Hello! I am halfway through an engineering program at a 4 year university. However, my ultimate goal is to fly commercially. I haven’t started anything formal besides a discovery flight, but I’m anxious to start the licensing process even if it’s just studying. Would it be realistic to try to get my private license over the upcoming summer (before my senior year)? Or would it be better financially or experience wise to wait until I graduate. Also, for after school, I’ve been looking a lot at the larger airline training programs (United Aviate, etc.) but are people more successful in those if they go in without experience? Also, if I am not a naturally talented pilot or mess up the interview, would that blow my chance of ever working for the airline I train with? I want to get started ASAP with at least a plan to look forward to so any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance!
Ava,
First off you should finish your degree first. Focus on that.
While you could maybe earn your PPL over the next summer (it would be tight) there’s not much point. Training locally is expensive and often frustrating due to a lack of resources (planes and instructors). More important pilot skills are perishable and if you were to earn it and then not fly till you start ATP, you’d have to do alot of relearning which would just cost you more if you couldn’t continue to fly during the year.
Honestly many of the airline training programs are very new and haven’t produced a lot of success stories. ATP has had over 1200 pilots hired in the last year and also doesn’t lock you in to a single airline this early in the game which is not something you’d want.
Adam
Ava,
Finish your degree first! Once you start training you need to stick with it until completion because flying is a skill that degrades with time without practice and repetition.
You may not be a naturally “gifted” pilot at the start but you will find out if you have what it takes to learn to be a good one. ATP is an accelerated program and if you can keep up and be successful you have a high likelihood of having a successful airline career.
When you get close to interview time, there are dozens of prep services that will help prepare you to have your best foot forward that day. Most people aren’t the most gifted interviewers but just like flying, it’s a learned skill.
Hannah
Ava,
I would finish your degree first and foremost. Besides that, I think that one summer is overly ambitious to try to get your license in. This process takes time, especially the early stages of learning.
We are not very familiar with the outcomes of many of these company sponsored programs because they are all so new and have not trained many pilots. But I would think that washing out of one of those programs would ruin your chances of being hired by the major airline it is associated with.
Chris
Ava,
I apologize I am a little late to the party, and I don’t want to echo the others, but I need too. You’re almost there, it’s like Bon Jovi’s Half Way There song. You should finish your degree, obtaining the best GPA as possible at this point in time. Maybe find a club or two if you’re not a part of one already, and network, build your portfolio/resume. The only reason I would say to obtain the PPL now is if you’re unsure flying is for you… seems it may be? You’re the one to decide that.
While your ultimate goal is to fly commercially, have you considered a program like ATP? ATP’s accelerated program by far one of the many ways that you could obtain your dream in the most efficient, and effective way possible. Yes, there are other schools out there, no I’m not saying you can’t go to them, but consider all options possible. ATP has 70+ locations nationwide, I’m sure there is one around you (convenience), or maybe make the move to attend.
Your concerns about being a “naturally gifted” pilot are common for many individuals, I would say unless you’re Bob Hoover or Chuck Yeager’s relative, maybe you aren’t gifted. I surely came from a family that had no aviators, in fact, a 1st generation pilot, sharing the love of flying with my relatives. As long as you’re not failing checkrides regularly, you have good standing at the flight school of choice, and have a good portfolio, you should be fine. In fact, at some point in your career you may face adversity, and it’s how you overcome that adversity is what shows your character. Many interviews provide an opportunity to answer “TMAAT” (Tell Me About A Time) questions which could be a great thing if you faced a prog. eval dissatisfaction or had a checkride bump. No one is perfect, no matter the circumstances.
As Hannah mentioned, there are hundreds of interview preps. There are hundreds (if not, thousands) of gouges out there from candidates just like you, that want that dream job at XYZ company.
Please let us know if there is anything else you have, we’re here to help.
Brady
Thank you very much for taking the time to answer! I apologize for replying so late but your advice really has helped. In the meantime, I have spoken to other pilots who had similar answers. Although I am anxious to begin, I would not want to put my career at risk. Thanks again.
Thank you for your reply and the information about the interviews! You have provided me with a lot of peace of mind about my path.
Thank you for your answer, and I’m sorry for the late reply! Thanks to the responses here, I have decided to wait until I can commit myself full time. I definitely don’t want to just spin my wheels by wasting money and time that I could use on my degree. Thanks again.
Thank you for taking the time to say all of this! It’s what I needed to hear. Although my GPA seems to be okay according to other threads I have read here about unspoken requirements, I am worried about my club involvement. I am a Civil Engineering major and most of my experience (clubs, internships, etc.) is unrelated to aviation. Since my university rarely produces students with pilot aspirations, there are not any opportunities to get involved in the aviation world on campus. Do you believe the type of experience is relevant and, if so, is there an organization you would recommend joining independently?
In regards to ATP, yes I believe it is my best option as I now see that getting everything done in one piece will be the most effective way to get my career started.
Thank you for sharing a little bit of your own background to help give me some peace of mind. It is great to know that hard work is a better skill than talent in this field.
Thanks again.
Ava,
We are all happy to help, let us know how else we can help you.
Chris
Ava,
This is one of the many reasons I chose ATP as my preferred flight training school! I trusted the process, I set my own personal standards, accomplished things, and here I am - flying in the airlines.
Brady