Riddle, Comair and FSI
I've experienced all three. I worked at Riddle-Prescott and FSI, and interviewed at Comair. All this is years ago, but I doubt that things have changed much. Some of the same people are still there or have moved around between a couple of these schools.
I'm sure there are similarities between Riddle in Prescott and Riddle in Daytona. I have visited Daytona. ERAU was the best paying aviation job I had. Pay per hour for experienced instructors was decent. You had to put in a minimum of thirty hours a week of contact time. Contact time consisted of flight time, oral (ground) time or sims. If you could stay busy you could make great money. I knew of one Riddle instructor who worked the system to the hilt. He was making $35K per year twelve years ago. That was great money in those days. If you logged at least 1000 hours of contact in a year, you were bonused handsomely. One of the ladies in the flight line told me she was surprised that more instructors didn't make bonus. In my day, if you were upgraded to stage check pilot you were paid very fairly, the equivalent of a commuter captain. Good benies.
Riddle downsides included lack of aircraft availability and major politics. On the other hand, the place was a very stimulating learning environment for all.
I've written a lot about FSI, so I will hit the highlights. Overall, very nice facilities. Nice aircraft and sims. I hear FSI is purchasing new Seminoles and taking delivery of one per month. Good training program and opportunities to log actual. One thing I didn't like about the facilities was that I didn't have a desk, whereas at Riddle I had a desk. At FSI, I worked out of the trunk of my car, which I didn't care for particularly. Maybe things are different now. I hear that pay is now $15/hour for instructors. Don't know how much company time is. Company time is pay for attending meetings, etc. Benies were very good. Good health and a 401-K.
When I was at FSI I didn't care for how management treated instructors generally and me in particular, especially regarding pay. There's a different Center Manager there now. He was the Assistant to the Center manager ten years ago. This gentleman is first class. Two of my colleagues are still there, in management, and these gentlemen are also first class. I know who the new Chief Pilot is at FSI . . . .
Whom I met eleven years ago when I interviewed at Comair. He was the Chief Instructor there. He was at FSI just before that as Chief Pilot. I didn't care for this man and was not impressed with the school. The equipment seemed to be very tired. The atmosphere and culture seemed oppressive.
Hope these help a little. Private me with any specific questions.
