fast track schools vs. local FBO for changing careers

Thanks y'all for all of your answers and recommendations, I really appreciate it.
My ultimate goal would be to go back to Europe to fly there as I am from there and get my license here to convert it to JAA later on, that why I though going the accelerated course route. but as i need to built some time here anyway, it may be wiser to go FBO route to save money... I still don't know..
Anyway, as for engineering, yes it is paying well and give you security and all... but the office view sucks and it is really really boring in my opinion .....

Right. But just remember, boring in an airplane is a good thing!

I would say that you should base your choice of training location on the quality and experience of the instructors.

I spent a few months (up through my CSEL) at an Academy type place. New instructors, fast paced. Now I am training at an FBO. We've got career CFI's and I'm on my own time schedule. Just noticing the different approach between that of Full-Time Career CFI's and new on-a-mission-to-get-to-the-airlines CFI's.... I wish I would have done the FBO thing all along.

Sure, I got my PPL in like 3 days, and I passed my check rides. But, I didn't learn to be a Pilot until now. If you read and take in what a lot of the more experienced pilots say on here, you'll read FBO.

I'm not saying that an 8 month fresh CFI cannot be a great instructor (cause I'm gonna be one!). What I'm saying is that with time comes wisdom, and I'd rather learn from a CFI with some gray on the tips than one with fresh ink who was trained by another CFI with fresh ink who was also trained by a CFI with fresh ink.

There are exceptions to every rule, but I'll be an FBO advocate for the rest of my life. (edit) And 33 is not too late at all - I started this when I was 35.

I was just noticing that too. I'm also a former mechanical engineer that switched careers to become a professional pilot (I'm 31 now).

I really enjoyed the education in college. I've always loved learning, and it was fascinating to learn some of the higher order math, physics, fluid dynamics, etc. that you experience in college.

Once I got out into the working world of engineering, I was pretty disappointed. I'd be involved with projects that were attempting to make a part that was originally designed 20 yrs ago 2% more efficient. We'd spend all kinds of time in team meetings, and it just bored the #### out of me. Absolutely hated being inside 90% of the time too. When I did go out into the field, it wasn't all cool as I thought it'd be either. The people I worked with were mostly boring and wanted to talk about the best type of fertilizer to use on their lawn. Even the young engineers talked about this crap. Eventually I got to where I just dreaded waking up every morning, faced with another day of engineering.

Finally, the pay just isn't that amazing. It's ok, and definitely very good for just getting out of college. But it usually doesn't go up much more than 4-5%/yr, and considering how much BS you have to put up with I didn't think it was worth it.

Just over one year ago I made the leap from engineering to flying full time, and I never, ever want to go back. There are days where I'm sick of flying (like yesterday, almost 7 hrs of flight time, six legs, single pilot, IFR with thunderstorms, deferred autopilot). But I'll tell you what - what I did yesterday was WAY more interesting than any day I had in engineering.

Yeah, I have to agree the view is nice... Now just imagine the view after a long duty day, doing a couple of turns, flying around in the middle of the night for a +2.5hrs leg in a not so big ERJ trying to get your destination dodging thunderstorms with a bunch of re-routes. I'd take being bored in an office over the ERJ cockpit anytime at that point. Oh wait, I just did that last night<sarcasm>

But, everyone has to try it at some point to get the idea how it really is on the line...

Thanks again for all of your feedback and honest opinions, this is really nice to get such insights...
Yes I guess the grass is always greener on the other side.. but I kind of imagine how 7h of flying in a day should be exhausting .. Is it a typical day at a regional airline?? how many days on/off do you get, what is a typical schedule at a regional?
Maybe it would be a good idea to try to get back flying while keeping my current job, although I'm sick of it.. but it's hard combining 40hrs+ work week with flying lessons.. I did it for my private and it took a long time for me to get my license.

No problem. No, not a fr8 dog. I fly 135 charter and some part 91 stuff. All out of the Palm Beach area, most of the flying is around the southeast and Bahamas.

do you fly a lot ? what kind of plane do you fly out there? What's the typical schedule?

Except for the summer, yeah we fly a lot. During fall/winter/spring, we are pretty much begging for days off. In south FL, summer is the off season as everybody goes back north. Right now I'm flying 3-4 times/wk and fill in the voids with flight instruction. I fly a piper chieftain single pilot, and I fly right seat in a king air.

With the king air, we usually (but certainly not always) have trips that last around 1/2 day. The chieftain is a little busier, that tends to keep me busy all day.

It's not a place you'd spend your entire career by any means, but definitely not a bad place to spend a couple of years building some experience.

I would advise you to enroll in a FBO and save money. There's no need to earn your wings through one of those fancy, expensive flight schools. No one can guarantee you a job at a regional airline, major airline, etc. They can submit your resume, refer you to a certain company, get you an interview, etc. In the end it depends on your experience, skills and the airline. Best of luck to you.

I fly the ERJ 145 and currently sitting reserve with 11 days off a month. I can't even describe daily schedules, because on reserve you don't have one. You are allowed to have a 14hr duty day which can be extended to 16hrs. Plan on working every weekend and holiday. You can get ready reserve or sit airport standby(that blows so hard I can't describe it). You will become very familiar with the airport and every nook and cranny with all the time you spend there. The flying is awesome in the jet, but the schedule and pay sucks sooo bad. The worse is when you think your going home and they give you a trip or don't release you. I like hearing when people say they like to travel and love hotels. Can you imagine living out of a 22" rollerboard everyweek for the rest of your life??? Its like being homeless, LOL...

I am lucky in that I did the FBO route and don't really worry about a bigass debt hanging over my head.

My best recommendation, take your time there is no rush to get to the right seat... There will always be plenty of low paying, flying jobs out there for everyone. And I've said it before, I would do it again regardless(but, I am looking at other options outside aviation). But know what your getting into.

3green

3 green and everyone else, thanks you so much for you help, information and advice. I am thinking of doing the FBO route now, if I am doing it. It would be longer but cheaper... as you said, right now is not a good time to be ready anyway...
Thanks to all of you again, and blue skies!

Lauren

Accelerated program to what? Unemployment? The problem today is that there will be no right seat when your training is complete. Anyone been reading the news lately, fuel thru the roof, airlines rapidly cutting back? UAL is going to announce 950 furloughs, that means if you were hired in 99!! you will be on the street with the thousands that are going to follow. I believe (personal opinion) that getting into the airline business right now is completely insane. I know some will come back with this "follow your dreams" happy talk but I live in real world, and in the real world things do not look very good. Just because you don't fly for an airline does not mean you are not a pilot. If you are still dead set on it I would take the much slower FBO route. Keep your Job! Stay out of debt!!

That's exactly right! no matter what you are flying if it says "pilot" on your ticket that's exactly what you are! a PILOT! Doesn't matter if its a C172 or a jet.

Roger that

"....there is no rush to get to the right seat... There will always be plenty of low paying, flying jobs out there for everyone.


I agree with you and disagree at the same time. Yes, there will always be some jobs that allow the "Honor" of making garbage wages in sometimes less than safe conditions. The bad news is that that massive cutbacks coming in September into the fall will trickle down through the regionals, 135, etc, etc. The future of this market is alot fewer jobs. The 300 hour RJ pilot will just be blip in US airline history. Starting in the fall this is going to get really ugly, I do not think many people can even comprehend how bad it will be. Fly for the pure joy of flying, it really never get's old!!! Best of luck to everyone out there, storm clouds on the horizon.........

Your completely right CRJsomeday. The market is going to get extremely ugly and then there will be fewer low timer jobs. Its sad knowing that thousands and highly trained guys/gals are going to be on the street looking for a job...

Thanks for the real life wake up call.. it is going to be very bad for a while I agree, but it has to come back up at some point, overall worldwide air traffic is still increasing...anyway I will definitely not go into the fast track route if I'm changing career.

While it may look like air travel is up, I would argue that the number of travelers is going to slow pretty soon. If oil stays at "industry killer" prices than the fares are very soon going to limit air travel to those who must travel for business and those who have got some money to spend. You won't be going to Disney for $149. I think that there may not be the typical upswing this time. As for pursuing the career, keep your day job for now and fly on the side, wait to see what happens..........