aren't outright lying, but they are glossing over a lot of the finer details. For example, I picked through ATP's website for several months to get a more accurate picture of what they are and what they offer.

Further, I would recommend going to a FBO/club or small school for at least your Private. Somewhere you can work 1-on-1 with a CFI or two at your own pace. By the time you complete your PPL, you should know better what your learning style is and what your really want to do with your flying abilities. Try to pick a school that, if you choose to stay there, you can obtain all (or at least most) of your advanced ratings.

Fast paced programs aren't necessarily better, nor are they the worst evil perpetuated upon the planet. They do tend to be more expensive, but then again self-paced programs can be pricey as well, depending on your personal circumstances.

You start with an introduction flight at your local flight school. This is your first goal! Then you get about ten hours of instruction and solo. If you like it, you finish a Private pilot license. Start with these first steps! We read so many of you folks asking how to be an airline pilot and you never even took an intro lesson. No offense, but it's absolutely ridiculous to worry about being an ATP at this point in your journey! The companies that market it that way are full of crap as well! At a minimum, finish a Private pilot license before diving into the big dollar items!

Don’t overlook a flying club that has a well maintained and diversified fleet with CFI’s that love to teach ( read retired). The initial entry cost can easily be overcome if you build a good relationship with a CFI that knows your goals AND has the time and means to help. Start with Introductory flights and get a feel for different schools and CFI’s.
CD9

It seems to me at lest there are lots of pilots out there who say if you go to a certain school or certain route, that you're not good enough, didn't put the time in, stupid for paying that much, etc. I personally tend to learn very quickly and would rather have a faster paced program. I'm not buying the you can go from 0 time to flying at a regional in 15 months stuff. Faster pace meaning 3 to 4 years to get all the ratings. It's easier for people to bad mouth than talk good about things. It just worries me that I will have enough work to get my hours in those programs. I also am aware that "guarantees" don't exist, so even if something is promised it doesn't mean it will happen.

Am I right in the fact also that after I have my CFI, I can walk and work somewhere else if I need to in order to get my hours? That worst case I just paid more money than I should have to get my CFI?

Not being in aviation currently, is it kind of like my college degree as in it's a sheet of paper? Like as long as I hold all my ratings and went some where reputable, it is all the same? I know people like to throw around where they went to school and having been involved in hiring, I can say that I'd hire state school grads over Harvard grads most of the time. Just looking at this from that point as well, is it true that some people get the "I didn't do it that way so you're not as good as me?" I worked for x many years and flew cargo and then a regional for x many years to get to my airline and now I have this guy who has only flown for 4 years next to me, type attitude. I am just saying if I learn what I need to and pass everything required, why does it matter to anyone else how I did it?

I do at least have an advantage of having degrees and over 10 years of experience that I'm not putting all my eggs in one basket but more so trying to do something I'd actually enjoy instead of dreading work every day.

I have done the intro and like it. I have to move though because my "local" flight school is over 3 hours from me. I just don't have any economic opportunities in any field in my area. Unless I'm a doctor, nurse or funeral director I suppose. I'm not going to go across the country on a whim for something I may not like.

What's your version of best? Cheapest? Quickest? A combination of both?

Quickest is going to Arizona going through one of the many schools getting your CFI and then teaching Chinese/Overseas students until you hit 1500

Cheapest is going Part 61 and finding the cheapest schools in the country. As far as I can tell Centennial Flyers in Colorado may be the cheapest in the nation for rates. Many other places aren't far off though.

ATP the flight school is $hitty but they are the quickest option to get all of your ratings in less than a year.