4 Questions

I was looking over the standard course list for the Flight Technology program and had a couple questions:

First, does Purdue provide CFII and MEI training or do you have to go to Lafayette Aviation? I want to get these ratings, but was surprised that the university doesnt seem to provide them. I am also a little confused about the high altitude/aerobatic/ATP courses, are they required? The sheet I got in the mail said that I should expect to pay ~$35,000 for flight costs, but looking over it now I can see it going to about the $40-45k range if I get my CFI/CFII/MEI and those aerobatic and high altitude courses are required.

Second, my mom has been barking at me to pay for this years flight fees as I told her I'd cover flight costs. I will be entering this fall with my PPL. Does that mean my first years flight courses will consist of Commercial I and Commercial II?

Third, how easy is it to deviate from the "typical plan of study"? Can students basically work at their own pace toward certificates or are their certain times when each student has to take a certain course?

Last, when is the best time to complete the cross country flight portion? I am assuming since I'm able to complete it at an FBO it will be cheaper than if I did it at Purdue. Do you just have to fly some cross countries and build the time reqired to get the commercial?

geeeez, quite possibly my longest post ever

Thanks in advance,
-Adam

Okay, I'll hit these piece by piece.

Purdue's philosophy is that "not everyone wants to (or can be) an instructor" so the CFI classes are not required, however, you are able to take CFI/CFII/MEI at Purdue. However, in the interest of doing it quicker, I would highly advise you do that stuff at LafAv (CFII took 3 flights... how do you stretch that out over a semester???) The high altitude course (mountain flying, which is impossible in Indiana, so you have to go out to Colorado for a week or so) has been put on hiatus lately because there isn't enough demand for it... Same thing with the aerobatic course, I believe... You get to do some upset recovery training in the DHC-1 (Chipmunk) during AT253, the Instrument/Commercial course.

[ QUOTE ]
I will be entering this fall with my PPL. Does that mean my first years flight courses will consist of Commercial I and Commercial II?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, you'll start off in AT243 then have AT248 in the spring. These are the first two commercial courses

[ QUOTE ]
how easy is it to deviate from the "typical plan of study"? Can students basically work at their own pace toward certificates or are their certain times when each student has to take a certain course?

[/ QUOTE ]
The flight courses themselves *must* be taken in order. Purdue only has 14 Warriors, and we don't like to have people flying cross countries at 2 AM, so everything is scheduled so that situations like that are not possible (planes fly 7:30-5:30, with night flight on Monday-Thursday). So you are required to take those in order, and some of the other classes (commercial ground, instrument ground, etc) must be taken before you take your instrument/commercial (maybe not must, but SHOULD be taken, otherwise it's pointless)

[ QUOTE ]
Last, when is the best time to complete the cross country flight portion? I am assuming since I'm able to complete it at an FBO it will be cheaper than if I did it at Purdue. Do you just have to fly some cross countries and build the time reqired to get the commercial?

[/ QUOTE ]

Summer between freshman and sophomore years, or if you have enough X-C time since you've done your private, you might not have to do it. You need 15 hours, and yes, it's cheaper at an FBO and yes, you are just building time.

Hope I got everything

Chris- Thanks a ton. I'm sure I'll have more questions to come, its just kinda weird picturing myself at college next year already!

I'm glad to hear LafAv can handle the instructor ratings well. Im currently at an FBO which offers great service, but only has a couple aircraft with crappy mx, the weather is constantly garbage, and my instructor finishing me up just got a citation job. So yes, I have felt a bit of frustration in my training already as far as efficiency is concerned...

Btw, I think some of the stuff in your livejournal website is hilarious. Good work!

Thanks again,
Adam

Yeah, no problem, if you have any questions feel free to PM me, IM me on AIM, or just post something here... there are quite a few Purdue guys here and they're all good, friendly people.

Thanks for the appreciation of the LJ too, hah