Hey gents,

        Great site here. glad I found it. I'm looking at a career in aviation and I was wondering if anyone here in AZ had some tips. I'm looking at Chandler Gilbert CC, theyve got a decent aviation program. I cant find any opinions on it tho. I would be looking at joinin an ROTC det soon after but havnt decided which campus tho.

So... any locals go this route for their career in aviation? If not what route did you go? Complaints? pros n cons?

As far as ROTC det go. I'm torn between that lustrious Embry riddle det out in prescot or a more local det at ASU. I go green in the face when I read of the debt students walk out of Riddle...

thx fo your time

Kyle

----- Original Message -----

From: PilotSlotQuest@wantscheck.org

To: dustin.c.johnson@gmail.com

Sent: Monday, October 05, 2009 12:59 PM

Subject: Anyone from AZ got some feedback? [00011371:00000000]

I concur, ASU is where the parties at fo sure. Raudy bunch. Didnt see one chick on my tour of Embry at all. NOT ONE! I hanvt toured a huge number of colleges but thats got to be a rare feat.! Still i keep hearing that embry grads keep nailing the dream jobs from fedex and ups and whatnot...grr

Anyone comment on Chandler Gilbert Community college's (at the phoenix-mesa airport) aviation program? Im on track for an AS in flight technology from there which would leave me airline ready. From there I'm thinkin pursue a BA in Aero Eng at a local University possibly go for a military pilot slot thru an ROTC det. I've got the brains, eyes and passion....  just wonderin what others are doin that have the same goal in mind.

Would rather try and havem deny me rather then spend my life flying airlines wonderin if id make the cut.

again thx fo time

kyle

First off, your grammar skillz make you look like a good candidate for ASU. If you're serious about becoming a military pilot I wouldn't be so concerned with getting an aviation degree. If you are more serious about becoming an airline pilot and want to take a shot at possibly becoming a mil pilot than go for that aeronautical science degree.

There’s a major difference between the two. An aeronautical degree that sets you up to get you all of your ratings (instrument single/multi, commercial, CFI, ect) while taking courses geared towards an airline mindset. This will help you take the steps so you can eventually be flying for a regional, then hopefully a major airline. Keep in mind, getting all of these ratings wil be very expensive. Realize that if you do get a degree in, for example: Aeronautical Science, United won't be calling you the day after you graduate asking to work for them. There are plenty of dudes that have their ratings and are out of work, simply because no one is really hiring right now.  Most  get their CFI and instruct somewhere, but are short on students. Nothing wrong with that, the market will turn around and the regionals will be hiring again at some point, maybe by the time you graduate, maybe not. IF you are serious about this go to a REAL aviation school not some cc.

People like to talk about how shitty riddle is but that is too often from the dudes who didn't go there. Sure there are plenty of downsides to going to ERAU (lack of women, $$) but the AS program is set up to get you to the airlines. An aviation degree from riddle (or any well-known aviation school) will look better than a degree from Chandler-Gilbert CC, that goes without saying. And honestly, if I were to do it al over again I may have chosen a diffferent school but for the most part have enjoyed my time here.

If you want to do the ROTC thing, go to ASU, get your degree and compete for a rated slot, than go out to Gateway and get your private rating. Pick a degree you enjoy (don't just pick AE because you think it's what big blue wants you to have). Do your best and you'll see what happens when rated results come out your jr. year.

To me it sounds like you need to do more research. But if you are not concerned with the airlines yet,  than you'd probably be better off with going to a state school. And to answer your question I have never even heard of Gilbert’s program. I’m not knocking it or saying it’s not worth it.

Good luck.

Posted By Double D on 31 Oct 2009 02:13 PM
<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 unctuationKerning/> false false false oNotPromoteQF/> EN-US X-NONE X-NONE ontGrowAutofit/> ontVertAlignCellWithSp/> ontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> ontVertAlignInTxbx/> MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:1; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 0 0 0 0 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} p {mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-margin-top-alt:auto; margin-right:0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; margin-bottom:10.0pt; line-height:115%;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --><!--[if gte mso 10]> People like to talk about how shitty riddle is but that is too often from the dudes who didn't go there. Sure there are plenty of downsides to going to ERAU (lack of women, $$) but the AS program is set up to get you to the airlines. An aviation degree from riddle (or any well-known aviation school) will look better than a degree from Chandler-Gilbert CC, that goes without saying.

 

How's that Riddle koolaid taste?

While a lot of criticism of EARU does come from people who did not go there, attendance isn't a prerequisite for being able to objectively discuss the school and the value of getting a degree from there.  If your yardstick of success is getting a professional aviation job, and people in the professional aviation world are the ones doling out the criticism, then that should mean something to you.  Don't dismiss an opinion just because it doesn't come from within.

The same thing can be said for military pilots -- there are some in the civilian flying world that have a real bias against military guys.  It doesn't matter if their criticism is based on reality or not; the only thing that matters is that the perception is there and it could make a difference someday when applying for a job at an airline.

There are really two problems with ERAU: it costs too much for what you really get, and some ERAU grads have created a poor perception with their unfounded elitist attitudes out in the "real world".

The fact is this:  A degree from ERAU is no more or less valuable than any other accredited 4-year college bachelors degree.  It's a "quality" education (in other words, not a diploma mill; the actual merits of a bacheolrs degree these days are probably debatable) and fills the bachelors degree square on your resume.

The fallacy is when people think that an education or experience at ERAU somehow gets you a leg up or is a shortcut to anywhere.  Unless the guy hiring at the company you are applying to is another ERAU grad, it is not looked at any differently than any other degree or any other number of hours in a logbook.

If you are more serious about becoming an airline pilot and want to take a shot at possibly becoming a mil pilot than go for that aeronautical science degree.

People like to talk about how shitty riddle is but that is too often from the dudes who didn't go there.

Posted By BurntRubber on 02 Nov 2009 12:57 PM

3) You should apply for an ROTC scholarship if you have the "brains" as you say. Then the AF can pay your tuition/books/stipend while you party it up and compete for that pilot slot at ASU or whatever big 4 year you want to attend.

 

I'm with BurntRubber on this one. I have met guys from ERAU, the Citadel, and the AFA that all wish they would have went a different route for a degree. They are astonished when I tell them what AFROTC is like at a normal university. It all depends on what type of person you are really. If you need that hardcore in your face military experience go for it, but the lifestyle is very strict in comparison to four years at a normal university.

When it comes down to it if you are good enough you will go to the same UPT that all these other guys will be going to, and you may have a little bit more fun in the process.

Posted By BurntRubber on 02 Nov 2009 12:57 PM

1) I dunno about the airlines, but that aero degree won't get you a air force pilot slot, your chances are just as good in the music department.

What did I say right before the line you quoted? My point is that if he is going the ROTC route, getting all of his ratings and an aero degree is pretty pointless. I would encourage anyone who is more interested in trying to get a pilot slot to stay away from an aviation degree/related school.

I figured what I said would make me look like the standard riddle douche, it wasn't my intention. I was trying to help the dude realize that if becoming a pilot in AF is the ultimate goal then go to ASU, push it up every chance he/she gets and compete for a slot that way. Bottom line: Riddle is not worth it attending just because it's an aviaiton school and you think that you'll get a slot (sts) from here easily. However, if you are more concerned with flying for the airlines an aviation degree might not be so bad of a choice.

I appreciate what feedback I have gotten so far.

I find it somewhat telling that the Riddle guy found it appropriate to bash on me just based on my grammar in a quick question on a pilot forum. Thought I would get a little bit more constructive feedback then that...then again its not unusual when I start a discussion like this. Its getting increasingly difficult to get information on the web about aviation schools in arizona. They almost always deteriorate into an endless banter over ERAU.

The answers I have gotten confuse me abit though. The CC I mentioned is very nice. I've been on the campus. I've met the teachers. I liked the environment. I'd have to pull some strings to pull off that associates in flight tech but its a goal I know I can achieve.

But I'm simply not sure if it's worth it. I've heard the advice loud and clear.

"Go to ASU for a more complete experience" I'm all for that...especially since Embry Riddle is really kinda out of my reach financially. But I still have reservations about whether to skip the CC or just go straight to ASU and start competing in an ROTC det now.

please, feel free to leave more feedback if theres anyone else out there in AZ.

I need to get some more info on ASU's programs and DET's in the meantime....