airline pilots who trained at an FBO

eric6887 · August 29th, 2006, 17:38

I'm 16 years old and my goal is to become an airline pilot. I was wondering if there are any airline pilots who did their flight training at an FBO. Obviosly if you don't go to a college your chances of being hired by a major airline are very low so I also plan on going to a college. So I'm wondering how do you fit both into your schedule since I wouldn't be getting a degree in aviation. Both flight training and college is a lot of work so I'm wondering if anybody could tell me how they completed both.

DE727UPS · August 29th, 2006, 18:28

I did my training at an FBO. You can fly a little on the side and and lot in the summers. I worked at the FBO, too, while doing my first two years of school. It can be done. Where are you from?

eric6887 · August 29th, 2006, 18:39

Madison, Wisconsin

DE727UPS · August 30th, 2006, 04:29

Okay. I don't know about any schools out there. I'm sure there are lots, though. Maybe someone else will chime in.

eric6887 · August 30th, 2006, 12:33

I'm 16 years old and my goal is to become an airline pilot. I was wondering if there are any airline pilots who did their flight training at an FBO. Obviosly if you don't go to a college your chances of being hired by a major airline are very low so I also plan on going to a college. So I'm wondering how do you fit both into your schedule since I wouldn't be getting a degree in aviation. Both flight training and college is a lot of work so I'm wondering if anybody could tell me how they completed both.

RynoB · August 30th, 2006, 12:37

Nope, none of those around here.

There are actually lots of them. Don't buy in to all the marketing hype of the big flight academies. Not that they are necessarily bad, but they're not really much better than the FBO route. You will hear many on here say that there are good and bad flight academies, and good and bad FBOs. Do your homework and find what fits you best.

Seggy · August 30th, 2006, 13:19

Welcome to jetcareers! I'm an airline pilot and about to upgrade to Captain. I started flying in April 2004 got ALL of my ratings in 13 months at a local mom and pop FBO. This was while finishing my Junior and Senior year of college.

The key is TIME MANAGEMENT. If you manage your time it will all fall into place nicely. My senior year of college, I was in class Monday and Thursday from 8AM-11AM so that gave me the time to finish up my CFI ratings.

My biggest advice, go to college, NOT an aviation related school. Do your training at a local FBO.

jtrain609 · August 30th, 2006, 13:21

Don't listen to Mark, his plane doesn't even have an autopilot!

Seriously though, Seggy is dead on. I also majored in a non-aviation major (philosophy) and did my training on the side at FBO's. Now I'm flight instructing and doing quite well. Don't buy the hype that you need to go to an academy.

Doug Taylor · August 30th, 2006, 13:21

Please do not 'crosspost'.

You have an active thread under the same title in "FBO"'s already.

Doug Taylor · August 30th, 2006, 13:26

There's always semester breaks or training after you graduate.

A college degree and a bunch of ratings doens't necessarily make you employable upon graduation. You need experience as well.

DE727UPS · August 30th, 2006, 13:30

"Please do not 'crosspost'."

At least he doesn't spell like your average 16 year old...

I think the kid shows some promise.

flyover · August 30th, 2006, 13:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by eric6887

So I'm wondering how do you fit both into your schedule since I wouldn't be getting a degree in aviation. Both flight training and college is a lot of work so I'm wondering if anybody could tell me how they completed both.

I flew a full time schedule while maintaining a full time class schedule. Biggest secret was putting college in the "proper" perspective. The goal was a degree, that was it. So I made sure I picked a degree, and within that degree picked classes, that required the least effort and attention. I searched for the professors who were known for giving away grades for little or no effort on the student's part.

I lied to my professors when it was necessary to explain absences or missed assignments. Conversely I never lied to my employer or missed work that I had committed to. In other words I was always ready to sacrifice my reputation as a student in favor of building a good reputation within the aviation community. As a result most of the better jobs I moved up to were through contacts and good references from former employers. And also, when employers asked me to explain how I had built so much time while getting a degree at a major, non-aviation university I didn't blow smoke at them. I told them how I prioritized school vs. work. This never seemed to hurt me in an interview. (I'm not recommending it, just saying that's what I did.)

That was my method. I found college to be a pretty disingenuous place anyway, so I didn't find any real moral dilemma in this approach. In fact the Dean of the school I was getting my degree in used to charter us for his consulting trips. If I was flying he usually asked (with a smile) "Well, what classes are you cutting today?" He seemed to get the big picture.

Oh, and I had absolutely no college social life, only work related social life. There definitely wasn't much time for the lighter side of college.

eric6887 · August 30th, 2006, 16:37

Do you think it would also be a good idea if I get a PPL and instrument rating in high school. Then take a year off of school after I graduate to work on the rest of my certificates/ratings up through CFI full time and start college a year later. I could then build up some extra flight hours by instructing during college. (part time during school year, full time during summer.)

Seggy · August 30th, 2006, 17:50

DO NOT take time off if you want to go to college. Start working on your ratings today and see where it takes you. In this industry you can't plan much. Take it a day at a time a rating at a time. With that you will do fine.

If you get your CFI during college even if it is your senior year, you will do fine.

OldTownPilot · September 3rd, 2006, 22:45

Go to college first. Semester long breaks (from school) can be bad, in that you will not want to go back. I am in a little situation now where I may be forced (by the school) to take a semester off. I know if this happens It will be very hard to get me to go back.

My advice is to go to college full time until you graduate, working on your rating on the side. In 4 years you should have through your CFI or CFII. One you graduate go down to Skymates Etc. to get your multi and MEI (if your FBO doesnt have one). By then you can go just about anywhere to instruct.

August 29th, 2006, 17:38	#1
eric6887 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 47	airline pilots who trained at an FBO I'm 16 years old and my goal is to become an airline pilot. I was wondering if there are any airline pilots who did their flight training at an FBO. Obviosly if you don't go to a college your chances of being hired by a major airline are very low so I also plan on going to a college. So I'm wondering how do you fit both into your schedule since I wouldn't be getting a degree in aviation. Both flight training and college is a lot of work so I'm wondering if anybody could tell me how they completed both.

August 29th, 2006, 18:28	#2
DE727UPS Old Skool Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 6,578	Re: airline pilots who trained at an FBO I did my training at an FBO. You can fly a little on the side and and lot in the summers. I worked at the FBO, too, while doing my first two years of school. It can be done. Where are you from?

August 29th, 2006, 18:39	#3
eric6887 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 47	Re: airline pilots who trained at an FBO Madison, Wisconsin

August 30th, 2006, 04:29	#4
DE727UPS Old Skool Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 6,578	Re: airline pilots who trained at an FBO Okay. I don't know about any schools out there. I'm sure there are lots, though. Maybe someone else will chime in.

August 30th, 2006, 12:33	#5
eric6887 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 47	airline pilots who trained at an FBO I'm 16 years old and my goal is to become an airline pilot. I was wondering if there are any airline pilots who did their flight training at an FBO. Obviosly if you don't go to a college your chances of being hired by a major airline are very low so I also plan on going to a college. So I'm wondering how do you fit both into your schedule since I wouldn't be getting a degree in aviation. Both flight training and college is a lot of work so I'm wondering if anybody could tell me how they completed both.

August 30th, 2006, 12:37	#6
RynoB Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Bixby, OK Posts: 645	Re: airline pilots who trained at an FBO Nope, none of those around here. There are actually lots of them. Don't buy in to all the marketing hype of the big flight academies. Not that they are necessarily bad, but they're not really much better than the FBO route. You will hear many on here say that there are good and bad flight academies, and good and bad FBOs. Do your homework and find what fits you best. __________________ Ryan ATP (CE525, CE510, BE-300), SIC BE-400, CFI, CFII, MEI, IGI States I've landed in:

August 30th, 2006, 13:19	#7
Seggy Old Skool Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 5,498	Re: airline pilots who trained at an FBO Welcome to jetcareers! I'm an airline pilot and about to upgrade to Captain. I started flying in April 2004 got ALL of my ratings in 13 months at a local mom and pop FBO. This was while finishing my Junior and Senior year of college. The key is TIME MANAGEMENT. If you manage your time it will all fall into place nicely. My senior year of college, I was in class Monday and Thursday from 8AM-11AM so that gave me the time to finish up my CFI ratings. My biggest advice, go to college, NOT an aviation related school. Do your training at a local FBO.

August 30th, 2006, 13:21	#8
jtrain609 Old Skool Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Park City, UT Posts: 12,869	Re: airline pilots who trained at an FBO Don't listen to Mark, his plane doesn't even have an autopilot! Seriously though, Seggy is dead on. I also majored in a non-aviation major (philosophy) and did my training on the side at FBO's. Now I'm flight instructing and doing quite well. Don't buy the hype that you need to go to an academy.

August 30th, 2006, 13:21	#9
Doug Taylor Agent Smith Join Date: Dec 1969 Location: KSDL Posts: 41,926 Blog Entries: 1	Re: airline pilots who trained at an FBO Please do not 'crosspost'. You have an active thread under the same title in "FBO"'s already. __________________ Doug Taylor http://76school.flyblog.com (old!) http://30west.flyblog.com (updated 11/28)

August 30th, 2006, 13:26	#10
Doug Taylor Agent Smith Join Date: Dec 1969 Location: KSDL Posts: 41,926 Blog Entries: 1	Re: airline pilots who trained at an FBO There's always semester breaks or training after you graduate. A college degree and a bunch of ratings doens't necessarily make you employable upon graduation. You need experience as well. __________________ Doug Taylor http://76school.flyblog.com (old!) http://30west.flyblog.com (updated 11/28)

August 30th, 2006, 13:30	#11
DE727UPS Old Skool Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 6,578	Re: airline pilots who trained at an FBO "Please do not 'crosspost'." At least he doesn't spell like your average 16 year old... I think the kid shows some promise.

August 30th, 2006, 16:37	#13
eric6887 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 47	Re: airline pilots who trained at an FBO Do you think it would also be a good idea if I get a PPL and instrument rating in high school. Then take a year off of school after I graduate to work on the rest of my certificates/ratings up through CFI full time and start college a year later. I could then build up some extra flight hours by instructing during college. (part time during school year, full time during summer.)

August 30th, 2006, 17:50	#14
Seggy Old Skool Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 5,498	Re: airline pilots who trained at an FBO DO NOT take time off if you want to go to college. Start working on your ratings today and see where it takes you. In this industry you can't plan much. Take it a day at a time a rating at a time. With that you will do fine. If you get your CFI during college even if it is your senior year, you will do fine.

September 3rd, 2006, 22:45	#15
OldTownPilot Old Skool Join Date: May 2005 Location: BGR (Bangor, ME) Posts: 3,159 Blog Entries: 9	Re: airline pilots who trained at an FBO Go to college first. Semester long breaks (from school) can be bad, in that you will not want to go back. I am in a little situation now where I may be forced (by the school) to take a semester off. I know if this happens It will be very hard to get me to go back. My advice is to go to college full time until you graduate, working on your rating on the side. In 4 years you should have through your CFI or CFII. One you graduate go down to Skymates Etc. to get your multi and MEI (if your FBO doesnt have one). By then you can go just about anywhere to instruct. __________________ As a wise man said, sumb!tch flew in, sumb!tch'll fly out. Ski Hard. Party Harder.

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