Forum: Civil and General Aviation

I'm a senior in High School and I am looking for some advice on my major. I want to major in aviation and my course curiculum covers about as much civilian flight certificates as I need including aerobatics. My question is what can I do with my major besides just being an instructor? My parents do not what to spend 30k a year at small school in the midwest for me just to be an instructor so I need some help convincing them Smile

Forgot to add: After my 4 years of collge I want to contend for a fighter seat.

Future

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Hey FuturePilot,

It seems you're saying you have Pvt, Comm, Inst, & Aerobatic already sewn up. Your high school has a top notch Aviation Science Program I guess??
Are you ATR ??

Simply put-Same as always----Math and Science/Engineering for a military pilot career--THOUGH--Any degree can get you in the door and if you're sharp and a good stick an art degree works. Lot of IF's there!!!
Aviation Art---get it, or photography.

This day and age you could simply join the reserves during college and your skills could lead you into active service.

ROTC-OCS-Do you have great grades (3.5 or higher) contact your Senator or Congressman for appointment to one of the Academies.

Your Major=Instructor//Don't limit yourself, Are there any airframe manufacturers in your area? Or in an area you would go to?

Traditionally to build time is;Instructing-If you have over 500 hours with 250 or so in complex singles or any twin time holler at Part 135 operators to build twin or turboprop time. Any large aircraft sales locations near you, butter up to the delivery pilots and maybe work radios to get on delivery flights and build(seat o' the pants time)if nothing else.

You need to learn what the insurance requirements are for pilots with these various outfits because that kind of dictates the starting position you may be able to fulfill.

Don't ignore the Coast Guard or even Army-maybe a two year hitch flying something you never thought about could get you up to a level to jump into fighter pilot training.

You are young-the whole world is in your hands.

Godspeed, Rob(f111f16)

We have alot of guys here with the same question. I'm a senior at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, majoring in Aeronautical Science. The jobs are slim right now- most of my classmates will become flight instructors after graduation so they can build time and then possibly get picked up by the air carriers.

And yes, it IS expensive. Do you want to become a military officer? That is the question you have to ask yourself, NOT "do I want to be a fighter pilot". It takes a while to understand, and I don't think I really did until a year ago, but every pilot is an officer first. If you do want to commission, then I would suggest ROTC during college. Alot of people compare my AFROTC Detachment (one of the best nationally) to the AFA, and not a single one of us would give up the times we have had in college to be at the Academy. However, if you graduate from the AFA, you're guaranteed a pilot slot. AFROTC is fairly competitive.

ALSO, MOST IMPORTANT- If you decide to join the military, your major has NO impact on whether or not you get a pilot slot. They don't care if you major in business, aviation, or fly-fishing, so long as its a college degree. Alot of people waste alot of money on a major they think will help, when it really doesn't. Make sure you take a minor with an aviation degree if that's what you decide- I'm minoring in Meteorology. Always have a backup plan.

You say you'll be going to a small school in the midwest...MTSU? That was my third choice, I hear they have a good flight program there. Good luck with whatever you end up choosing. You have no idea how many opportunities you really have available to you.

Futurepilot, if being a CFI is what you want to do...you don't need to go through a 4 year aviation program for that. I got my CFII in no time, and pitched about considerably less money to get much better training then any aeronautical science program out there could offer. Good part with doing your flight training on your own, is you have a back up degree in something other than aviation if your fighter pilot dreams don't exactly fall through (not saying they wont...but just incase) Like kamikaz said, you don't need an aeronautical science degree to get a pilot slot. Your not guaranteed a pilot spot at the AFA, but you have about a 99% chance of getting it.

Active duty isn't the only way to go. Don't forget the Guard/Reserve route. If you know the right people, your chances can go up considerably when it comes to getting a pilot slot.

Alright my plans are set. I'm going to take primary flight as an elective course and major in criminalogy. I'm going to Vincennes University to Pitch for the Trailblazers as a walk on then I am going to transfer to get my bachelors. The road begins in late August.

Gee Gabe, what did I tell you?

Alright you got me Al. Smile

Forum: Civil and General Aviation

Aviation Major