FWIW, I received a BSEE in electrical engineering in 1984, and have been
working in the high tech industry since then. That has allowed me to
Learn How To Fly - starting in 1999. As a result, I have about 130
hours in helicopters and around 240 hours in fixed-wing aircraft, with
an instrument rating. I do not have an instructor rating.

As such - I am, as far as I can tell, utterly unemployable as a
commercial pilot... My engineering background is almost meaningless in
the aviation world.

So, if you want to be a career pilot, don't spend another dime on your
engineering education.. take that money and start building flight time
in helicopters. Get your CFI and build 500-1000 hours. Then, you MIGHT
find a flying job that actually pays your living expenses. At that
point, consider yourself lucky to have found such a thing.

The better path, IMO, is to stick to your guns and get that four year
degree in engineering. If you're competent and reasonably lucky you can
land a job that will allow you to fly as a *hobby* and not as a way to
make ends meet... That's what I've been doing - it's ridiculously
expensive to fly helicopters as a hobby but it can happen if you're
determined and passionate about flying.

YMMV,

Dave Blevins


On Wed, 11 Aug 2004 10:13:17 -0400, "Neb Okla" >
wrote:

>I'm currently an Engineering student looking at about 2 years of full time
>school to finish. I'd like to earn my helicopter pilots license in (or very
>shortly after) that time frame.
>
>What types of career options are open to Engineers (probably electrical or
>computer) who can fly helis?
>
>Thanks,
>Neb