Duel National (UK/USA) - Best training to career stratagy

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Toby Cannon

Filing Flight Plan
Joined
Nov 19, 2017
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TECannon
Hi Everyone!

I am in need of some starting off advice as I am a prospective pilot, living in Seattle and holding two passports! I'm a British national who has been a US Citizen also since 2004. I am willing to relocate globally to train and would like to know the best/fastest way to get into the industry.

I would love some advice on my plan to see if it sound in the mind of you more experienced pilots and students!

PLAN:
  1. Join ATP Flight school. I heard that ATP are a good school and offer a great fast track program (9-12 months from 0 hours to Commercial License. QUESTION; I hear its cheaper to fly in Florida? Also, would this same flight school be cheaper there perhaps?
  2. Sign up with Horizon Air, through ATP, to dedicate myself to them after I obtain my ATPL at 1500 hours in exchange for ~$11,000 tuition reimbursement.
  3. Fly with flight school as a CFI (not ATP, have heard working for them isn't as good?) to get myself up to 1500 hours.
  4. Fly with Horizion for several years (?) before being eligable to move onto a larger airline.


Questions:
  1. Are there any other options for me to get up to 1500 hours? Perhaps there is something available to me outside of the US as a European national (until Brexit completes!)?
  2. How long does it usually take (and how many hours) to be considered for a Pilot position within a larger airline?
  3. What is the average time for someone to start there training and then get their first Major airline position?
  4. Is it better for me to consider somewhere like Florida (where sunshine is more prevalent!) for flight school AND a job as a CFI instead of Seattle?

Thank you all for your guidance! Please let me know if there is anything I have perhaps overlooked. Any suggestions welcome!
 
All I can suggest is to not go deeply in debt, because it may take a few years to make the money needed to pay that debt off.

First thing I suggest to do is get a medical certificate and make sure your health is good to go before sinking money into an expensive flight school.
 
Dual is two, duel is two also but not the same.

Yes, this post was pedantic and perhaps nit-picky. So what.
 
Given the choice, I would duel with the UK citizen, seeing as how the US citizen probably has more practice and expertise with firearms than the Brit.
 
Seattle has some crummy weather a lot of the time. FL may be a better choice for a school, or other warmer areas like TX. Flight Safety has excellent training, with locations all over the country.
 
Get medical.

Find a flight school (141 program) in AZ, TX or FL. (Better weather and cheaper than Seattle)

Pay them money and train.

Personally I would use a standalone 141 school over the pilot mills (atp etc) but that's just me.

Good luck
 
Hi Toby.
Most of the people that use the pre pay schools find that it's not exactly what they advertise. There are some people that make it but you must be able to do a lot of work on your own, if you cannot, or don't, you will likely have problems.
Like others have mentioned, good medical health, move to an area that has good Wx., this way you can fly more often, try to fly 4-5 times / week, be ready to prioritize it as primary mission, goal, in life, make sure you have the money up front. Best avenue, for most, is 141 at least until you get past Commercial.
 
I apologize for derail, but I could not resist.

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So it sounds like everyone is pretty much in agreement that a 141 Flight School in a warmer climate is a better option. Does anyone have any good recommendations for schools in the Ft Lauderdale/Miami area?
Also; does the fact I do not have a bachelors degree affect this at all?
 
I can recommend Citrus Aviation in Sarasota and Palm Beach Flight Training over on the east coast; but you might run into Trump issues with the latter.
 
Seattle has some crummy weather a lot of the time. FL may be a better choice for a school, or other warmer areas like TX. Flight Safety has excellent training, with locations all over the country.
AZ is going to have the best and most consistent weather for training. Getting actual IFR in that environment is difficult.
 
Without bachelor's I think chances of getting hired approach zero.
 
AZ is going to have the best and most consistent weather for training. Getting actual IFR in that environment is difficult.

Yeah I did say warmer areas like TX, so AZ would fall in thar. Like you mentioned though, other parts of the country he could get some IMC also.
 
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