freezingflyboy

Linebacker,
I've kinda done both ways. I got my PPL at an FBO at home while I was in high school, did a bunch of $100 hamburger flying and then went to UND for college to finish things up. FBO flying is great because of the freedom and you'll learn more having to make decisions for yourself. At most large training schools you get sucked into what we call "the bubble" where there are specific ways of doing things and decision making is mostly done for you but then when you get out of "the bubble" and have to think for yourself, you can't. On the other hand, training at a "pilot factory" more closely resembles airline style training and is good preperation for a professional aviation career.

As far as your concern about instructing and finishing your degree: I got my CFI and CFII my junior year and started instructing that summer while taking some classes and then instructed for my entire senior year while I finished my degree with NO problems at all. Plus I was making more than my buddies who were flipping burgers and I was building those hours. As far as i know, there is no rule about getting your CFI AND having to graduate before you can flight instruct. Most FBOs are happy for the help (especially if you can gurantee THEM students )

Sorry for the long post, but here is my conclusion: If you are young (and it sounds like you are) save your money. You have time. Go to a real college, get a real degree and instruct at an FBO. Like someone else said, is that guranteed interview (with NO gurantee of a job) worth an additional $40-45K if its at an airline that nots hiring? You'll spend less on training and make more as an instructor and you'll learn more flying out in the real world having to make real decisions.

If you have any specific questions, feel free to PM me or ask on the board.

freezingflyboy

1,100 hours in 16 mos? That is VERY intense. Almost unrealisitcally instense. Besides that, how good of an instructor do you think you'll be after 4 months of training? How much confidence would you have in your instructor who got his PPL 6 months ago and is now teaching YOU?! Imagine this scenario, if you start your training in March and are instructing by September, you've never flown during the winter! Now you're teaching a new guy who starts in September how to fly!? In my opinion that is rediculous and dangerous. There is NO way you can have the proper skillset to be a safe and effective instructor with 4 months of training. I don't care how good the program is. You just have not seen enough and done enough yet. You guys that are in high school or just starting college, JUST RELAX! You have all the time in the world. Get out and experience life before you devote "8 hours a day 6 days a week" to training! How much fun are you going to be on those 4 day trips if all you can talk about is the wing loading on a C172 and how it effects glide distance? I know I would get tired of that conversation REAL quick.

freezingflyboy

Those rates sound pretty close to what the FBO I used to work for charged for late 70s/early 80s C172s WET. A 1975 C172 with a Garmin 430 in it is just as good (maybe a little slower) as a shiny 2006 C172 with a Garmin 430 in it and a BUNCH cheaper. Don't let the shiny paint fool you.

freezingflyboy

Makes me wonder how ANY of us who started at FBOs got by...

dcpilot

Don't trust any promises for interviews by any school. It is a best case scenario to get an interview. Also their is a lot of competetion and because you went to their school does not go very far no matter what the school promises. Don't get into serious debt because that job you are hoping to get an interview at probably pays less than you make now.

atpwannabe

You know, I had to make one more comment. You've gotta trust somebody out there with your training. There a various ways in which one can become an airline pilot (Part 121). If the company you're interviewing with determines that your training is at a level that meets or exceeds their standards...then jolly for you. Not everyone is going to take the same path. What works for one may not work for another. All I know is that I want to get into an FO position with a regional as quickly as possible, build my time, and then try to get on a major cargo or a major pax airline.

ryane946

They are wet. There is a $35 a month membership fee, but still if you are flying 2-3 times a month it works out.

A&F Flyer

I was enrolled in Bridgewaters DCA program and i honestly didnt like it at all. The school itself is a great place and i enjoyed my stay there. However i looked at the long term outcome of staying there and graduating and i decided it wasent in my best interest, i found the scheduale, aircraft and instructors to be less than what they should be. But then again its all based on what you want and how you see it.

Best of luck.