WhiskeyPilot

I was wondering if somebody would be willing to give their personal opinions or answers to some questions I have? I would greatly appreciate it, as I have not found any other Pilot community quite as large as this one..

My situation -

I'm 19 years old, turning 20 in March. I have about 55 hours of flight time, starting from when I was just 16. I have not gotten my Private Pilot's License yet, I am just a written exam and checkride away from that, other than that, I have met all my requirements. I plan on getting my Pilots License very soon, in about 2 months.

After that, I want to continue my flight training to get qualified to fly for the airlines, which has been my one and only goal in life ever since I can remember. I love to travel, and I love airliners.

I may be moving to northern Virginia in about a year with my mother and girlfriend, near Richmond. There is an ATP school at Richmond International which I was thinking about enrolling in. Yes it'll be expensive but it'll also get me the job of a lifetime once completed.

I also want to enroll in a university or college of some sort out there, not sure of the degree.

So here are my questions..

1. Does anyone have anything terrible to say about ATP? Or is it a credited flight school? Say in the future I apply for an airline, will they like seeing that I went through the ATP program? Or is that something that is the bare minimum to them. Does it get you trained to be a well competent pilot? And I do not plan on taking the 90 day course, I plan on taking the self pace course, or the 10 month course.

2. A bachelors degree is required for all airlines correct? If so, what are some preferred degree's?
I do not want to get a degree in Aeronautical Science as that would not benefit me in anyway if something went wrong with my health and I couldn't fly anymore. I wanted to do Meteorology but I here you have to be a HUGE math wizz for that? What is a good degree you prefer, that looks good to airlines, helps if you end up not being a pilot, and isn't incredibly hard to get.

3. Is the future for pilots looking bad? Such as jobs and pay? Is it extremely hard to get hired right now? With the regionals and airlines? Does it look worst for the future or is it hard to say.

4. What did you do? For those who are already working for an Airline. What options did you take? What's your degree and how did you get your flight time?


If anyone would like to put their opionions and personal experience down I would so appreciate it. This is really the only place I've seen online in which so many pilots are actually active on the site. So any help would be much appreciated. Thanks guys

Slice

The search function is your friend. All of your questions have already been answered here.

WhiskeyPilot

I've read a few answers, thanks, just wanted to get some other people's opionions for my own situation.

ryan1234

go to a school with ROTC, get a scholarship (if you can)... keep flying on the side with federal grant money, get a degree in something you enjoy...... get a pilot slot with the military... and try to have fun.

jared4271987

Go military. They'll cover most of your flying expenses and then you get the chance to fly some awesome aircraft.

USMCFLYR

jared -

The military doesn't "cover" your flying expenses. That would be like saying that the military buys your ammo to shoot those nice M4s with. You are paid to be a military officer. You happen to be getting trained to fly - and fight.


USMCFLYR

WhiskeyPilot

So anyone have any answers besides "Military"?

Ewfflyer

Definately get "a" degree, doesn't matter what it is.

If you want bang-for-your-buck, stay away from ATP. The job market is crap right now, and will be for I'm guessing, another 2 years+ for low-time guys. Low-time guys are a dime-a-dozen right now, and will be for quite some time until the market demand goes way up again.

Av8nFL180nBelow

Im not an airline pilot, but I can tell you that you can get the same ratings and knowledge from a local FBO and it will be alot cheaper, as im sure you have probably already read. When you are working as a CFI and only eating top romen for 2 years as you try to pay back the loans from just flying at the FBO you will be much happier that you didnt take out twice the money.
Yes, a 4 year degree is pretty much required for all major airlines, and a 2 year for most regionals. It really doesnt matter what it is in. You just need it so you can check the box on the application. There is alot of debate over whether you should get an aviation degree or not. Just pick something you enjoy.
As for the future of the industry, it always goes up and down. But people will always need to get from one place to the other faster than cars can provide, so there will always be a need for pilots.

Take care

rickair7777

You have a lot of research to do (APC is not a bad place to start).

1. There is no such thing as a "credited flight school". Some schools have what is referred to as "Part 141" approval, which means you might get your ratings in fewer hours then the normal standard (which is Part 61). You will normally pay more for 141, which is a downside.

Generally, you want to get all of your ratings (PPL, IR, COMM, CFI, CFII. MEI)for as little money as possible, as long as safety is not compromised. This usually means smaller schools at local airports. Pilots rate schools based on cost and effeciency of the training, not so much on "quality"...for the most part you are going to be taught by the same low-time CFI's at most any school, and will be trained to the required FAA standards.

Employers don't care where you got your ratings, unless it was in the US Military. Other than that, all schools are the same.

ATP is probably about average for a large school, which is to say more expensive than other options. But ATP does not have the reputation for ripping people off, like most of the other large schools.

2. Major Airlines pretty much require a 4-year degree, but it can be in anything you like. Avoid aviation degrees if possible, you want to have some fall-back skill in case you get furloughed or lose your medical (you will almost certainly experience one of the two). Regional airlines do not always require a degree, but those are not places you want to get stuck at...they are stepping stones to major airlines. An aerospace engineering degree would be safe...pilot employment cycles are not directly linked to manufacturing cycles, and there should be a demand for engineers for a very long time.

3. The future is uncertain, but by the time you are reaady to look for a job, things will probably be better. Fuel costs are a long-term concern, but there are some ideas for alternatives to petroleum-based jet fuel. Also there is afreeze on retirements until Dec 2012...after that, pilots will start retiring again. The industry has always been cyclical with the economy, so if you wait long enough, there should be an opportunity. Pay can be pretty good, but it will be below poverty level for 5 years, then marginal-to-average for another ten years. If everything goes well, you might make decent money by age 40.

4. Again the degree does not matter. I will say that a technical degree will make advanced aircraft (jet) training easier, but it is by no means a requirement. Pick something that interests you and can hopefully help you find a job if you can't fly.

The usual path is either:

Military:
- 10 years of military flying, then a major airline

OR

Civilian:
- One year to get ratings
- 1-2 years of single-engine CFI work
- 1 year of multi-engine CFI work
- 1 year flying night cargo in small piston-engine airplanes (yu might skip this if you're lucky)
- 3 years as a regional FO (this may increase to 5-8 years since regional growth has stopped)
- 5-10 years as a regional airline CA.
- Then hired at a major airline.

Some folks fly corporate jets or other jobs instead of regional airlines, but it can be hard to get into that.