Spyke
Well-Known Member
Hey everyone!
I'm new here at JC, so I apologize if I ask anything that has been covered on some older thread, did a lot of reading to try to avoid that.
I'm an American citizen who's been living in Brazil pretty much all his life (25). I decided that I wanted to become a professional pilot back in 2011, but for financial and academic (college) reasons I've only been able to manage the PPL so far. Since I got those issues out of the way at the beginning of the year, I went back to flying. However, for a series of situations relative to the Brazilian aviation industry I became convinced that my old dream of flying in the States would be my best bet, although I'd have to worry about $$$ (and even currency rates!) again given that training in the US is way more expensive. I'm originally from FL, but since we've moved here over 20 years ago and only have some relatively distant family scattered around the country, I'm not really leaning toward a specific location when looking for flight schools.
After lots and lots of research online (can't really visit any schools), I ended up with a bunch of doubts, the following being the biggest:
1) Flight Academy X FBO, which of the two would form a more marketable CFI? I've read a lot about the pros and cons of each for pilot training, but I'm a little worried about what's the short term job prospect in each case. I hear that MOST flight academies hire MOST of the CFIs they form, but what happens when a pilot comes out the door of a school that doesn’t need any new instructors, how's the job market for that guy? (Here, if you're not hired by your school, it's virtually impossible to get a job anywhere else)
2) As for location, I'm pretty divided between the Pacific NW (mainly Hillsboro Aero Academy) or some other option in the sunny states (probably FL since there are more options). Keep hearing that the winter weather in the PNW is a pro and a con, some say that it keeps you from flying and others that it makes for great IMC training. Hillsboro AA actually does roadshows here in Brazil and the school rep told me that they addressed their winter weather issue by opening a new location in Prineville, OR. On the other hand, my parents tell me FL is sunny year round and that the only significant weather is the routine late afternoon thunderstorm (occasional hurricane). Can anyone offer some insight into these climates or the schools in these locations?
3) Like I said before, $$$ is an issue and I intend to get a job to cover some of the costs of living and training (preferably part time at the school/airport). I read on a few threads that it's more cost effective to go the PSEL(got it already) > IR > CSEL > CFI route, get a job as an instructor and then do the other ratings (CMEL add-on, CFII and MEI) at your school with an employee discount. Is this a real world viable option? I know this gives me very little ME experience, but how important is that really? Is it possible to do this Part 141, or will I have to go Part 61? The reason this worries me is that I would like to do these ratings and start instructing reasonably quickly (not ATP quick, just regular quick).
I hope this post didn't come out unreasonably long. Living here makes me have ZERO aviation contacts in the US, so all insight regarding any of the points above is deeply appreciated.
Good flying to all!
I'm new here at JC, so I apologize if I ask anything that has been covered on some older thread, did a lot of reading to try to avoid that.
I'm an American citizen who's been living in Brazil pretty much all his life (25). I decided that I wanted to become a professional pilot back in 2011, but for financial and academic (college) reasons I've only been able to manage the PPL so far. Since I got those issues out of the way at the beginning of the year, I went back to flying. However, for a series of situations relative to the Brazilian aviation industry I became convinced that my old dream of flying in the States would be my best bet, although I'd have to worry about $$$ (and even currency rates!) again given that training in the US is way more expensive. I'm originally from FL, but since we've moved here over 20 years ago and only have some relatively distant family scattered around the country, I'm not really leaning toward a specific location when looking for flight schools.
After lots and lots of research online (can't really visit any schools), I ended up with a bunch of doubts, the following being the biggest:
1) Flight Academy X FBO, which of the two would form a more marketable CFI? I've read a lot about the pros and cons of each for pilot training, but I'm a little worried about what's the short term job prospect in each case. I hear that MOST flight academies hire MOST of the CFIs they form, but what happens when a pilot comes out the door of a school that doesn’t need any new instructors, how's the job market for that guy? (Here, if you're not hired by your school, it's virtually impossible to get a job anywhere else)
2) As for location, I'm pretty divided between the Pacific NW (mainly Hillsboro Aero Academy) or some other option in the sunny states (probably FL since there are more options). Keep hearing that the winter weather in the PNW is a pro and a con, some say that it keeps you from flying and others that it makes for great IMC training. Hillsboro AA actually does roadshows here in Brazil and the school rep told me that they addressed their winter weather issue by opening a new location in Prineville, OR. On the other hand, my parents tell me FL is sunny year round and that the only significant weather is the routine late afternoon thunderstorm (occasional hurricane). Can anyone offer some insight into these climates or the schools in these locations?
3) Like I said before, $$$ is an issue and I intend to get a job to cover some of the costs of living and training (preferably part time at the school/airport). I read on a few threads that it's more cost effective to go the PSEL(got it already) > IR > CSEL > CFI route, get a job as an instructor and then do the other ratings (CMEL add-on, CFII and MEI) at your school with an employee discount. Is this a real world viable option? I know this gives me very little ME experience, but how important is that really? Is it possible to do this Part 141, or will I have to go Part 61? The reason this worries me is that I would like to do these ratings and start instructing reasonably quickly (not ATP quick, just regular quick).
I hope this post didn't come out unreasonably long. Living here makes me have ZERO aviation contacts in the US, so all insight regarding any of the points above is deeply appreciated.
Good flying to all!