Career choice

[bobbysamd]

MAPD grads not interviewed

Just for discussion's sake, I've always wondered what's happened to the Mesa students who didn't get the Mesa interview. Anyone know how they've fared? I always imagined some conehead interviewer asking, "Everyone knows that Mesa interviews its flight school graduates. How come YOU weren't interviewed?" I realize that sh-t happens, but I would hate to be confronted by that question.

 

[Crabtree]

Thaks for all the replys so far there is alot fo good advice. If anyone else has any comments, or just for the record, I live about 30 mins east of Indianapolis. So, I am pretty sure that no matter where I go I am going to have to relocate for that amount of time. So it doesnt really matter where/what state I go to get my training.

I had one school picked out I wanted to go to, but they are in the process of going from 61 to 141, and as it turns out, all my financial aid I am approved for is for mainly 141 schools (key alternative). They said someone has come to look at the school, but waiting to see if they are approved or not, does anyone know how long this process takes? Also, they havnt said it but from the way they have talked, they will require less hours to be 141 vs. 61. Does this make sense? Is there less required hours for 141 compared to 61?????

Thanks,
Crabtree

 

[bobbysamd]

61 v. 141 hours

Actually, or should I say theoretically, 141 does require fewer hours. If you can train in minimum times, you can get your initial Commercial at 190 hours. Now, bear in mind that I said theoretically. As a practical matter, even the Chuck Yeagers of the world need at least a few more hours than the minimums to finish. There is nothing wrong with this, unless it is excessive. It does mean that you should plan to pay more for the course than what the "career consultants" at the school say it will cost.

Part 61 mins for Private, bottom line, are 40 hours, and for Commercial, 250 hours (correction of typo). Here again, most people run over those times.

In my .02 opinion, a 141 school is the way to go if you choose a school over FBO. As you have discovered, 141 schools must meet specific FAA criteria for size and adequacy of classrooms, adequacy of equipment, standardization of syllabus, etc. The Chief Instructor and assistants must meet meet specific FAA quals as well, including taking checkrides with the FAA ASI assigned to the school. Instructors must receive standardization and take a ride with the Chief or Assistant Chief before they can be turned loose. Also, many 141 schools have self-examining authority, meaning that you do not have to take checkrides with FAA examiners after you graduate. That can have its pluses and minuses.

As an aside, there are 141 schools for such things as type ratings. I also believe there are 141 schools for crop dusting and other special aircraft uses as well.

Apart from being trained properly, what you are really after is results. Try to find graduates of the school who've achieved the goal you're after. Ask them if they feel the school furthered their goals.

Hope that helps. Once again, good luck with your choice of training.

 

[Crabtree]

What kind of plane do most first pilots start out on? (As far as regionals) Say if you were to go to ComAir, American Eagle etc.

 

[FlyinBrian]

bobbysamd: I think Abe Abrahms lost his designation. I don't think the Feds yanked it, I think they just refused to renew it. I don't have details on why.

crabtree: The easy answer to your question is that they start pilots in whatever equipment they need first officers in. Because jets are more popular with pilots than props are, it usually means most newhire slots go to props. In my class at Eagle, I beleive if memory serves, 11 went to regional jets, 13 went to Saab 340's, and 3 went to ATR's. However, the class before and the class after were distributed totally differently. (usually more than 3 ATR's.) I think you'll find about the same story at other airlines. How they determine who gets what equipment varies considerably. At Eagle, it's by age. (seniority within a newhire class is determined this way as well.) The oldest guy in the class gets to pick from the available slots for that class. At Mesa, I think it's more luck of the draw. I believe Mesa is also no longer putting newhires into jets because too many were failing training.

 

[bobbysamd]

Abe Abrams

Thanks, Brian. Abe had a reputation that goes with the season, if you catch my drift, , although I recall sitting in on an MEI oral he gave my student, and it seemed completely legit to me.

Is Duncan Hastie still around? Now, there went a very professional examiner.

 

[Wiggums]

Abe

Abe hasn't been up at DVT for awhile. When ATP's came out to IWA they convinced him to move his operation down south so that he could give them ten checkride slots each week.

Abe's last checkride was July 31st this year. The FAA chose not to renew his designation. The reason he got from the FAA was that he wasn't supposed to rely on his checkride fees for his sole income. However, what really happened was that an ATP student complained about how easy his checkrides were. The FAA tried to send someone out unannounced to observe a checkride, and Abe correctly informed the observer that per the DE manual, observations had to be scheulded in advance with the DE and student. So, the FAA did that, and had someone come out again. The student canceled the checkride, and again the FAA wasn't able to observe him, so basically the FAA got tired of him and refused to renew him. This is the story as Abe tells it.

I don't know who's right, the FAA or Abe, but he was a great guy to send students for a checkride. Oh well.

 

[bobbysamd]

Abe Abrams

Thanks, Wiggums. Once again, I thought the MEI oral Abe gave my student was completely standard.

You wouldn't know about Duncan, by any chance, would you?

Just curious.

 

[SF3CAP]

New hires

What kind of plane do most first pilots start out on? (As far as regionals) Say if you were to go to ComAir, American Eagle etc.

At Eagle, when we start hiring again, you'd be an ATR First Officer in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Good luck.

 

[Wiggums]

Re: Abe Abrams

You wouldn't know about Duncan, by any chance, would you?

No, I don't. Is he a DE? If so, I've never used him, but the name sounds familiar.

 

[bobbysamd]

Duncan Hastie and junior equipment

Thanx, Wiggums. Duncan Hastie is/was a DE at Scottsdale. Great examiner. Extremely professional and fair. I believe he is originally from Scotland.

Crabtree, you'll fly the best aircraft your seniority can hold. More than likely, it'll be junior equipment, although commuters have been known to place new FOs into more senior equipment based on need. As you gain seniority, you can bid larger equipment.

For example, at Mesa eight years ago new FOs were assigned to the BE-1900, though a few got the Brasilia. Another example is Comair, where, eight-ten years ago new FOs started in the Bandits. As they gained seniority, they could move up to the Saabs.

Believe me, you'll be excited and pleased to fly any equipment to which you're assigned. Hope that helps a little.

 

[skydiverdriver]

All newhires at Comair go streight to the jet. No more Brazillia training for nothing, or worrying about being jr manned to Brazillia captain. There are a few props left, but they are going fast, all in Florida, and the guys in them are not about to leave. Good luck to you.