Expert: David A. NewMyer - 9/5/2005

Question
I have been working with Fedex for a year and looking into an
aviation career with the intention of flying for FedEx years down
the road.  I am looking for some direction at what schools to
look at in the SF bayarea and generally how the best way to go
about the career path.
Thanks
Brad

Answer
Hi, Brad:

I am not sure that I can help too much with specific referrals to flight schools in the Bay Area.  I would suggest checking the following websites for referrals to flight schools:

www.beapilot.com

www.aopa.com

www.nata.com

I know of one school, Sierra Academy, at Oakland International Airport, that has a pretty good national reputation....I know that we have had some graduates of ours go there in past years to work as flight instructors.  I would also recommend a "Google" search for San Franciso flight schools and then one for Oakland flight schools and see what you come up with.....

As far as the best way to go on a career path, make sure you check with FEDEX on their pilot hiring requirements (especially education, certifications and flight time requirements) so that you can make sure you know what you have to do to be hired.  Generally, the larger airlines look for 2500 to 4000 hours of total flight time and 500 to 1000 hours of pilot in command time in turbine aircraft.  That means several years of flight experience at other locations before actually being qualified to interview at FEDEX.  As far as a process for getting to that point, generally, the regional airlines are a great way to build turbine flight time quickly.

I hope that this information 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