My "Career Plan"

C-150Pilot · Post by **C-150Pilot** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 8:36 am

Hey

Well like most of you guys know I'm only 14 and trying to figure out what I should do for the future. What career path I should take. Tell me what you think?

Plan A

Try to get in Chicoutimi CEGEP in their "Pilotage d'aéronefs" program(which I highly doubt Ill get in).

http://www.cegep-chicoutimi.qc.ca/

Plan B

Get in at John Abbott CEGEP in their Aircraft Maintenance program while getting all my ratings(Night-Multi-Commercial-CFI) at a local flight school.

http://www.johnabbott.qc.ca/cgi-bin/jac ... nanceE.htm

Should I go to university?

desksgo · Post by **desksgo** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 8:40 am

C-150Pilot wrote:Hey

Should I go to university?

Definitely.

C-150Pilot · Post by **C-150Pilot** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 8:44 am

Definitely.

More years of sitting on my ass

Airtids · Post by **Airtids** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 8:55 am

More years of EDUCATION and LIFE EXPERIENCES. If you choose to sit on your ass, that's your choice. Me, I tend to grab life by the balls a little bit more...

pika · Post by **pika** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 9:10 am

You're 14 years old. Go have some fun and ride your bike. Enjoy your youth.

Beacon Final · Post by **Beacon Final** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 9:14 am

Join Air Cadets, kick ass there, do all the flying courses you can. Voluteer at every event they have and get your glider and PPL for free.

Then once you get those you can get work in the summers flying gliders or tow planes etc...... to put your self thru school be it university or flight school

but if you are 14 now, you better join soon.

C-150Pilot · Post by **C-150Pilot** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 9:34 am

I joined last year and hated it. We went gliding like once and the rest we didnt do anything that made sense with aviation. And the kids are so friken immature there. Parents send their kids there when they have attitude problems...

RFN · Post by **RFN** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 10:21 am

You should definitely go to university. Because you're only 14 you have lots of time to make sure that your grades are as high as possible.
You need university as a back up in case aviation doesn't work out for you for some reason (I hope it does). Getting an aviation degree will most likely help your chances at a flying career, but it won't do much if you need to find a real job. Get a degree in something you find interesting and enjoy yourself for a few years. Having a degree shows you can learn complex ideas under some time pressure; lots of employers, whether in aviation or not, will respect that.
I dropped out and now I am trying to finish though correspondence while flying full time.
P.S. Isn't it ironic to hear a PC-12 driver talk about a back up plan?

Right Seat Captain · Post by **Right Seat Captain** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 2:54 pm

C-150Pilot wrote:
More years of sitting on my ass

If you don't like sitting on your

then you chose the wrong profession!

You should definately go to University. You have to realize that it's so easy to loose a medical, or have no job whatsoever in Aviation. Just read through the threads on this forum for proof. You'll be stuck with nothing if you loose your medical. I know it's hard to imagine at 14, but it could happen to any of us. You're young now, you can't even get a Commercial licence until you're 18. You're going to Cegep soon, you have time to prepare for a university education.

altiplano · Post by **altiplano** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 2:55 pm

Maybe you should reconsider Air Cadets... Do you want a free PPL or not?

Also, I would consider adjusting your attitude because you're going to encounter a lot of "friken immature" people with "attitude problems" in this industry. You'll need to deal with them, get used to it.

Right Seat Captain · Post by **Right Seat Captain** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 2:57 pm

C-150Pilot wrote:I joined last year and hated it. We went gliding like once and the rest we didnt do anything that made sense with aviation. And the kids are so friken immature there. Parents send their kids there when they have attitude problems...

Perhaps you should have an adult read some of your posts on here, and see what they think of your attitude?

scotothedoublet · Post by **scotothedoublet** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 3:53 pm

If you hit the school books a little more often and spent less time enlightening everyone on this forum maybe you could get in to Chicoutimi.

w squared · Post by **w squared** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 8:22 pm

The life skills that you would have learned by staying with Air Cadets may well have served you well in the future. As another poster pointed out, immature people don't only exist in Air Cadets. You're going to have to cope with personality conflicts, power-mad dictators, and people with the "little big man" syndrome regardless of where you go in life.

In regards to your unwillingness to learn anything that you don't see as having a direct application to flying - SUCK IT UP! Are they out of line in asking you to learn a lfew skills that may be of use to them in return for a free PPL? Speaking as an adult that spends many of his hard-earned dollars at his local flight school, a free PPL from Air Cadets sounds like a great deal!

FrankD · Post by **FrankD** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 5:36 am

C150 Pilot...ask anyone here and they will probably tell you that a plan B is a must in aviation. The industry will always be volatile to a certain extent and having a non flying skill set (ie university degree or someother education) is a valuable back up. If anyone disagrees I'd be curious to hear why.

As for your "four more years of sitting on your ass" comment...you asked if you should go to university, someone answered. If you're going to make immature comments to peoples answers to your questions, maybe you should stop asking them.

Like I said in another post to you, you need to watch your attitude a bit and try and be a little more humble. Being arrogant and cocky like you are a lot of the time is a good way to get your self killed in a airplane. trying being a little more humble and respectful to the people on this site. Most of them have forgotten more about aviation than you have even learned!

wha happen · Post by **wha happen** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 7:36 am

well said frank d. Wasnt it just last week this kid was trying to rip on us, now he wants our advice?

Beacon Final · Post by **Beacon Final** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 7:44 am

hey are you still in Cadets? yea like the guy a post or two up said:

"suck it up"

oh and Cadets award not only free flying etc... but upto $5k for school and $1k for second place. not bad at all. Plus you then can get a busary from the Legion for $800.

And if that squadron is any good, they have basic ground school once a week after school.

If your still there, just stick it out. Jump thru the hoops and hang with the "flying crowd" avoid the little nazi kids and you can go far....

Just my 2 cents.

gelbisch · Post by **gelbisch** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 9:42 am

Yup, a paid-for PPC is nothing to complain about. Not to mention all the friends and contacts you'll make... to this day when I'm in a social setting with a bunch of pilots, I'll see guys bumping into each other who knew each other way back when.

I never went myself, but my brother ate it up. He was always a good kid, but very quiet. I saw a very definite change in him over the years through Cadets... he became very confident and self-assured. There's nothing wrong with the attitude adjustment you'll get. I don't think that the Air Cadets is in any way a waste of your time.

Buzzard · Post by **Buzzard** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 6:06 pm

I recently (two years ago when I left to do a diploma in Aviation Technology at NSCC) left the air cadet program here in NS after serving for six years, earning both my glider and my PPL, the Lord Strathcona Medal, Warrent Officer 2nd Class and the position of Squadron Commander. I can't say it didn't have it's hard times.

When I was in my second year, my intrest dropped off fast. My CO let me sit in on a few of the groundschool courses, and I never looked back. They give you a lot of responsibility. Listen to these people when they say they teach a lot of life skills.

My uncle, father (two Highlanders here in NS at one time) and my grandfather (ex. Flight Sergeant in the RAF, 25 years of service) told me when I joined: "You have to learn to walk before you can fly." Drill teaches discipline, and while I realize most pilots hate drill (yours truly included) it does actually do wonders for your self confidence when you can get up in front of your peers, and parents at an annual review... and escort the Assistant Commissioner to the RCMP through the ranks of your squadron. I say: give'r. I think only paying about $200 (it isn't quite free) for a PPL is a darn good idea!!

My two cents.

scotothedoublet · Post by **scotothedoublet** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 6:30 pm

C-150...cadets are socially inept and annoying, I would think you would fit in nicely. Seriously though, if the Chicoutimi program is what you want to do, go for it.

No Conflict · Post by **No Conflict** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 7:02 pm

scotothedoublet wrote:C-150...cadets are socially inept and annoying, I would think you would fit in nicely. Seriously though, if the Chicoutimi program is what you want to do, go for it.

I was in cadets, and most are cool. I taught Cadets (flying), and they are eager to learn. To say Cadets are socially inept and annoying is a little harsh. I've got good friends who were in Cadets and they are great people. I think Cadets just think they are a step above, which may or may not be true, but at least they are pushing ahead, instead of being some drug addict or criminal.

bandaid · Post by **bandaid** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 7:05 pm

Son, you need something that will seperate you from the crowd. There are a large number of 4 year degrees out there that are working at Starbucks. You're young and at your age you feel that you have spent your whole life in school. Us older guys look back at school (at least I do) as the most carefree time of my life. What I wouldn't do to be back there again.
At this time in your life the world is you oyster, go out and enjoy yourself and worry about what you are going to do with it once the facial hair starts growing.

No Conflict · Post by **No Conflict** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 7:07 pm

bandaid wrote: You're young and at your age you feel that you have spent your whole life in school. Us older guys look back at school (at least I do) as the most carefree time of my life. What I wouldn't do to be back there again.
At this time in your life the world is you oyster, go out and enjoy yourself and worry about what you are going to do with it once the facial hair starts growing.

Ain't that the truth!!!!! nicely said....

yycflyguy · Post by **yycflyguy** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 8:05 pm

bandaid wrote:Son, you need something that will seperate you from the crowd. There are a large number of 4 year degrees out there that are working at Starbucks.

How is this different from working the docks, sweeping hangars or cleaning airplanes to "pay your dues". Even with specialized degrees it might take some time to break into your chosen area of expertise.... IMHO it is better to say that patience is a virtue and persistance will prevail regardless of what you what to be when you grow up.

My "Career Plan"

My "Career Plan"

Re: My "Career Plan"

ok then