advice!

[mathias_now]

[Aunt Jemima]

Hello ,

I'm 22 years old, ...Now I’m getting older, and need to act quickly. ...By then I will be 25-26 and considered a "low-timer", would my age work against me?

MN

I have syrup and pancake batter older than you.

[mathias_now]

lol, thanks for your words of wisdom! maybe you could advise me about what I should do along with it?

please and thank you!

MN

[xsbank]

Ummmm, no.

[Speedbrakes]

Hello MN,

First off, 22 is not old to start flying. I started my flight training when I was 21 but didn't start flying commercially until I was 24. I had a friend in college who finished his training after he was 30 so it's not a big deal. Don't let your age deter you.

If you're really serious about it and money is an issue then look into Sault College or Confederation College's aviation programs. They're subsidized so the only costs you will be responsible for will be your books and tuition. The drawback though is that it will most likely take you about 3 years to complete this (I never went to Sault or Confed so please correct me if I'm wrong) whereas if you do it privately you can complete everything within a year. Give or take.

Best of luck MN

['effin hippie]

Actually, contrary to the assumptions frequently asserted on these boards that college programs are for rich little daddy's boys, and the budget approach is through you local FTU, shop around at colleges and independents. Pay attention to the costs per flight hour; I ended up going to a college(Selkirk), not because it was better (although it was, you're just not allowed to say that here) but because it ended up being less expensive.

Anyway, you are young by any standards! Best of luck.

ef

[Thr-Bird]

Dude, we're kinda in the same boat, i'm 24 and planning to start training soon in 2008.

I think I'm gonna opt for a FTU tho, even if it's more expensive, because i already have 2 college degrees in music and mechanical engineering and I also think my time to go to school is running low, by the time I could graduate from another college i'll be 27, most likely 28 if it's a 3yrs program and i can only start in sept. 2008. Plus, there's no aviation college near Montreal and i would have to relocate.

If you haven't, pick up a copy of "So you wanna be a pilot, Eh?" by James Ball, there's another thread on this forum about the book, it's a good read, you'll find many answers to our "wanna be pilots" common questions.

Best of luck!

[mathias_now]

Bird,

I read the book and loved it. I read it from cover to cover without putting it down. That's defiantly an all time first for me. As for age, everyone keeps telling me that I’m not to old. I don't want to fly airliner so I guess that could work in my favor. Being a pilot is VERY expensive so I think I’m going to go to a flight college to try and cut the costs a little bit. I've looked into Confed and Sault. Some of the classes at Sault look pretty difficult but unlike confed you only have to do VERY well in first semester (that’s what I understand anyways). At confed you need to maintain a 70 or better to graduate.

Anyone care to elaborate?

PS bird keep in touch, let me know how things are going up for you, us late aviation boomers must stick together.

If anyone else is 22-30 and just starting in aviation, or started when they were that age, send me a message. I'd love to hear your stories and future goals.

Thanks to all of those who posted above.

Cheers

MN

[renfley]

Actually, contrary to the assumptions frequently asserted on these boards that college programs are for rich little daddy's boys

I totally disagree with this statement!!!!!!

The only way I could ever dream of getting a CPL was to go to a Subsidized college program! My parents were not in a financial position to help pay for my education, and I did not qualify for loans from the bank! I could only depend on OSAP to help me pay for school!

Furthermore, I can say with confidence that most of my classmates also depended on OSAP to pay for their schooling.

[renfley]

mathias_now


Don't let your age deter you man, I know a bunch of people who started flying who are 5-10 and even 15 years older than you!

It really shouldn't be a factor!

['effin hippie]

Renfly: Not quite sure what you disagree with.

Do you disagree with me, or with the assertion that colleges are for rich little daddy's boys?

ef

[renfley]

Renfly: Not quite sure what you disagree with.

Do you disagree with me, or with the assertion that colleges are for rich little daddy's boys?

I disagree with the statement that colleges are for rich little daddy's boys.

And if you agree with this statement, then I disagree with you also!

['effin hippie]

Ahh, then we are on the same page.

Agreed?

[renfley]

Agreed!

[sky's the limit]

I ended up going to a college(Selkirk), not because it was better (although it was, you're just not allowed to say that here) but because it ended up being less expensive.
ef

Better than what? It's like saying a rotten apple tastes better than a rotten banana, only one cost more. Initial flight training in Canada is poor across the board, no matter where you go, with the possible exception of a few small private schools.


stl

['effin hippie]

Better than any other FTU I could find in Western Canada.

Why? Because the median age of my instructors was about 50. They had time in every imaginable industry niche. They weren't there because they were washouts, they were there because they were paid as college instructors (incidentally part of the reason why the training was cheaper: no hourly instructor rate) and got to live in the Kootenays with a big salary and the summer off.
There's more, but the quality of the teachers was the fundamental.
Now everyone can step up and call me an arrogant little so and so for expressing those thoughts, and indeed a big flaw to the program was a tendency to appeal to the egotism of insecure people; but I have nothing but good things to say about the Selkirk program as I experienced it.

Maybe you know more than me about the training situation in this country than I, but I don't see how the instruction I received could have been significantly improved unless the standards for the ratings were changed. I do think there is a great variation in the quality out there, but I also absolutely think that great training can be found.

ef

[mathias_now]

Hello everyone,

I'm just wondering on average how much people spent, who trained privately, in total on training from zero-commercial multi-ifr, and how long it took?

Thanks in advance,

MN

[Thr-Bird]

Sure, let's keep in touch! I'm passing my medical on tuesday and hopefully, if that goes well, i'll be shopping around for FTUs and doing a few intro flights very soon. Good luck to you man!

[mathias_now]

Just thought I would bring is forum back since my situation has kind of changed.

Right now I'm working as a Guest Service Agent with Delta hotels. I came out here while I was waiting to get into confed in the fall. There were some slight problems with the school receiving my transcript so I wasn't eligible for equal consideration. I'm now sitting on the waitlist which is kind of a bummer since all I want to do is fly. MY chances of getting in this year are pretty slim, but I'm still hanging in here.

My options are now as follows:

1. Wait to get into confed next year while taking tech math to up my score since I didn't take it in high school(took all university classes, but didnt do very well) and risk not getting in again.
2. Start and complete my CPL privately and go to Georgian college next year for Aviation management while instructing part-time and on co-ops.
3. Save and go to Selkirk or Mount Royal which even though I'm a good saver could take up to two years since I dont make very much at my current position.

Let me know what you the kind and knowledgeable people of avcanada think.

Kindest regards,

MN

[Stick-Shaker]

If you want to be a pilot, then there are (legal) ways to get the money. You have to be resourceful, but its doable. I started when my private when I was 27, and by age 30 I was flying single pilot IFR on a light twin. Now, I am at AC and have been flying jets for the last 5 years and have over 9000 hours. Don't let those that will try to discourage you succeed. Age is only a factor if you allow obstacles to get in the way. You have to do your flight training as quickly as possible, and flying only once or twice a month is a waste of money unless you only want to be a private pilot and time isn't a factor. Then once you get all the licenses and ratings, then its still go go go. Its the only way, but that’s the facts and its very doable. Just don't let people talk you out of it. And as sure as the sun will rise tomorrow, the industry will have boom days again. Just try to get the timing right!

Best of luck

[mathias_now]

Stick-Shaker, Thanks for the inspiring reply. I've sold my soul to aviation therefore I don't plan on ever letting anything become an obstacle such as kids, girls, relocation ect. I will live free and plan to go where ever opportunities await without delay or hesitaion.

Anyways, back the said question just above your/the pervious post. What do you think I should do regarding the said options?

Thanks again,

MN

[BoostedNihilist]

(Selkirk), not because it was better (although it was, you're just not allowed to say that here)

That might actually be true, but you can still never remove the stain that two years in Castlegar leaves on your soul. (said in good humor)

Selkirk would be wicked, flying in the rocks, nice approaches all over the place, learning to fly (or how not to) in 'questionable' weather. I think that training at Selkirk would give you a pretty good taste of flying in difficult conditions...

Don't get me wrong, for me... FTU all the way for the flexibility, but so far as colleges go Selkirk is pretty nice if you can handle the stench (actually, Castlegar does kinda stink sometimes)

[Stick-Shaker]

Difficult options, and hard for anyone not in your predicament to decide. Its up to you. But, my thoughts are get the licenses/rating done ASAP while you still have the freedom to make career choices before life gets complicated with age/responsibility and all that comes with it. Even if the industry slows down for a few years, you will be in the position to apply for jobs when the market gets hot again vs. trying to cram it all in at a time when everyone else is trying to do the same thing. No doubt, many will back out of the flying career because times are changing and the industrial sine wave is once again on the slide. But I know many examples of people that got caught in this same position back in the 90's with all the training done but there were few jobs to be had. But when it ramped up again, they were in a great position to advance. Having said this, there are always flying jobs even during slow times; only there are many pilots after them. You just have to be hungry for the job, and most often, in the right place, right time.

So, I suggest getting the flying done anyway you can whether it be privately, or the college route which ever comes first. Having those college diplomas are a very nice credit to your resume, but ultimately its the time in the logbook that will get you the first job (instructing, in the bush/or loading on the float base counts too). In other words, Option # 2!

[E-Flyer]

Hello ,

I'm 22 years old, ...Now I’m getting older, and need to act quickly. ...By then I will be 25-26 and considered a "low-timer", would my age work against me?

MN

I have syrup and pancake batter older than you.

LOL !

There are guys in their 40's getting into aviation. 20's i the normal range where people get involved with aviation practically because of it's expensive features.

You're right on time. And if you do it well enough, you can be a low timer in a year. Some people do it in 10 months lol.