I'm new to all "THIS"

[DavidR-CA-408]

Hey Dan!

My name is David Runkel and I'm a 21 year old guy living in the San Diego area. I was until last week...on the path to becoming a High School History teacher. I looked at the netflix movies I received in the mail and saw that all 5 of them had to do with aviation in one way or another! That's when it clicked! I WANA FLY!!! So I've called around and found this forum to see if this is the right thing for me.

I have 3 classes left until I have my AA degree in Liberal Arts and Science so I won't be starting till the spring of 2009, but needless to say I still have some questions.

Currently I am having a rough time in my college level math courses, will that be a problem in flight school? Is there a lot of math involved?

How difficult are the fast track courses? What did you find most challenging? The last thing I would want is to drop out and waist 70,000 dollars!

And if you have a family or Girl Friend, how does all the traveling effect your relationships? Is it hard?

OK, that's all I have for now. I'm sure some more stuff will pop-up in the future.

Stay safe up there,

David R-

[DavidR-CA-408]

Can someone answer my questions please? I've been waiting 6 days!!!!

[ExpressJet_Bob]

Hi there David,

Apologies for the delay... I'll have to track down Dan!

But... I'd like to answer your questions for you in the meantime.

First of all... Welcome to the forums! Thanks so much for taking the time away from your netflix to come and post on here. LOL! Your going to have to tell me what those 5 movies were!

Regarding your math question... There is a lot of math in aviation. But... it's all fairly simple math with "plug in" type equations. So... once you learn the equations... it's fairly easy.

Types of math that you will be faced with in flight school will be: Wind calculations, fuel burn calculations, decent planning calculations, time & distance, climb rates & ratios, weight and balance, Center of Gravity (CG), braking distance, etc.

The fast track courses are difficult... make no mistake about that. There is a lot of information coming at you in a very short period of time that you need to be prepared for. In fact... it's recommended that you start preparing for the courses at least a month in advance by reading the materials that are sent to you, and taking your written exams prior to showing up for day one.

The folks that don't do well in fast track programs are the ones who take for granted that they will "just learn" as they go... instead of taking an active interest in their learning from the start.

The most challenging part of the program for me... was juggling my family life with the program... I had a wife & child and was buying & moving into a new home while going through the program. I don't think that will be an issue for you though.

You won't waste that much money if you drop out. ATP pro-rates their program and if you do drop out at any part... then you are only out your deposit and your flight time & instruction that you received up to that point. They actually have one of the best refund policies in the biz.

That said... fear of "dropping out" is another big reason why many people never follow their dreams. Just do your research on all the schools you are looking at... and once your decision is made... then commit! Make the commitment to yourself that you are going to succeed and prepare accordingly.

The travel during the program was actually quite minimal during the 90 days. The grand majority of your time is spent at your "home base". The only time you are away from the base is two weeks for your cross country phase and two weeks for CFI school.

However... if you are attending a location that already is "away from home", then I can see your potential dilemma. You really need to discuss with your loved ones the commitment that you are trying to make for yourself and your future. There will certainly be "time apart" from those you care about during this program... but... that is also true in this industry.

If you don't feel you can make a relationship work within the program... then you may want to reconsider this profession. There will be times you will be away from home for extended periods while working for any airline.

New Hire Training - From 1.5 to 3 months.
Re-Current Training - 1 week
Typical Trip Length - 4 days a week
Base Assignment - May be based up to 1000 miles away from home. Some days off may be "blown" trying to get home and back to work.

So... you have to be prepared for that... and your loved ones need to be prepared as well.

I'll sign off for now... and track Dan down for you.

I'm sure he'll offer his insight as well.

Welcome again to the forums!

Bob

[Comair Dan]

Hey David welcome! Im sorry about not replying my schedule has been so crazy this last week! I have been flying for 6 days and just now am getting a break. Again sorry and thanks bob for answer the questions!!

For a little bit of my imput, The fast track as Bob said is fun and easy to get through as long as you make an active go at it from the start. The most challenging thing that I faced was keeping my head in the game when I was sitting back at the apartment it is easy to get sidetracked. I just kept telling myself that this was for my career and life so I could take the time now to achive what needs to be done, and thats how I got where I am today. I agree with bob with the relationship thing you are away from home a good amount.
David let me know what else I can do to help!

Dan

[DavidR-CA-408]

Well thanks Bob and Dan! You guys tell it like it is and for that I'm great full! I just came home from the air show offered here at March Air Force Base in Moreno Valley CA and now I know more than ever that I want to fly!!!

Bob... I enjoy reading your comments to others on these pages, your wit and humor shine through, and I find that a breath of fresh air amidst the pilot lingo and acronyms. As for the Netflix I had... I had "Right 1-6" a movie about the OC airport, as well as "Space Cowboys" "In the Shadow of the Moon" "Star Trek TNG" and "The Aviator". It was a real eye opener to see that I had rented all of them at the same time! It was a pleasant revelation!

It was however a very sudden change in plans for everyone I know, and some are still finding it difficult to swallow...for instance my Girl Friends Mom who is usually more supportive than my actual mother. She doesn't believe it is a stable industry for someone who was until recently so set on being a High School History teacher these last 4 years of my life!

What do you think I should tell her about the "BIZ" that might calm her down and take me more seriously about this decision? She is also worried about where the money is coming from, and how soon I will be needing to pay it back. I'm curious to know how much the average "per month cost" to pay back loans are running these days. $300 $400? $1000? What do you guys pay?

And lastly... I'm wondering about Express Jet and Com-Air. How long have you been with the company and what do you like about it? How realistic is it to think I could get hired on at the Ontario Hub and live close to home that way? Or will I have to go where they tell me to go and end up moving to South Carolina or some crazy place? Are there pros and cons of staying with**a Regional after you have accumulated enough hours to move onto the majors? What are your guy's future goals at this point?

I know that's allot to answer but I guess you guys are use to it.

Thanks again!
Hope to hear back from ya sooner this time! :-)

Senior Airman Runkel
USAF-R

[Comair Dan]

Well David about the industry....

It has taken a hard downward sprial from the effects of 9-11, but it is on a up swing for the pilots, at least I believe so, and this is why.

The pilot group as a whole around the airline industry is a older aged group. With in the next 4-5 years you are going to have a lot of them start to retire. When this happens there is going to be a major pilot shortage! So everyone at the regionals right now will be qulified for the the majors by then and will take their places. So I guess what I'm trying to say is that everyone that is getting in to this as a career now is starting at the best time, due to the up coming shortage. Hope that makes sense, and you can use that information to give your G/F mother a little better answer to why it would be a good move. If it doesnt help let me know and Ill try again...HAHAHA

My loan has not come due yet, but the payment is going to be somewhere in the ballpark of 550-600 a month.

Comair has treated me great from day one! Yea there are sometimes where I'm working a lot and just want a break, but my day will come when I hold a line!! haha... I have been then since last July. As for the hub you want its kinda a crap shoot eventually you will have enough senoirity to be based there. Maybe not at first so you would either have to move there or commute, which is what I do from DTW-CVG. Its not so bad, but it can wear you out!

I'm not sure what my goals are yet. I mean I havent decided if I want to go to a major airline or go to something like UPS or FEDEX. Only time will tell!

Hope that helps and hope all is well!

Dan

[DavidR-CA-408]

Ok so see me through on this and give me the best idea of what i can expect....

My plan is that in January 09 I will attend the ATP flight school in Phoenix AZ to get my initial pilots licence, then go to the Long Beach school in CA to get the rest of the 90-day program under my belt.

The rest seems a bit fuzzy as to how it all works...
I hear some people saying they are flight instructors and others saying they got hired on with a regional right away. If people are getting hired right away, then why do all the FI stuff?

Then comes the really confusing part, the assignment of a hub. I'm currently in the Air Force Reserve, and know a bit about "The Powers That Be" controlling your life for years at a time, but I find it hard to swallow the idea of me getting a new dream job and then have them tell me that I am now suppose to live in Nebraska for the next 2 years. So how does the hub assignments work? Do you apply to airlines that you know have hubs in areas you want to live in and then once hired put in a request to be stationed there? Or do you just bend to the will of the company, suck up the fact your moving away for the next 2 years from everything, and everyone you know and love just to get the job? Then....after a few years of humble service the Powers That Be will dream you worthy to fly when and where you want? It all seems so robotic and lifeless. What say you Dan?

Inquisitive minds want to know!
-Dave R-

[Comair Dan]

Its kinda a crap shoot. Some guys are getting hired right out of the program while others are not so they need to insturct. Either way the CFI stuff is very important for 2 reasons I believe. One I learned so much more during my CFI training then I thought I knew going through the rest of the program. As a CFI you need to know the ins and out of everything, when you teach something you learn it twice as good because you have to. Thats what I think about that.

The base thing is all on seniorty! So first you need to find an airline that has a base where you want to live. When you show up for class you get to put your bid in for what base you want. If there are openings there then it works like this...

The oldest in the class has the highest seniorty all that way down to the youngest one in the class. You are all at the very bottom of the whole pilot list. So they then award them in order of how many they need and from your seniority number. If you get a base you dont want then you have to at least start there untill you have enough seniority to bid back to where you want to be. Its all about the number!

Hope that helps
Dan

[DavidR-CA-408]

Thanks Dan.

So did you get the base you want? How is that all working out for ya? I was also talking to a friend of mine who says the airlines offer great benefits. Could you make a brief comment on what your offered? Also, with 3 airlines closing this week, and less and less people travelling, do you think moving to Canada or England would be a better to start my career with company's like Air Canada or British Airlines? Are the requirements a world wide check list or does it vary country to country? I understand you may not know the answer to all that but if you could comment on it I'd appreciate it!

Dave R!

[Comair Dan]

Hey David,
Yea I got the base I wanted so it worked out for me there. Everything is great all the guys I'm flying with are great! The benefits are great too we get to travel for free as a pilot, and so do my parents. As for moving it would be up to you, the requirements are somewhat the same depending on the country. Hope that helps

Hope all is well!
Dan