Question:
As you know, the cost of flight school is quite expensive. Do you think pulling out a 40-60k loan would be wise considering that in the beginning of their careers pilots get paid very little. If pulling out such a loan isn't feasible what are my options in paying for school.
Answer:
Most advanced educations cost money, whether it is an education from a university (Doctorate, Masters) or advanced technical training from a medical school or flight school. The question thus becomes: will you reap the rewards of such education? Unfortunately, only you can answer that question.
Much like doctors, pilots start their career earning very little and continue to earn very little for quite some time. It is a “back loaded” career. so you must be prepared to hike the road of Top Ramen and Star-Kist Tuna before you feel like you have “arrived.”
Let’s face it, since deregulation people don’t fly for the money. They fly for the passion, the drive, the love and joy of actually piloting an aircraft. With this in mind, I ask you; why do you want to be a pilot?
If you truly desire to become a pilot and are faced with financing difficulties, I advise you to take the time to visit an aeronautical university. They have financial aid offices that are equipped to help you find the money. Some schools will also hire you as an instructor, or otherwise, to help pay for your education. You are going to have to pick up the phone and ask.
Wishing you the best in your endeavors...
Regards,
Lori Clark
Showing posts with label Flight Schools. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Flight Schools. Show all posts
Monday, May 19, 2008
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Silver State Helicopters
Just this morning I was talking with another aviation friend who informed me of another aviation casualty. Silver State Helicopters filed chapter 7 on February 7th of this year. Apparently, there was no notification to students and/or staff.
If you were a student of Silver State Helicopters there may be some recourse for you. A class action suit has been filed and if you haven't already, I recommend you contact the attorney leading the charge - Michael Berger in Los Angeles. Mr. Berger's firm can be contacted through one of the links listed below.
I wish each of you affected by this action the very best.
http://www.tcvsystems.com/HeloPilots
http://www.silverstatehelicoptersbankruptcy.com
http://postflightinspection.com
Regards,
Lori Clark
If you were a student of Silver State Helicopters there may be some recourse for you. A class action suit has been filed and if you haven't already, I recommend you contact the attorney leading the charge - Michael Berger in Los Angeles. Mr. Berger's firm can be contacted through one of the links listed below.
I wish each of you affected by this action the very best.
http://www.tcvsystems.com/HeloPilots
http://www.silverstatehelicoptersbankruptcy.com
http://postflightinspection.com
Regards,
Lori Clark
Monday, February 25, 2008
Aspiring to be an airline pilot
Question:
I am going to be going into my junior year in high school next year. I've always had a big interest in being a pilot for an airline since i was a little kid, and i still want to pursue it. I have a couple questions though.
First, what should i do in order to pursue an aviation career as a student?
Second, what are some good colleges to look at for aviation?
Thirdly, would all the schooling, training and all that building up flight time be worth all my time, because the more i read, the more unsecure or unlikely it seems to become a pilot with all the competition, and i dont want to lose intersest, so please give me a little advice. Thanks
Answer:
I applaud you for following your dreams.
First, I think you're on the right track by seeking a college degree first. There are two schools of thought on whether or not a degree is worthwhile, but nonetheless the fact is that there are airlines who require a four-year degree.
Why on Earth would anyone want to close any doors? I believe in a degree, preferably non-aviation. Reason is that you will learn an area of specialty that you could fall back on if, knock on wood, something happened to your flying career.
Second,there are many good colleges to consider. If you're leaning toward an aviation degree I would seriously consider UND and Purdue. There are other excellent flight schools as well. My personal favorite is Flight Safety Academy in Vero Beach Florida. I recently wrote an article regarding flight schools feel free to peruse - - I hope it helps.
Third, my question back to you on this is: Where are you reading this stuff? Yes, today (and the past few years) it is very competitive, more so than it has been in a very long time. But competition is not new to this industry, you will always face stiff competition for flying jobs. Unfortunately 9/11 really threw a wrench into things and put thousands of pilots on the street which increased competition - or should I say it decreased job availability. You will face some frustration along your career path, particularly when you are applying for a new job. But this is not unusual. I highly recommend you talk to as many pilots as you can - in person would be best - get their insight into the industry and their opinions. Pilots love to talk, I'm sure you'll get more than you bargained for when you pose your question.
The life of a pilot is certainly not what it used to be 10, 20 years ago. Salaries have decreased significantly and the prestige of being a pilot has diminished as well. I personally think this is because the prestige of flying in general has diminished. Please keep in mind as you read various message boards, etc that there are a lot of bitter pilots out there. Not that they shouldn't be, they have worked their entire lives building a retirement package and *poof* it's gone. I'd be bitter too. But rest assured, as long as we continue to fly airplanes we will continue to need pilots. My advice would be to do it because you love to fly, not for the money or the glamour.
I hope this helps you, or at least gives you a little reassurance.
I am going to be going into my junior year in high school next year. I've always had a big interest in being a pilot for an airline since i was a little kid, and i still want to pursue it. I have a couple questions though.
First, what should i do in order to pursue an aviation career as a student?
Second, what are some good colleges to look at for aviation?
Thirdly, would all the schooling, training and all that building up flight time be worth all my time, because the more i read, the more unsecure or unlikely it seems to become a pilot with all the competition, and i dont want to lose intersest, so please give me a little advice. Thanks
Answer:
I applaud you for following your dreams.
First, I think you're on the right track by seeking a college degree first. There are two schools of thought on whether or not a degree is worthwhile, but nonetheless the fact is that there are airlines who require a four-year degree.
Why on Earth would anyone want to close any doors? I believe in a degree, preferably non-aviation. Reason is that you will learn an area of specialty that you could fall back on if, knock on wood, something happened to your flying career.
Second,there are many good colleges to consider. If you're leaning toward an aviation degree I would seriously consider UND and Purdue. There are other excellent flight schools as well. My personal favorite is Flight Safety Academy in Vero Beach Florida. I recently wrote an article regarding flight schools feel free to peruse - - I hope it helps.
Third, my question back to you on this is: Where are you reading this stuff? Yes, today (and the past few years) it is very competitive, more so than it has been in a very long time. But competition is not new to this industry, you will always face stiff competition for flying jobs. Unfortunately 9/11 really threw a wrench into things and put thousands of pilots on the street which increased competition - or should I say it decreased job availability. You will face some frustration along your career path, particularly when you are applying for a new job. But this is not unusual. I highly recommend you talk to as many pilots as you can - in person would be best - get their insight into the industry and their opinions. Pilots love to talk, I'm sure you'll get more than you bargained for when you pose your question.
The life of a pilot is certainly not what it used to be 10, 20 years ago. Salaries have decreased significantly and the prestige of being a pilot has diminished as well. I personally think this is because the prestige of flying in general has diminished. Please keep in mind as you read various message boards, etc that there are a lot of bitter pilots out there. Not that they shouldn't be, they have worked their entire lives building a retirement package and *poof* it's gone. I'd be bitter too. But rest assured, as long as we continue to fly airplanes we will continue to need pilots. My advice would be to do it because you love to fly, not for the money or the glamour.
I hope this helps you, or at least gives you a little reassurance.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Airline Pilot Market
Question:
I was wondering about your assessment of the pilot market.
Answer:
That’s a tough one. The industry is slated to hire 65,000 pilots over the next year.
Having said that, My personal two-cents…. Yes, we are suffering from shortage (especially quality) and will for the next couple of years. If you look at historical flight school enrollments this will give you a good indicator. Flight school to regional is about five years, regional to major another five. What we’re seeing now is the result of very little enrollments right after 9/11 (oh, it rears its ugly head again).
Enrollment picked up again a couple of years later…but fast forward to now. Now is when those 2001, 2002 enrollments should be going to the regionals. They just aren’t there. At the major level we’re gonna feel it even more in a couple more years.
Take a look at who is hiring and what their hiring projections are for the next year, two years. I’m not sure that the regional airlines are going to be able to fulfill their needs. They’re having trouble now, and it’s only going to get worse. I think in about five years we’ll see it START to correct back in favor of the airlines, but I really feel it’s going to be tough going in the near future.
I invite your comments on pilot hiring. Where do you see it in the near future?
I was wondering about your assessment of the pilot market.
Answer:
That’s a tough one. The industry is slated to hire 65,000 pilots over the next year.
Having said that, My personal two-cents…. Yes, we are suffering from shortage (especially quality) and will for the next couple of years. If you look at historical flight school enrollments this will give you a good indicator. Flight school to regional is about five years, regional to major another five. What we’re seeing now is the result of very little enrollments right after 9/11 (oh, it rears its ugly head again).
Enrollment picked up again a couple of years later…but fast forward to now. Now is when those 2001, 2002 enrollments should be going to the regionals. They just aren’t there. At the major level we’re gonna feel it even more in a couple more years.
Take a look at who is hiring and what their hiring projections are for the next year, two years. I’m not sure that the regional airlines are going to be able to fulfill their needs. They’re having trouble now, and it’s only going to get worse. I think in about five years we’ll see it START to correct back in favor of the airlines, but I really feel it’s going to be tough going in the near future.
I invite your comments on pilot hiring. Where do you see it in the near future?
What is a good school to attend to become an airline pilot?
Lori Clark discusses civilian flight training options.
Question:
I am currently a college student scheduled to graduate next year. I am also an aspiring airline pilot (Hopefully for FedEx or UPS). I have a question, and was wondering if you could help me out. After college, I plan to attend flight school, and this is where the problem lies. The flight schools that I am looking at cost around 45 to 70 thousand dollars, and some offer guarantee interviews with regional and some just guarantee you a flight instructor job with them. What do you think of schools like that, with your kind of expertise? Do you think that they are worth going to? They have been in business for a very long time so I am thinking that they are legit. What do you think?
Please any suggestions or comments from you will mean a great deal.
Thanks.
M.E.
Answer:
Dear M.E.,
Let me see if I can help with your questions and decision making process. First things first, a good foundation. You are only as good as the foundation you create. Before beginning any sort of flight training you really need to do some homework on the school(s) you would like to attend. Please know up-front that flight training takes an extreme amount of dedication and money. What I mean by that is, you can expect to invest at least $40K-$60K in your flight training/time building which takes at minimum two years, full time. Until you obtain a commercial license you are unable to be paid for any flying you perform, so as a student you have no income unless you have another job.
The best way I know how to 'interview' any potential flight school is to visit the school in person. Talk with the instructors and students, and then most importantly ask to see the maintenance hangar. What you see in the hangar is most likely an accurate clue to how the company is run. Is the hangar clean/ picked up? Do the mechanics take pride in their jobs? Personally, I would want to know that the mechanics are happy and going 'above and beyond' in their jobs repairing/maintaining the aircraft I fly. If you are comfortable with what you have discovered, then move forward.
You can seek flight training through many different schools. There are formal schools like Flight Safety or an informal school like "Joe Blow's Flight School". Sometimes a local FBO (Fixed Based Operator) located at a nearby airport can seem much more attractive because of cost. Please keep in mind that wherever you go for training you can expect to pay somewhere in the neighborhood of $40,000 - $60,000 by the time you complete all of your training, no matter where you receive it. I recommend that when you are considering flight schools that you give more consideration to a school that operates under FAA Regulations Part 141. Part 141 stipulates that a syllabus be written and followed. A school operating under Part 61 does not have a syllabus and how much flight time you would need to learn a maneuver is up to the instructor. The schools that operate under Part 61 will advertise that the student can complete his/her ratings much faster if they are a quick learner. Well... I'd be careful of that. I have yet to see anyone complete training faster than a Part 141 school and either A) retain their education or B) have decent training to begin with. Basically a Part 61 school's instructor can make you fly additional hours (additional $$$) to complete a maneuver than a school that adheres to a syllabus with a set amount of hours to learn something. Interview the schools. You can obtain an aviation related degree or pursue another degree field. It really doesn't matter to the airlines. If an airline requires a four-year degree they don't care what the field of study is, just that the person has a degree. Your choice of school is very important, and your skills are also very important when interviewing. HOWEVER, the hurdle is landing that coveted interview. Unfortunately there are a lot of pilots on the street looking for jobs, with a lot of flying experience behind them, and I really don't see that changing for a few years, at best. You will need an edge.
In this day and age when competitiveness is running very high a guaranteed interview can be a prized possession. Remember that once you complete your training, you will probably have about 300 hours, give or take. Your training and aptitude at that point just aren't enough to land an interview (unless it's guaranteed through the school). You will need to build time by either instructing or flying cargo or charter. Unfortunately, those jobs are also competitive these days and the folks who hold those positions have quite a bit of time built up already and can have possibly up to 2000 hours, or more.
So, how do you get those jobs? Who you know becomes very important at this stage. If you don't know anyone that can help you into an instructor position or a cargo/charter job then you may want to consider the guaranteed interview school. Delta Connection Academy, for example, has a guaranteed interview with Comair (and perhaps a few more, I don't know their guarantees). I believe to qualify for an airline interview there are certain time requirements to complete as a student, depending on the program in which you are enrolled. To qualify for an academy instructor interview you must have completed at least two of your pilot or instructor ratings with the academy. However, I highly recommend you double check these requirements with the academy as certainly these requirements can change. There are several other schools which guarantee interviews so I suggest some research into which school would best fit your needs.
With that thought, please heed a word of warning... check up on the promises made by these schools. Many schools will advertise guaranteed interviews or industry connections. Be careful! Some airlines may have a "loose affiliation" with these schools. Meaning that they have taken some of their graduates in the past and agree to look at them. That is a far cry from a guarantee. OR, you will have to complete their program in the top 10% to qualify for their "guarantee". Check into it. Contact the airlines they say they have "connections" with, contact some graduates, and get on chat boards, find out the truth. You're investing a lot of money in your future, please don't just rely on promises.
Actually the students of the Pilot Development programs are in an enviable position. Probably one of the best positions of a pilot seeking flying opportunities with a regional airline at this time. The reason is really quite simple, the guaranteed interview. In a time where competitiveness is high and experience is crucial to landing the coveted pilot seat, airlines with the guaranteed interview don’t factor that in for the Pilot Development (academy) graduates. As long as that airline is hiring, they will be taking graduates. That doesn't mean the job is just handed to the graduate, there will still be plenty of studying for the interview in order to receive a job offer.
A common question is if the airlines "just look for the person with the most hours"-- the answer is no. Typically, airlines look at the most competitive, highest quality person. So hours is just one factor. They will also look at what kind of flying the applicant has been doing, in what types of aircraft, etc. But, hours are the first eliminating factor.
Again, the problem with a school with no "airline ties" is what to do after you complete your training. If you have a four-year degree then whichever flight school you choose should fit your needs. If you do not have a four-year degree then I highly recommend ASU, UND or the like. What does a four-year degree get you? Opportunity. Some airlines do not require one, especially at the regional level, but it will close doors for you at the major airline level if you do not have one. Why would you want that??
For students to make the decision to become a professional pilot they must understand that this industry is fickle and there are never any guarantees. I highly recommend that a student obtain a four-year degree in an unrelated field just in case the industry was to take a downturn you would then have another field of study to fall back on.
As far as what direction you should go, that is up to you. There is nothing wrong with obtaining your ratings and hours from a local FBO/school and then an instructor or cargo job. The different ‘academy’ programs simply offer another option with, perhaps, a faster timeline. But continue to ask lots of questions and talk to pilots who already fly for an airline. Chances are they will know of other folks who were in the same position as you.
On a final note, I'd like to stress that networking is incredibly important in this industry. You never know who you will meet along the way and they may be in a position to help in the future. This an extremely small industry. Believe me when I tell you that everyone knows everyone. Please remember to never, ever burn a bridge. Always be humble and respectful to everyone you meet. It just may turn out that someone you meet could be sitting across the interview table from you in the future. Make a point of talking to everyone you come into contact with. Ask questions and ask for advice. You may end up with a mentor. Pilots do love to brag (I mean talk) and they also love to help another pilot climbing the ladder.
I hope this has been of some help to you. Please remember, these are my personal opinions and I encourage you to get as many opinions as you possibly can. You must make your own choices, for your own reasons.
Warm Regards,
Lori Clark
www.flytheline.com
Question:
I am currently a college student scheduled to graduate next year. I am also an aspiring airline pilot (Hopefully for FedEx or UPS). I have a question, and was wondering if you could help me out. After college, I plan to attend flight school, and this is where the problem lies. The flight schools that I am looking at cost around 45 to 70 thousand dollars, and some offer guarantee interviews with regional and some just guarantee you a flight instructor job with them. What do you think of schools like that, with your kind of expertise? Do you think that they are worth going to? They have been in business for a very long time so I am thinking that they are legit. What do you think?
Please any suggestions or comments from you will mean a great deal.
Thanks.
M.E.
Answer:
Dear M.E.,
Let me see if I can help with your questions and decision making process. First things first, a good foundation. You are only as good as the foundation you create. Before beginning any sort of flight training you really need to do some homework on the school(s) you would like to attend. Please know up-front that flight training takes an extreme amount of dedication and money. What I mean by that is, you can expect to invest at least $40K-$60K in your flight training/time building which takes at minimum two years, full time. Until you obtain a commercial license you are unable to be paid for any flying you perform, so as a student you have no income unless you have another job.
The best way I know how to 'interview' any potential flight school is to visit the school in person. Talk with the instructors and students, and then most importantly ask to see the maintenance hangar. What you see in the hangar is most likely an accurate clue to how the company is run. Is the hangar clean/ picked up? Do the mechanics take pride in their jobs? Personally, I would want to know that the mechanics are happy and going 'above and beyond' in their jobs repairing/maintaining the aircraft I fly. If you are comfortable with what you have discovered, then move forward.
You can seek flight training through many different schools. There are formal schools like Flight Safety or an informal school like "Joe Blow's Flight School". Sometimes a local FBO (Fixed Based Operator) located at a nearby airport can seem much more attractive because of cost. Please keep in mind that wherever you go for training you can expect to pay somewhere in the neighborhood of $40,000 - $60,000 by the time you complete all of your training, no matter where you receive it. I recommend that when you are considering flight schools that you give more consideration to a school that operates under FAA Regulations Part 141. Part 141 stipulates that a syllabus be written and followed. A school operating under Part 61 does not have a syllabus and how much flight time you would need to learn a maneuver is up to the instructor. The schools that operate under Part 61 will advertise that the student can complete his/her ratings much faster if they are a quick learner. Well... I'd be careful of that. I have yet to see anyone complete training faster than a Part 141 school and either A) retain their education or B) have decent training to begin with. Basically a Part 61 school's instructor can make you fly additional hours (additional $$$) to complete a maneuver than a school that adheres to a syllabus with a set amount of hours to learn something. Interview the schools. You can obtain an aviation related degree or pursue another degree field. It really doesn't matter to the airlines. If an airline requires a four-year degree they don't care what the field of study is, just that the person has a degree. Your choice of school is very important, and your skills are also very important when interviewing. HOWEVER, the hurdle is landing that coveted interview. Unfortunately there are a lot of pilots on the street looking for jobs, with a lot of flying experience behind them, and I really don't see that changing for a few years, at best. You will need an edge.
In this day and age when competitiveness is running very high a guaranteed interview can be a prized possession. Remember that once you complete your training, you will probably have about 300 hours, give or take. Your training and aptitude at that point just aren't enough to land an interview (unless it's guaranteed through the school). You will need to build time by either instructing or flying cargo or charter. Unfortunately, those jobs are also competitive these days and the folks who hold those positions have quite a bit of time built up already and can have possibly up to 2000 hours, or more.
So, how do you get those jobs? Who you know becomes very important at this stage. If you don't know anyone that can help you into an instructor position or a cargo/charter job then you may want to consider the guaranteed interview school. Delta Connection Academy, for example, has a guaranteed interview with Comair (and perhaps a few more, I don't know their guarantees). I believe to qualify for an airline interview there are certain time requirements to complete as a student, depending on the program in which you are enrolled. To qualify for an academy instructor interview you must have completed at least two of your pilot or instructor ratings with the academy. However, I highly recommend you double check these requirements with the academy as certainly these requirements can change. There are several other schools which guarantee interviews so I suggest some research into which school would best fit your needs.
With that thought, please heed a word of warning... check up on the promises made by these schools. Many schools will advertise guaranteed interviews or industry connections. Be careful! Some airlines may have a "loose affiliation" with these schools. Meaning that they have taken some of their graduates in the past and agree to look at them. That is a far cry from a guarantee. OR, you will have to complete their program in the top 10% to qualify for their "guarantee". Check into it. Contact the airlines they say they have "connections" with, contact some graduates, and get on chat boards, find out the truth. You're investing a lot of money in your future, please don't just rely on promises.
Actually the students of the Pilot Development programs are in an enviable position. Probably one of the best positions of a pilot seeking flying opportunities with a regional airline at this time. The reason is really quite simple, the guaranteed interview. In a time where competitiveness is high and experience is crucial to landing the coveted pilot seat, airlines with the guaranteed interview don’t factor that in for the Pilot Development (academy) graduates. As long as that airline is hiring, they will be taking graduates. That doesn't mean the job is just handed to the graduate, there will still be plenty of studying for the interview in order to receive a job offer.
A common question is if the airlines "just look for the person with the most hours"-- the answer is no. Typically, airlines look at the most competitive, highest quality person. So hours is just one factor. They will also look at what kind of flying the applicant has been doing, in what types of aircraft, etc. But, hours are the first eliminating factor.
Again, the problem with a school with no "airline ties" is what to do after you complete your training. If you have a four-year degree then whichever flight school you choose should fit your needs. If you do not have a four-year degree then I highly recommend ASU, UND or the like. What does a four-year degree get you? Opportunity. Some airlines do not require one, especially at the regional level, but it will close doors for you at the major airline level if you do not have one. Why would you want that??
For students to make the decision to become a professional pilot they must understand that this industry is fickle and there are never any guarantees. I highly recommend that a student obtain a four-year degree in an unrelated field just in case the industry was to take a downturn you would then have another field of study to fall back on.
As far as what direction you should go, that is up to you. There is nothing wrong with obtaining your ratings and hours from a local FBO/school and then an instructor or cargo job. The different ‘academy’ programs simply offer another option with, perhaps, a faster timeline. But continue to ask lots of questions and talk to pilots who already fly for an airline. Chances are they will know of other folks who were in the same position as you.
On a final note, I'd like to stress that networking is incredibly important in this industry. You never know who you will meet along the way and they may be in a position to help in the future. This an extremely small industry. Believe me when I tell you that everyone knows everyone. Please remember to never, ever burn a bridge. Always be humble and respectful to everyone you meet. It just may turn out that someone you meet could be sitting across the interview table from you in the future. Make a point of talking to everyone you come into contact with. Ask questions and ask for advice. You may end up with a mentor. Pilots do love to brag (I mean talk) and they also love to help another pilot climbing the ladder.
I hope this has been of some help to you. Please remember, these are my personal opinions and I encourage you to get as many opinions as you possibly can. You must make your own choices, for your own reasons.
Warm Regards,
Lori Clark
www.flytheline.com
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