Flight School?? ATP/DCA/etc.--open to suggestions!! Please Help!?
Question:
Become a Dentist and you will have enough money to pay for gasoline and enjoy flying.
The other alternative is to go to the military, that is what the airlines prefer anyway. You get paid while training and the airlines all love military pilots. Don't let them talk you into Fighters, go for the transports or refueling tankers. You get lots of experience flying the same kind of planes the airlines fly and you get to wear a uniform. Women love a man that looks good in a uniform.
My first suggestion would be to go to a school that offers the flight training. I go to Spartan and flying is required as part of the curricula, we have to fly with Spartan instructors to graduate. If you can't transfer to a different school or campus, I would suggest you find an instructor who can teach you cheap and fly as much as you can.
i went to WMU and got a degree and all my ratings from them.. but you dont need the degee so if youve got a ton of money then maybe try flight safety.. or maybe gulf stream international or something like that.. ive never heard anything bad about either of them except for the price.. i did end up going to ATP to get my multi add on... that was an experience.. i was told that they are a pilot factory cuz they get students in and out in a hurry.. which was cool cuz thats just what i wanted.. from what i understand, their commercial course takes you all over the country.. since its mostly a time building course, you pack a suitcase and fly to another ATP center and stay the night.. the next day you fly to another ATP center.. you get all your time building done in a hurry... but like i said, its a pilot factory... you are taught to pass the checkride.. you may not learn much more than that..
as for the masters degree.. i dont know if its worth it at this point.. maybe if the industry was difficult to get hired in to.. but since its so easy to get a job right now in the airlines, i wouldnt bother.. i got a job with a freight company (only cuz i dont wanna work for the airlines) with only 275 hours, 14 multi hours.. eventually ill work my way into the business jets that my company flies
I am currently a student ATP and was also looking at DCA. I do not regret my decision at all. It is very fast paced in the 90 day program but the 10 month program is great. I am working full time and still on pace to finish in about 6 months.
Hey...
First off, I'm a turboprop captain (SA227 metroliner) with my ATP... so my advice should be considered somewhat valid. I hope.
How I got to where I am... I did almost all part 61 FBO training. I attempted to go the academy route... at Pan Am in Phoenix. I hated it. Way too expensive for what you get, and I didn't like the structure of it. I had no choice in my instructor, and I had no choice as to when I would fly (I learn better in the afternoon.. i'm not a morning person... but they kept scheduling me for 6am flights), and quite honestly at the time it was poorly run. If you're paying money for a service you may as well get what you want... and with a lot of the academy style places they place you where it works best for them. I hated it. DCA is way too overpriced, RAA (regional airline academy) the same, and pretty much every add you'll see in flying magazine is the same. Some exceptions... ATP... but... and a big but. I believe they want you to go through some CRJ crew class that costs 10 or 20 grand. Why pay to go through a groundschool when at a regional they pay you to do it? Also, there's sure no guarantee you'll end up flying a CRJ... it's a waste of money. One of the generally accepted schools in the industry is Ari Ben down in florida... another is skymates. I've heard good things about both. The best in my opinion is to find a part 61 FBO and do it all there. Nobody in this industry cares where you got your ratings from. You may as well go cheap (to a certain degree... don't get into some shady outfit). And for sure don't go to gulfstream... you're paying for a job there. I don't think it's a career ender (some people in the industry would say it is), but it sure doesn't look good to most people. It's also way too overpriced
You'll probably read some places will guarantee you an interview or even a job. Who cares? the mins for regionals are sitting around 500TT average... some just require a commercial multi. Paying an extra 20k to get a guaranteed interview MAY get in in the door a month sooner... but you'll probably end up at the same interview at the same time going 61 and saving a ton of money as the person who went to DCA. They'll just be an extra 20 or 30 grand in debt than you if you went 61.
As far as building flight time. Instruct. I did for a couple of years and I learned a ton about flying doing that. If you can't stand instructing or have no desire, you'll have a pretty easy time finding a job doing pipeline patrol or aerial photography. You can banner tow... but be careful... there are a few places in florida running a scam. Remember, if they ask you to pay for your own training it's probably a scam. Being a CFI is different- you'll need to pay for your own ratings.. FAA ratings... anyplace else that asks you to pay out of your own pocket to work at their job is a crock and you should stay away.
Good luck... it's a fun industry... just try and keep your debt as low as possible. You won't get paid much for the first few years... maybe more.
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