I need to be put into the right direction?

Question

Im going into the JR.ROTC this year. im 14. I wish to be a airline pilot, but i am overwelmed.

Most Airlines want a four year college degree....

So im going to college, but what should i study?

After i get my Privates, Im going here.

http://www.atpflightschool.com/.

It cost 55k for me to get everything and build hours.

So Will i be in Debt until im 50 years old going to college and flight school?

And are these payrates accurate?

http://www.willflyforfood.cc/airlinepilotpay/

And do they get paid by the hour?

Thanks

And what are some fun but fast ways to build multi engine time?

Answer 1

Join the military.

Let Uncle Sam pay for your flight training.

Answer 2

Really doesn't matter at all what your four-year degree is in, just as long as you have one. Avoid the aviation-oriented colleges, they are very expensive and act like they don't care about your business at all.

Cheapest way to get your licenses and ratings is at a Mom'n'Pop local place at a small airfield. Or, you could join the military - but the washout rate is very high for military, it is very helpful to have some civilian flight trainng before you start military flight training.

ATP and other flight academies should be avoided. They are extremely expensive; and while most are not unsafe, many specialize in turning out pilots who meet the "minimum" competency standards just to get folks through the door. You will be in debt for a very very long time after attending one of those places. If you must go there, then I'd suggest your PPL and instrument rating and CPL elsewhere, then study your buns off and go to one the academies for multi-engine time.

The payrates are accurate - bear in mind they don't include four 40-hour weeks since you only get paid for actual time the plane is flying. Expect a maximum of about 70-80 hours per month at most carriers.

Answer 3

Most Airlines want a four year college degree....

So im going to college, but what should i study?

See my answer to your previous question. It doesn't matter what you study. I suggest that you study something that really interests you that can possibly provide decent employment opportunities if the airline career doesn't pan out. The airlines don't really care what you have a degree in, so getting an aeronautics degree from someplace like ERAU is not a great advantage (it hasn't helped me). I've spent almost 20% of my flying career either furloughed or laid off due to troubles in the industry and dearly wish I had a degree more useful than "aeronautical studies".

After i get my Privates, Im going here.

http://www.atpflightschool.com/....

It cost 55k for me to get everything and build hours.

You probably won't be going there for at least 4-5 more years. Expect the prices to rise substantially by then. I'd say at least 25%.

So Will i be in Debt until im 50 years old going to college and flight school?

I did not get any financial help going to college or flight school and I was not to completely pay off those debts until I was about 41 years old. Needless to say, I never drove new cars or lived in particularly nice places all that time because I couldn't afford them. I also did not get married or have children until after those debts were paid off.

And are these payrates accurate?

http://www.willflyforfood.cc/airlinepilo...

And do they get paid by the hour?

Yes, that website is reasonably up to date and the pay rates are per flight hour, although not all carriers pay that way so some estimates have been made to convert to an hourly rate. Remember, that pay is per flight hour, not duty hour. For example, you might work a 12 hour duty day four days (which is fairly typical) a week but you might only fly 4 hours per day in that period. As a new-hire turbojet FO at Mesa Airlines with a 70-hour per month pay guarantee, your pay would be about $368 plus per diem, which would add maybe another $50, for a total of around $428 per week before taxes. Divide that by 48 duty hours and the true hourly rate if you worked four 12 hour shifts is about $8.91 per hour. You can earn that as a stocker at the local grocery store. Pretty dismal.

And what are some fun but fast ways to build multi engine time?

Before you are employable in any of the jobs where you can build time quickly, I can't think of any. Fun is a relative thing. If working long hours and being paid barely above minimum wage to build flight hours as a copilot is what floats your boat, then I guess you could call it "fun".

Answer 4

You ask a lot of good questions, but you are getting a little bit ahead of yourself.  No, you won't be in debt until you are 50.  Nobody would loan you money for that length of time anyway.  It doesn't matter what you study in school, the airlines don't care what your degree is in.  It would be smart to get a degree that you can use for a backup career, as many things can happen in a pilot's lifetime.  Engineering would be a good one, and some sort of banking would be another good choice.  Don't worry about getting a degree that relates to flying, as they are somewhat usless anyway.  

Pilots do get paid by the hour at most airlines, and yes, the airline you quoted is usually accurate.  If you are doing this to make a lot of money, I would suggest a different career.  If you love to fly and can't see yourself doing anything else, then why not give it a try.  The hourly rate may seem high, but that covers a lot more than just flight time.  You don't get paid while you are preflighting or checking the weather, or waiting for your next flight.

There are no easy or fast ways to build multi time.  Building multi-engine time is one of the most difficult things you will ever do.  Going to ATP and getting most of your ratings in twins will help, and then you will just have to get a job that has a way to build multi time.  You might want to instruct in twins for awhile before you get your first real job.  Just try to get the heaviest and dirtiest time you can, which means larger aircraft and lots of weather and busy airport flying.  Again, you are getting a bit ahead of yourself as you will have years to find out about all of this stuff.  Once you get your first paid flying job, you will learn more than you wanted to know from other people you will meet.  Just take it one step at a time, and don't worry about the debt you will have when you are 50.  Just set goals for yourself and work toward them.

Good luck.

Answer 5

I have attended both ERAU and ASU's flight program.  I cant stress this enough!!! under no circumstance should you attend these programs or any other at any university.  This cost is far greater than at an ATP and you'll be treated like dirt (remember the universities act like they dont need your business!) .  I would agree with the other answers that you do want a degree but would highly highly recommend its in something other than professional flying.  I wasted far too much money and time to not really get far.  I agree with ben dere....i can name ten or so guy that even with a degree from ERAU couldn't find real work after college.  many left the industry....much like me! I have some personal experience with ATP.  I would say they are a good reliable training facility.  Just be careful and manage your money well...you'll need every penny.   really really really spend alot of time thinking if this is worth it for you.....the industry is in shambles and its not looking any better for the future.  good luck!

Answer 6

Study what you can handle and what interests you the most.  Any degree is fine.

Get your training reputably.  Avoid flight academies.

You need the multiengine rating, not multiengine time, to get hired at an airline.  Build multiengine time at 1000 hours per year by flying at an airline that uses turboprops.

Build jet time by flying  at airlines that use jets.

Answer 7

I came to the US from England in 1998 when I was 34 years old just to fulfill my childhood dream of flying. I left school at 16 and have no degree.

Get your licences the cheapest way you can, get your instructor rating and get to Part 135 minima (check the regs for exact times for cross-country, night, etc) then get a job flying freight to build multi-engine time - I went from 30 hrs to 1300 hrs multi time in about 18 months. If you can do this and gain turbine time at the same time then do it. I would recommend Ram Air Freight (based in Raleigh, NC - piston only),  Air Net, or Mountain Air freight - I flew with Ram Air myself and there may well be others depending on where you are.