A&P Going for Pilot rating. Some guidance please?

Alex H

Alex H

Well-Known Member
Good afternoon everyone,

As you might have surmised by the title, im currently an A/P Student at my local collage, about to start working on the air frame portion of the course. Now the reason that i've gone this way, is that i have always loved aircraft, riding in them, being around them. Back in 2009 i worked for American Eagle as a ramp agent, It was quite frankly one of the most fun jobs i had ever had, and something i wish i had been able to stay with. Even since before working for them, i'd loved flying, and would dream doing it for a living. Now i was in a situation where the financing for my pilot ratings was simply out of my reach, but i refused to give up my passion to be around aircraft. I want to know everything that i can about them, How they work, how they operate, what goes into making them. So, i was able to get financing to take the A/P Course work, and so far? It's enjoyable. I spend every four days down at the airport, in the hanger surrounded by single piston aircraft.

Now here's where this opens up for me. Without going into the details about it, i've found that within the next several months or so i may have the opportunity to start to work on leaning to fly, the cost not being an issue in it. I don't want to give up the work i've done towards the A/P, i do plan to finish it out, I know it will be a good contingency to have. This leaves me limited time during the week though. Monday through Thursday, my day is spoken for up though 15:30 There are several flight schools in the local area that i live, Jacksonville, everything from the collage which has one, FBOs, even ATP. From a quick look online, it seems that most of the FBO close around 1700, so that doesn't leave me much time to get to them after school, save for the weekends. I dont want this to take years to accomplish, so im hoping to get some advice from people with more experience then i have on the matter.
 
Step one is to finish your A&P, don't muddy the waters trying to learn to fly and end up not finishing either certificate.

My one large regret in aviation is that I didn't stick with a path, I've got three FAA certificates and while that's great now I feel like I didn't devote enough brainpower to really mastering my trade.

As far as the flight schools in JAX are concerned you have a pair of options. Aerosim isn't one of them.

North Florida and Sterling at CRG are good schools and they will be happy to stay past 1700 for instruction. NFFT has a newer fleet but SFT has a more diverse fleet. Maintenance both places will be top notch with no corners cut for repairs.

The instructors at both will be JU products so you'll get quality instruction both places. I will tell you, however, be very wary of the claims from the owner at SFT. Scruples aren't in abundant supply there.

Finish your A&P and the get a job at a flight school so you can have regular and discounted access to training aircraft. You'll also make friends with the instructor cadre and you'll find yourself trading beer for instruction.
 
Being a pilot makes you a much, much better mechanic. Being a mechanic makes you stronger in some ways as a pilot but is not nearly as beneficial. I've been doing both together for the last 3 years to make ends meet. There's good and bad to both, and good and bad to doing the two together. Any specific questions just let me know.
 
Thanks for the replys guys. I know i had taken an intro flight with the guys at North Florida afew years ago, i've been back up to CRG since then, and they're no longer there unfortunately. There's one out here that works with my school, Sunshine Aviation, any one have any info on their quallity?

Roger Roger, Did you do the training for both at the same time, or did you do one after the other?
 
Alex H said:
Thanks for the replys guys. I know i had taken an intro flight with the guys at North Florida afew years ago, i've been back up to CRG since then, and they're no longer there unfortunately. There's one out here that works with my school, Sunshine Aviation, any one have any info on their quallity?

Roger Roger, Did you do the training for both at the same time, or did you do one after the other?
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I did a 4 year degree program that got me through CFI/MEI/CFII by the end of year 3 (started with my private, and did two sessions of summer school) and A&P after year 4. I realize that's an insanely long time to get an A&P by most standards but like I said I was doing flight training, one year of part time flight instructing, some mx internship work, and all the other stuff necessary for a BS. Degree.
 
@esa17 I was wondering if you could share any more information that have have on Sterling. I stopped by to take a look at them today, it all seemed rather good, Training though CFI, Being brought in as an instructor, and then their instructors moving on to the parent charter company. Im sure it could be useful to more people then just me.
 
All I've ever wanted to do was fly. I solo'ed in 1997. Private 1998. Then finished my A&P and instrument rating in 2002. Then I had to go to work as a mechanic to finish the rest. After the 9-11 fallout, multiple setbacks and furloughs working as a mechanic- I finally finished the initial CFI in 2010. It took 13 years from the time I started. 8 years working as a mechanic to get the commercial, multi, and initial CFI. I had a lot of setbacks and worked 3rd shift, covered in skydrol. I worked on everything from 152's, corporate jets, ERJ's, CRJ's, and even the space shuttle. It was fun, but dang! It took a long time! I'm currently flying a King Air.

Anyway, even if you were sitting on a ton of cash, doing both would still take about 3 years.
- Full time A&P program= 18 months
- Full time Pilot program= 18 months
_______________________
3 years

IMHO: If this were somebody starting fresh- I'd ask, what do you want to end up doing? And pick that one first. Mess with the other later. However, in your case it sounds like the A&P is a sure thing with financing being taken care of, already started classes, etc. Something that can easily be seen to the end. (Just keep studying and showing up to class, right?)

So for you sir, I recommend just keep doing your A&P thing for now. Sounds like that's already your plan. The 18 months or whatever it takes will go by before you know it. And if you are able to fly a little on your weekends- have a ball! Make it a goal to solo or something. Just don't get crazy with that flying stuff yet. I'd really just focus on A&P school.

From my experience, Roger Roger did it the best way. CFI/CFII/MEI/A&P/BS in 4 years. (Nice work) That's really good!
 
The A&P Is the first thing that i'll be finishing, i know that much for sure. Were just getting to the end of our General stuff, almost ready to move into Airframe now, so far, its going good.

What im hoping to do is work on my private durring my free time, just for the fun of it really.
 
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