Where do I start?

[WacoFan]

Another quick question, do y'all recommend attending a dedicated aviation university or pursuing a standard college degree while completing flight training on the side? I know that an FAA-approved aviation degree offers R-ATP eligibility, which lowers the requirement to 1,000 hours. This is a good way to reach the airlines sooner. However, I also want a solid backup plan in case life happens. I feel that a degree in Engineering or Economics offers better career security outside of flying compared to a specialized aviation degree. Is the speed of the R-atp worth the trade-off in degree versatility?

If you absolutely do it right and have the means, I could see you having your CFI by the time you start college, or soon thereafter (or if long, maybe do a skip year after HS to finish flying thru CFI). Then, you could be flight instructing and various time building as a job while you attend college. Then the ATP-R would be irrelevant because you'd have plenty of time logged by the time you graduated and I imagine would be far more impressive to a hiring board than a minimum time academy type.

 

[Kingairer]

If you absolutely do it right and have the means, I could see you having your CFI by the time you start college, or soon thereafter (or if long, maybe do a skip year after HS to finish flying thru CFI). Then, you could be flight instructing and various time building as a job while you attend college. Then the ATP-R would be irrelevant because you'd have plenty of time logged by the time you graduated and I imagine would be far more impressive to a hiring board than a minimum time academy type.

That would be a very steep hill to climb. Cant even do your commercial until 18. Trying to meet those requirements, swim, and do CFI all while trying to graduate high school, yikes, dont forget to enjoy life a little bit. Just get on the track and youll be fine. Go to the University where theres a progression of CFIs who will leave as soon as school is over. You get guaranteed students to fly with, no stress. Lots of ways to go about this, but dont forget to have some fun doing other things along the way.

 

[Shiftace]

I’m definitely looking into it, but my concern is that if something were to happen, like losing my medical or if life takes a different turn, I wouldn’t want to end up with an Aviation Management degree (Unsure if any 141 programs do regular degrees) from a 141 program that might limit my career options. I’m just thinking ahead and want to make sure I have backup plans in place. I'm still looking into it as of now and reaching out to coaches for the recruiting season that's coming up to see what my options look like, one of the Usafa Coaches had reached out to my team coach inquiring on a couple kids from my team including me so my parents want me to consider that. Thank you all for the advice!

I think you would be fine as long as you have a degree. We have students who graduated with a flight degree that are working in sales/demo pilot roles at places like Textron (owner of Beechcraft and Cessna). Some do airport management and the like. Others are working as drone operators. Working as an instructor pilot at Flight Safety/CAE is an option.

Aviation is a big enough industry that you can find something. Don't worry too much about losing the medical - and life **will** throw some curve balls at you. Get those ratings and get those hours while you can.

I say all of this as someone who has no aviation degrees at all. Having a degree does make a difference; but how you network and apply yourself is the bigger piece.

 

[CFIT99]

Another quick question, do y'all recommend attending a dedicated aviation university or pursuing a standard college degree while completing flight training on the side? I know that an FAA-approved aviation degree offers R-ATP eligibility, which lowers the requirement to 1,000 hours. This is a good way to reach the airlines sooner. However, I also want a solid backup plan in case life happens. I feel that a degree in Engineering or Economics offers better career security outside of flying compared to a specialized aviation degree. Is the speed of the R-atp worth the trade-off in degree versatility?

Again awesome questions...

a few thoughts in a nutshell:

1. Go to college and get it something that you enjoy AND is marketable. As someone who has an Aviation degree, yes I get to check a box but it's range of "grandeur" doesn't extend past that. Also you never know when/if aviation doesn't work out and you end up somewhere else other than a pilot (FTR, that might mean, maintenance, ATC, airport management, etc)

2. NETWORKING, this is vastly more important than getting the degree(in terms of job acceptance). While the degree is a prerequisite, networking is what gets you noticed. I've had 14 flying jobs before I got to my dream legacy and ALL of them (except one) was acquired because I knew someone that helped me. Remember this is an extremely small industry (~120,000 professional pilots, compared to the field of doctors and lawyers, that's a fraction). I still run across pilots that I haven't seen in over a decade.

3. Lastly, SLOW DOWN AND ENJOY THE RIDE. Meaning don't worry about getting to the airlines as fast as possible. Burnout and the next career slow down will challenge your motivation. And there's no quicker way to leave this industry than a derailed career projection.

Remember the average new hire age at a Legacy is around 40, (don't use the last 5 years as the norm because it most definitely isn't.)

Good Luck!

 

[aviationgeekatsfo]

Hey everyone,

Just a update, I’ve been doing A LOT of flying and really love it, going around the bay and flying in the early SF Fog with my instructor and also got my friend into aviation, but I also have been thinking about my path into aviation and wanted to get some honest feedback from people actually in the industry.

Right now, I’m considering going the flight school route (possibly ATP or another program) right after high school, building hours as quickly as possible, and working toward the regionals. At the same time, I’d be working on an online degree (In something I will enjoy and a good backup) while instructing or time-building, so I’m not skipping the degree entirely...just doing it alongside flying instead of the traditional 4-year college first route.

The idea in my head is:

• Flight school to CFI to build hours
• Work on an online degree during that time
• Get to the regionals or any flying job then live live however it flows

I’m not in a rush to speedrun everything (I want to take my time, just not too long) I just want to be efficient without screwing myself long term.
But I keep going back and forth wondering if this is actually a solid plan, or if I’m overlooking something big and should just go to college first, then fly.

So I’m looking for advice on whether doing flight training first while working toward an online degree is actually viable long term, and if skipping the traditional college route or an aviation degree will matter later when trying to get hired at a major. (Also 141 online degree programs too)

I’m also curious if those of you already in the industry would do it differently if you were starting over today, and whether I might be underestimating the burnout that could come from balancing flying and school at the same time. I’d appreciate any blunt advice,good or bad, just trying to sanity check because its been on my mind for a very long time. (I'm only asking because my instructor said he knows lots of people who do the online degree after flight school route) they also give you college credit for FAA Certs *shrugs*

Thanks for your insight.

 

[DE727UPS]

Hey everyone,

Just a update, I’ve been doing A LOT of flying and really love it, going around the bay and flying in the early SF Fog with my instructor and also got my friend into aviation, but I also have been thinking about my path into aviation and wanted to get some honest feedback from people actually in the industry.

Right now, I’m considering going the flight school route (possibly ATP or another program) right after high school, building hours as quickly as possible, and working toward the regionals. At the same time, I’d be working on an online degree (In something I will enjoy and a good backup) while instructing or time-building, so I’m not skipping the degree entirely...just doing it alongside flying instead of the traditional 4-year college first route.

The idea in my head is:

• Flight school to CFI to build hours
• Work on an online degree during that time
• Get to the regionals or any flying job then live live however it flows

I’m not in a rush to speedrun everything (I want to take my time, just not too long) I just want to be efficient without screwing myself long term.
But I keep going back and forth wondering if this is actually a solid plan, or if I’m overlooking something big and should just go to college first, then fly.

So I’m looking for advice on whether doing flight training first while working toward an online degree is actually viable long term, and if skipping the traditional college route or an aviation degree will matter later when trying to get hired at a major. (Also 141 online degree programs too)

I’m also curious if those of you already in the industry would do it differently if you were starting over today, and whether I might be underestimating the burnout that could come from balancing flying and school at the same time. I’d appreciate any blunt advice,good or bad, just trying to sanity check because its been on my mind for a very long time. (I'm only asking because my instructor said he knows lots of people who do the online degree after flight school route) they also give you college credit for FAA Certs *shrugs*

Thanks for your insight.

If I had it to do over I'd not go to Riddle. Secondly, if I had it to do over I major in a second area of interest that makes a good side gig. Sadly, I had nothing back then. Now? Well, maybe some sort of cyber security or IT thing would have been cool. For those in that biz I'm sure they would hardly say it's a side gig. But something to do with computers or maybe finanice. An aviation degree is worthless but that's all I could come up with when I was young. Outside an R-ATP program where you actually get hired at 1000 hours, I don't see an aviation major as being useful. It's a big gamble to put all your cards in an R-ATP college and then have it not pay off. I'm a pessimest by nature, so I'd not go that route. A degree or any sort of college is not necessary to enter the career. Get your CFI and get a job instructing. Worry about the degree later. If you fall into something you like that doesn't require a degree than you'll be four years and thousands of dollars ahead. If you decide you need a degree to reach a top tier major airline, then you can check that square later on.

 

[Mavmb1]

Hello everyone, happy New Year.
So.. I’m a high school sophomore and currently trying to figure out what I want to do career-wise as its time to start thinking bout it. I really love flying and aviation in general, and becoming a pilot seems like a fun and fulfilling career compared to a typical desk job. For those of you already in the industry, what are some pros and cons of flying as a career that aren’t obvious at first?
I’m also wondering where I should start with training. I’ve found an online ground school and was thinking about starting this summer to study for my PPL written or is there something else I should be focusing on first?
Lastly, I’m pretty lost when it comes to education and cost. Should I aim for USAFA and go the military route, or go civilian? How did you cover the cost of training, and what would you recommend to someone in my position?
Any advice or insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Start with you tube training videos and get a subscription to the flight training magazine from aopa if you can. Then get your medical and student pilot certificate and take lessons at your local airport. And be careful of this website: not everyone on here is nice.

 

[bp]

Hey everyone,

Just a update, I’ve been doing A LOT of flying and really love it, going around the bay and flying in the early SF Fog with my instructor and also got my friend into aviation, but I also have been thinking about my path into aviation and wanted to get some honest feedback from people actually in the industry.

Right now, I’m considering going the flight school route (possibly ATP or another program) right after high school, building hours as quickly as possible, and working toward the regionals. At the same time, I’d be working on an online degree (In something I will enjoy and a good backup) while instructing or time-building, so I’m not skipping the degree entirely...just doing it alongside flying instead of the traditional 4-year college first route.

The idea in my head is:

• Flight school to CFI to build hours
• Work on an online degree during that time
• Get to the regionals or any flying job then live live however it flows

I’m not in a rush to speedrun everything (I want to take my time, just not too long) I just want to be efficient without screwing myself long term.
But I keep going back and forth wondering if this is actually a solid plan, or if I’m overlooking something big and should just go to college first, then fly.

So I’m looking for advice on whether doing flight training first while working toward an online degree is actually viable long term, and if skipping the traditional college route or an aviation degree will matter later when trying to get hired at a major. (Also 141 online degree programs too)

I’m also curious if those of you already in the industry would do it differently if you were starting over today, and whether I might be underestimating the burnout that could come from balancing flying and school at the same time. I’d appreciate any blunt advice,good or bad, just trying to sanity check because its been on my mind for a very long time. (I'm only asking because my instructor said he knows lots of people who do the online degree after flight school route) they also give you college credit for FAA Certs *shrugs*

Thanks for your insight.

in the past people recommended getting a degree in something unrelated to aviation to have a fallback if you get furloughed, I think degrees are becoming less of a security blanket with AI and entry level jobs are getting harder to find. getting one online and keeping your flying up seems a good idea- i’d suggest still developing other skills besides flying if you can, a trade or general handiness will go far if you need it

 

[Pilot Fighter]

Hello everyone, happy New Year.
So.. I’m a high school sophomore and currently trying to figure out what I want to do career-wise as its time to start thinking bout it. I really love flying and aviation in general, and becoming a pilot seems like a fun and fulfilling career compared to a typical desk job. For those of you already in the industry, what are some pros and cons of flying as a career that aren’t obvious at first?
I’m also wondering where I should start with training. I’ve found an online ground school and was thinking about starting this summer to study for my PPL written or is there something else I should be focusing on first?
Lastly, I’m pretty lost when it comes to education and cost. Should I aim for USAFA and go the military route, or go civilian? How did you cover the cost of training, and what would you recommend to someone in my position?
Any advice or insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

A few questions.

Do you want to be a commercial pilot?

Do you want to be a military officer?

Do you want to be a military pilot?

If a career as a pilot was off the table, what career would you pursue?

Is your family poor, middle class, upper middle class, or rich?

Are you a good student?

Do you have any medical issues?

 

[ppragman]

Another quick question, do y'all recommend attending a dedicated aviation university or pursuing a standard college degree while completing flight training on the side? I know that an FAA-approved aviation degree offers R-ATP eligibility, which lowers the requirement to 1,000 hours. This is a good way to reach the airlines sooner. However, I also want a solid backup plan in case life happens. I feel that a degree in Engineering or Economics offers better career security outside of flying compared to a specialized aviation degree. Is the speed of the R-atp worth the trade-off in degree versatility?

I recommend getting your ratings on the side from an education in something else. You definitely need a backup plan (ask me how I know), and you also might find you like some of the other subjects you learn. More education == more better.

The speed of an R-ATP is not really helpful. When I got started, I think I got my first real job with like 400TT? And the first year I flew like 1000+ hours? The 500 hours or whatever that R-ATP saves you isn't really that critical. Also, everyone flies about the same after 3000 hours, military, civilian, etc. you either "get it" by then or you don't. If you go fly SPIFR freight or the bush for a year or two you'll be fine and actually be decent at flying most likely.

Also, dude, have fun! Have as much fun as you possibly can without doing anythign stupid. Take the job flying floats in SE AK, or flying Caravans in the Caribbean or whatever. Go have fun. The world is your oyster.

What I'm telling my one kid who is interested in flying, "get your ratings, then do online school in whatever subject your interested in, and fly for a living." Who cares if college takes you 7 years or whatever? You'll graduate with a degree you like in something you're interested in, and you'll have like 4000TT or so. You can do it!