STOP!!!!!!!!! Why spend the requires $100,000 on ERAU????? It will get you no furthur in the airline industry then the local business degree and airport....The fact is to get started you need hours, (majors and corporate require the degree and that will take awhile) go to a local university and get a degree in a usable field like business or engineering (if aero then Riddle will do). Take your flight lessons at the local airport, get through them as fast as you can..Riddle will take 4yrs (I KNOW). Start instructing, doing traffic watch what ever to build time and finish your degree...No degree is needed for the regionals to make $20,000 a year the first yr (try living on that) it will take 3 yrs and a captain upgrade to hit the $50,000 mark...It will take one bankruptcy threat to put you back on the street looking for that $20,000 job again..

Adam, I left a firefighter career in 1999 to fulfill my dream of flying for the airlines. I am there, working for Express Jet (continental express) flyin 35-50 seat jets...Let me tell you when you shut that door and lock it is the best feeling, when you open it back up reality hits...This job is nothing like it use to be..I listen to my crashpad mates (Continental Main line) talk about all the hits they are going to have to take in this round of pay cuts to stay alive, it is depressing...If you love to fly, your young, do it and have fun. Get that degree in another field to make the house payments though because since 9/11 things are up in the air still...

Oh yea I wouldn't trade my decision for the world, just my paycheck....

Disclaimer: I do not hate Riddle, I have 6 courses left on my aero degree..My wife is a Riddle engineering grad..I just know better now and see more clearly...

Other flight school options: University of N. Dakota, Ohio State, Purdue (good), plus others I missed. These all offer degree fields outside of the flight department... You could also spend the $35,000 on a 6-9 month flight program in florida and have all your tickets done. Then start your college courses while you instruct on the side to build those required hours the regionals want...Which from what I understand is very low, and scaring the PI$$$$$ out of alot of captains...