I really want to get into the Professional Pilot career, but?

Question

I want to work for the big airliners, where do i start a college or aviation school? Ive been looking in many forums and many said that going to an aviation school is a waste and im better off taking a regular major in a local college then rely on a FBO to help me train

Appriciate any Anwsers

Thank You!

Answer 1

There are several good schools in America.  Embry Riddle is one of the best.  It will offer both the flying and the classroom work.  You will have your Bachelors Degree which really looks good on a flying resume.  Start teaching somewhere for only one reason.  What is called "Flight Instruction Given" time counts for double hours.  If you have 1000 hours of regular Pilot in Command time and 1000 hours Flight Instruction Given time an employer will consider you as having 3000 hours.  Also teaching will humble you till you will be able realize that the years as a first officer beside some primadonna pilot with an Airline Transport Pilot certificate will seem like a cake walk.

Answer 2

Get a regular degree, you never know when you'll need it.

FBOs are fine, but pay close attention to the quality of instruction.  Basically if you don't feel right, you should talk it out with the instructor and possibly move on somewhere else.

You will have several menial, low paying, hard flying jobs before consideration by a major.

Answer 3

Hello there,

So you want to fly for the majors (american airlines, continental...)"the big airliners". Beside your pilot licence, you will need a 4 year degree, to be competitive. I know pilots who work for the majors with a degree in law, pharmacy, engineering,... It is required.

You can take the aviation school route and combine your flying licence with  a 4 year degree....Embry-Riddle or University of North Dakota are universities to look at.

You can take the FBO route but be careful with some small flight school, the instruction you will get might not be as good as it should (for various reasons). You need to do some research before starting training with an FBO.

Now, what is the probability that you will start right of the bat flying for the majors is almost inexistant. You will probably (if the window of opportunity is open like now) start flying for a regional airline as a first officer on a turbo-prop or a regional jet. Once you hit 1500 hours and 23 years of age you will be eligible for the 4 stripes and the left seat....at that point, you can start looking at the majors....but to be competitive, you need more than 1500 hours.

Best of Luck

Answer 4

Any major.  

Community and state colleges.  

Local instructors.