What can I say? I need your help.

[awseft]

I am also ready for a career change and looking for some options. So here is my story:

I'm a 23 year old who is currently working full time (at a job I hate), going to college part time, and flying when ever I can afford to. I wanted to speed this up by going to school full time but FAFSA claims I make too much money (yea right). I could go the college loan route or I could go ATP then online degree (I was thinking UVSC). I understand the lack of having a degree out of the gate but I am confident I can tack that on after I start doing what I love. My father has commited to help me the best he can by letting me live free at home (but it's about an hour from Stuart) and slight finacial help.

I am a 156 TT Private Pilot with IR. I'm also looking into Flight Safety as an option. What do you all think? Figure out a way to afford the college route? ATP/FS/etc?

[DE727UPS]

FSA is the most expensive school out there but they have good training. I'd recommend a less expensive route, ATP self paced, or even better, a local FBO and then a larger school for the ME and CFI.

You only need 100 hours more to get your commercial and CFI, then you could build time instructing. In addition to ATP, check out:

Skymates: www.skymates.com
White Air: www.flywhiteair.com

[awseft]

I guess I'm looking to hit the ground running and not stop until I'm ready to teach (preferably teach multi). The larger schools (while they are pilot mills) allow for this and I'm yet to find a smaller school that can offer the immediate MEI usage(time).

[DE727UPS]

Remember, you don't need a whole lot of multi to get on with a 135 freight outfit. 1200 total and 50 will get you on at Amflight. Others are even less multi. If you're goal is to be at a regional six months faster, though, then you'll need the multi at an academy with a hiring agreements. That sounds a lot like ATP.

[awseft]

Originally Posted by DE727UPS

Remember, you don't need a whole lot of multi to get on with a 135 freight outfit. 1200 total and 50 will get you on at Amflight. Others are even less multi. If you're goal is to be at a regional six months faster, though, then you'll need the multi at an academy with a hiring agreements. That sounds a lot like ATP.

I've emailed White Air. I would prefer someone with hiring agreements. I just want to make sure I explore all avenues before I drop $50k+. I’m sure this question comes up a lot but having my IR changes it a bit.

[mikecweb]

Who you flying with down there at LNA.
PM sometime I might be able to help you out.

[Airdale]

Originally Posted by awseft

I would prefer someone with hiring agreements.

Just so you know, those don't mean squat. Airline hiring comes in waves, you're either on top surfing it or floating behind it. More of a marketing tool then anything. Flight time and experience are the keys. If you want a quick route, seek out the most multi time.

[JAM]

Hello awseft,

I am an instructor and live about 15 min from you. Let me know if you think I can help you out or need some advice. I also went through a large academy program as well as an FBO for my private.

[DE727UPS]

"Just so you know, those don't mean squat."

HAHA. That's pretty funny coming from an ATP guy were the hiring agreement with Pinnacle is on the front page. I agree wholeheartedly, though. How many newbies buy off on the big academies cause of these promises? There are better reasons to choose a flight school...

Awseft, as far as White Air goes, you should PM DesertDog71. He's real close to the program there.

[awseft]

I did PM DesertDog72

I know there is no guarnetee and I'm really going to get through the licensing not because I expect a job at the end.

[ananoman]

I remember back in the bad old days after 9/11 when I was sitting in the lobby at FSA. Some of the students were moaning about how it sucked that FSA did not have hiring agreements with airlines like some of the other schools like Pan Am, ATA, Comair, etc.

I patiently explained to them that no one from any of those schools was getting hired either. They didn't want to believe me, because they saw the ads in Flying magazine, so it must be true right? The only problem was that all of the listed airlines were either not hiring or had furloughed people. The ads were probably true at one time, but a year after 9/11, those schools were still running the same ads, telling people they were going to be in a jet in no time at all. Meanwhile we had instructors with over 2,000 hrs that couldn't even get an interview.

So, go where you think you will get the best training at a fair price. Don't worry about hiring agreements. If you are qualified and the airlines are hiring, you will probably get an interview. If you know someone who will walk in your resume, the job is yours to loose. I would however avoid any school that guarantees their graduates a job as a CFI if they complete the 'program'. Almost anyone can pass a CFI checkride if they take it enough times, and you don't want some knob to be your CFI.

[fsuflyer]

Originally Posted by awseft

I did PM DesertDog72

I know there is no guarnetee and I'm really going to get through the licensing not because I expect a job at the end.

i'm training at lna also...palm beach flight training. trying to finish my ppl. you wouldn't happen to be training here also?

fsu

[awseft]

I am. Marian and team are great. I did all of my training so far with them. I'll be sad to leave but I'm sure I'll be back to rent from them.

PM me and we can see if we know each other

Originally Posted by fsuflyer

i'm training at lna also...palm beach flight training. trying to finish my ppl. you wouldn't happen to be training here also?

fsu

[skydog]

For the time being, forget flying. Concentrate all your efforts into getting that college degree. Maybe fly a little bit just to stay current. With a degree many more doors are opened to you. Once you have your degree, and a good job that you do like, then you can go back into flying. You already have the private and instrument. The hardest part is done. Commercial and Instructor are just 90 short flight hours away.

[CFIse]

Originally Posted by awseft

I am also ready for a career change and looking for some options.

I would just like to point out that at 23 there is no way you are ready for a career change. The reason for this is at 23 there is no way you have established a career. At 23, at least in the United States, most people have barely graduated from wanting to be firemen, train drivers or nurses when they grow up.

Don't let that stop you - but don't fill this with the same kind of anxious dread that real career changers deal with. You don't have a real job now, if you try aviation for a few years and you don't have a real job at the end what have you lost? Three years seniority shucking fries at McDonalds?

[meritflyer]

I'd dispute that you cant have a career at 23. While maybe not super common, it does happen. I know several very sucessful people with my company that are very very well established.

[awseft]

/\/\ Thanks

Originally Posted by CFIse

I would just like to point out that at 23 there is no way you are ready for a career change. The reason for this is at 23 there is no way you have established a career. At 23, at least in the United States, most people have barely graduated from wanting to be firemen, train drivers or nurses when they grow up.

Don't let that stop you - but don't fill this with the same kind of anxious dread that real career changers deal with. You don't have a real job now, if you try aviation for a few years and you don't have a real job at the end what have you lost? Three years seniority shucking fries at McDonalds?

I was a sales manager at Circuit City for 2 years running an $11 million /year business. It was a career, not a fun one, but a career none-the-less. I don't know many 24 (now) year olds that can honestly say they had 12 associates and freedom to control thier department how they see fit. When I left I was next in line to become an operations manager. That's a hell of a career.

Anyways I left that to do college part time. I'm going to continue college part time and I'm going to ATP in January.

[surreal1221]

Go for it! I'm 23, leaving the military behind next spring. . .

Don't let anyone tell you 23 is too young to change. . . don't wait any longer than you have to.