EJA & FSI deal...

[Chunk]

Has anyone heard about a tentative deal between EJA and FSI in Vero Beach to hire their students? Word is (rumors from FSI) that the deal is nearly done.

EJA pilots: Any opinions??

Cheers,

Chunk

 

[1900cpt]

I have not heard that, but if I do hear anything I will post it hear. As for my personal opinion......I doubt it. Not to bad mouth the FSI-Vero Beach folks, but there are plenty of highly qualified people on furlough out there that are trying to get in at EJA.

1900cpt

 

[Kenny]

Guys,

Have to say when I heard about this, I thought there wasn't a hope in hell of it happening. But I've seen the proposed course structure and sylabus, flight times, ground school, etc.

Not much has officially been said but I have it from a very relaible source that IT IS going to happen. Something to remember is that anyone who goes through the course isn't going to be in anything other than the Ultra for at least 2 years.

Guess miracles do happen!!

 

[Chunk]

cool...

So let me get this straight....

After going to a school I was planning on attending anyway, I "get stuck" flying a Citation Ultra for Executive Jet, an innovative growing company that I could easily spend a career at, for at least two years?


Where's the downside?


Sign me up!



Cheers,

Chunk

 

[Kenny]

Chunk,

Don't get carried away too soon! From what I've heard EJA are going to want a lot higher times than ASA wanted. Which means that you may well have to work as an instructor to get the mins. Oh and it's going to cost about $20,000 on top of getting everything at FSI.

 

[Chunk]

ahhh....that's okay

I never planned on doing the "direct track" thing...

The risk of furlough without time/experience/CFI-I-MEI was too great for my blood even before 9/11 !

I was gonna do it the quasi-old fashioned way...instruct...build hours...get interview! Hey, if FSI wanted to pay for the CFI-I-MEI in exchange for a promise of 800 paid hours as an instructor (mostly multi time) then arrange an interview with ASA at the end of it, I'm willing to slide a few numbers back on the seniority escalator for a little piece of mind, free certificates, and a bunch of multi time. Oh, and not PAY $20K, too!!!


Chunk

 

[Timebuilder]

I'll be disappointed if this goes through, as I have already "paid" several years of experience, along with a tremendous sum of money in the hopes of being hired at EJA. Now, I'll have to call Alan, uproot myself to Vero, pay another $20k, and HOPE that I can get in? Sheesh!
I hope this won't mean that the rest of us are cut cut out of the loop....

Tell you what, guys. I'll call him today and find out the scoop, from his end.

 

[Kenny]

Timebuilder

I can understand what you mean. When I heard about it my first thought was that there was no way it would happen. Why would you want to take low time pilots with no commercial experience, even as instructors. Especially in the current climate, when there are a bunch of more qualified, more experienced pilots out there who would jump at the chance.

I think the reasoning is that FSI and EJA are both part of the same company and could help each other out. Part of the sales pitch to prospective students is that "Do your training at FSI, become an instructor and you'll get a job quicker". Well, right now that's not happening. All the instructors are in limbo and the pool of budding instructors is building by about 10 every month. If they don't find something for their instructors to move onto, then it doesn't exactly create an optimistic picture for prospective students. As far as EJA are concerned, they need 700 pilots next year and maybe feel the Ultra is something a "low" time pilot could manage. Leaving the more experienced pilots to fly the bigger equipment.

I won't even go into the amount FSI outlayed for the ASA program and the SAAB 2000 sim that's not being used right now.

P.S. if the Alan you're refering to is AH, good luck at getting an honest answer.

 

[Timebuilder]

You're a sharp guy! No, that isn't the Alan I'm talking about, but I DO know who you mean, he's a Nascar fan, right?
Actually, I did a little unscheduled ground school today, and got in a little "actual" with an instrument student who is just about ready for his checkride. Hopefully, I'll get a chance to call the OTHER Alan tomorrow. I just hope that I can still get in with EJA without spending ANOTHER $20k. For that, I'd expect a type rating in a G-IV.

 

[Bebop]

The rumor that I have heard while flying the line with EJA is:

EJA will buy a buttload of 6 seat jets. The kind that the nimbus group ordered 1000 of. (I forget the name of the jet) They will use these with FSI grads and an instructor to transport EJA crews around the country. That means no more airlining to pick up an airplane.

That is only a rumor I have heard.

Bebop

 

[maxcackel]

The ultra is the plane to be used for training so far. A syllabus leaked out this week of the program and a few people saw it so at least there is a little info.
Hey Timebuilder and Kenny I've had a run in with AH once, how do you know him and what did you mean by no straight answer?

 

[Timebuilder]

Sorry I am so late in finishing off my post from above. It's after 10:30 pm now, and I had a teriffic headwind in the Navajo on the way home from Utica. Anyway, I called FSI today, and I found that the Alan I know has recently left FSI, and the voicemail goes to AH's mailbox!!! But I digress....
I sopke to a young lady in the marketing department, and I found that there will be an arangement with EJA to help prospective pilots prepare for FO jobs in the Ultra. The basic info is that FSI will launch a program to provide jet transition training to those who have all their certs, including MEI. When found proficient, those FO candidates will go to EJA for on the job evaluation and experience, and when appropriate will return to FSI for the type rating. I was told that this will effectively circumvent the 2500 and 500 hiring requirement at EJA. My personal sense is that this will create a very long probationary period, and there will no doubt be a substantial charge for this training, and I expect to see a lower pay scale for these hires. On Monday, I expect to get some info on pricing and time period.

In addition, the candidates from the ASA program are now described as working on "advanced airline training", and they are awaiting the word from ASA on when they can begin moving out the pipe again for Atlanta.

As far as not being able to get a straight answer from certain individuals, let's just say it's the FSI version of the Riddle Runaround. Nuff said.

 

[Kenny]

This is what I managed to find out over the last few days:

Firstly, if you don't want to do the smart thing and be an instructor, as time builder mentioned you will be requried to have your CFI, CFII and MEI. Plus, you'll have to pay $11,000 for the training, provided you pass the initial interview with EJA.

Secondly, if you do become an instructor, it's back to the old 800 hours deal. At which time you'll interview with EJA and if you pass, you'll get a conditional offer of employment. You'll then do 35 hours ground school and 10 hours in the citation sim.

If you're already an instructor and have finished with 800 hours you go straight to the interview, followed by the ground school and sim.

There is some time in the ultra and ultra sim, but theses amounts are yet to be decided.

The advanced airline training for ASA students is just a different name for the same training course that was done when ASA was still hiring. Seems there are still some that don't mind parting with a large amount of money to go to an Airline that isn't hiring!!

The only point I'm not sure about is being type rated. I'm not entirely convinced you don't need an ATP to be type-rated in a jet. If anyone knows otherwise then I'll stand corrected. If this is the case then are the instructors going to need ATP mins before moving on??

Time builder, Alan K was a great guy, always made me laugh and it was a pity he moved on.

If I find out anymore I'll let you all know.

 

[Chunk]

thanks...

Thanks to everyone for the good info provided...

Keep it coming if you find anything else out!

Cheers,

Chunk

 

[flybub]

Hey all, I'm also a student at FSI and I too appreciate all your help with straightening out info from anything you have heard on the line. At this point I would be satisfied flying anything for a career, but EJA has been a goal for me since I started flying in '99. I am just curious as to how they select your domiciles. Is it your preference or do they put where they need you? Also how is the flying life there? I have friends flying for regionals around the country and they said it is very slow. Are things at EJA slow or do they remain the same? Finally one more question, is EJA expecting any growth in the next couple of years? I have heard they have jets on order but when do they expect to start recieving those? Thank you all again for your help and your time. Take care and fly safe.