Delta Connection Academy...THOUGHTS????

[bobbysamd]

Comair

I wouldn't even argue with Skydesk or the other clowns...I mean, in 1991 he was probably watching some ABC After School Special or something while his mother whipped him up some mac and cheese and telling him to wipe his nose.

You're right. I shouldn't. But I like to feel there are at least a few people out there who are capable of rational discussion, and to those people I direct my comments.

I also interviewed at Comair in 1991, but fortunately I lived in FL at the time. I went to interview with a dude by the name of Fry. Not even a hint of a letter, phone call or anything. The place was chaos.

Once more, I rest my case. You still probably had to spend the day, at least, driving. No matter if you traveled twenty miles or two-thousand miles, there is no reason for such discourtesy, especially when the outfit holds itself out as the paragon of professional flight training.

Thanks for posting.

 

[NuGuy]

You're right. I shouldn't. But I like to feel there are at least a few people out there who are capable of rational discussion, and to those people I direct my comments. Once more, I rest my case. You still probably had to spend the day, at least, driving. No matter if you traveled twenty miles or two-thousand miles, there is no reason for such discourtesy, especially when the outfit holds itself out as the paragon of professional flight training.

Thanks for posting.

Absolutely...

When I was a real new guy, I would have given anything for a resource like this. Imagine...near real time gouge for addresses, interview info, working conditions and the straight dope from people who've been there and done that...FOR FREE!

Instead you have a clueless bunch of kids who are going to have to go out and re-invent the wheel for themselves and find out the hard way.

Yea, when I visited CAA in 91, I was pretty underwhelmed. They had a big fleet and were busy, but it was just a lot more of what I had already seen at other places...barely organized chaos.

By accident, I instead wound up at a mom & pop operation where I could have some input on what went on, and you were rewarded for solving problems instead of chastised for bringing them to light. No where near the size of CAA, but you could stay busy. They had 30 planes or so, and we turned out safe, knowledgable pilots who understood how the world worked when they were done. The students got the knowledge they needed, without any BS. They almost always got through nearly on time and nearly on budget. The CFI's there prided themselves on all "bringing something extra to the party" in the form of experience, instead of the rote regurgitation that passes for training these days.

Almost to the man/woman, the instructor corp that was there, and many of the students, are all on at majors or their job of choice now. Funny how the world works sometimes.

Sadly, it seems that these medium sized M&P operations are a thing of the past, except for very small operators.

Nu

 

[bobbysamd]

Flightinfo.com and Comair

When I was a real new guy, I would have given anything for a resource like this. Imagine...near real time gouge for addresses, interview info, working conditions and the straight dope from people who've been there and done that...FOR FREE!

I agree emphatically. The only gouge around in 1991 was outdated, obsolete and inauthentic Kit Darby FAPA notes, and rumors and gossip from associates who attended interviews previously.

Instead you have a clueless bunch of kids who are going to have to go out and re-invent the wheel for themselves and find out the hard way.

Yea, when I visited CAA in 91, I was pretty underwhelmed. They had a big fleet and were busy, but it was just a lot more of what I had already seen at other places...barely organized chaos.

Clueness is definitely the operative word, in more ways than one. Combative and belligerent, too, when confronted by information and opinions that opposes their company kool-aid. In other words, they don't want the facts to confuse their opinions.

I still like 141 schools, and do not doubt that Comair provides decent training. And, I'm sure schools that neither you nor I have heard of have similar cultures as Comair. There are also plenty of others that are non-oppressive and non-confrontational, and actually supportive of their endeavors.

There are plenty of training choices and plenty of schools. Flight training is expensive and requires a full commitment. Choose carefully - and listen and receive all input, even if it opposes your opinion.

 

[NuGuy]

I agree emphatically. The only gouge around in 1991 was outdated, obsolete and inauthentic Kit Darby FAPA notes, and rumors and gossip from associates who attended interviews previously.Clueness is definitely the operative word, in more ways than one. Confrontational, too, when accosted by information and opinions that opposes their company kool-aid. In other words, they don't want the facts to confuse their opinions.

I still like 141 schools, and do not doubt that Comair provides decent training. And, I'm sure schools that neither you nor I have heard of have similar cultures as Comair. There are also plenty of others that are non-oppressive and non-confrontational, and actually supportive of their endeavors.

There are plenty of training choices and plenty of schools. Flight training is expensive and requires a full commitment. Choose carefully - and listen and receive all input, even if it opposes your opinion.

Hey Bobby,

I like 141 schools, too, as long as they stick to their purpose...transfering information that is required and appropriate in a formal, organized format. For some people, especially younger guys who didn't have the benefit of college, THIS is the way to go. At the 141 school where I was, we had more than a few "youtes" that really needed the structure of the program.

What I don't like to see is a formal groundschool program turned into a game of "stump the dummy" or some kind of sick weeding out process where important information is lost in the course of memorizing the trivia.

On the other hand, for "mature" students or for folks with better-than-average motivational and orginizational skills, part 61 is probably a better way to go. I've found these people can absorb the book stuff in short order, and are best left to pick up the finer points one-on-one. In these cases, these guys are better off 61 without getting hung up on all the hoop jumping 141 requires.

These are the guys you can teach something to once or twice, and they are good to go onto the next item. I've had the pleasure of a couple of these types of students, and they are absolutely great to work with. They come prepared, have a bunch of questions to ask when they show up and have in THEIR head items they want to work on.

What I hate to see is these kinds of students spending obscene amounts of money on a program that doesn't suit them. A good FBO program, or maybe even ATPs Firehose would be the best, and much, much less expensive.

Shame of it is, is that I have never personally seen the "perfect" training program or facility. Usually, you see that either the school has nice facilities and/or aircraft, but cardiac-inducing prices (FSI), or they are more affordable (I hesitate to use that work in conjuction with most schools) with facilities better suited for a frat house on saturday morning. Most pay zero homage to the culture of aviation and have all the warmth and interest of a dentist's office .

As for the polarization (IE drunk with Kool-aid) that you have seen in the students and/or CFIs, that usually comes from one thing...inbreeding. No, not the kind that you see in Deliverance, but what happens when you recycle countless generations of students into CFIs with little or no effort to bring outside ideas into the mix to keep it fresh. I've seen some REALLY weird stuff come from this...

It's mostly a managament dillema...but sooner or later the FAA gets around to importing some new folks into the FSDO and they get a good case of "what the fcuk??" when they see how the school in question does some things.

ERAU and UND, as well as some other places, go through cycles of these, where the POI or CMO forces them to hire from outside. They do so, begrudgingly, and usually only a token amount. Soon, these new CFIs hoplessly outnumbered and totally neutered as to effecting any real change leave within 6 months when they are told in no uncertain terms that their presence is NOT welcome. The cycle then begins again...

Nu

 

[Doubleo6point9]

Personally I wouldn't go through DCA. During my final year at Metro State College of Denver they lobbied hard with the Dept Chair to turn Metro into one of DCA's remote campuses. They gave us their speach about how we'd be guarantee the interview but they never went into any detail other than "you'll be hired on as an instructor, build 900 hours total time and then you spend the next 100 building multi time as an instructor. At that point you're guaranteed an interview with one of our DCA airlines." Of course they didn't mention any of the negative things i've read on here.

The biggest thing about it was that they never brought any instructors or student for us to talk to and they repeatedly dodged some important questions that people were bringing up-as if they were trying to hide something, which now I know they were. If I remember correctly, alot of people wanted to know what the hire rate(for a CFI position) was for students who went through their program. They kept saying "97% of our hired instructors who interview end up with placement in a regional." BUT, they kept dodging the question by adding a vague description of how the training would go and everything. FINALLY, one of our most outspoken students stood up and said "Why is it that everytime we ask how many students are hired on as instructors after finishing your course you cannot give us a straight answer? And why are there no sucessful students present who have finished the entire course and made it through the program here today to answer any of our questions?" With that they were a bit befuttled and finally admitted that only 60% of their students are hired on as instructors. Then they were to quick to point out that out of those 60%, the ones (note that they didn't mention any numbers about how many instructors made it to the interview or were canned before the interview) that were interviewed had a 97% hire rate. After we brought up the questions about the other instructors who weren't hired they said "well you've had the best training available behind you so you will be hired at other schools and you'll have that training for life regardless of where you go."

Anyways, it was all very suspect and they were trying to guage interest to see if it was worth bringing it here to Denver or not. The Department Chair was all for it and so were alot of us graduating students intially because we were promised that we'd be given an opportunity to interview with them as a CFI. But again, they said "we'll be bringing in our own CFI's and hiring some local ones due to the high altitude". The best #'s they gave us for that was "50/50 initially..But it can change depending on the situation.." But after awhile the interest faded with everyone because of the costs(minimum of 60k they were projecting) and because it defeats the purpose of that school in the first place: affordable quality education and flight training. The Dept Chair was trying too hard to be like ERAU or UND. Plus alot of us felt that any company willing to charge their students 60/hr for instruction and only pay the instructor 10 of it only cares about one thing: money and profits, not the students or the instructors.


Oh and the other big thing. None of the students would be allowed to use the planes for anything other than training purposes. Which sucks in my opinion because that takes out 90% of the fun of flying when you're learning and doesn't give you a whole lot of real world experience(as everyone else was saying). Personally I would have to say some of my most enjoyable moments in flying took place because I was able to take my friends and family up flying on cross country flights with me as I worked my way through my private, instrument, comm, cfi, etc.

 

[standaman]

The strong will survive

I worked for the academy for three years and I can tell you exactly about the placement rate of students to instructors. The students who should be instructors are instructors. The ones who should not are not. You do get a garunteed interview. In my opinion it is worth it's wait in gold. Expensive flight school heck yes. Does management do some strange things. They sure do. I can tell you this it is a quick route to the airlines. If and only if you are willing to live in the system they have.

 

[bobbysamd]

141

I like 141 schools, too, as long as they stick to their purpose...transfering information that is required and appropriate in a formal, organized format. For some people, especially younger guys who didn't have the benefit of college, THIS is the way to go . . . .

. . . . or even for those who have.

At the 141 school where I was, we had more than a few "youtes" that really needed the structure of the program . . . .

(emphasis added)

Agreed, wholeheartedly. That has been my point about why I like 141.

What I don't like to see is a formal groundschool program turned into a game of "stump the dummy" or some kind of sick weeding out process where important information is lost in the course of memorizing the trivia.

Agreed, again. You encounter a certain amount of this in 141, some more than others.

There are always dogmatic instructors/stage check pilots who love to ask, "How many rivets are there in a (school's trainer)?" Wouldn't a more productive question be, "What you would you do if you found missing rivets and/or loose or missing Dzus fasteners during your preflight?" Of course, going to whether the aircraft is airworthy and if the student would fly it.

On the other hand, for "mature" students or for folks with better-than-average motivational and orginizational skills, part 61 is probably a better way to go. I've found these people can absorb the book stuff in short order, and are best left to pick up the finer points one-on-one. In these cases, these guys are better off 61 without getting hung up on all the hoop jumping 141 requires.

Perhaps. But for those who have been out of school for a while, the discipline a school environment affords can still help them learn more, better and faster. I speak from personal experience, having returned to school full-time nearly eleven years ago after being out for twenty-one years.

As for the polarization (IE drunk with Kool-aid) that you have seen in the students and/or CFIs, that usually comes from one thing...inbreeding. No, not the kind that you see in Deliverance, but what happens when you recycle countless generations of students into CFIs with little or no effort to bring outside ideas into the mix to keep it fresh. I've seen some REALLY weird stuff come from this...

True. ERAU brought in outside instructors when I started there in 1988, but after it hired a few who refused the standardization, it went back to hiring only from within. I don't know if that had changed after I left there in 1991. As you put it:

ERAU and UND, as well as some other places, go through cycles of these, where the POI or CMO forces them to hire from outside. They do so, begrudgingly, and usually only a token amount. Soon, these new CFIs hoplessly outnumbered and totally neutered as to effecting any real change leave within 6 months when they are told in no uncertain terms that their presence is NOT welcome. The cycle then begins again...

. . . . and again, and again . . . .

 

[bobbysamd]

Metro

During my final year at Metro State College of Denver [DCA] lobbied hard with the Dept Chair to turn Metro into one of DCA's remote campuses . . . .

That would have been a pity. Metro has an excellent program. I knew one of its adjunct instructors, who was a retired United DC-10 captain and who was my father's college roommate in the '40s. I know of one of its other adjunct instructors, who is well known in Denver aviation circles, who flew traffic watch, and had been involved in Colorado CAP. Finally, I flew with a Metro aviation grad. This young man was an excellent pilot.

 

[thorrr]

Hey Bobby,
Shame of it is, is that I have never personally seen the "perfect" training program or facility. Usually, you see that either the school has nice facilities and/or aircraft, but cardiac-inducing prices (FSI), or they are more affordable (I hesitate to use that work in conjuction with most schools) with facilities better suited for a frat house on saturday morning. Most pay zero homage to the culture of aviation and have all the warmth and interest of a dentist's office .
Nu

. . .errrr.... this statement doesnt belong in a conversation about DCA, simply because the school meets neither one of these qualifications. Is DCA the exception in that it charges cardiac-inducing prices for facilities LEASED from the frat house ;-)

 

[SMOE]

I worked for the academy for three years and I can tell you exactly about the placement rate of students to instructors. The students who should be instructors are instructors. The ones who should not are not. You do get a garunteed interview. In my opinion it is worth it's wait in gold. Expensive flight school heck yes. Does management do some strange things. They sure do. I can tell you this it is a quick route to the airlines. If and only if you are willing to live in the system they have.

WTF are you smokin'? Let me guess, you were one of DCA's glorious "standz" pilots who swaggered around like Chuck frickin' Yeager thinking you had done all seen all...all from the confines of central Florida's airspace. Apparently you played the game like all good robots that DCA likes. Look in the mirror, I think theres still some brown stuff on the end of your nose and some white stuff still dribbling down your chin. Your a tool...

 

[bobbysamd]

FlightSafety

I worked at FSI from 1991-'92. The place indeed has cardiac-inducing prices, but the student housing wasn't bad. The campus was nice, the airplanes, unlike Comair's, were nice, maintenance was tops, and the training was top-notch. Customer service for clients was excellent.

Contrary to Comair, FSI rolled out the red carpet for me when I traveled another two-thousand miles for its interview. It put me up in one of the bungalows on campus. The interview was conducted over four days, during which I took writtens, a sim and a flight with an assistant chief pilot, and was interviewed by the Center Manager and the Chief Pilot. No airline interview I attended was that thorough - and I liked it. I was impressed. I was well-treated.

FSI's treatment of flight instructors back then was not that great. The Chief Pilot lied to me, and probably others, about pay not long after I arrived. It tended to treat all flight instructors like a bunch of 19-year-olds. In September of 1992, he announced to the whole group that salaries were being eliminated and all salaried instructors, of which I was one, would be returned to hourly, with paychecks being docked for any overpayment. That caused a major outcry, with at least one instructor turning in his keys and leaving on the spot. Coincidentally, or not, perhaps, the Chief Pilot was sacked about two months later. I already had a job lined up and was gone before he was.

The gentlemen, and I emphasize, gentlemen, who are now in charge of FSI were there when I was there, and are, without question, absolutely first-class people. For that reason, I am sure FSI personnel are treated better than in my day. I did hear that FSI instructors were given a raise. Students were always treated well at FSI.

FSI, like any school, has its negatives. It may not necessarily wave an airline interview under your nose. But, having worked in three well-known 141 operations, I would recommend FSI to anyone - even with its cardiac-inducing prices. I feel you get value, together with considerate treatment, for what you pay.

 

[standaman]

WTF are you smokin'? Let me guess, you were one of DCA's glorious "standz" pilots who swaggered around like Chuck frickin' Yeager thinking you had done all seen all...all from the confines of central Florida's airspace. Apparently you played the game like all good robots that DCA likes. Look in the mirror, I think theres still some brown stuff on the end of your nose and some white stuff still dribbling down your chin. Your a tool...

This robot with brown stuff on my nose got a job just as you did. I was not a standz pilot and yes I played the game and I am happy I did. Any company that you work for will expect you to join the culture. To think otherwise is criminal. If you don't like it you don't have to stay or join it. I was okay with their system. Again I sit here with a good job. When I look in the mirror I am happy with what I see. Are you?

 

[LXApilot]

Scott,
Whoever SMOE is he just called you out man. ROTFLMAO! The thing you guys in your pool never got was the big picture. You stole a seat at the airline from someone who really deserves it, and now you guys like to come back to CRG or wherever and show off your stripes and proclaim that you 'made it'. Yeah, made it all the way to the regional airlines so you can erode the very major airline pilot jobs you so long for. I've read your above statement over and over again and still cannot believe what you have written. You are a self-admitting brown nose, but justify it by looking at your current position. If I ever had to say something it is this; everyone makes it Scotty. And you don't have to screw people, you don't have to brown nose, you don't have to lower yourself to that level. You almost sound happy that you knuckled under and took it up the tailpipe for the sake of sitting the right seat at "the airline". Why do you guys call it that anyways? Nevermind! Point is, where is your pride in yourself? Have you no shame Scott? Everyone has some kind of humility, or do they? I knew plenty of other guys out there that didnt screw anyone, didnt brag that they flew for dca, tried to help everyone they could, and ended up quietly taking the job they wanted and never admitted to their affiliation ever again in their careers. I respect you because you are a decent pilot, but this is just the attitude that makes the rest of the industry hate DCA - and limite the opportunities for everyone one else not quite as "fortunate" as you. If you can call it that...

Fly Safe,
Colin

 

[NuGuy]

It tended to treat all flight instructors like a bunch of 19-year-olds.

Hi Bobby,

And here, at last, do we find the crux of the problem with schools today, and I am not singling out any one place.

First, schools treat their CFIs like this because they have to. In essence, this group makes up the largest segment of the CFI population...19-25 year olds or people who act like them. These pilots, for lack of experience elsewhere, will knuckle under, and jump the hoops since they are only going to be there a relatively short time. Don't make waves, mark the days, and get the students out. Schools come down with an iron hand and SOP scripture , because this is how you have to treat 21 year old CFIs with 250 hours who have never flown above 30 degrees North (or insert any convient fix within 150 miles of the schools base).

Second, schools treat their CFIs this way because it is economically expident to do so. Who is going to make waves? Although with the bones some places charge, you would think they could add $5/hr and pass it right on to the CFI, because in the end, it would make up a TINY portion of the training expense. But instead they will cut the costs where they can and from the people who won't complain about it.

The FAA tried to head this problem off when they took over the initial CFI checkrides around 1988. From what I understand, they were concerned about the quality of CFIs, but were just as concerned about the dedication these people would have. They saw a LOT of folks out there getting the ticket for time building, and not really paying attention to what they were doing. In the end, though, is this has just become another hurdle to jump.

If the FAA REALLY wanted to fix this problem, they would have addressed the experience "gap". If they were to require 135 type minimums for instructing... it would really be interesting to see how things would change.

JMHO,
Nu

 

[mnixon]

If the FAA REALLY wanted to fix this problem, they would have addressed the experience "gap". If they were to require 135 type minimums for instructing... it would really be interesting to see how things would change.

JMHO,
Nu

That is the most asanine thing that I have ever heard. Would you really feel that way if you were one of those low time pilots? There are only so many banner towing jobs out there to be had and lets face it, flight instruction may not be the answer, but at least you learn something new every day. I think if you were to go back to your newly minted CFI certicate days, you might rethink this statement.

 

[bobbysamd]

Flight instructor treatment, or lack thereof

chools treat their CFIs like [19-year-olds] because they have to. In essence, this group makes up the largest segment of the CFI population...19-25 year olds or people who act like them. These pilots, for lack of experience elsewhere, will knuckle under, and jump the hoops since they are only going to be there a relatively short time. Don't make waves, mark the days, and get the students out. Schools come down with an iron hand and SOP scripture , because this is how you have to treat 21 year old CFIs with 250 hours who have never flown above 30 degrees North (or insert any convient fix within 150 miles of the schools base)

. . . . which might be why I found the treatment so insulting. I was 40, had more than 3400 total hours, 890 multi and more than 2400 hours instructing when I joined FSI in 1991. Not only that, I had been working since I was 14 and knew better. Flight instructing may very well had been the some of the younger group's first job.

Another difference between me and the younger group is I would have been interested in staying a while and probably would have but for the poor treatment. As it turned out, two of the three gentlemen whom I mentioned above joined FSI when I did (one also left but came back). They were actually older than me. What might have been different for them is they were both retired military who were receiving retirement benefits. Neither had designs on the airlines. So, FSI was a second income for them and it may have mattered less to them than someone like me. FSI was my only income source.

If the FAA REALLY wanted to fix this problem, they would have addressed the experience "gap". If they were to require 135 type minimums for instructing... it would really be interesting to see how things would change.

I like your idea in theory, but I also respect mnixon's point of view.

I feel it all boils down to the issue of respect - a concept that has been deteriorating for years and is now severely lacking.

 

[NuGuy]

That is the most asanine thing that I have ever heard. Would you really feel that way if you were one of those low time pilots? There are only so many banner towing jobs out there to be had and lets face it, flight instruction may not be the answer, but at least you learn something new every day.

Mnixon,
Been there, done that. And yes, I benefited from the system as it was THEN. But I can also look back with an experienced eye and discuss with Bobby the problems with the system as exists NOW.

Take a look at the system as it stands now. You need 1200 hours to fly a bunch of cancelled checks around by yourself, even single engine. Heck you even need 500 to do it VFR, but with 250 hours you are good to go with someones life in your hands. Yet I don't hear a single complaint about how the 135 system works.

The really nice wrinkle to all this? A good portion of of those that do teach don't even want to be there, and wouldn't do it at all if it weren't for the time building.

If it were up to me, I would say Part 135 cargo only is good to go with present Comm/CFI mins, and raise up the CFI ticket to present 135 mins.

This way, the people who really didn't want to CFI wouldn't have to, and could move right into building that time. And those that did have the urge to teach would have a bit more respect and might earn a few more bucks in the process.

Nu

 

[NuGuy]

. . . . which might be why I found the treatment so insulting. I was 40, had more than 3400 total hours, 890 multi and more than 2400 hours instructing when I joined FSI in 1991. Not only that, I had been working since I was 14 and knew better. Flight instructing may very well had been the some of the younger group's first job.

Another difference between me and the younger group is I would have been interested in staying a while and probably would have but for the poor treatment. As it turned out, two of the three gentlemen whom I mentioned above joined FSI when I did (one also left but came back). They were actually older than me. What might have been different for them is they were both retired military who were receiving retirement benefits. Neither had designs on the airlines. So, FSI was a second income for them and it may have mattered less to them than someone like me. FSI was my only income source.I like your idea in theory, but I also respect mnixon's point of view.

I feel it all boils down to the issue of respect - a concept that has been deteriorating for years and is now severely lacking.

Too true, and I think we're comming close to the issue.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think there is NO place for the lower time CFI, but you need to have effective oversight, and having a 700 hour CFI oversee a 300 hour CFI is not what I mean. In my perfect world, you would have been EXACTLY the kind of guy I would have been looking for to smooth out the rough spots. Someone for the lower time guys to head to for getting the gouge, and to perpetuate some of the "cultural knowledge".

True a lot of schools have Chief CFIs and assistant chiefs, but usually these guys are doing so much administrative BS and fire stamping, that the opportunity to really see what's going on is slim.

Well, maybe if we want to continue this thread we can start a new topic...I don't wan't anyone to think I am pointing the finger at any school in particular just cause this conversation is in this thread. This would be a great topic over a pitcher of beer or two...


Nu

 

[mnixon]

NuGuy, I would totally agree with you in the fact that time builders should be offered an outlet to build that time outside of teaching our future captains how to fly. But in the same respect, flight instruction is a double edged sword. We are all here to build time, yet some of us care about what we do. When I look at my students who are now CFI applicants, and realize that I introduced them to aviation, is overwhelming. While I agree with you in the fact that time building should be offered in a different venue, where does it leave persons like myself, that are not only building time, but actually love what I do. Yes, I roll pennies for gas and food, but in the end, I am gettiing paid to fly, the one goal that I have strived for all my life. I am not flying the plane I want to fly, and my missions are not the ones that I have wanted to do, but when it boils down to it, I am doing what I love, and that is flying airplanes. Now to take that away from someone, saying that I am not qualified and that I do not have enough experience is ridicolous. I just went through the same training as they did...I made the same mistakes as they did, it is fresh in my mind. How is a 1250TT pilot who built there time flying banners and cargo (VFR at that) more qualified then I am? I respect your points about people who really dont care and are just here to build time, but in the same respect, you must realize that the majority here, like it or not, want to make a difference.

 

[bobbysamd]

New instructor oversight, support - and respect

[Y]ou need to have effective oversight, and having a 700 hour CFI oversee a 300 hour CFI is not what I mean . . . . Someone for the lower time guys to head to for getting the gouge, and to perpetuate some of the "cultural knowledge".

Was that not the original intent of the Gold Seal CFI program? The Gold Seal is an accomplishment of which I am proud, but it only resulted in a nice extra credential to put on my resume.

[A] lot of schools have Chief CFIs and assistant chiefs, but usually these guys are doing so much administrative BS and fire stamping, that the opportunity to really see what's going on is slim.

. . . . and, don't forget, serving as management and ownership's lackeys. As long as they are serving in that function, don't count on them to be entirely supportive of and helpful to the instructor masses. They will cover their respective asses long before they stick their necks out for you.

I have worked in three well-known 141 schools and have experienced Comair (DCA). Based on my experience, I would say these problems plague many schools, with some being bothered more than others. But that does not mean these problems are acceptable, tolerable, and should be tolerated. Once again, whether you are a new instructor just there to build time or a career instructor, it all boils down to respect. Respect may not mean much to you when you're young, but as you gain life experience you find it starts to mean something. My earlier comments about Comair turn on that issue.