Advice please

[DE727UPS]

"FBO just as good?"

It all depends on your CFI and how hard you work. Not what school you go to. That said, some smaller FBO's don't have advanced aircraft or train a lot of CFI's. Others do, so you have to shop around. I don't think the accelerated schools give you a "step up" at all, either, it's just faster. In the case of the ATP 90 day program, I think too fast. The big academies have "agreements" with some airlines that can get you in the door faster, or you could instruct a little longer and play the field. My personal opinion is there is no substitute for experience and time in the seat. Training can't take the place of experience. The only way to gain experience is to spend time in the seat.

[GalaxyIFE]

MWR are just the "morale, welfare, recreation" functions on bases. Some bases have aeroclubs that are a bit cheaper than what an FBO would be. There are other requirements such as monthly safety meetings and such. The few that are left are all VA approved (part 141) so you can use the GI bill for everything past the PPL. The only bad thing is that they are slowly going away, and they are now few and far between.

[Pilotdreams83]

Yeah I haven't heard of an MWR aero club....I knew about MWR just not a aero club.....I will check it out...MWR isn't what it used to be

[woodreau]

I didn't know if Hickam or Kaneohe had one or not - there is one in San Diego at North Island and in Norfolk at NOB. I've flown at both as well as the one at Kadena and the rates are a little cheaper (back then) than civilian FBOs. I have no idea what they are now.

I was just throwing it out there seeing as you have 4 months left. Since you have to pay for your private certificate out of pocket before your MGIB benefits kick in for the rest of your training - it wouldn't hurt to try to save some $$$ that way - if there isn't one at either of the bases in Hawaii - well you didn't lose anything.

I just thought it was neat in Japan flying patterns in the club's 172s getting told tower - "keep your pattern tight - F-15's on 20 mile final for the break." and then mixing it up in the pattern with F-15s. P-3s, AWACs etc...

Good luck

[skydog]

In answer to your question about flight schools: I don't think it matters where you get your certficates, as long as you have them. The best flight school is the one that meets YOUR needs, whatever they are. It seems to me that a local FBO is going to be more likely to felxible enought tomeet your needs than a pilot factory. And at the end of the day, graduates from both places end up with the exact same commercial pilot certificate

Now for a reality check. It sounds like you have quite enough on your plate right now, not the least of which is fatherhood. I think you ought to consider the demands that fatherhood is going to place on you. Do you REALLY think you are going to be able to focus on flight training, with all of that other stuff going on? The reverse is also true. Can you really focus on being a good father duing this very important time in your child's life if your mind is on your flight training.

I personally think you ought to put flight training on the backburner for a while until you child grows up a little.

Good Luck with what you decide.

[Pilotdreams83]

Originally Posted by woodreau

I didn't know if Hickam or Kaneohe had one or not - there is one in San Diego at North Island and in Norfolk at NOB. I've flown at both as well as the one at Kadena and the rates are a little cheaper (back then) than civilian FBOs. I have no idea what they are now.

I was just throwing it out there seeing as you have 4 months left. Since you have to pay for your private certificate out of pocket before your MGIB benefits kick in for the rest of your training - it wouldn't hurt to try to save some $$$ that way - if there isn't one at either of the bases in Hawaii - well you didn't lose anything.

I just thought it was neat in Japan flying patterns in the club's 172s getting told tower - "keep your pattern tight - F-15's on 20 mile final for the break." and then mixing it up in the pattern with F-15s. P-3s, AWACs etc...




Good luck

Thanks for the tip I am definitly going to check into it....sounds like a fantastic program...hopefully they have it over here.

[Pilotdreams83]

Originally Posted by skydog

In answer to your question about flight schools: I don't think it matters where you get your certficates, as long as you have them. The best flight school is the one that meets YOUR needs, whatever they are. It seems to me that a local FBO is going to be more likely to felxible enought tomeet your needs than a pilot factory. And at the end of the day, graduates from both places end up with the exact same commercial pilot certificate

Now for a reality check. It sounds like you have quite enough on your plate right now, not the least of which is fatherhood. I think you ought to consider the demands that fatherhood is going to place on you. Do you REALLY think you are going to be able to focus on flight training, with all of that other stuff going on? The reverse is also true. Can you really focus on being a good father duing this very important time in your child's life if your mind is on your flight training.

I personally think you ought to put flight training on the backburner for a while until you child grows up a little.

Good Luck with what you decide.

I appreciate your opinion on both subject ( flight school and father hood)

As for the father hood issue - that is definitly my #1 priority and I do plan on taking my time for the time being...I have discussed that in some of my other posts, but I do plan on taking classes when possible.....I do have a whole lot on my plate right now, but I will just have to do my best and keep my priorities straight....my being a pilot will happen - it just may take a bit longer than it would if I had nothing else to worry about.

[anavalairman2]

Hey Pilotdreams83. Here is a website that will come in useful. Hope it assists in choosing the right school for you. Keep your goals in sight. http://www.fltops.com/flightschools....eway=Education

Also, if your wife wants to get a "wives" perspective on being an airline pilot's wife, she should check out www.jetgirls.net if she already hasn't. My wife has found it to be a handy tool in relating to females who are going through what she's about to and has gotten alot of answers to her insecurities.

[Jamesrw2002]

Originally Posted by Pilotdreams83

f-18 squadron did before we decommed VFA-82 Marauders.....

82 ehh?? Think you guys were in my CAG back in 03 or was it 04... did a cruise on the Enterprise...

I was in HS-11

[FSIPILOT]

Originally Posted by intern_mike

Check out FlightSafety. They're expensive as hell, but with that 141 military benefit it would be a great deal. And in my opinion they are the best.

Yup, what he said.

[Pilotdreams83]

Originally Posted by Jamesrw2002

82 ehh?? Think you guys were in my CAG back in 03 or was it 04... did a cruise on the Enterprise...

I was in HS-11

Then I was there with you....I remember HS-11...Didn't you guys have a blonde chick in your squadron that ended up getting messed up in a mottorcycle accident a little later? Which enterprise cruise were you on....the Med cruise or the summer surge to england....they all run together after a while.

[Pilotdreams83]

Originally Posted by anavalairman2

Hey Pilotdreams83. Here is a website that will come in useful. Hope it assists in choosing the right school for you. Keep your goals in sight. http://www.fltops.com/flightschools....eway=Education

Also, if your wife wants to get a "wives" perspective on being an airline pilot's wife, she should check out www.jetgirls.net if she already hasn't. My wife has found it to be a handy tool in relating to females who are going through what she's about to and has gotten alot of answers to her insecurities.

Thanks for the site man....I have already told the wife about jetgirls..she will get on there sooner or later I hope haha....I know it would help her out....she is just nervous about it all

[SibePilot311]

Although you don't want to be stuck doing something all your life that you hate, the more important priority right now is to take care of your family situation. So, I'd say continue to work for the more stable, lucrative career, pay off your debts, enjoy your baby and sneak in some flying on the side (since you said the job pays well, you should be able to afford basic flight instruction on an ad-hoc basis).

A couple of years of this will both make you more financially stable (most pilots usually don't start their third marraiges until they are captains at a major..!), more experienced in what you really want to do (every year of life makes you realize what you didn't know the year before), and will give you some flight experience to help you decide if this is really what you want to do. Flying for fun and flying for a living can be a very different thing to many people.

Hope this helps.