Best flight schools?

[hydroflyer]

My personal opinion is that getting to a regional at 300 hours or so really doesn't do you a lot of good. This industry is always up and down, everyone knows it. With this downturn, people have been laid off with high seniority numbers. Some have been able to take on other jobs because of previous experience that they had in other airplanes. What would someone who was hired with 300 hours have to fall back on? No CFI experience, no part 135 experience, no multi other then a Duchess/Seminole or a RJ. Frankly, I try to position myself for the future, knowing that layoffs could likely happen, I want to have enough variety of experience to hopefully find another job to keep me going. Just my thought.

 

[SDdriver]

hydroflyer,

That was a VERY VERY good point! I have always said that making it to the regionals in 300hrs was not a good thing because of experience, but the situation you brought up was very real in this industry. If you get an Rj job at 300 and get furloughed at 800hrs you don't even meet 135 mins. Thank you for bringing up that point, maybe some of the new guys will think twice about taking that job at a regional with that in mind..

Sd

 

[Wiggums]

If you get an Rj job at 300 and get furloughed at 800hrs you don't even meet 135 mins.

Um, ok, then go back and get your CFI and get another 400 hours. No doubt if the same person had gone the CFI route instead they'd still only have 800 hours, but it wouldn't have been in a RJ. Overall the RJ job would be better.

 

[desert pilot]

shebles

1 800 249 6482,www.shebleaviation.com,check again most flight magazines if the adress is correct.They fly out of kingman az. and henderson nv. They do a great job in a short time with some of the best prices out there!

 

[SDdriver]

Yeah true, but if they would have just got a cfi gig or banners or traffic, they could build the 1200 first and then get the rj and then if a furlough comes they can get a decent job hauling freight as a captain. See the point? Not trying to be mean, just saying getting the hours before you get there prepares you better for losing the job if that happens.

Sd

 

[stillaboo]

Reality Bites!

What would someone who was hired with 300 hours have to fall back on? No CFI experience, no part 135 experience, no multi other then a Duchess/Seminole or a RJ.

I'll give you a situation. A rich guy owns a Citation. There are 2 pilots who want the job.

One has 1600 hours TT, 300 Multi, all piston. He's an CFII-Multi.

The other has 700 hours TT, 480 multi, 450 turbine. He's a MEL-I.

This situation actually happened. The CFI didn't get the job. Why? The other guy "flies jets for a living, he's an airline pilot. The CFI sits in a 172 and watches people screw up pattern work."

Now, I think both guys could do the job, but, I wasn't hiring. Obviously, both guys fly for a living. However, when the average person looks at a guy who flys a large jet (50 passenger jets are big planes to most people- they just have small seats in them), and then compares him to a guy who flies a 172 . . .

There's a mistique to airlines. Most everyone who learns to fly would love to fly 2 things, a military fighter and an airliner. There are few pilots who would rather fly a 172 than an ERJ. Whether you like it or not, when you fly a 'big shiny jet', you are considered by the world to instantaniously be a better pilot than the guy who flies a 172.

1)Walk into a FBO. Tell them you fly jets for any name brand 121 airline. Leave.
2)Walk into the next FBO down the ramp. Tell them you are a flight instructor. Leave.
3)Walk into a flight school. Tell the instructors you fly for a carrier. Leave.

You will be looked at as a stud in 2 of the above situations, both by pilots and by non-pilots. Guess which ones.

Image is everything.

-Boo!

 

[Whirlwind]

Re: Reality Bites!

I'll give you a situation. A rich guy owns a Citation. There are 2 pilots who want the job.

One has 1600 hours TT, 300 Multi, all piston. He's an CFII-Multi.

The other has 700 hours TT, 480 multi, 450 turbine. He's a MEL-I.

This situation actually happened. The CFI didn't get the job. Why? The other guy "flies jets for a living, he's an airline pilot. The CFI sits in a 172 and watches people screw up pattern work."

You of course hit the nail on the head.

There's a mistique to airlines. Most everyone who learns to fly would love to fly 2 things, a military fighter and an airliner. There are few pilots who would rather fly a 172 than an ERJ.

*raises hand*

Hey, while I'd love to fly a F-16, driving a bus (airliner) holds no appeal to me.

Gimmie a 172 any day of the week, or better yet, gimmie a Pitts Special!!!

At some point, you're just managing systems and not flying. I get a chuckle out of the stories my fixed-wing CFI tells me when she does checkouts for airline pilots. Her boyfriend is a Captain for Southwest and while she won't say it in front of him, he can't fly a 172 worth a damm.

Of course, if you really want to have some fun, try flying helicopters! My 62 year old silver haired mother could fly a 172, but she'll never be able to fly an egg beater.

Whether you like it or not, when you fly a 'big shiny jet', you are considered by the world to instantaniously be a better pilot than the guy who flies a 172.

Only in the eyes of those who don't know any better.

My 2 cents from the cheap seats...

Jason

 

[stillaboo]

I posted this somewhere else too, but I watched a 777 driver stall a 172 about 80 ft above TDZE b/c he flared right where he was supposed to . . . in a 777!

Thanks for mentioning the Pitts! That airplane is a blast! I flew a BD-5 once too. Talk about 'pocket rocket'. It's the go-cart of aviation!

-Boo!

 

[hydroflyer]

Re: Reality Bites!

There's a mistique to airlines. Most everyone who learns to fly would love to fly 2 things, a military fighter and an airliner. There are few pilots who would rather fly a 172 than an ERJ. Whether you like it or not, when you fly a 'big shiny jet', you are considered by the world to instantaniously be a better pilot than the guy who flies a 172.

You are right about the initial mistique of flying military jets and airliners. At one point or another I wanted to fly those, still wouldn't mind it. However as Whirlwind pointed out, there will be a point when you are more of a systems manager than a hands on flyer. Which is "better" is really up to the individual. For someone looking at starting training, hopefully what they may get from a thread like this is that there are so many options out there as far as different types of flying, that a person may decide something other than the big planes would be good for them. Forget the "image." I could care less about what people think of me, even if it is "freight trash" as long as I enjoy what I am doing. Every route will have its benefits and drawbacks and each pilot needs to choose the one that is right for themselves.

As far as the Pitts goes, well I am just waiting to try one, although I have flown its close cousin, the Christian Eagle. Not only are they a blast, but they should be flown in any attitude other than straight and level.

 

[Whirlwind]

"WOW! You actually teach people how to fly? I've always wanted to do that." (once in awhile they become your student)

Ahh, you're so right! I think being a CFI is pretty cool. Shame the pay isn't better, but whatever, none of us who really love flying got into it for the pay anyway, right?

Honestly, I'm looking forward to it, teaching people how to fly helos is going to be fun!!!

"Are you training terrorists?" (If they only knew how student pilots terrorize the skies)

LOL! I think the buildings would do a lot more damage to the helicopters than the other way around!

"Do you teach the BIG airplanes?" (No, the kind we have to falp our arms really fast)

Yep, and if it gets really bad, you might have to get out and push!!!

"You're so brave, I could never do that. I'm afraid of heights." (So am I. But when I have working wings, heights aren't a problem.)

What is it with pilots and a fear of heights.

I too am terrified of heights, but in a helo or stuck-wing, I feel fine.

I recently went skydiving for the first time, just to face my fear. Oh my gosh, stepping out of that Cessna Caravan at 13,500ft took an impressive amount of courage and willpower.

I'm glad I did it, it was an amazing experience!!!

Jason

 

[Chunk]

Flight Safety is not cheap... Over $44K for a commercial multi IFR. If you make it in the min times they post.

Make sure your friend budgets extra.

Fly SAFE!
Jedi Nein

You know not of which you speak. I came in UNDERBUDGET. Most of the folks in my class did.

Chunk

PS--You're right though, FSI isn't cheap.

 

[bobbysamd]

FSI budgeting

I came in UNDERBUDGET. Most of the folks in my class did.

But there are those who end up paying more than what was quoted to them. In all fairness, the language barrier may be a factor for many of them. I recall one non-Alitalia Italian student who was on the verge of being booted. He had taken a three-week quickie English course before coming over the Florida for his training. It took him longer and he required some counseling, but he got through. In fact, he asked for referrals to a Citation type provider. I sent him to Mike Pappas, from whom I got my type. I was concerned about the language problem, but, according to Mike, the student got his type (at about 300 hours) and did fine.

I had another non-Alitalia Italian student. I was something like his second or third instructor. There might have been a language barrier, and a stubborn streak as well. He had trouble with holding. He drew a particularly tough stage check pilot and he struggled. But instead of outright busting him on his oral she gave him a time out, and he passed. Last I heard this individual became an instructor and stayed in Florida.

Then for a time I had another fellow from Portugal. His English was fine. He had ability. He was a screwoff. He paid more, but made it through.

FSI is an intense program and requires discipline. Just like any school, if you study, prepare well for class and flights, and accept the discipline your instructor might impose, you'll finish on time.