Expert: D. Norkus - 5/16/2006

Question
Hi, thanks for the quick response, I just have to clear a few thing up for you. I am already training at my local FBO for my private pilot certificate, I was just wondering if it really was worth going to a flight academy to be ahead of the other pilots when applying for a job. I work well in both of the atmosphere's that a FBO and an academy offers, and money is not a huge problem. I just want to find out if an academy like the ones you suggested (PanAM/ATP) will get my a job with an airline, sooner then if I worked as a flight instructor? Thanks again for your help, I really appreciate it!

John



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Followup To
Question -
Hi, I am currently in the process of getting my private pilot certificate and was wondering where I should go from here to get a job as a pilot. I was wondering if I should continue to take lessons at my local FBO which is in arizona and hopefully get a job there instrucing to build time or go to one of the flight academys like PanAm or Regional Airline Academy? I do not have a college degree yet, but I do plan to enroll in the Utah Valley State College online aviation degree after I finish up with my private certificate. Also is it really necessary to get a degree, I know it would put me ahead of the guy without one, but will it really be the deciding factor in who gets the job? I know there are alot of questions here but I would really appreciate your help! Thanks in advance
Answer -
John

The choice to go via a local FBO/flying club or via an academy/school is really up to what you feel most comfortable with and what fits your budget. What is right for one pilot is not for another for various reasons. What you need to do is narrow your list down to 4 maybe 5 then go and visit each place and talk with the students. (Not solely their PR & recruitment departments.) From the student perspective you can glean much more about the school than what they tell you.

There is so much research that needs to go into this choice to suit you, so you need much more info than you can get via this forum- especially current & past student perspectives. If you cannot get out to the schools of your choie, go to the message boards at these sites and read posts about them to help you get information:

http://www.jetcareers.com
http://forums.flightinfo.com

Both sites are wonderful resources for the aspiring pilot. Jetcareers even has folders for specific schools on their boards.

You can also check out my page on careers and flight training at http://www.geocities.com/av8trxx99/FAQ.html

I haven't heard many good things about the RAA but Pan Am is OK and I have met some ATP career program grads who were very pleased. http://www.atpflightschool.com

Yes, it is really necessary to get a degree. There may be a regional that will hire without one although they prefer at least a 2 year. However, to get a job with a major a bachelors degree is an absolute necessity.

Hope this can help get you started. If you have more questions, feel free to ask.
Dottie

Answer
John

Regardless if yu have your PPL now or not, the only way you will get an airline job sooner than anyone else at your local flight school is:

1) You go via an accelerated academy program that promises an interview at reduced flight times. (Like the Mesa PACE program, which a friend of mine did and was hired at 350TT in the CRJ.)

2) You go to an acedemy, finish your commercial, ME & inst faster, then build time faster than those at the local school by teaching for the academy. I work with a pilot who started flying from at ATP in 2004 with a PPL only, became a ME CFI there and by the end of 2005 was hired at American Eagle with 600TT (450 of it multi). It cost $39K.

The ability to build flight time no matter what school/acadmemy you attend is what gets you ahead of other pilots. Not simply because you went to 'Top Gun Flight School'. Such academys usually have such a "pilot mill" that the hours come fast. Otherwise, you must align yourself with a busy local flight school. Smaller mom & pop flight schools just aren't as busy so you won't advance as fast.

Since only you knw the job prospects in yur area, you will have to consider which will suit you.

Dottie