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You are here: Experts > Recreation/Outdoors > Aviation > Careers: Flying & Aviation > Aspiring Pilot needs guidance
Expert: Ismar Avdic, Eng. - 10/26/2009
Question
First off all,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME! I can't tell you how much I appreciate any and all input I can get to help with one of the biggest decisions for my future.
I am currently 21, male, and as you guess -an aspiring pilot. I am currently enrolled in a state college (first year) to get pre-reqs out of the way, and then onto university.
My first majour dilemma is that I can't decide between helicopter and aeroplane. Both really interest me, and while I know all the pros do you know where I can look to find out ALL the information on what the respective pilots like and dislike about their jobs?
One of my MAIN concerns is HOW to get to my dream job. I don't have the money for flight training, so I really only have two options:
a) Take out a loan (if possible) and
b) Join the service
Can you give me any insight on ways to pay besides this? (scholarships, grants?)
If I take out a loan and complete flight school, I am scared to DEATH of graduating with $40-$60k in debt and no airline will hire me.
Can you please give me some insight into the possible job market and anything pertaining to this?
The other option I may have is enlisting (ROTC perhaps) and becoming a pilot through the AirForce/Navy.
Unfortunately, I don't know what my odds are of becoming a pilot, I have NO idea what the job(s) is/are like, and the commitment term is 10 years.
Can you by any chance give me some advice on this?
I like the civilian route because I feel I can begin flying much sooner, and do what I like -flying people around, giving tours, etc
With that said, the Military is intriguing as well -(IF i can selected) serving my country, flying some of the most advanced planes/helis on the planet, flying experience like none other, good pay, no loans, paid rent, etc
If you've read this far, I think it is all too clear that I am a 21 yr old CONFUSED AS HELL college student. It is so frustrating and nerve-racking I can't begin to tell you.
Can you give me any advice, tips, or otherwise on any of this?
Again I really appreciate your time and any knowledge you share with me. I can't await the day I am in my dream job, happy, and enjoying life -however I get there.
ps I am from Austria and, if possible, would love to return to Europe (somewhere) to fly. Are there any good routes / possibilites for this?
Answer
Hi,
Thanks for question. Here your first dilemma is really up to you. If you are lookig for an airline pilot flying your decision is already made with airplane, but also helicopters are fun too. A lot of pilots choose both categories and get both ratings on their licenses.
I do apsolutelly understand your fears, and I'll tell you that with 40-60K loan is just begging to get you for commercial license, that gives you chance to work for an smaller 135 charter outfit or if you add some more money to get an Flight Instructor rating will get you in seat as an flight instructor. I will tell you that in rality with 230-250 flight hrs. that what you will accumulate when you get your commercial license, airline will NOT hire you, unfortunatelly.
Airlines to be just qualified and be in hiring pool, you are looking for at LEAST 1200 flight hrs. and at least 100 multi-engine hours. That gap between commercial license and airline job has to be filled with additional experience flying as an 135 charter pilot with small or bigger multi-engine airplanes, or if you lucky with turbo-jet business airplanes. Now with that experience you are becoming more marketable for airlines expecially if you have fly with multi-engine tubo-jets planes (some people never goes to airlines, flying only Citation Jets, Falcons, GII or similar interconitental business jets, just because it is much better payed pilot job).
Military flying is completelly different as well as their conditions and requirements regarding education background and medical certification requiremenst. If you get with millitary in that way that would not cost you financially, but only with contract in years after completation of tarining and service.
ROTC is also good program that will get you foot with army and Navy afir force, but essentially that is similar as full time service air force pilot.
Now if I would suggest you way with least expenses, that would be following, if I knew that before I would do it, but we learn till we die. As my understanding you are right now in community college. That is fantastic, I would transfer to Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in AZ or FL. that is famous aviation university that almost 95 percent of pilots are graduating and represent aviation Oxford:-) Now ERAU has multiple programs in aviation, aviation management and also aviation administration, what I did not realize till few years ago that they actually have aviation tarining division with almost 30 aiplanes in their fleet. Now when you transfer on ERAU university and enroll in any of aviation programs they do not include pilot training till airline pilot license, but rather you have to request to be enrolled in that program, and as already an ERAU student that is not big deal. Now comes the best part. Normally all university students at leats 80 procent students do qualify for scholarsips with FAFSA Federal scholarships (you donot have to returned it back) (as long as you are citizen of USA or legal resident USA) if accepted and approved by FAFSA as normal student for student education with taking normal classes what will happen that will automatically get you paid your flight training section for flight training. So at the end of your college education you might be lucky and get all your flight training till airline pilot license and college degree in aviation management or similar for free or very limited loan amount. If I knew that 10 years ago I would pursue that course vs. paying each of my flight lessons directly in cash or with CC.
I hope that this works for you
If you are looking going back to Austria with FAA licenses you will have to do it almost all over again as requirement with CAA are different and they do accept FAA licenses however they will work you for additional flight time training, differences,and requirements and that can be extremelly expensive. One of my friends from Sweeden go back home to fly for Sweeden airline and he paid almost 25K just in additional training, for requrements, and getting licnses with CAA requiremenst.
I hope that my answer helps you, if you have additioanl questions, contact me
Ismar
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