Almost Ready To Start My Training!

[FordMustang0288]

Howdy all!

Well, i've been doing quite a bit of reading these last few weeks while I decided to take up helo lessons. I was accepted & supposed to attend the USAF Academy, but for reasons, I'm still here. My dreams were to fly helicopters for the Air Force, so I decided I would continue those dreams and become a pilot in the civilian world.

 

I've taken my introductory flight at the New England Helicopter Academy at the Norwood Airport in Norwood, Mass. It was one of the greatest things i've ever done. I was amazed that the instructor let me fly, a good 85-90% of the time while we were in the air. However, my biggest achievement would be the hovering. The instructor had me hold a fixed point using the cyclic, and then the rudder. But he thought I did it too easy, & wanted to give me a challenge. While he spun the helo in a 360, I held the helo in place without drifting no more than 3 feet(according to him ). It was nice to see him rant about it to the other instructor. It really showed me how much joy is included in flying. Well, I got home & sent in my enrollment form, & a week later I got a call to start my training. However, I still need to wait & see if Sallie Mae is going to accept my loan. I also want to get my 2nd class Medical before I start flying. I wouldnt want that to ruin things after i've already spent some money.

 

Needless to say, i'm going for all of my certifications from Private-Instructor. I hope to make this my career if all goes well. With that said, I have a few questions.

I couldnt really find too many job postings that required a college degree. It seemed as if they were more interested in the flight hours. Therefore, I've decided to put off school for now. Hopefully I can get a job afterwords to pay off my training loans, & then I can think about school. Well, is this true? Are there good jobs out there that don't require a college degree?

 

Secondly, I'm 18, & i'm praying that Sallie Mae is going to approve this loan. If something falls through, are there any other loan programs out there? The biggest set back so far is that NEHA is not an accredited school & I can't go through FAFSA or anything of that effect. On this note, are there any scholarships or grants that i've overlooked in my searches? This would save me from years of debt.

 

If there are jobs out there that don't require a college degree, does anyone know of them in the New England area?

 

Lastly, on my trip home from Colorado, I was seated next to an ex-AF Colonel. What are the chances?! Well, he suggested I look into the civil air patrol. I've requested the CAP's brochures & read there websites. But it's still slightly unclear. Would this be a good place to get my foot in the door. Now, or once I complete training? Any detailed information on the Civil Air Patrol regarding flying helicopters would be GREATLY appreciated.

 

Well, I should find out if my loan is approved by the end of this week & I can start flying. I'm sure to be posting here often now that i've found this wonderful site. Any help, hints, tips, suggestions, comments would be appreciated from all.

 

Thanks!

[fry]

Are there good jobs out there that don't require a college degree?

 

Well, I should find out if my loan is approved by the end of this week & I can start flying. I'm sure to be posting here often now that i've found this wonderful site. Any help, hints, tips, suggestions, comments would be appreciated from all.

 

"Good jobs"...in terms of flexability, compensation and quality of life..."that don't require a college degree"? Generally...no. If you don't go now it will be much harder, if not very unlikely, that you will go later.

 

If you are lucky SLM will turn down your request for easy money and you can start looking at college again.

 

If you want to fly follow the Major's advice. Go to college, apply for financial aid and use some of it to get a fixed wing PPL (much cheaper than helicopter) and join the CAP. Go on from there.

 

To bad about the USAFA...it would have been a great place to spend four years.

[fry]

...so I decided I would continue those dreams and become a pilot in the civilian world.

 

Here's what a pilot in the real world thinks about it.

 

http://originalforum.justhelicopters.com/D...4140&page=1

[bossman]

Howdy all!

Well, i've been doing quite a bit of reading these last few weeks while I decided to take up helo lessons. I was accepted & supposed to attend the USAF Academy, but for reasons, I'm still here. My dreams were to fly helicopters for the Air Force, so I decided I would continue those dreams and become a pilot in the civilian world.

 

I've taken my introductory flight at the New England Helicopter Academy at the Norwood Airport in Norwood, Mass. It was one of the greatest things i've ever done. I was amazed that the instructor let me fly, a good 85-90% of the time while we were in the air. However, my biggest achievement would be the hovering. The instructor had me hold a fixed point using the cyclic, and then the rudder. But he thought I did it too easy, & wanted to give me a challenge. While he spun the helo in a 360, I held the helo in place without drifting no more than 3 feet(according to him ). It was nice to see him rant about it to the other instructor. It really showed me how much joy is included in flying. Well, I got home & sent in my enrollment form, & a week later I got a call to start my training. However, I still need to wait & see if Sallie Mae is going to accept my loan. I also want to get my 2nd class Medical before I start flying. I wouldnt want that to ruin things after i've already spent some money.

 

Needless to say, i'm going for all of my certifications from Private-Instructor. I hope to make this my career if all goes well. With that said, I have a few questions.

I couldnt really find too many job postings that required a college degree. It seemed as if they were more interested in the flight hours. Therefore, I've decided to put off school for now. Hopefully I can get a job afterwords to pay off my training loans, & then I can think about school. Well, is this true? Are there good jobs out there that don't require a college degree?

 

Secondly, I'm 18, & i'm praying that Sallie Mae is going to approve this loan. If something falls through, are there any other loan programs out there? The biggest set back so far is that NEHA is not an accredited school & I can't go through FAFSA or anything of that effect. On this note, are there any scholarships or grants that i've overlooked in my searches? This would save me from years of debt.

 

If there are jobs out there that don't require a college degree, does anyone know of them in the New England area?

 

Lastly, on my trip home from Colorado, I was seated next to an ex-AF Colonel. What are the chances?! Well, he suggested I look into the civil air patrol. I've requested the CAP's brochures & read there websites. But it's still slightly unclear. Would this be a good place to get my foot in the door. Now, or once I complete training? Any detailed information on the Civil Air Patrol regarding flying helicopters would be GREATLY appreciated.

 

Well, I should find out if my loan is approved by the end of this week & I can start flying. I'm sure to be posting here often now that i've found this wonderful site. Any help, hints, tips, suggestions, comments would be appreciated from all.

 

Thanks!

 

Ford,

Go to school. Get you a degree in something. You can always tack on an aviation minor of some kind. College won't be that long. If you have any extra money while going to school, you can still get a few hours flying ( fixed wing or helicopter ) when possible. You need that degree.

Mike

[gmsemel]

I don't know what happened to you as far as the Airforce Academy goes. Did you get a rejection letter? If not then I would still go after that, while cooling your jets for that I would enroll in college. If you were rejected, I would apply to Norwich, thats a school in Vermont. When you graduate, you are commisioned in the Army. And since Norwich guys are Calvery(Armor) for the most part, you can if pass the flight physical you go straight to Ft. Rucker and helicopters. Dam sight better than being 19 or 20 with 50 to 60 k in debt trying to eat on what you are going to make in the first few years. Most flying jobs don't pay very well, and thats a fact. Don't matter much if you are a green commercial pilot or been around 25 years. The pay has aways been light compared to other professions. Just look at the job posts here and at Just helicopters and with a few phone calls you will get the full picture. One of the dumbest things you can do in life is to borrow money for flight school.