Seeking Denver Metro Training Advice

CorbiePilot

CorbiePilot

New Member
Please excuse the total 'n00b' nature of this post. I'm only trying to get as much information as possible before I start my training. :>

I'm a 27 year old with no degree and a background in security and cash in transit, and no flight experience. I'm looking to not only get my private pilot's license, but to hopefully make a career out of aviation. I've narrowed my search down to three flight schools (one from Front Range Airport, one from Rocky Mountain Metropolitan and one from Centennial), and I want to pursue a 4 year degree online with Metro State here in Denver, Utah Valley, or Mountain States University.

The three schools I'm looking at (and I've flown an hour with each) are McAir Aviation, Daedalus and Flights, Inc. If anyone has any reviews or opinions, good or bad, about any of these schools, I'm all ears. I'm also up for any advice on flight school in general, what to look for in a professional career, getting my degree, and any preparations I need to make. I'll be getting my physical in the next week or two, before I start training.

I'm also curious as to the current hiring trends, and various careers available. Are the hiring numbers really as good as I've been seeing? While being an airline pilot is probably most folks' ambition, I'd also be happy flying cargo or short-hop commuter routes. How do those industries look?

Any advice you have will be much appreciated. Even if I end up not flying for a living, I at least want to get my private license.

Thanks in advance!

~J
 
Thanks for the quick response, Fletchersteel. :>

I do have a question about Metro- do they offer credits for certificates you hold? The other two schools do, to varying degrees. I was told that Metro, however, stopped doing that and wanted you to take other courses to pad the credit hours instead. Is that true, or did I receive bad info?

Also, should I start getting my certifications before I look into my actual degree, or can I do them simultaneously?
 
my wife went to metro and flew at flights. i tried to get a job at mcair but it was a couple years ago and the market was abysmal. it's different now with the current market, but typically the denver schools hire from within - you want to fly somewhere you will enjoy instructing 18-24 months down the road.
 
roundout said:
my wife went to metro and flew at flights. i tried to get a job at mcair but it was a couple years ago and the market was abysmal. it's different now with the current market, but typically the denver schools hire from within - you want to fly somewhere you will enjoy instructing 18-24 months down the road.
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Is instructing the only way to build hours and start to make a career out of flying? To be honest I don't think I would make the greatest instructor. I have trained employees during my previous jobs, but I don't know if I could take a student from start to finish.

Currently I don't know where exactly in aviation I want to go. Things like areal photography or flying speed patrols for the state patrol are more interesting to me than airline flying.
 
CorbiePilot said:
Is instructing the only way to build hours and start to make a career out of flying? To be honest I don't think I would make the greatest instructor. I have trained employees during my previous jobs, but I don't know if I could take a student from start to finish.

Currently I don't know where exactly in aviation I want to go. Things like areal photography or flying speed patrols for the state patrol are more interesting to me than airline flying.
Click to expand...


the market, at least as I saw it in denver, was and will continue to be difficult to break in to for a new guy, especially one with only a couple hundred hours of piston single time. the only job i ever got a sniff at was flying traffic watch but i didn't take it because i'd already committed to relocate to another job. with 6 airlines (ual, rw, skyw, lakes, frontier, key slime) having major pilot bases in the city, there are many more-qualified pilots available than somebody with a fresh commercial-multi-instrument.

don't lose sleep wondering if you'll be a good instructor or not. the market might not be the same by the time you're ready to start sending out resumes.
 
juxtapilot said:
Hey could you post info here if you have it? I know there might be a few people who would be interested in your info.
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I'm 95% sure Key Lime Air owns Flights, as a result of that I'd stay away from them. I met one of the guys at Flights, dont recall his name, but I think he was one of the upper management, and he was a real ######.

What makes the biggest difference is getting a good instructor. Someone who appreactes the fact that you are their student, not just a time building method. Finding the right person that clicks with you and knows their stuff is what matters at the beginning.

After that, building flight time after you get your certificates and ratings is what will get you a job. You don't HAVE TO flight instruct, but it is a very good way get time and expand your knowledge. You really learn things when you have to teach the subject to someone else. I would recommend it to anyone.
 
CorbiePilot said:
Please excuse the total 'n00b' nature of this post. I'm only trying to get as much information as possible before I start my training. :>

I'm a 27 year old with no degree and a background in security and cash in transit, and no flight experience. I'm looking to not only get my private pilot's license, but to hopefully make a career out of aviation. I've narrowed my search down to three flight schools (one from Front Range Airport, one from Rocky Mountain Metropolitan and one from Centennial), and I want to pursue a 4 year degree online with Metro State here in Denver, Utah Valley, or Mountain States University.

The three schools I'm looking at (and I've flown an hour with each) are McAir Aviation, Daedalus and Flights, Inc. If anyone has any reviews or opinions, good or bad, about any of these schools, I'm all ears. I'm also up for any advice on flight school in general, what to look for in a professional career, getting my degree, and any preparations I need to make. I'll be getting my physical in the next week or two, before I start training.

I'm also curious as to the current hiring trends, and various careers available. Are the hiring numbers really as good as I've been seeing? While being an airline pilot is probably most folks' ambition, I'd also be happy flying cargo or short-hop commuter routes. How do those industries look?

Any advice you have will be much appreciated. Even if I end up not flying for a living, I at least want to get my private license.

Thanks in advance!

~J
Click to expand...

Sorry, I have a few things to add: the trends go through cycles, right now things are good, but a few years ago it was VERY hard to find a job anywhere. Not everyone wants to fly for the airlines. I don't. First year pay at most of the regional airlines is brutal ($20k - $22k).

Cargo can be a lot of fun, but you do need to watch out for some operators out there as they can have pretty bad safety practices. The good thing about cargo is it will force you to be a great IFR pilot, boxes dont complain if your landing sucked, and there are a fair amount of jobs out there doing it. People may occasionally not fly, but there will always be a need for freight to be transported.

As for charter, at present, these jobs require more flight time to get into. With corporate flying its often a matter of who you know, or being in the right place at the right time. Schedule can vary - you can be on call virtually all the time, or 7 days on 7 off. It depends on the place.

Personally I've liked air ambulance the most. It can be stressful and you can easily feel, or be, rushed, but I liked the idea that I was doing something more important with my licenses.

I'd say right now, there are a lot of jobs, but finding a GOOD place to work can be a bit more challenging. Make sure you do this because you love it, not for money, it can take a LONG time before you make good money. That being said, it sure beats the hell out of being in a cubical. :)
 
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