B
JH Newbie
Posts:4
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| 08/01/2010 12:05 PM |
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My son has 2 years of high school left... and wants to be a helicopter pilot - BUT also wants a college degree.
Embry Riddle and College of the Sequoias are the only ones I've found.
Do you know more?
Do you have an opinion about these schools - and my son's desire to pursue a helicopter career - but also have a degree?
B |
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pantherAirborne
JH Veteran
Posts:40
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| 08/01/2010 2:54 PM |
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The University of North Dakota has a great program. They have a full helicopter program along with undergrad programs and graduate programs that go along with it. They also have a helicopter ROTC program.
http://www.avit.und.edu/ProspectiveStudents/Default.aspx
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mattkreps
JH Newbie
Posts:4
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| 08/01/2010 11:16 PM |
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| I got my ratings at COS. The flight and academic portions are completely separate. Call Brian Hurt (540)521-9051 he is in-charge of admissions at the flight school and can give you all the info you need |
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B
JH Newbie
Posts:4
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| 08/02/2010 12:29 AM |
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What does COS stand for? ...sorry we're new to this!
thanks for replying!
are you an employeed helicopter now? or a CFI?
are you happy with your choice?
Belinda |
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dempd
JH Master Guru
Posts:113
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| 08/02/2010 5:28 PM |
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I went to Embry-Riddle in Prescott, AZ for a while (back when I was considering fixed wing). Its a nice campus (not many girls though! ), I heard they use Universal Helicopters for their flight training. I got my Private with them, and had a pretty good experience.
As for the college degree. You don't really need one to be a helicopter pilot, however, with the industry being so overcrowded , you'll need a degree in order to get a "real" job to keep yourself alive, while you wait to get in.
P.S. I think COS means College of the Sequoias? |
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mattkreps
JH Newbie
Posts:4
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| 08/02/2010 11:48 PM |
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| COS is college of the sequoias. I am not currently employed. When I finished my CFI there where about 4 guys that finished right before me so the waiting list at that school was a full. I didn't intend on getting a degree when I started but that was the only school I could get a loan from. The school itself is cool they have 3 aircraft. 2 R22s that they own and an R44 that is leased. they use the R4 for a local PD and I flew one mission for them. |
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Shaun
JH Member
Posts:20
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| 08/04/2010 9:38 PM |
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May I ask how your son is going to pay for all this? One can easily burn through more than $100,000 going to a college flight school.
As far as job promises you should apply the same skepticism for those schools as you would with any for profit technical school such as DeVry.
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SRTHELO
JH - Addicted!
Posts:163
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| 08/06/2010 12:43 AM |
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B,
I am familar with all of the schools listed and a few others.
COS is righ tnear me, and is Ok, if all you want to do is have more optons for student loans, not really an true Aviation Degree program.
UND - 4 YR B.S. in a number of disciplines;
Aeronautics with an emphasis in commercial aviation
Airport Managment
Airport Design
Aeronautical Engineering
I got my training through the military there, and got my degree.
The ROTC program is a great deal, and all of the instructors there are High time Military Pilots who have been CFI's a long time.
Riddle - Contract provider, and only a certificate. Not real helicopter focused.
There is also a school in Georgia. Pretty in-expensive, thats about all I know about them.
If it was my son, I would say UND is the best choice. |
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sct407
JH Guru
Posts:71
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| 08/06/2010 2:55 PM |
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Posted By SRTHELO on 08/06/2010 12:43 AM
There is also a school in Georgia. Pretty in-expensive, thats about all I know about them.
Middle Georgia College
http://www.mgc.edu/aviation/
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Trans Lift
JH Master Guru
Posts:127
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| 08/07/2010 8:36 AM |
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| UND looks ridiculously expensive for the flight training part. Almost double for what I could see! |
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redhawk
JH Master Guru
Posts:102
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| 08/09/2010 9:45 PM |
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Posted By sct407 on 08/06/2010 2:55 PM Posted By SRTHELO on 08/06/2010 12:43 AM
There is also a school in Georgia. Pretty in-expensive, thats about all I know about them.
Middle Georgia College http://www.mgc.edu/aviation/
MGC was a good place when I was there but do not know anything about it now. They are state owned and operated so there not out for the money. Its worth checking into. |
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1bellpilot
JH Member
Posts:20
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| 08/09/2010 11:02 PM |
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I would also look into Central Oregon Community College in Bend, Oregon. Great school with lots of year round outdoor recreation. They currently have 70 + helicopter, 20 fixed wing student enrolled in the program
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Helibear
JH Member
Posts:22
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| 08/09/2010 11:06 PM |
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| Portland Community College (www.pcc.edu)in Oregon has a 2 year program. It is relative affordable and the degree transfers into embry riddle if he wants to do a Bachelor later. The flight training takes place at Hillsboro Aviation (www.hillsboroaviation.com)
Take care |
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peiopilot
JH Newbie
Posts:1
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| 08/16/2010 1:53 PM |
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ERAU has an interesting program for Rotary:
http://prescott.erau.edu/degrees/minors/helicopter-operations-safety/index.html |
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nrm1986
JH Newbie
Posts:4
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| 08/18/2010 9:31 AM |
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There is Aims Community College in Greeley, CO that has an Associates degree of Helicopter pilot science. I am an instructor at the school. |
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FJones9508
JH Veteran
Posts:41
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| 08/31/2010 8:32 PM |
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| Wallace State Community College in Hanceville, Alabama has a helicopter program. It is a 2 year college but the helicopter program is relatively inexpensive compared to others. It is also an inexpensive place to live and a good place to go to school. (256) 737-3040 will get you the office at the airport, ask for Marsha or Fred. |
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turbotay19
JH Member
Posts:8
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| 09/01/2010 1:59 AM |
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| some food for thought, Im currently in both a flight school and college and its great I dont regret it but Ive found that occasionally the collage work can get in the way and divert attention away from the flight training cause you have non flight classes and such so its hard to study for both a checkride and a Math final on the same night. so its best to have a look at the programs and how they tie in with the flight training. Some people also get the degree before or after they start just to limit the workload. It is nice however to have college help payfor flight school and a degree in your pocket wont hurt a bit. |
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LD
JH Newbie
Posts:2
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| 09/08/2010 10:54 AM |
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| Portland Community College (2 year program) is the way to go. You can now get a student loan through Wells Fargo and do your training at Hillsboro Aviation. PCC and Hillsboro Aviation have a great working relationship. My experience was pleasurable. |
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KawRider
JH Newbie
Posts:2
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| 09/11/2010 3:27 AM |
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| Palm Beach State College in West Palm Beach, FL has a rotorcraft program. There are lots, it would help if you tell us if the location matters, and the location you'd prefer. |
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ikesspike
JH - Addicted!
Posts:247
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| 09/11/2010 2:57 PM |
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Consider sending your son to a non-aviation collage to earn a degree in a non-aviation field. Focus his major on the fields which may relate to the aviation industry but not specific to aviation as this narrows his overall potential. After earning a degree, seek out a helicopter flight school and start his helicopter training. This method will take longer but because he has the most important element of the equation completed (the degree) then his future is more secure. Furthermore, for employer to trust their multimillion dollar aircraft to a particular individual, a certain kind of maturity is needed.
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SRTHELO
JH - Addicted!
Posts:163
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| 09/15/2010 11:58 PM |
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B,
Any update on the boy and choices?
IKE has a good point, don't tell him I said that though............ 
Feel free to contact me direct.
Chris Gadbois
SRT Helicopters
chris@srthelo.com |
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Shaun
JH Member
Posts:20
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| 09/16/2010 12:52 AM |
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The potential income gap between those with and without a degree is shrinking.
In the helicopter world I feel it's reversed, money spent on more hours will be infinitely more useful then college, especially at turbine rates of $150 per hour.
Helicopter job postings very rarely require a degree of any kind, hours are king.
I'm going to disagree with Chris about UND.
Though the training is good the cost is enormous. In the airplane world, the schools reputation does carry some weight, but most helicopter operators I spoke with had never heard of UND and if they had it was only as an airplane school.
Until insurance companies allow degrees to offset hour requirements I would save your money.
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SRTHELO
JH - Addicted!
Posts:163
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| 09/16/2010 1:39 AM |
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Shaun,
What part are you disagreeing with? Yes the costs are huge in comparison to going to a Part 61 school, and also due to the fact that you do your instrument training in the Jet Ranger.
There are some ways to reduce the cost, and I'd be happy to discuss that with anyone.
The big plus for the school is the ROTC program. It is the only place that the Army conducts Initial Entry Rotary Wing training outside of Ft. Rucker.
There have been graduates that paid their time back in the Guard and the Reserve, so there are other options besides active duty.
As for the training and the education, it is second to none.
You will be in Level 6/7 FTD Sims, will be fully qualified in the Jet Ranger which inlcudes a full semester course on the aircraft, systems and all. So yes, there is a large cost, but you get what you pay for.
You are correct, in the fixed wing world, they are a highly recognized school, and our becoming more so in the Rotor world.
I know it's not for everyone, and remember, the OP originally asked about college programs that were worthy.
I feel that most of the college programs that have popped up recently are only there to facilitate getting people financed to fly, and out not true Aviation Degree programs. There is a big difference.
Anyway, feel free to drop me a line anytime to discuss it.
Chris Gadbois
SRT Helicopters
chris@srthelo.com
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Trans Lift
JH Master Guru
Posts:127
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| 09/19/2010 12:09 AM |
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| I also think UND is way overpriced and that you would be as well off going to a flight school like Bristow Academy in Florida. You can get the same ratings for less than half the price. Then you could spend $10,000 at the end of the training and go to the Bell Factory course. Would look better on the resume too. Turbine time will come eventually. Not worth an extra 60,000-70,000, unless you are very wealthy and money ain't an option! That is just with regards to flight training. You don't need a degree to be a helicopter pilot.
If he really wants a degree, get one outside of aviation so that he has something to fall back on if the pilot thing doesn't work. Then when that is done start the flight training. I have heard a lot of guys say that it can be difficult to do both with maximum performance at the same time.
Anyways, just my .02cents! |
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khuebner
JH Member
Posts:24
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| 09/19/2010 2:03 AM |
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If I were getting a life do over, I would get through my CFI as soon as possible during and after high school then enroll in a degree granting institution with a good engineering program related to aviation (ie: electronics, aerodynamics, mechanical, etc) Flight instruct while getting your four year degree because you need a job and you need flight time. In four years you will likely be employable and have a great fall back career in the event of layoff, loss of medical, economy, etc.
Just a thought.. It is what we are working on with our daughter. Of course she is hoping for a Naval Academy appointment but I am helping her with a plan B just in case.
Regards,
Keith |
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SRTHELO
JH - Addicted!
Posts:163
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| 09/19/2010 10:17 AM |
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Damian,
You are comparing Apples to Oranges. You may get the same ratings, but you are in no way getting the same level of training or experience as you would at Bristow.
You know full well that you were the exception and not the rule for Bristow grads.
You need to re-read the posts and go back to the UND website. There are plenty of degree options available.
As to flying while studying, yes it can be tough, but it is far from impossible.
You also seem to keep missing the point that there are ways for the school to be paid for by the military if they choose.
You also fail to mention that there are a number of grants and scholarships availabe both through the UND foundation and outside sources. Some of these scholarships provide up to $10,000 in funds and our available every year.
There is much more to this business than stick skills, you know that better than anyone. The degree does help, and there are a number of jobs that give preference to pilots with degrees. Granted most new CFI jobs do not, but it doesn't hurt.
As to the using the money for Bell school, having been to both, my Jet Ranger course at UND was ten times better than the Bell School, and it was less money.
Again, no one is debating that there are cheaper options, but you will be hard pressed to find a better option of getting Army Flight school experience combined with a college degree.
As you would say, just my .02 cents.
Great pics of you at work by the way.
Chris Gadbois
SRT Helicopters
chris@srthelo.com |
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ikesspike
JH - Addicted!
Posts:247
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| 09/19/2010 12:31 PM |
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One does not need a degree to succeed in the helicopter industry and nor is it required for most “typical” flying positions.
However, the degree allows for greater career options when one can no longer fly. These options can be within or outside the helicopter industry.
One of worst thing that can happen to an uneducated helicopter pilot is to lose his/her job for some unforeseen circumstances which basically ends their flying career. And this can happen at any time during a career. Think about it, if this happens to you today, what are your options? A degree in your pocket will widen your options. It’s that simple. |
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B
JH Newbie
Posts:4
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| 09/19/2010 12:32 PM |
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Hello Everyone... I'm the mom who first posted this question.
THANK YOU all for the info. .... what I've learned so far is that there are MANY opinions! Keep them coming!
And do most of you have helicoper jobs????????? WHY did you get hired? What's REALLY most important?
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FJones9508
JH Veteran
Posts:41
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| 09/19/2010 1:48 PM |
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Hey B,
I have a job flying a helicopter. I got hired because I happened to be standing at the right spot at the right time. Also I didn't go around burning bridges if you know what I mean. Networking is key. Also I wouldn't recommend Bristow Academy as a flight school to go to. In my experience with them, if your not from Europe or affiliated with the JAA they will push you to the back of the line. |
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B
JH Newbie
Posts:4
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| 09/19/2010 2:16 PM |
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What's JAA? ... remember.... I'm the "newbie"
so you don't think it matters where you go to school? You just need your CFii and a way to build hours?
B |
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