Expert: David A. NewMyer - 10/22/2004

Question
I am looking to begin a new career as an airline pilot.  I started looking at flight schools and there appears to be a wide discrepency in price, what should I look for that differentiates one school from another?

Thank you!

Mike

Answer
Hi, Michael:

Thanks for your question.  I will try to assist....

First of all, there is an excellent listing of aviation-related universities and colleges offering aviation degrees called THE COLLEGIATE AVIATION GUIDE.  It is published by the University Aviation Association and is available from UAA by calling (334) 844-2434 or emailing uaa@auburn.edu to order (the cost is around $25).  This publication contains some good, comparable information for each school that should assist you in your search for a school that fits your needs.

Second, what I would look for if I were looking for a flight school (and, by that, I am assuming you mean a college or university that offers flight training) are some of the following characteristics:

1.  Reputation in the aviation industry...what do others say about the school.

2.  Placement opportunities into the aviation industry in terms of job placement service, internship programs, cooperative education links to industry, job fairs offered on campus, bridge hiring programs, etc.  Not every school offers every one of these options, but, they should offer two or three.

3.  An array of different offerings in aviation such as aviation flight, aviation management, aviation technologies, air traffic control, aviation weather, etc.

4.  Campus life in terms of its diversity of things for a student to experience...is it a comprehensive campus with a wide range of cultural, athletic and student organizations available to students?

5.  Is a National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) team supported on this campus?

6.  Faculty....did you have a chance to meet with them during a campus visit and were those interactions positive?

7.  Aircraft fleet...is it owned by the school and is it well maintained?

8.  Airport facilities and air traffic control....is the facility on which the campus based one where you as a student will receive good services and will be safely handled within the air traffic control system?  Also, is the airport where flight training is offered a reasonable distance from campus?

9.  Cost....is the cost reasonable considering what is being offered (consider tuition costs, room and board, flight fees, books and incidentals).

10.  Individual items:  What sort of things do YOU want to know to "customize" the visit to a campus to your needs?

I would keep a detailed list of notes on a common set of  questions for each campus visit that you make....and, I would suggest visiting at least three campuses for comparision purposes.  By keeping to a common set of questions (and answers) you can compare all of your notes later in a common format and make a decision about the best campus for you.

I hope that this is of assistance to you.

Best wishes,

David A. NewMyer, Ph.D., Professor and Chair
Aviation Management and Flight
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
http://www.aviation.siu.edu