Career program

[JJ2U]

I'm attempting to start up a career program and need some tools and advice on what I need to do to get it started.

 

[moxiepilot]

first suggestion, be more specific.

 

[CapnVegetto]

Please don't start another PFT thread!! Just do it the right way!!!

 

[JJ2U]

How much more specific can I be. I am starting from ground 0. We are planning on doing Private, Instrument, Commercial, Multi, and CFI.

 

[Bjammin]

You need alot of time and alot of money, and I don't mean Pay For Training. Someone here can explain PFT better then I, but the bottom line is you end up working for peanuts or sometimes you even PAY to be in the right seat getting hours. That tends to make professional pilots angry because you are basically in the right seat because you have money and not because you have experience. You are taking a job away from someone that deserves it more.
Start of at you local FBO and try to add up all the costs of getting a commercial or CFII. It will take quite a while to get all the tests and flight checks done. Then you can start instructing or banner towing and building hours. You'll need a minimum of 500 hours and prehaps some multi-engine time, about 2 years of flying, before you can apply for something like small freight, or right seat in a small pax operation.
Then you build hours and move up to regional or corperate jets, then on to the majors if you want, which by the time you do all the above, hopefully have stabilized.
If you truly like where you are at any time, stay there and move up within that company.

This is one method of many. For as many pilots as they are there are as many different ways to become a pro pilot.

Good luck, and hope you're young.

 

[Av8rPHX]

Maybe im reading it wrong, but it sounds like he's trying to start a flight school, not get the ratings..

 

[moxiepilot]

Maybe im reading it wrong, but it sounds like he's trying to start a flight school, not get the ratings..

That's the way I'm interpreting it, and if you don't have a business model or idea to start from it seems futile to offer suggestions.

I can think of a half dozen ways to start something from a non-profit to a 141/142, but I think at least an idea of what you want to start up would offer us a springboard to give you ideas.

I'm more than happy to offer my .02, but I just don't understand yet what kind of help you're looking for

 

[JJ2U]

The flight school is already established and we already have a 141 program for the Naval academy. We want to start up the career program from the bottom. I do have many ideas but implimenting them is another challenge. I guess I will just have to trial and error.

 

[plunger]

I would say to develop a relationship with some regional airline or freight company. Show them your program and what you are trying to do. If they like everything, maybe they'll agree to hire your instructors with reduced minimums. Offer the students a chance at instructing when they complete your program. Thats how all of these big name schools get students. Just mimic them, only on a smaller scale and with more competitive prices. Being able to incorporate a lot of multi-time at a reasonable cost will also attract students to the program. ATP goes like gangbusters with this approach. Morale of the story: multi-time+affiliations in the industry= STUDENTS

 

[nosehair]

Offer the students a chance at instructing when they complete your program. Thats how all of these big name schools get students. Just mimic them, only on a smaller scale and with more competitive prices.

My .02: DON'T mimic the "big name flight schools"...read around on these aviation forums and you will see lots of name calling of the big name flight schools because they do IMPLY an offering of employment and other promiseses which cannot be met. Not everybody can be a professional pilot, and as soon as you are making like you can guarentee a job, you are lying, and so you lose integrity.

Be honest...teach good pilots and the rest will happen.

 

[plunger]

I'm not talking about promising people jobs. Only opportunities. It will work for some and more importantly, attract students. I'm not a big fan of these "bridge" programs the big schools offer, but it sounds to me like the guys asking for business advice. And that's good BUSINESS advice. If you want to be successful, you need to offer at least what the next guy is offering or more at a better price. Not necessarily for regular flight training, but for a "career program" where students are taking out large loans in hope of having a "career" when their done.

 

[Wanna Fly!!]

Lot's of people bangin' on the "pilot factories" these days as they all make promises. I would suggest being clear about that up front. As a searching student myself, I'm looking for "bang for the buck".