I Need Some Help/opinions

[magellanian]

Hi,

I figured this board is as good a place as any to ask the question I've been tossing around for a while. In my quest to become a professional pilot, which is the best course to go at it - An Aviation Diploma program, or taking flight training to eventally obtain a muti engine IFR rating?

I would ideally like to complete my training as quickly as possible when I get the funding. I have also recieved a university degree in the past, so I've heard that the best way to save money is to not do a diploma program. I am fairly ambitious in my pursuit for this as a career and would like to have the best, most challenging training possible.

Thanks for your input and opinions!

 

[tDawe]

If your looking for the quickest route possible your going to want to stay away from college programs, which are all about 2-3 years in length, and regardless of how much $ you have or how quickly you WANT to finish, your training will always last as long as the program, which may leave you sitting around on the ground with money to burn.

tDawe

 

[iflynkd]

I'd agree with tDawe and skip the diploma. The big sell for those programs is the extra education, but you already have that, so why bother.

I think you'll find that the reply you get will depend more on the history of the person you're asking. I didn't go the college/diploma route, and my career has turned out just fine, thank you very much. I also know lots of folks that went the college route and never turned a prop after graduating.

I think that you'll also find that for 98% of the companies that hire low time pilots, the fact that you have a diploma/ degree means SFA to them, and many in fact view it as a detriment. I know that when I was doing hiring that you knew you'd spend 6 months deprogramming the college guys, but that was just my experience. We hired from both pools, and in the end were happy with both.

Good luck

 

[wridon]

The fastest way to a career is to start networking now.

As has been stated, you have a post secondary education. It makes little difference in what.

Who you know and better, Who Knows You, is what will help you to land that first job and will help you to progress through the early stages of your career development.

You can learn to fly at just about any flight school in the country, but some will be in a better position to help you to get to know some of the players.

The "College" programs are aimed mainly at those who have not stayed in the "School System" past grade 12, and that is good for them. You would get a little extra from a structured Aviation Program, but with a little effort on your own you can get that without paying for it.

Believe it or not, Forums like this can help you. There are some on here who can help you with your career. Check out other forums as well. Read some of the posts and try to get a feel for those who seem to know what they are talking about. (usually that is the ones who do the least griping, but not always [right CW]).

Good Luck
:unsure:

 

[Krome]

But ultimately the best way into the industry, providing you meet the strict requirements - and you meet one w/ a degree - is the military. I tried the civi route and it left me hangin after 911. Not saying it happens all the time because there are many patient, persistant, and successful people. But my preferred route has been with the military and you definately can't beat the training. The aircraft on the other hand...

 

[Laser]

I am fairly ambitious in my pursuit for this as a career and would like to have the best, most challenging training possible.

Good for you. But don't make the mistake of assuming that a college program will provide flight training that it is better than that available from flying schools. Actually, many college programs, e.g. UWO, contract out the actual flight training to neighbouring flying schools.

Different people may have different views, but I believe that the following two propositions may be stated as objective facts:

(1) If you arrange your training on an individual basis rather than entering a structured program, you can customize things so that you receive the specific training that you want, rather than settling for run-of-the-mill stuff (e.g., you can do much of your commercial license on floats, rather than buzzing around in the usual C-172s);

(2) No matter what diploma a pilot candidate has, he or she won't get any job without sufficient flying experience. As college programs usually (but perhaps not always? Check around) cost more than pursuing licenses and ratings at private flying schools, they will eat up money that you could otherwise spend acquiring additional flight time.