Embry Riddle CAPT Program---Anyone know about this???

[CBorstein]

I am a zero time pilot and trying to break into the aviation industry. I've been researching schools like crazy and I think I found a great program. Has anyone heard of this new CAPT Program being offered at Embry Riddle? Does anyone know anybody enrolled in the program or are perhaps enrolled yourself? What are the chances of getting a job after completing this program? This program sounds incredible, but is it all for nothing? It is quite expensive and I want to make the right decision. I appreciate any and all replies. You may also respond directly to me as well at [email protected]

Thank you all,

Chad

 

[LittleDeuce]

I am a zero time pilot and trying to break into the aviation industry. I've been researching schools like crazy and I think I found a great program. Has anyone heard of this new CAPT Program being offered at Embry Riddle? Does anyone know anybody enrolled in the program or are perhaps enrolled yourself? What are the chances of getting a job after completing this program? This program sounds incredible, but is it all for nothing? It is quite expensive and I want to make the right decision. I appreciate any and all replies. You may also respond directly to me as well at [email protected]

Thank you all,

Chad

Oh boy. Standby for incoming!

 

[cforst513]

um, chad? i'll give you a little hint. the guys on this forum, to put it nicely, don't support "pay for training" very much. the gist of what they are going to tell you is that you cannot buy an airline job and you have to pay your dues like all the other guys do. i had the... pleasure of experiencing this in an earlier thread. they have seemingly convinced me to do my training at a local fixed base operator. i was thinking about going to delta connection academy after i graduate college in the spring, but i don't want another $90,000 of debt (that's what vern antrim told me it would cost - he's their "admissions officer", a.k.a. P.R. salesman). so i will take out a much smaller loan, live with ma and pa for free, work while i train, and do it all that way. are you in high school still?

from one chad to another chad, good luck with your decision.

 

[U-I pilot]

Type "ERAU CAPT" in the search function. Plenty of weekend reading material.....

 

[Clyde]

I am a zero time pilot and trying to break into the aviation industry. I've been researching schools like crazy and I think I found a great program. Has anyone heard of this new CAPT Program being offered at Embry Riddle? Does anyone know anybody enrolled in the program or are perhaps enrolled yourself? What are the chances of getting a job after completing this program? This program sounds incredible, but is it all for nothing? It is quite expensive and I want to make the right decision. I appreciate any and all replies. You may also respond directly to me as well at [email protected]

Thank you all,

Chad

Dude,
ERAU is a huge waste of money. Your student loan(s) balance will far outlive any 401k that you may accumulate.

For the same amount of money, you could go to medical school and become a doctor. Then, you could afford your own Baron. That's what I would do.

The only thing this stupid CAPT program is going to do is put you that much more in debt and add to ERAU's bottom line. This program will, in no way, shape, or form help you get a flying job that much quicker, if at all. I wouldn't do it, but that's just my $0.02.

 

[Clyde]

Type "ERAU CAPT" in the search function. Plenty of weekend reading material.....

Or, you could throw $100 bills out your car window on the freeway all day long too!!

 

[tausap]

No Way to ERAU

Chad,

Don't waste your time at ERAU or any other aeronautical university and/or expensive program such as FlightSafety. The airlines simply don't care where you went to school or got your ratings, they only care that you have your ratings and degree, and then you have some EXPERIENCE. I used to work with United's (now non-existant)pilot hiring department and I never ever saw points given for someone who went to any of these programs.

I, at one time in early in my career, thought about going to Florida Institute of Technology and doing their aviation degree program. Instead of doing that and earning my CFI over a 3-4 year period, I went to the cheapest flight school I could find, got all my CFI tickets within 6 months, and spent the remainder of my college years building time flight instructing, so that I was hired at a regional as soon as I graduated. Neither UAL nor any other airline (4 in all) ever cared where I went to flight school.

Also, I got a degree at a real university in something other than aviation, which is now starting to look like a really good choice given the current state of the industry. If you have an aviation degree, you have no real backup in a tumultuous industry. I thought I had made it and would never thought I would be looking at leaving the industry when I got hired at UAL, but now I am glad I have that backup degree.

So save yourself the money, don't ever, ever pay for your job/training at an airline, and get a degree in something viable in case aviation does not work out. Oh, and also realize that nothing in your career will work out like you had hoped or planned....it is all dependent on greedy/stupid CEO's, dumb luck, and the economy.

-Brett (just a little jaded)

 

[Goose Egg]

The airlines simply don't care where you went to school or got your ratings, they only care that you have your ratings and degree, and then you have some EXPERIENCE.

Ain't that the truth! It is assumed that everyone at this level can fly an airplane, or else you wouldn't be sitting there in the interview. What else ya got?

Also, I got a degree at a real university in something other than aviation, which is now starting to look like a really good choice given the current state of the industry.

I absolutely agree with that. I have a BS in Aviation, but I am going to get a masters degree in something "real" as well. I'm not necessarily doing it for a back-up, but that is a great side benefit.

While the CAPT program isn't really PFT (Pay-for training) in its true form, you still have to wonder what just what the heck a 500 hour "graduate" is supposed to do with an MD-80 type rating! It's unecessary training. I mean, at least give them a CRJ type--they actually might even be able to use that within the next 5 years of their career. Beside that I'd be suspicious of any airline that gave me a job offer with 500 hours of experience. Sounds pretty sketch-ball to me.

Kind of idealistic and arrogant of ERAU to think that a 500 hour pilot with an MD-80 type is marketable just because they say he or she is. I didn't realize that Riddle dictated industry standards.

And beside that, if some company wants me to fly an MD-80, then they can pay for my type in it. If I am going to be generating revenue for them, then they can foot the bill for the training. I'm not going to pay someone for the honor of working for them.

-Goose

 

[bobbysamd]

Riddle C(R)APT v. Riddle and FSI

Here is a link to a recent thread about C(R)APT. Enjoy.

Kind of idealistic and arrogant of ERAU to think that a 500 hour pilot with an MD-80 type is marketable just because they say he or she is. I didn't realize that Riddle dictated industry standards.

Once more, it is a pity that a venerable institution such as Riddle would stoop to offering quasi-P-F-T, and with such useless qualifications as an MD-90 (DC-9) type. No matter how noble the rationale (that someone with such type rating demonstrates that he/she knows turbine systems and can fly turbine equipment), a 500-hour pilot presenting a DC-9 type rating will be laughed right out of the interview, if he/she even gets that far. CAPT is intended to make one regional airline-qualified sooner; unless one obtained legitimate turbine time along the way, the typical regional airline applicant is not expected to have turbine experience at that point in his/her career. CAPT is a waste of time and money, and, according to the above thread, does not deliver on its promises.

CAPT is another example of ERAU ivory tower thinking which ignores and gives no effect to the real world.

But bear in mind that there is nothing the matter with pursuing a straight aviation degree program at Riddle or other college. I instructed at ERAU. I like an aviation degree program because of the great aviation education it provides. And,

Don't waste your time at ERAU or any other aeronautical university and/or expensive program such as FlightSafety. The airlines simply don't care where you went to school or got your ratings, they only care that you have your ratings and degree, and then you have some EXPERIENCE. I used to work with United's (now non-existant)pilot hiring department and I never ever saw points given for someone who went to any of these programs.

This comment overlooks how aviation degree programs include internships with airlines and similar companies, which very well could lead to employment with same. That aspect is often not recognized by people who recommend against aviation degrees.

I also instructed at FSI. The program is expensive, but is top-drawer. The flight training is industry-standard and includes such things as acro and unusual attitudes training in real airplanes - which is not often found in FBO training. FlightSafety carries great name recognition in the industry. Finally, FSI has ties to airlines, which provides another legitimate path thereto.

No matter where you pursue training, be sure you have a four-year college degree to go with it. Good luck with whatever training option(s) you choose.

 

["TheBigPicture"]

I'm going to have to agree with "bobby" on this one. It is completely ignorant to make a general statement and group all aviation universities with pay for training

I am a Riddle grad myself. Yes, it will be expensive. I am still paying for it today. Are there other avenues that will lead to an airline job?? Yes (and I'm not talking PFT). But that is for you to decide which choice works best for you.

I don't have a clue about the CAPT program or even what it is, so I'll leave that can of worms for someone else to open.

Do your research, and take 90% of what you read on here with a grain of salt, because most of the responses your going to get will tell you the old aviation glass is only half full, and you might as well just dump it out and smash it on the ground.

Good Luck