737 Type?

[airlinepilot]

Save Money!

I paid Crew Training in Houston $$6600 and that was the best price I could find.......their program was very easy....they have their own DE and the sim instructor is one of the best instructors I have ever been around (F-14 reserve guy and Jet Blue check airman)......he actually flies in your right seat for the checkride......they operate out of Houston and Dallas.......300 series in Houston. I have no connection with them and there is no insentive for me to promote them....but I will say they made it easy, esp since 3 out of the 4 of us had never flown any heavy multi engine jet........

Also, I would recommend to the guys/gals out there to shop around....some of these places are hurting with the slow-down in hiring/training....you might be able to barter a better rate......hell, make an offer....all they can say is NO.

 

[Swerpipe]

IFR checkride to 737 Type

Hey SAMMYG,


IFR checkride 3/15/1997 $300.00

737 Type Ride 1/20/2002 $7350.00

Not ever busting a checkride or getting a violation, suspension or revocation...... priceless

 

[ATRCAPT]

737 type

Hey Sammy -
I did my type at Higher Power and have nothing but great things to say! However, your first priority is getting in to the turbine flying world. I suggest finding a job with a FAR 121 turbine airline. Look for the one with the shortest upgrade time. Right now most majors and large nationals want a minimum of 1,000 PIC turbine. That's your first hurdle. Once you hit that mark start thinking about a 737 type (if you're looking to go to SWA that is). This probably isn't news to you. Good luck.

 

[PTinbound]

If you want SWA, don't wait for 1000 PIC

I got my type with about 700 turbine PIC, so I could apply right away the second I had 1000 PIC! Any time you wait to apply after 1000 PIC will cost you BIG TIME seniority. Even a couple weeks delay is bad. Just ask ANY of the current poolies where they'd be if they'd interviewed just two weeks sooner. Many of us would be on the property now. Of course, at 70 hours TT it is way too early to get it, but I'd start thinking about it when you are an FO at a regional. Being a senior FO would be a great time to do it because you would only lose 2 weeks of SIC time, as a senior FO it would be relatively easy to bid for the time off or get vacation to get the type (vs. being a junior captain on reserve), and finally, what a great statement it would make to SWA to say, "I've known for sure for so long that this is where I want to be that I got my type while I was still an FO". Of course, they'll still look at you if you get 3500 turbine PIC and wake up one morning and say, "Geez, my career isn't going anywhere, so maybe I should go get a type". But it comes across to me as somewhat "Johnny come lately" and given the choice, I'd rather hire a guy with just 1001 turbine PIC who has desperately wanted to work at SWA for many years.

Of course, I don't work for the PD, and I'm not even an employee.
I've just been a wannabe for a really long time so take it for what you paid for it.

 

[Swerpipe]

Great advice

Hey PTInbound,

Great piece of advice. It's actually something I did. Had to be a San Antonio Sewerpipe Driver...Water ON

 

[PTinbound]

Oh, the memories...

Sewerpipes rock! Sometimes I actually miss them.
I get spoiled with the SAAB - Autopilot, flight director, bathroom, flight atttendant. I'm feeling a big tangent coming on, but that wouldn't have anything to do with gettng a 737 type now, would it?

 

[Duke Lefty]

Higher Power Aviation

For high quality training, contact Higher Power Aviation. Their phone number is 1.800.JETCREW. You will also find the link attached for their web site.

Besides offering exceptional training, they are very good with their knowledge of WIA and VA benefits. Mark and Joe are genuinely concerned with your progress and your reaching your goals. Give them a call. If you are in town on a Friday morning, you would be welcomed to come and visit when a representative from the Southwest Airlines People Department comes to spend time with the students in class.

I am a satisfied customer and am happy to give HPA my highest recommendation.


www.jetcrew.com

 

[easy spirit]

How much sim time is usually included for the course fee?

 

[firstthird]

I went to HPA but I suspect the rest are pretty close to the same amount of time. 6 total sims (5 to get ready and a check ride) at 2.0 each. You are also in the box another 10 hours acting as copilot for your sim partner, and sometimes I learned more moving the gear handle than I did when I was flying.

 

[pegasus]

I have been very busy, but wanted to add my 2 cents....

Higher Power is a great place to get the type rating. They care about you, and will do all to help ensure that you leave with the correct training, rating in hand. Do a search on this website and you will discover a huge following for their product.

I did my rating at Aeroservice. They give you what you need...but HPA gave me my recurrency training and were fantastic. You cannot go wrong with HPA...I give you my strongest recommendation.

 

[b757driver]

Looking @ all the posts, I would say HPA has the best reputation - not only for getting you through, but also in job placement which for some guys is a BIG deal.
I did mine @ PremAir & while their instructors were good, they did jerk me around several times with different dates and in the end sent me to MCO instead of SEA AT MY OWN COST!
More importantly, they are affiliated with a sister company, GAD, who share their offices and if you check their web-site, they have mission statements proclaiming "we are always looking for type rated pilots and F/Os for all series of 737"..."PremAir Students will get hiring preferential consideration for GAD flights".
Well, don't believe any of that spiel - it's all hype & I can prove it if you don't believe it. It is an "old boys network" enticing you to do training with them and you will be considered for p/t employment. Did not happen, and I have 3000 hours on the 737 incl. international and a type on 2 foreign licenses to boot! Bottom line, this company is ONLY interested in your money. DO NOT use PremAir. There are FAR better companies out there (already mentioned on this thread) who also look after you AFTER you have completed their course.

I noticed that PremAir was only mentioned once here and it was a positive posting. Like I said their training was OK, they certainly did not go out of their way to accommodate me or my other furloughees, took the money & never looked back. Based on my experience with them there appears to be an incestuous relationship between PremAir and GAD. I'd be glad to here it ain't so, but like I said, I do have some rather incriminating evidence that all is not what it seems.....

caveat emptor......Latin for....buyer beware!!!!!

 

[PTinbound]

HIGHER POWER all the way!

I just got off the phone with Bobbi at HPA, and I can't begin to tell you how happy I am that I went there back in the spring of 2001. I just called because I was at the laundrymat with Oakrbust this morning, and he thought it would be a good idea if I started looking at the SWA flows. But how could I do this with just an outdated -200 cockpit poster? I figured I could call down to HPA and see if I could buy one from them. Well, I called but they wouldn't let me buy one. She's gonna send me one, just like that. Because they are great folks down there, and they take care of you LONG after you go through the course.

 

[RJones]

PTinbound, are you close to Dallas? RJ

 

[PTinbound]

Geographically, no. Just in my heart.

 

[Duke Lefty]

ADDED TRAINING FOR NO EXTRA $ AT HPA

Mark Sterns of HPA recently told me about an addition to the Boeing 737 training course. He wrote: "Earlier this year we added (at no charge) an additional period in the Cockpit Systems Simulator (fully integrated CPT but with no motion, no visual) and also an hour of procedures training in it at the end of ground school each day."



The CPT is very nice! I have been in it myself. It is not a cardboard mock up, but a real fixed-base training device of a real Boeing 737 cockpit. The buttons and switches really work and is a fantastic way to learn flows and checklist procedures. Top it all off with the fact that there is no extra charge for the benefit!

 

[chase]

Additional Info on HPA

Not just for those looking for a type but for those who want a refresher in the 737, Mark & Joe offer a "free" review of any of the courses for ANY 737 type holder from any other school as well as HPA. Sit in, listen & participate in the lectures & get a free review regardless of where you got the type. If you go on Wed or Thur you'll get feed for free also at the Rangers ball park most likely. Not a bad deal.

Additionally, for those wishing to buy some sim time, Mark & Joe also offer sim time. I believe the rate is around $375 per hr but if you find another person to buy an hour, you'll get right seat for 1 hr & left seat for 1 hr. A third person can observe in the back additionally, I don't believe there is a charge for that but a "threesome" might be able to work a deal for a hr as CP, FO & observer & only pay the 1 hr rate (3 pilots x 1 hr of actual stick time and 2 hrs of great review while observing or flying as an FO). Call them to get the details.