Should I finish CTI School or go PUBNAT

jamin35008 Senior Member KROC

Hey all,

This may have discussed before but I wanted to ask all the CTI?s and anyone else who maybe thinking along the same lines some questions.

I?m 29 years old. Have applied to pubnat 8 but scored only an 83.5 on the AT-SAT so only ?Q?. I have my commercial multi/single with instrument and a 4 yr B.S. in aviation science from Utah Valley University.

After thinking about things for awhile and my chances of getting picked up OTS with only a Q are slim to none, but I?m going to put AK as my #1 so who knows as I think they still need people there, I was wondering about getting fast tracked through a CTI program.

Can you guys give me your best guess on a few things before I start contacting schools?.oh ya, I live in Rochester ,NY so was looking at CCBC or Vaughn incase I have to go there for some classes.

Here are the questions?.

1. Being 29 is it doable/possible to get a TOL buy 31? (31st birthday is oct 3, 2011)
2. Is having the BS in aviation science going to help getting through faster?
3. If I started classes during the winter 10 semester when is the fastest I could be done with classes doing the most online?
4. Assuming I can do the fast track, what is the time line from graduation to TOL/FOL/class date?
5. Is it worth it to do the CTI or just hope for the OTS to work?
6. Anyone that has done the fast track could you give me a estimate on the cost?

I will take any pointers/criticism/advise ect??

Thanks so much everyone!

aprolla23 Junior Member Raleigh, NC

I'm 28 though I'm not doing the fast-track, but I'm only doing 3 semesters at Vaughn's CTI in Airport Management. Having a bachelors already, I'm sure you would qualify for their fast-track program. Classes starting again in Jan, would lead me to believe you could finish up in Dec 2010 leaving just shy of a year to get hired via CTI apps. I think you would be pushing the limit, but not impossible. I'm not sure about CCBC, but if they offer the same fast-track type program, which I think they might, then you could pull it off there too. Living in NY already would probably make Vaughn cheaper, but I'm not sure.

Edit: I did apply to Pub7 and 8, scored WQ, so hopefully I won't even need to finish the CTI program at all, but it's definitely my backup.

CGrensted Newcomer

Another option I am not sure you have considered is the military. I believe you can enter into the FAA post 30 through the VRA; however, I am not certain about this so if it is an option you continue to entertain I would do my homework first. This is an option I have been considering for a plan B for a while.

RdRunnr12 Site Editor

Yes, you can enter the FAA after 31, but you must have retired from the military. If he's 29, he would be 50 at the earliest. I guess he would still have 6 years to control with the FAA though. Not sure this is the best option.

jamin35008 Senior Member KROC

Thanks for the input all. I really dont think the military is the route I want to take but I will think about it.

Whats the guess on how long a fast track program would take? If I started in Jan 2010 when would I finish?

Whats the going rate from graduation to getting a TOL now days?

The Fold Transmitting in the Blind South Florida

I graduated in May and dont' have my TOL yet.

jholw311 Trusted Contributor PARKER, COLORADO

I am also considering the Vaughn "Fast Track" program. If you have a business degree then you can get the CTI and second Bachelors degree in Airport Management with only 30 credits..thats not bad. The price is about $550 per credit so you do the math... it would be a small price to pay for a career you want.

ugotkevin Rookie

Sure, but you'll have to start in Jan and find a place to be done at least by the end of summer. But then it's still a gamble. Remember you only need the TOL before you turn 31, and that'll give you a bit longer than a year, so maybe.

Hopefully! See how many classes will transfer over, weather, ground schools, etc... You might get lucky with Vaughn with the 30 credit thing and only have to take 20 credits (just guessing) and get done in 1 semester?

Call around and see. But I wouldn't do anything that you couldn't be done with by the end of Summer.

I don't know future trends, but past averages around 8 months for what I hear.

With a Q, I think it'll be hard given that 9000 people applied for pubnat 8 and a ton of those got WQ, but then again I hear it depends on your geo-preferences. Maybe you'll get lucky?

I'm over at Green River near Seattle (out of state - doing fast track too, B.S. in business - started in Sept. will be done in June) and figure schooling to be just over $5k, and with living expenses and school to be around $20k.

It's a tough gamble, I really can't say... depends on how bad you want the job and if the expense to get CTI is worth it if you don't happen to get it.

rogersjf Trusted Contributor New Jersey

I really do not want to be the bearer of bad news but here is my opionion of the questions you asked.

Yes and No this all depends on the panel rotation for that year. If you do get a panel it will most likely be your only one due time period in between the panels. Likewise if you fail anything if you get a FOL it may cause some problems/headaches down the road.

NO

Vaughn (Jan '10 - Dec '10)

CTI Classes (Jan '10 - Dec '10)
Panel (Jan '10 - Assuming they will get back to the quarterly sech. April '10)
TOL - April '10 (Depends on panels)
FOL - July '10 - Dec '10 (All depends on how fast the FAA is moving with paperwork and checks etc.)
Class Date - Oct '10 - May '11 (all depends on how backed up OKC is and when you get a FOL.

All these assumptions take with a grain of salt the FAA always seems to get backed up and the waiting games starts.

Both if you want it take every possible route, also i would suggest looking into a CTO and getting some experience and roll the dice.

Vaughn (Fast Track)
Spring (19 credits) - $8600
Summer I & II (12 credits) - $7550
Fall (12 credits) - $8600

Total - $24,750 (the figures are based on me with no financial aid)

I am currently in the fast track program at vaughn. I started in Jan '09 i will be finished this coming Dec '09. You can complete vaughn in a year if you take Spring, Summer I and II, Fall


This all depends on too many variables to get a clear answer. The biggest factor will be your At-Sat score and location preferences. However from what i hear there will be new selection for people to pick and that is throughout the USA (Get the ones no one wants).

You got some tough decisions ahead personally i think you will be investing alot of money for a chance to get in, however it is not written in stone due to your age and the whole messed up FAA hiring process. I think you would have a much better shot if you got in to classes this past fall. Another factor to think about is your At-Sat the FAA has to approve you to take it and they may not give you a retry and give people who have not taken it a chance. So you may be stuck with that score also. If i had to put a number on it i would say (40/60) 40% chance you get picked up before your 31st.

RdRunnr12 Site Editor

Also, not to rain on your parade but to possibly save you a dollar or two.

This is a post that was recently entered in the employment forum. See the bolded item below. With the recent demand in this field, there may be enough WQ applicants to not need to look at a Q CTI graduate. Again, just trying to present the reality and possibly save you some money.