I've seriously considered transferring to Embry Riddle Daytona to get a BS in Aeronautical Science and get my Multi-Engine, Commercial, and CFI ratings there. They also hire students as flight instructors upon graduation (I plan on doing this until I build up enough hours to apply for charter/regional airline). With my GI Bill and their Yellow Ribbon program, I wouldn't be paying for tuition, just flight training (plus I get monthly housing allowance with GI Bill). I currently live in (and am from) Houston but this place drives me nuts; and don't see myself finishing up my degree and flight training here.

Here's my situation:
I'm 26 and a veteran so I have post 9/11 GI Bill(28 months remaining).
Moved back in with parents to save money.
Single, no dependents except for a dog.
Already purchased King School's PPL kit and have been studying that while I'm finishing up this semester at Uni and saving money.
I plan to start PPL this January/February and plan to fly 3 hours/week(weather permitting), then go straight to Instrument Rating at my local flight school.

I found what seems to be a good mom and pop flight school near home that shares the runway with a regional airline. It's a part 141 school and the hourly wet rate with instructor is roughly $225/hr. They have Redbird simulators to supplement their ground training. They have many aircraft, but the main ones are the 172s, and they offer ratings from PPL to Commercial and CFI with add-ons. I'm not sure how much is too much or what the ballpark range is for PPL, but this place roughly estimates $13,000 for 50 hours. Then $8,400 for Instrument Rating.



As someone who's serious about a career in aviation, I'm looking for advice and possible paths to take to build a future in aviation for myself. I've read mixed reviews about ERAU and I don't personally know anyone in the industry who can give me insight and personal experiences. As appealing as it sounds to move to Florida and attend Embry Riddle, I worry that I may end up spending way more than I need to on my training. I just want to get good training and the best value I can find and not waste much of my time and money.

1- get your ratings ASAP and start building hours in a 135 position.

2- start working on an inexpensive online degree in your free time... ideally something diverse as a fall back in case you lose your medical or don't want to fly (I highly recommend finance because it is useful and versatile)

3- get your ATP at age 23

4- by then you may have enough hours to bypass the regionals all together, or at least your stay at the regionals won't be very long.



Ratings first, degree second

Do you already have a degree?

One of my students is using his GI-bill to cover his tuition through Liberty University for a part 141 school out of Atlanta. I am sure it is less than what ERAU is charging. Point being, there are other options available rather than investing a lot of money into ERAU, if a tight budget is what your working with

Sounds like you have credits towards a college degree, but no degree yet? If you’re near halfway along, I would get whatever degree possible & get going with the flight training.

If you transfer to Riddle you may be taking half a step backwards towards that college degree. You can search out accelerated flight training in a bunch of locations.

Yes, $$ is usually an issue. Providing you don’t have any medical hurdles, I’d up get going on flight training. Set your sights on Private Pilot to start.

Evaluate how to best use the G.I. Bill benefits, how they stack up with academic of flight training.