MAPD v. Gulfstream
I haven't read every post, but, from what I have read, it's the same old P-F-T argument.
Just begin here on
this page of the Gulfstream website:
An Airline-Affiliated First Officer Training Course For Career-Oriented Airline Professionals. "These programs are 100% financed."
Any kind of advertising that promotes
"First Officer Training Course" or similar language is an automatic sign of P-F-T. Once again, P-F-T is an employment issue. As a condition of employment, i.e., to be hired, you remit payment to the company for the cost of your training. If there is any doubt as to whether this is paid employment, read the following
from this Gulfstream page:
Hours Areas Of Training 80 Ground School Airline Indoctrination And Operations 40 CRM (Crew Resource Management) and Airline Briefing 80 Ground School Beech 1900D Systems Integration 32 Frasca 242 Beech 1900D Turboprop Simulator Training 4 Beech 19000 Aircraft Static Session And EFIS Training 28 Full Flight Simulator Level-O Beech 1900D Flight Training 8 Airline Line Observation Jump Seat Flights Beech 1900D 250 Flying Line As Part-121 Paid First Officer At GIA In Beech 1900D
(emphasis added)
Straight off the page. "Paid First Officer." Is this not buying a job? I understand that Gulfstream P-F-T FOs are paid $8.00 per hour. It could be regarded as a temporary job, but it is a
job, nonetheless.
Compare with
MAPD:
Designed as an ab initio (from the beginning) program, this training takes pilots from no time or very low time through their private, instrument, commercial, and multi-engine ratings and first officer training in a Jet FTD in less than two years! You will obtain your certificates and ratings in addition to receiving jet systems training designed to prepare you for the flight line.
- As Part 141 schools, San Juan College's program meets rigid FAA guidelines for their pilot training curricula
- All training is geared to meet Mesa Airlines' hiring standards
- Upon completion of the program, successful graduates go through the Mesa hiring process. Those who are hired then go directly into the right seat as First Officers. Average flight time at the point of hire is 250 hours!
- Since the events of September 11, typical upgrade time from First Officer to Captain is two to three years.
- Today's graduates could fly any one of Mesa's aircraft: the Beech 1900, Dash 8/200 series, CRJs, or ERJs. The possibilities are exciting!
- Flight Costs will run about $45,000 to $50,000. Financial aid is available.
(emphasis added)
Anything here about buying a job? No. No guarantees of being hired, either. The only thing being promoted is training, which is all that MAPD is, a 141 flight school. The only guarantees are that it will train you for your ratings and send you to San Juan College for your two-year degree. No promises of rapid promotion to Captain, either.
Do not confuse the MAPD
ab initio program with
PACE, which is P-F-T's poor relation, pay-for-interview.
Be careful of any program that advertises "First Officer Training Program," "Guaranteed Interview," etc. P-F-T promises are broken all the time. On the other hand, if you have
$29,684 in spare change and you want to humiliate and embarass yourself in front of an "employer" and risk a career blackball, then, by all means, go ahead!
