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[category]

Hello

How is everybody doing today? Looks like a big community found this site using Google looks pretty interesting with a lot of helpful experiences and reviews in the aviation industry. Pretty happy ☺

I read about different academies and school colleges, however I need a little bit of help or advice. Reason for this I am graduating high school this year and I am interested in becoming a commercial airline pilot, so far I figured out there are 3 ways I can go of becoming a pilot
1. College Aviation
2. Academy Aviation – flight school
3. Military Aviation
I need some advice as to what’s the best and cheapest way to go. I favor more on college aviation, since you will get a college degree and incase you don’t like aviation you can switch your carrier, which is most likely not gonna happen since I am obsessed with plans. I have 3 colleges in mind University of North Dakota, Embry-Riddle, Utah valley state college, osu and would like to know more information about other colleges that have a good aviation program, however reading this forum I read that people have loans about $120.000 and the academies are even more expensive! I am guessing military aviation is the cheapest with a lot of benefits, however serving in the military is not what I planned in my future but if its only a couple of years I will not mind. So what you think what would be a wise decision in my case?

[Doug Taylor]

Welcome!

Start here: http://www.jetcareers.com/content/section/4/121/

[category]

Originally Posted by Doug Taylor

Welcome!

Start here: http://www.jetcareers.com/content/section/4/121/

nice, I forgot about the main site! I just found the forums

[nickbtubas]

i've been researching on colleges too and found that many local state and community colleges offer aviation programs. some say that you shouldn't get a degree in aviation but in some other degree, i.e. business. this way you WILL have an alternative career if the airlines closes shop.

There is alot of info out here so keep searching

[SIUAv8r]

Welcome!

[dc3flyer]

Welcome aboard!!


Where are you located? There are several schools all over the country. If you had a particular area in mind it would help get more advise. From what I have heard, all the ones you have mentioned are good schools.

[category]

Originally Posted by nickbtubas

i've been researching on colleges too and found that many local state and community colleges offer aviation programs. some say that you shouldn't get a degree in aviation but in some other degree, i.e. business. this way you WILL have an alternative career if the airlines closes shop.

There is alot of info out here so keep searching

Yes, I do take business in my high school now for an alternative career so that is not a problem. I will take business courses in college too but my main focus is on aviation now. I know some community colleges and other colleges offer aviation programs, however I don't want only ground school I want to fly. Besides its not a problem for me moving out of state.

[category]

I am located in NJ/NY area 20 minutes from Manhattan where planes are everywhere so I doubt I will get to fly here soon because of all the air traffic and the airports Laguardia, JFK, Newark. The worst possible place to fly.

[dc3flyer]

There are actually a lot of general aviation airports in that area where you could go take some flying lessons.

I guess to better my question... would you rather go to North Dakota or Florida? Arizona or Tennessee? Or do you not really have a preference?

[category]

Originally Posted by dc3flyer

There are actually a lot of general aviation airports in that area where you could go take some flying lessons.

I guess to better my question... would you rather go to North Dakota or Florida? Arizona or Tennessee? Or do you not really have a preference?

Honestly I don't have a preference where the school is located as long it is a good school that is located in the United States. Besides I have to apply first, so I am making a list as to what colleges to apply..

[charlie1017]

Welcome aboard Category!

The college aviation thing is a good idea... try having the least amount of loans possible for the flight training (in fact no loans should be the goal!). And it's good to have something to fall back on in case things don't work out as planned...
If you haven't flown yet, I suggest that you do a Discovery Flight, so that you get a feel for the kind of planes you'll be training in... and most importantly go to an AME and get the First Class Medical.

Good luck

[category]

I think I should get the AME after I get into a college. As far for no loans that is almost impossible.

[charlie1017]

Originally Posted by category

I think I should get the AME after I get into a college. As far for no loans that is almost impossible.

The First Class Medical is definitely a must! . And about the loans, I understand that if you go to college you might have to get loans for the degree. That's certainly ok, as federal loans usually have the lowest interest. However, taking loans for flight training is a whole different game, as the feds won't fund these (unless is listed as a "lab" in some course) and you would be stuck with private lenders. If it's possible, get a part time and save the money and then start flying; that way you'll minimize the loans needed for flight training. It's hard to repay a huge $50K loan for flight training+ the college loan on a first year Regional First officer $20K salary...

[Pilatapus]

Originally Posted by charlie1017

and most importantly go to an AME and get the First Class Medical.

I think what charlie means is go to a Aviation Medical Examiner and get a flight physical now, so there are no surprises when you have commited to a school. I had color blindness show up during my first First Class physical. That caused a short delay in my training.

UND gets awful cold during the winter. UVSC will usually have much better weather year round except for a few weeks in the winter when the inversion rolls in. If you are and east coaster have you looked at Daniel Webster?

Remember, keep your nose clean. Don't even think about trying ANY drugs. No booze til you are of leagal age, and then only in moderation and no driving. And stay away bad influences. You don't need any of these things coming back to haunt you when you go to apply at an airline.

[charlie1017]

Thanks Pilatapus I should have said it more clearly. Now this is very important:

Originally Posted by Pilatapus

Don't even think about trying ANY drugs. No booze til you are of leagal age, and then only in moderation and no driving. And stay away bad influences. You don't need any of these things coming back to haunt you when you go to apply at an airline.

A DUI, drugs, or criminal history can have a VERY negative impact on your career.

[category]

Originally Posted by Pilatapus

I think what charlie means is go to a Aviation Medical Examiner and get a flight physical now, so there are no surprises when you have commited to a school. I had color blindness show up during my first First Class physical. That caused a short delay in my training.

UND gets awful cold during the winter. UVSC will usually have much better weather year round except for a few weeks in the winter when the inversion rolls in. If you are and east coaster have you looked at Daniel Webster?

Remember, keep your nose clean. Don't even think about trying ANY drugs. No booze til you are of leagal age, and then only in moderation and no driving. And stay away bad influences. You don't need any of these things coming back to haunt you when you go to apply at an airline.

I don't take drugs and I never drank! Yep you heard that right never tasted alcohol since my grandfather died of it and I never saw him. In fact I am an athlete, so that is not a problem for me I work out everyday etc. I heard about Daniel Webster but don't they have a small aviation section compared to other schools?

[category]

anyways I am still making a plan as to what I should do now? So you think I should get the AME now? Do they have long lines for check ups to schedule an oppotment or it depends on the area? Anyways AME aside I need to make a list of colleges where I should apply, so far here is the list.

UND
USVC
OSC
embry-riddle
Daniel Webster (maybe)

Are there any good aviation colleges I am missing? I am thinking to apply to 7 maybe and then decide.

[dc3flyer]

What about moving down South and considering MTSU (Middle Tennessee State University) or Auburn (did I just recommend Auburn?).

[category]

Originally Posted by dc3flyer

What about moving down South and considering MTSU (Middle Tennessee State University) or Auburn (did I just recommend Auburn?).

I never looked at them are they any good? and how do they stand out from other schools?

[dc3flyer]

I am not sure about Auburn, but I have heard lots of good things about MTSU (as I have the other schools you listed), plus you get an added bonus by living in TN!

[AUAeropilot]

I graduated from Auburn in 2006 with a BS in Aerospace Engineering and a minor in aviation managament. All my flight training was done at KAUO.

Their fleet is relatively new: 172R's, one Cutlass RG (kinda old), and a Dutchess multi. They might have updated the RG and the multi but I'm not 100% on that.

The university's website is here, http://www.auburn.edu/administration/airport/, and they have all the pertinent links to all the other information. The dispatch reliability of the aircraft was great when I was there, which speaks very highly of their maintenance department. Their maintenance is also in charge of work on the university's Citations that they use for official business.

The airport itself has a lot of different traffic, high volumes of training traffic along with jet traffic. On home gameday weekends there is a temporary tower set up to handle the influx of traffic. There is also a small charter carrier on the field named Rushton Air. They do on-demand type charter work and have a couple of Caravans and a KingAir now I believe. Most of their pilots are old AU instructors that decided not to go to the regionals right now.

Columbus, GA is a quick hop away to shoot ILS's, at least until KAUO has their ILS certified which should be here shortly. Really nice location in the southeast for an airport. I got to visit many cool airports around the area, most memorable being my long cross country for my commercial rating to New Orleans. There isn't much out there along the lower area of Mississippi and over lake Ponchatrain (sp?). Lonely, but really cool seeing it from the air nonetheless.

If you have any other questions let me know. I'd be happy to talk about Auburn further with you if you want.

Take care and welcome to the boards!

[moxiepilot]

Sent you a PM

[category]

Originally Posted by moxiepilot

Sent you a PM

Thanks for the pm, I did not know there are soo many schools out there... do they all have similar prices? No big differences?

[KLB]

I graduated from Delta State University in Cleveland Mississippi with a B.S. in Commericial Aviation: Flight Operations from the school of business. I loved it there.

[Pilatapus]

If you are thinking UVSC you may also look at Westminster College in Salt Lake City. They seem to have a fairly good sized program. The college campus is in a hip area of the city. http://www.westminstercollege.edu