Delta Connection/Comair Academy

[pavelump]

It seems to me that the Comair ad i see has the pix of the same graduating class for like TWO FREAKIN YEARS...wonder why?

Yeah, and what's with that one guy who looks like he's taking a sh*t?

 

[stillaboo]

Go to Mesa

I'll be #2 for Mesa Airlines Pilot Development, behind 'Bobbyamd'. Mesa just hired 50 or so of the graduates in the last month. The contract might suck, but it's a job. 0 time to the right seat of a 1900, ERJ, CRJ, or Dash 8 in 2 years. No CFI, not much in the way of politics. Managment at MPD is a former F-4 guy who doesn't do crap, a proactive recruiter at the college, and a dispatch agent who is cranky b/c she has to actually run the whole program. Be nice to her, get your rateings, move on. Piece of cake, and great training too.

If you don't want to go to a WO flight school, I'd go Flight Safety. their training is just as good, maybe better, but there's no job at the end, or even an interview. An interview these days is huge. Doubt that'll change in 2 years with 10,000 mainliners furloughed.

Commair Academy seems to have alot of haters, not many guys getting hired. ATP school sucks too. Phoenix East is a factory. You'll get the rateings, but not the training.

Don't belive the hype! Get your private first at a local FBO before you start putting up the big $ for a career after 1 flight (and a bad one too)

 

[bobbysamd]

Just a quick question . . . .

Mesa just hired 50 or so of the graduates in the last month.

Were they hired by Freedom or by regular Mesa? I realize that with the new contract all Mesa Air Group pilots are on the same list, but undoubtedly there will be some acrimony. MAPD grads going to Freedom is/was a consideration about choosing MAPD over another school.

One point about getting your Private before going to Mesa. As I was leaving there were some new students who were challenging the Private part of the course. I don't believe any of them made it. For discussion's sake I assume these folks failed the challenge fair and square (We all know how Mesa excels at making money off people.). There is a lot of Mesa LOFT philosophy to absorb in a short time for the average student. One is almost better off starting off at Mesa from zero time. I found that to be true when I was working for ERAU. Most new students who tried to test out of Riddle's Private course failed their stage check. They simply did not fly to standards.

You have a chance to interview for a CFI job with FlightSafety. At the moment there is a question as to when one would be hired. I hear there is a six-month waiting list. However, that could disappear overnight if some regional takes a few FSI instructors.

 

[EMB145XR]

I'll second the idea of getting your ratings at the local FBO or flight school. I looked into Comair, FlightSafety, Airman in Norman, Pan Am, Phoenix East, Air Desert Pacific, and with the help of an ADP instructor who told me I'd be better off doing it on my own, chose that route. I actually started out flying some of ADPs beaters, and they are just that: beaters. I did a repo for them once only to find out that the reason it was ferried was because of an engine fire. That explained all the white powder in the cowling!

I don't regret choosing a smaller school for a second. I had the same instructor for every license and rating, and my training was consistent. I finished up my ratings, built some time in anything I could touch, went to school, worked a full time job, and was hired two years later by a regional.

If you think you'll be able to do your own research and keep your own pace, think about a local flight school.

Just my $0.02.

 

[Av8rPHX]

I just recieved an ad from Delta Academy offering free airfare to FL to tour their facilities. Sounds kind of like a marketing gimmic to me.

 

[Daydreamer]

Commercial / Sales trick

Good morning:


I had those things before. That is the reason why I wait for a year and weighing everybody's opinions before I make my move



Daydreamer

 

[BankAccount=0$]

I attended the academy myself back in 99'. All I can say is that in my experience the training was top notch, on the other hand the aircraft were pretty rough. When I was there our "new" Seminoles were cast offs from Air Safety (FlightSafety's neighbor after Flight Safety sold them to Airsafety). There is a huge mindset at the academy that you should keep your mouth closed about things that are not right there or you won't get an interview. I do have about 7 friends who went through the program that are RJ drivers now though. I also have a couple of friends who did the whole program that were not hired to instruct there. All in all it's like anything else in this biz...it's a crap shoot, just get the best training you can, and all will work out in the end if you persevere, and want it bad enough.
Good luck in your career and training.........
TJ

 

[UKflyer]

Hi,

I'm thinking about going to Delta Connection Academy. I've been in touch with them asking questions, and all i can say is that they are very professional in what they do, and the information they give to people. You have to take whatever you get with a pinch of salt (like anything), but i would say that initial impressions are very good. I believe that you get what you pay for, and i think that although Delta's programs are more expensive than say your local FBO, your still getting your money's worth.

Good luck.

JB.

 

[KATL8R26L]

Sales & Flying

It is all a sales pitch in this business,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,


shop around before you make a big mistake.


They will tell you what you want to hear just to sign you up,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Most guys that i know made it from the local fbos and other places, smaller schools where you get private attition when you need help.



Sales person moving mouth , sales person lying to make commission, and belive me they are in it for only the money.

so be carefull out there.

 

[bobbysamd]

A little school sales pitch advice

I'm thinking about going to Delta Connection Academy. I've been in touch with them asking questions, and all i can say is that they are very professional in what they do, and the information they give to people . . . . . but i would say that initial impressions are very good . . . . .

Confuscius said:

"Man with forked tongue should not kiss balloon."

. . . . if you catch my drift.

 

[Timebuilder]

I looked at a great number of Florida flight schools when I was deciding where to do my CFI training. Did I want to hitch my wagon to a school where I might find myself interviewing at Comair in two years? That was easy, sure I did. Did I want to pay some inflated prices and accept low pay on that chance that it would all work out? That was a bigger question.

I ended up continuing my training at my FBO near home, and instructed for a little over a year. I didn't have to move, made twice the money that CAA offered, and I will upgrade to Captain soon. No one is being laid off here, and my company just added another LR 55 and expects to add a GIV soon.

[Editor's note: I was laid of on May 13th, and the GV fell through, too. It was still a good experience, and I think the right decision to finish my training locally]

Did I make the right decision? Yep. Preparation meets opportunity.

One thing I can tell you about Comair Academy, they are good marketers, if nothing else. If I had been 25, I might have dived on that bait hook, line and sinker. At the time of my visit, the instructors looked to be professional pilots, while the students looked like concert trash. I understand that this has changed. Good for them. A professional outer image helps to grow a professional inner image, and the cultural shock from public high school and politically correct colleges must be enormous.

Me: I saved a ton of money, made more, and have a good job, even if my wages are low compared to other similar positions.

You: must weigh all of the variables, separate the truth (or the likely truth) from the fertilizer and make a decision. If you are currently 18, time is on your side. It WILL become harder as you move up the age scale.

Choose wisely.

 

[bobbysamd]

Professional image

At the time of my visit, the instructors looked to be professional pilots, while the students looked like concert trash. I understand that this has changed. Good for them. A professional outer image helps to grow a professional inner image . . .

As an aside, good comments in support of schools that require uniforms.

 

[DAS at 10/250]

YOU MEAN CONAIR?

YEAH. BEEN THERE. DONE THAT.

MY ADVICE? RUN LIKE THE WIND.

LETS SEE. I DID MY INSTRUMENT RATING THERE WHEN I WAS STILL YOUNG, DUMB, AND STUPID. AND LOW TIME.

$12,000 FOR AN INSTRUMENT RATING. WHOA. BAD PILOT, RIGHT?

WRONG. I UNDERFLEW THE PROGRAM BY 6 HOURS. HAD TO BURN TIME TO TAKE THE 141 RIDE. CHECK RIDE. ACED. RUNWAY 9L, WIND 350 18G26KT.

WAS THE TRAINING GOOD. YES. AIRCRAFT. OK. MAINTENCE. FAIR. (I AM A FORMER ARMY HELICOPTER MECHANIC, SO I DO KNOW SOMETHING HERE.)

YOU WILL LEARN. YOU WILL BE TAUGHT. AND YOU WILL BE SCREWED.

THEY WILL STEAL EVERY CHANCE THEY GET. $250 HERE AND THERE. AND THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP? HE IS THERE TO TAKE YOUR MONEY.

CHECK OUT THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA AVIATION PROGRAM. BEST PRICES IN THE INDUSTRY. CREDIT AND NON-CREDIT.

LIVE. LEARN. FLY. AND THEN GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

 

[ChadCRJ]

Jet Direct Program?

Has anyone heard any word about this program an how it is going? I Know its really expensive (around 65,000) to come out with about 350 hours TT. Just haven't heard if any students are doing it or what. Any info on this program that Delta Connection has to offer would be great. Thanks

Chad

 

[172driver]

It is PFT and there is no one enrolled in it as far as I know.