Yes, you can fly like that. In fact, in these days of frantic hiring, the only thing standing between you and a flying career could be the right education. And when it comes to flight training, you've got plenty of options.
More than a half-million individuals are authorized by the FAA to pilot aircraft, and the U.S. Bureau of Statistics estimates that approximately 110,000 pilots are using their flying skills in some type of aviation career. In the grand scheme of things, that's not very many. Some football stadiums could comfortably accommodate the entire working pilot population. Of these working pilots, nearly 90,000 fly for the airlines; 15,000 to 20,000 fly for corporate America in business aircraft; the remaining numbers are employed in a variety of career positions ranging from air-taxi service to zebra spotting.
So how do you choose the training that will get you from a dream of flying to a career? The first step is to look at the education you already have and consider what elements you are missing.
The College Course
A four-year college degree from an accredited institution is a must for the best-paying jobs with aviation's top employers. Although a slim number of individuals with only a two-year associate's degree are hired into the major airlines and corporations, well over 90 percent of those who make the final cut have at least a bachelor's degree in something.
Now, here's the interesting part. It doesn't really matter what your major is. You truly do not need to major in aviation studies. In fact, Capt. Bill Rutherford, the vice president of flight standards and training at United Airlines, is a physician. Thousands of pilots flying airliners and corporate people-movers have college degrees in accounting, architecture, and just about anything else you can imagine. Indeed, there is something to be said for diversification. It's not a bad idea to have a fallback position in case you are ever grounded.
With that said, if you don't already have a college degree, many experts believe that making a total commitment to flying by getting your education at one of the aviation-oriented colleges and universities is a great way to go. In this environment, training for certificates and ratings, including commercial, instrument, single- and multiengine, and flight instructor qualifications, is combined with both aviation and traditional academic studies.
Barry Schiff, an author, speaker, and retired TWA captain, says, "Put all of the eggs in one basket. I don't think you can prepare with sufficient passion, motivation, dedication, and devotion to two careers. Professional flying is so competitive that I don't think anyone should take the risk of standing with one foot on second base and the other on third. You must be willing to devote all your of energy to one passion. Anything short of that can lead to failure. Anything and everything anybody wants to do has to be aviation involved."
Whether you adopt Schiff's philosophy or choose to give yourself a fallback option, grades count. Many companies, United Airlines among them, will ask to see a copy of your college transcripts during the interview - even if you are in your 30s or 40s.
Bill Traub, retired vice president of flight standards and training at United Airlines, has said that finishing what you start is of special interest to future employers. "If we see a number of 'withdrawals' and 'incompletes,' that doesn't bode well for the applicant," Traub said. "We also look at how well they did no matter what they did. We also look at what kinds of courses they took. Were they challenging? Were they worthwhile? If they were nonaviation-related, were they courses that could serve the individual if he or she was eventually grounded?"
Traub also suggests that pilots planning a career use college to develop attributes that are not only essential for airline employment, but also valuable assets in any field of endeavor. "Maturity, leadership, the ability to work in a team or social situation, and organizational skills are all areas that United looks at. Lacking in any of these areas is a show stopper for us."
If an aviation college makes sense and fits with your personal ambition and philosophy, the next factors to consider are cost and the kind of learning environment you prefer.
A number of large universities have excellent reputations in the aviation industry. Names like Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, University of North Dakota, Florida Institute of Technology, and others have a prime presence in aviation academia. One significant benefit of attending a major, name-brand university is its clout with the industry. These schools have a battery of career services personnel whose fulltime job is to forge relationships with employers. Not to mention the fact that the alumni associations of such schools can do wonders for the careers of emerging flying professionals. However, the price tag for this type of education can tally well into six figures.
If you can afford them, such schools are worth considering. Most even have agreements with airlines that can help graduates get that first crucial job interview. Embry-Riddle, for example, has an agreement with Atlantic Coast Airlines (ACA) that establishes selection criteria, specific course requirements, and preferred hiring status for qualified graduates of the university's aeronautical sciences program. The curriculum not only includes traditional flight training but ultimately the ACA Jetstream first officer training program.
You should also explore state colleges like Indiana State University, University of Nebraska-Omaha, San Jose State University, Western Michigan University, and University of Illinois. The quality of education is of the highest caliber, but because these are not strictly aviation-related schools, the number of aviation students is likely to be small. And because many of these schools receive state funding, you can save on tuition, especially if you are already a state resident. Still, you should expect to pay more than nonaviation students - as much as $35,000 to $70,000 over four years - because the aviation aspect of your training will come at additional cost.
Junior colleges offering two-year associates degrees in aviation are possibilities, too. Dixie College, Hesston College, Cochise College, and Northwestern Michigan College are examples of boutique campuses that offer fine programs in a smaller, more intimate atmosphere. Aviation program enrollments are often under 100 students at such schools compared to the aviation universities, which may have more than 1,000 flight students. Tuition at the two-year colleges is likely to be much lower, too.
Two-year programs generally include all pilot certificates and ratings through the CFI. After that, students can move on to a four-year university to finish degree studies in virtually any area.
If money is major issue, this can be an especially good strategy because students can work as flight instructors during the junior and senior years. That approach serves the dual purpose of allowing students to earn money and build flight time while still in school. At four-year aviation colleges, all FAA certificates and ratings are earned over a four-year period as opposed to the two-year period on the junior college level. That means waiting an additional two years to begin instructing.
According to the University Aviation Association, there are more than 200 colleges and universities offering some form of aviation curricula. A good place to start your research is on the AOPA Flight Training Web site ( www.aopaflighttraining.org ).
Proprietary Academies
As you consider your education options, don't overlook proprietary flight academies. Sierra Academy, Spartan School of Aeronautics, Airline Training Academy, Airline Transport Professionals, PanAm International Flight Academy, and others offer intense pro- grams in flight only. These academies can take a person from zero flight time right through the commercial, instrument, multiengine, and flight instructor ratings in 10 months to two years with an investment of somewhere between $50,000 and $85,000. It should be mentioned that many of these schools are associated with nearby colleges so students can earn college credit while undergoing training at the academy.
For instance, at Sierra Academy, a new pilot can enroll in the Direct Track Program. In 27 months and 2,700 hours of study, the school promises to take a person "from zero time to an airline." This intense program includes ATP certification as an option. All the while, the individual student can take college-level courses at an Embry-Riddle satellite campus or via the Internet.
Once a student earns CFII/MEI and successfully passes internal examinations and interviews, he or she can be selected as an instructor for Sierra. After accumulating 1,000 hours as pilot in command and 200 hours of multiengine experience, the pilot is guaranteed interviews with both American Eagle and Continental Express. The school claims nearly a 100 percent placement rate.
Other academies have similar programs to place graduates, but that's not the only reason to consider an academy. Perhaps you earned your college degree years ago. Now, you have set your sights on a professional piloting career and want to accumulate flight experience and ratings as quickly as possible. The flight academy can be the answer if you can commit the time and financial resources not only to invest in the training but to sustain yourself and your family while you are in school.
On the other end of the spectrum, some students choose to enroll in a flight academy after high school graduation. Then they can build time as instructors while earning a four-year degree.
Airline-Owned Academies
There are two well-known training institutions that have a direct feed into the regional airlines since they are operated in part by the airlines themselves: Comair Aviation Academy in Sanford, Florida, and San Juan College in Farmington, New Mexico. After completing a program of training at either of these schools, the graduate may find himself or herself flying for either Comair or Mesa Airlines immediately after leaving school.
One of the oldest and most successful airline-owned schools was started in 1989 when the Mesa Air Group and San Juan College came together to launch the Mesa Pilot Development Program. The aviation degree program was established for the sole purpose of grooming first officers for Mesa Airlines and its various subsidiaries.
Officials at San Juan College say, "In this way, the company can train pilots to its standards. The airline knows who the pilots are and the quality of training they have received. Designed as an ab-initio program, the training takes pilots from no time or very low time through the Part 121 checkride in less than two years."
The curriculum at SJC leads to a two-year associate's degree and includes training in Beech Barons and Beech 1900s. The bottom line: 98 percent of the program's graduates are accepted into the Mesa Air Group with an average time of just 300 hours.
Another well-known ab-initio school is Comair Academy in Sanford, Florida. Comair is owned outright by an airline, and most students are aiming toward a flying career with one of the most successful regional airlines in the country: Comair. However, the academy also trains pilots for its client airlines, like ACA, Continental Express, Piedmont, Skywest, and Mesaba.
Ed Comiskey, Comair Academy's director of training, says that trainees spend 10 to 12 months going from student pilot to CFI. During that period, known as "phase one" training, students fly an average of 200 to 225 hours.
"Phase two can lead to a position as a flight instructor for the academy," says Comiskey. "There are oral and flight exams. A selection board then reviews the work and progress of the pilot, not unlike a captains' review board at an airline. This is followed by a week-long standardization class. If the instructor applicant completes the regimen and tests successfully, he or she will be accepted into a staff of about 100 CFIs."
After another eight to 10 months and an additional 800 hours as an academy instructor, graduates are guaranteed a pilot interview with Comair (the airline). More than 97 percent of the school's CFIs find employment with Comair or another airline.
The final stage in Comair's Pro Pilot Course is a conditional offer of employment and six to seven weeks of training oriented to a particular airline. The school and its clients have developed training focusing on flight instruments, ATC procedures, simulator flight, systems, operations, and other advanced topics. Comair has placed more than 600 graduates with client airlines.
Throughout the entire program at Comair, a trainee can also earn a college degree as an option, thanks to affiliations with Jacksonville University, Miami-Dade Community College, and Broward Community College.
The Neighborhood Flight School
Of course, there's nothing wrong with staying home, attending a local college, and churning through the ratings at the neighborhood airport. This is a good option if you have family obligations that keep you close to home or if you already have a degree and need to keep your job while you train. Before you turn your dreams of becoming an airline pilot over to your local FBO, be sure that both you and the school are committed to meeting your goals.
Your local Part 61 flight school just may not have the resources to commit to your education. Instructors do come and go these days, and rental aircraft are susceptible to mechanical problems, delays, and the like. What's more, your local flight school may never before have been presented with someone who wants to charge through the ratings on the way to an airline career. It's possible that the staff just won't know what to do with you. So be sure to ask a lot of questions and make certain that the school can provide an instructor and airplane to meet your needs and schedule.
You may be able to save a significant amount of money on your training this way if you can set up a training schedule and stick to it. You may also be able to get a job instructing at the school once you've got the necessary ratings.
The old cliche is true: There's more than one way to skin a cat. There are many options to explore and all can lead to a paid flying job. Many employers are more interested in your flying ability and judgment than where you got your training. And, no matter where you get your education, there are no guarantees. Even programs that promise you an airline interview don't promise you a job. The best news is this: There is no one right way to go about getting a flying job. Take the approach that's right for you and soon you'll be living your dream.
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