FIT, ASU-E, ERAU, or just UNCC then ALL ATPS?

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nascarpilot

New Member
Well, I am 20 and am in a major dilemma here. I want to be an airline pilot and have wanted to go to ERAU since 11. But later I found out how much $ goes into that place and how much whining people do about. So I waited a little while and first went in-state to cheap Virginia Tech for my general credits like math and all that, got a 2.98 GPA so far. Now I want to know everyone's opinion on how creative this situation can get. Should I stay there with a Criminology degree, save all that money, and then go to ALL ATPS or a specialty place afterwards? Or should I just go ahead and transfer to an aviation degree school which I already got into? ERAU is expensive and everyone gripes about it, but it is good. Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne FL is cheaper but has no RJ sims or airline partnerships. I also got into Arizona State-East which is cheaper than both, has RJ sims, and a deal with America West Express if I want. To complicate things even further, I also want to be a NASCAR driver and have gotten into the "ERAU of racing schools" -- University of North Carolina at Charlotte for Motorsports Engineering, that in itself would is fun as heck, cheaper than the rest, and would erase this whole stressful situation completely. Your thoughts? Tell me whatever you want, as I open to any suggestion and dont take offense to much. Go ahead.......
 
"Should I stay there with a Criminology degree, save all that money, and then go to ALL ATPS or a specialty place afterwards?"

Yes

"is cheaper but has no RJ sims or airline partnerships"

What makes you think you need those sorts of things? None of it's really necessary though it's a great marketing tool to seperate you from your loan money.

"I also want to be a NASCAR driver"

How much does it cost to learn to be one of those?
 
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Well, I am 20 and am in a major dilemma here. I want to be an airline pilot and have wanted to go to ERAU since 11. But later I found out how much $ goes into that place and how much whining people do about. So I waited a little while and first went in-state to cheap Virginia Tech for my general credits like math and all that, got a 2.98 GPA so far. Now I want to know everyone's opinion on how creative this situation can get. Should I stay there with a Criminology degree, save all that money, and then go to ALL ATPS or a specialty place afterwards? Or should I just go ahead and transfer to an aviation degree school which I already got into? ERAU is expensive and everyone gripes about it, but it is good. Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne FL is cheaper but has no RJ sims or airline partnerships. I also got into Arizona State-East which is cheaper than both, has RJ sims, and a deal with America West Express if I want. To complicate things even further, I also want to be a NASCAR driver and have gotten into the "ERAU of racing schools" -- University of North Carolina at Charlotte for Motorsports Engineering, that in itself would is fun as heck, cheaper than the rest, and would erase this whole stressful situation completely. Your thoughts? Tell me whatever you want, as I open to any suggestion and dont take offense to much. Go ahead.......

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Do you have your PPL yet, or have you even started your training? How about getting your degree in something you like (Motorsports Engineering), assumming its a 4-year degree, while finding a good FBO (part 141 or 61) to get your ratings done at. At 20 you don't really need to worry about finishing up in a few months like at an accelerated program, and you are going to want to finish your degree anyway. You can go through all your ratings in those 2-3 years to finish your degree at an FBO, and maybe even instruct on weekends before gradutating.
 
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Should I stay there with a Criminology degree, save all that money

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Without a doubt.

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and then go to ALL ATPS or a specialty place afterwards?

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No.

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Or should I just go ahead and transfer to an aviation degree school which I already got into?

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Hell no.


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ERAU is expensive and everyone gripes about it, but it is good.

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Stop drinking their kool-aid.

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Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne FL is cheaper but has no RJ sims or airline partnerships.

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Doesn't make a whit of difference. RJ sims and airline partnerships are ploys to seperate you from your money. Nothing more than that.

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I also got into Arizona State-East which is cheaper than both, has RJ sims, and a deal with America West Express if I want.

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Bad idea.

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To complicate things even further, I also want to be a NASCAR driver and have gotten into the "ERAU of racing schools" -- University of North Carolina at Charlotte for Motorsports Engineering, that in itself would is fun as heck, cheaper than the rest, and would erase this whole stressful situation completely.

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I don't know anything about it, but if you like turning left all day, more power to you!
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Your thoughts? Tell me whatever you want, as I open to any suggestion and dont take offense to much. Go ahead.......

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Stay in school for the criminology degree. During, or after, go immerse yourself in a good part 61 school, and get your time by instructing, traffic watch, banner tow, skydive pilot, etc, etc. You'll save a TON of money over any academy.

A word to the wise about the academies. Their primary goal is to relieve you of money. You do not need RJ sims, FMS training, glass cockpit training, airline partnerships, airline procedure training, first officer training, type ratings, or anything else like that to get a job. The airline that hires you will train you on the FMS, on the airplane, in the procedures, how to be a first officer, and guess what? They won't charge you for it! What a concept!

Type ratings aren't worth the paper (plastic) they're printed on unless you have significant time in the type to back it up. FMS training is all crap since they're pretty easy to pick up after a couple hours of working with it. First officer training is crap, it's something the airline will teach you. Airline partnerships sound good, but you'll have just as much opprotunity without it.

Seriously, don't buy into their hype, that's all it is.
 
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$17000x2.5 a year and you can get scholarships from Hendrick Motorsports and other race teams if you work with them afterwards
 
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$17000x2.5 a year and you can get scholarships from Hendrick Motorsports and other race teams if you work with them afterwards

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Is that part of the degree program, or is that separate? I thought you would just be paying the tuition of the state school. Unless you happen to have enough money for both without going into debt, you should just get a degree that won't cost you an arm and a leg, and spend the money on flight training and saving up for when you are making an instructors wages. On the other hand, I do believe in getting a degree in something non-aviation that you also like. You never know when something might happen like losing a medical and you need something to fall back on.
 
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I also want to be a NASCAR driver and have gotten into the "ERAU of racing schools" -- University of North Carolina at Charlotte for Motorsports Engineering, that in itself would is fun as heck, cheaper than the rest, and would erase this whole stressful situation completely.

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Hmmm
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.... Let's think about this ....

You could get a degree in something you enjoy, have as a fall-back plan, save money if it's "cheaper than the rest" to pursue flying if you still want to do that, and "erase the stress."

Sounds like a winner to me!
 
Ralgha is exactly right. The direct track programs and fancy sims are a way for the recruiters to get you to the school, sign on the dotted line and give them a check. You can get quality training elsewhere without the bridge programs or the sims and save a lot of $$$. ASU's program hooks you up with America West Express, aka Mesa. Guess what? They're not even hiring now (or at least not much if at all). Their bridge program (which also funnels in with MAPD at San Juan CC and another school in Texas) is more or less stagnant since they have a ton of guys who have been "hired," but some of them have been waiting over 6 months for a class date. If they had gone somewhere to get their CFI ratings (which I think you DO at the ASU program), they might at least be able to get jobs as instructors. As it is, they're flipping burgers or working other jobs to pay off those loans they took out to fly the fancy RJ sims.

I'd say definately stick with the Criminology degree (or even the NASCAR thing) since you'll need the 4 year degree down the road. If you don't have your Private, see about taking some lessons from a local CFI or flight school. Don't drop $10K+ on a career you THINK you might like. If you like it, either continue at that school or go to one of the academies. You're only 20, so there's no great rush to get everything done. There are worse schools out there than ATP, but there are also better ones. What it really comes down to is your instructror, NOT the school you attend. You can go to a big academy and get a crap instructor that just wants to build hours, and it does happen....often. You can just as easily go to a local FBO and fly with the guy that enjoys instructing. I'm not saying those guys aren't at the academies. I'm saying evaluate the training based on the individual instruction given, not the school you go to. After all, are you paying for the instruction or the privilege to where a polo with a logo on it?
 
flying drivers!

Yeah, Nextel Cup driver Ryan Newman has a Motorsports Engineering degree from Perdue University and that allows him to be one up on the old veterans like Rusty Wallace and Mark Martin who never went to school and had to learn physics the hard way. Both of which are ATP pilots from the FBO of the charlotte airport as well as drivers. just added that for kicks i thought it was cool. and btw he is only driver with a degree and is the first of the new wave of drivers with one.
 
Re: flying drivers!

Do not, I repeat, do NOT go to any of the so-called flight academies, especially ERAU or Western Michigan. They cost way too much $$$ and give you nothing in return. The ERAU grad who paid 120,000 for 250 hours of time and a useless degree and the guy who spent 3,000 dollars to get 350 hours and all his ratings at the local FBO will be competing for the same crap CFI job that pays $12 an hour.

You sound like you really like the whole NASCAR thing (F1 and Indycar racing is better), so why not major in that. I'm sure professional race-car drivers make more in one race than pilots make in a year.
 
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went in-state to cheap Virginia Tech

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Hey! Don't go raggin on my Alma Maeter!
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BTW, they have a spectacular Mech/Automotive engineering program if I remember correctly. Or, you could stick with your current degree and join one of the automotive engineering project clubs for free!

In my experience, changing dates halfway through the dance just results in wasted credit hours and retaken classes (I see you have freshman English Mr. transfer student, but **** University requires you to take OUR freshman English).
 
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I also want to be a NASCAR driver

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Awesome man! Join the club! Thats the one job I'd take over being a professional pilot anyday. Dreams are dreams and I would never tell someone that they can't do anything, but remember, racing is about who you know. Believe me. I raced a Dirt Modified right up until last year here in New Jersey. I raced there for 6 years, started off in the Sportsmen division at New Egypt Speedway and moved up to the Big block modifieds. Racing takes ALOT of time and money to even stay in it, let alone be competitive. I'd kill for a seat in a cup car, believe me. I honestly weighed the choices. You have a MUCH better chance of being a commercial pilot, than you will a Nascar driver, just for the fact that you've got guys in Nascar who have been racing cars since they were 10, not to mention have a family history in Nascar.
The best way to get there is get yourself a real job first that brings in a few good pennies. Buy yourself a dirt car (thats where ya gotta start, just look at Newman, Stewart, Dale Jr etc.) , run a few races and try to get some sponsors. Start racing as a hobby, and if you're good and pieces fall into place with some determination, then let it go from there. I don't know much about the racing schools, but aren't they for the mechanics? You want the driving end correct?

Anyway, goodluck to you man. I plan on getting back into racing once I get into the commercial aviation industry. I want to start running at some of the better known tracks on the east coast. Who knows maybe one day I'll get the chance to get noticed by some cup guys. In fact Tony Stewart owns a dirt track down south, that would be sweet to run there and make a statement. But again, you've gotta be GOOD to get in Nascar, but there's nothing that says you can't.

Btw I'm a Dale Jr. fan, but he's got problems lately. Maybe you can take his ride in a few years.
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KJQF

man thats pretty cool that youve gone racing too! both of those worlds are very similiar with physics and how the money mgt goes in both areas. since 16 i've been working as a tire and aerodynamics mechanic on the NASCAR Late Models at tracks here all over Virginia. they let me drive one at Old Dominion Speedway once and i managed to stay out of the wall! Well from what I gather, it sounds like I should go stay at VT or UNC and get my ratings at the FBO around the area and keep racing on the back burner as a cool hobby. thanks guys for the time!!!!!!!
 
Re: flying drivers!

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the guy who spent 3,000 dollars to get 350 hours

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I think a lot of users on here are wondering where you can get 350 hours for 3,000 dollars as well as all your ratings--you must know something a lot of people don't.
 
Re: flying drivers!

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the guy who spent 3,000 dollars to get 350 hours

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I think a lot of users on here are wondering where you can get 350 hours for 3,000 dollars as well as all your ratings--you must know something a lot of people don't.

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sign me up! Is the $8.50/hr rate for the Taurus or Cavalier?
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Re: flying drivers!

Just find a nice, well known fbo and get your training there, save your money. Get the degree, you want to have something to fall back on, and I would suggest a r.j. transition course you would find at like all atps if thats' your goal.
As one who formerly attended a well known academy, you can get the same thing done cheaper, faster and quicker. The airlines don't care about your school, unless the training is horrible. They care about the ATP written and that you build qaulity flight time. I could of saved myself plenty of serious dough, but no, I wanted the name of this school to put on my application. Do you know what a captain/recruiter from the human resources department from this airline told me? In essence, same thing I'm telling you. The individual was quite candid in his/her comments, and I am very thankful for that.
Doug and the rest of the J.C. members have preached this for years,I wish back then, I would have listened.
Also, at the interview,know your stuff, have a great personality and you should be o.k.

Take care.
 
Re: flying drivers!

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I would suggest a r.j. transition course you would find at like all atps if thats' your goal.

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IMO, these are money making schemes. It's the same thing you'll learn in ground school at an airline, so why pay for it? I'd rather study harder and learn the stuff on my own than pay $1000s of dollars to learn it twice. I have serious doubts that it would help you in the interview portion of the hiring process.
 
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