First Officer Program...rip off or good

[bobbysamd]

P-F-T

I'll second that 100%! I could have been P-F-T'er, too, in the early '90s. I didn't feel that any job was worth shelling out the money; moreover, and more importantly, I have to face myself in the mirror every morning and wanted to feel that I got the job on my merits and not through my loan officer.

 

[Freight Dog]

Heh, well... I thought my view on PFT was already known. I just wasn't trying to start a flame war and stay away from the beat old horse of PFT debate.

 

[yipstick]

Prostitution

As long as there are those who are willing to either pay for the right seat or do it for free, then the industry will always be a breeding ground for low paying, dangerous jobs (single-engine, night, icing conditions, IFR, flying cancelled checks for $1200/month). Those pilots who are clamoring for experience should simply become flight indtructors and pay their dues with true grit and gain some true experience. If you wish to prostitute yourself, do it on the street, not the airways.

 

[publisher]

Right for you

This go through the grind stuff is pretty over-rated.

One of my best friends joined the USAF, flew a fighter, and went straight to American Airlines. One can say he paid his dues I suppose but as far as this CFI stuff goes, in my book it is a waste of time as far as an airline career.

To say a program is legitimate but is terrible because someone you regard as a scab started the company is BS. Is the doctor working for nothing and on 48hours in a row as an intern any different.

In the end, the only questionm should be the skills at the profession whether Mommy bought it for you worked your way up paying for lesson picking cotton.

 

[Bluto]

The difference between the intern doctor and buying a seat as an FO should be clear. The intern obtained his/her position through skill and hard work. The "FO" obtained the position by writing a check. The intern builds invaluable experience and knowledge. The "FO" builds time. Talk to the people who have been involved in these programs. The vast majority that I have spoken to consider them considerable wastes of time and money. I can see why you might want to defend your lack of a CFI rating. However, especially in the current job market, obtaining a CFI rating is a very good idea. It's got very little to do with "putting in your time". Becoming a CFI is a perfect way to prepare for an airline job. I couldn't disagree with you more when you say that a CFI is a waste of time for airline hopefuls. What exactly is wasteful about building approx. 1000 hours of PIC time in a year? What is wasteful about tremendously improving your interpersonal skills, not to mention the in-depth technical knowledge? If you ever flew for a regional airline, you would notice that a tremendous proportion of the captains were former CFI's. A great deal has been said in this post about the value of a CFI. If you can't understand the valuable experience the CFI gains, hopefully the people looking here for information will.

 

[ifly4food]

How many times do we have to do the PFT debate? You are beating a dead horse... just like the scab debate.
Regardless of who paid and who didn't, you will never change the other's opinion.
You may say you want to "educate the upcoming generation of pilots about the pitfalls of PFT" (or scabs or whatever). Fine, you've done that. Many times.
Let's give this one a rest. The original question has been answered. Thread closed.
If4f