FTSI Acquires CAPT

[Flying Ninja]

http://www.erau.edu/er/newsmedia/newsreleases/2006/capt.html

A warning to all prospective student pilots: Do Not Go Here! FTSI is retaining the incompetent management that failed to deliver their promises to 20% of their customers. Go somewhere else that has over 95% placement rate. Trust me, you do NOT want to take your chances with your time and money with FTSI/CAPT because if you end up on the 20% side of the coin, you are very much screwed.

Even their Executive Director has admitted in this press release that "CAPT was a tremendously effective experiment in proving that an individual could go from zero flight time to the right seat of a commercial jetliner with as little as 225 flight hours," said Martin Schaaf, executive director of CAPT. Well, if 80% placement is their definition of "tremendously effective" you need to ask yourself if that's your cup of tea. Going to FTSI/CAPT is like playing Russian Roulette. Don't be the one that gots the bullet. Put down the gun and don't play their game!

Be warned!

 

[Burt Reynolds]

...a tremendously effective experiment in proving that an individual could go from zero flight time to the right seat of a commercial jetliner with as little as 225 flight hours...

I love how they say this as if it's really a good idea for someone with 225 hours to be in the right seat. Maybe they should advertise in USA Today so that people flying the regionals could understand who their future FOs are.

On the bright side, most of the Captains probably have their CFI's. They'll need them.

 

[Flying Ninja]

Some regional airlines like ASA and Pinnacle seem to think so. But as far as quality training is concerned, they're shy from that in my opinion. I got more out of training from my CFI (freelance) than I did with CAPT. You really can't blame the CFIs that work at CAPT however, since they're just working and following the bullsh!t CAPT gives them to work with.

All those who are even considering CAPT (I don't know why you would), do your homework and instant message me with questions about my experiences with them (AIM: FlyingNinjaNY). You will want to know that you are exposing yourself to unnecessary risks there!

 

[rausda27]

Anyone else notice that FTSI is an anagram for FIST?

 

[Flying Ninja]

Anyone else having an extremely hard time finding ANY information on this FTSI company? I've been looking for almost 4 hours now and I have YET to find a piece of information on them.

 

[Turkey Shoot]

ATP mins for either airline seat. That would be a good starter for QOL and pay. Guys coming in would actually believe they are worth something rather than the CAPT guys that will, "FLY FOR FREE!"

And no.... Before you CAPT guys get your panties in a knot, I am not trashing you guys. It's a much easier road than the CFI route and had I known, I more than likely would have gone that route. Beats the hell out of sweating your butt off in a 172, three inches form another guy, sweating his butt off all the while saying, "Right rudder, need a little more right rudder."

 

[Thedude]

Flying Ninja,

How much research did you do before you went to CAPT?

 

[Flying Ninja]

Evidently not enough. But I've learned since then.

 

[Shrek]

How bout no PFT at all ?

ATP mins and also a sign in the cabin listing W2's for each crew member?

 

[Flying Ninja]

"CAPT was a tremendously effective experiment in proving that an individual could go from zero flight time to the right seat of a commercial jetliner with as little as 225 flight hours"

Experiment. Heh. They're still experimenting. And if you sign up with them, you're going to be paying for it.

"Of the program's 71 graduates, 57 have been hired as pilots by regional airlines, cargo carriers, and corporate flight departments since it began in August 2003."

According to their web site today of current hires, they say they placed 42 people. So are they lying about the 57 as being hired? I noticed that they didn't take credit for the three cadets that paved their own way. So where are these other 15 people? I know they had one or two classes graduate (typically 6 people in a class) and I know for a fact not all of them got placed! The most recent class only had 2 placements with Focus out of 5. Unreal.

I find it absolutely funny (and scary if you're looking into this CAPT program) how Careers in Aviation and Flight Training Services International are nowhere to be found on the Internet. What are they hiding here? Or is it just another example of their incompentence at information distribution?

"For more information on FTSI and the CAPT program, visit www.captprogram.org."

That's great. Except there is no information on FTSI there. Good job showing your incompetence on the Internet boys.

 

[The Drizzle]

Anyway, this was the plan form the beginning.

 

[Flying Ninja]

What plan? Their plan was to be with Embry-Riddle and build the next "elite" and "unique" training program that will "revolutionize the aviation industry". Those are THEIR words. Well, I can tell you from experience, their training went from great to crap. Unique? Maybe at the time, but it's not the only game in town anymore. And revolutionizing? Well...when Riddle dropped their ass back in February, revolution came to a screeching halt.

They thought video recording cadet flights and reviewing after each flight with an instructor was neat. Sure, it was a great idea. And it was the thing to do at the beginning. When video equipment failures and malfunctions occurred and not repaired, that went out the door in a heart beat. When CFIs were scolded at to get to their next group of students, the time between video review went from short to non-existent. Their two FRASCAs are about as ancient as they come and the picture they have on their website is definitely not what you'll be training in (misleading photo, misrepresenting what you'll be using).

I spent 18 months with these people. They're anything but innovative.

 

[The Drizzle]

blah, blahblahblahblah....thier plan was to build it then sell it post haste, they did that, only a little later than they wanted to.

 

[Flying Ninja]

Maybe so, but that doesn't change the fact that they failed to deliver their advertised and verbal promises to cadets. That doesn't change the fact thaty they hung 20% of us out to dry. That doesn't change a lot of the dreams broken and money stolen from those of us who invested and took a chance with a new program because they worked under the Embry-Riddle reputation in the industry. They're a bunch of frauds in my experience (and others).

 

[The Drizzle]

So what, now you really know what is like to work for any regional. Consider it part of your aviation experience. Take your balls out of your purse, man up and get a job other than flying a jet at a rediculously low level of hours.

 

[Flying Ninja]

Don't you worry about my future endeavors. Just spreading the word that CAPT is not the place for flight training. It's just that simple.

 

[Amish RakeFight]

Ninja, your posts are all sour grapes.

 

[The Drizzle]

sour grapes.

isn't that olde english for "bitch" ?

 

[Amish RakeFight]

isn't that olde english for "bitch" ?

Well this Njia guy - well all he does is complaion about how awful that program is/was andthat hes been screwed. He's got soem ratings and could easily go get his CFI, teach and be interviewing in about a year and a half flying a CRJ.

He claims to have lost his passion to fly, flying sucks, that school sucks, every option someone offers he shoots down, well to me its called "sour grapes."

Things are not as awful as he makes them seem. Sounds more like a guy who weas a little older, tried to get into the business by choosing the fast lane, didnt read the fine print and wasnt cautious about the operation.

At any rate, Ninja, youve been told many differnt ways to get yourself back on track, but you refuse to fly and continually beat this CAPT program to death.

 

[100LL... Again!]

Fly Ninja -

You, and all the other CAPT line-cutting rich kids don't deserve a job in a jet at an airline, no matter how good you THINK you are.

You gambled, and lost. Now go pay your dues flying in small airplanes the way us 'losers' did it.

If you think that teaching in a cessna has nothing to do with flying an airliner, then you REALLY are proving your immaturity as an airman.

I still teach in singles, and still get new insight from it.

If your 'passion for flying" is totally ruined now that you found out that you don't get to fly a shiny jet at 300 hours, GOOD. We don't WANT you if that's how you are. How about all the people who have lost their jobs, had to fly cargo, had to instruct for years, multiple furloughs, etc.

Given the typical PFT'ers craving for instant advancement, it is unlikely that they have the character necessary to be that exceptional as a pilot anyway, if the only thing that makes them happy is a regional jet.

If you have come to this conclusion on your own, then disregard this rant.

otherwise:

Put a sock in it and go be a CFI - where you BELONG right now, cadet.

 

[FreightNazi]

Maybe so, but that doesn't change the fact that they failed to deliver their advertised and verbal promises to cadets. That doesn't change the fact thaty they hung 20% of us out to dry. That doesn't change a lot of the dreams broken and money stolen from those of us who invested and took a chance with a new program because they worked under the Embry-Riddle reputation in the industry. They're a bunch of frauds in my experience (and others).

OR.... Maybe you just $uck as a pilot and nobody wants to hire you?

 

[Skycam]

Fly Ninja -

You, and all the other CAPT line-cutting rich kids don't deserve a job in a jet at an airline, no matter how good you THINK you are.

You gambled, and lost. Now go pay your dues flying in small airplanes the way us 'losers' did it.

If you think that teaching in a cessna has nothing to do with flying an airliner, then you REALLY are proving your immaturity as an airman.

I still teach in singles, and still get new insight from it.

If your 'passion for flying" is totally ruined now that you found out that you don't get to fly a shiny jet at 300 hours, GOOD. We don't WANT you if that's how you are. How about all the people who have lost their jobs, had to fly cargo, had to instruct for years, multiple furloughs, etc.

Given the typical PFT'ers craving for instant advancement, it is unlikely that they have the character necessary to be that exceptional as a pilot anyway, if the only thing that makes them happy is a regional jet.

If you have come to this conclusion on your own, then disregard this rant.

otherwise:

Put a sock in it and go be a CFI - where you BELONG right now, cadet.

How much do you think he paid to PFT? Did he pay 4 bucks? $4.50? 4 bucks? Sometimes, hey - it's a good investment! Sometime he can go out there and get a $4.75 job!

 

[Flying Ninja]

Amish RakeFight,

I did get screwed. Yes, I can get my CFI and I never said anything about being a CFI is a bad thing. As soon as I have some dispensable income I will get that CFI. I'm studying the ground materials on my own. I never said that flying sucks. I've already made it perfectly clear on the forums that I am not pursuing aviation as a career. That doesn't mean I can't warn people off about going to a program that is run by dishonest people.

The reason I didn't read the fine print was because CAPT never printed them for me to read! There was no contract to sign. Just empty promises that sounded really nice on their web site under the Embry-Riddle name and reputation. You'd know this if you even did some slight research into their dog and pony show.

As for refusing to fly. Let me tell you something. Flying costs MONEY and that's something I simply don't have anymore. Bottom line, all you did was put words in my mouth that I never said. If I had a million dollars, I'll go fly until I burn through that million. But I can't because I committed all my money into CAPT. And if that's stupid, I'll accept that as a fact. But it certainly doesn't change the fact that today, I am broke and I can't afford to fly anymore. My IFR currency is about to expire in 3 months. Do you think that makes me feel good that I can't even afford to get it back?

You can call me a bitch all you want. But please don't put words in my mouth.

* * *

100LL...Again!

I don't think I'm that good. Frankly, I think everyone who graduates out of CAPT need a lot more time and experience before they fly jets, myself included. Yes, I gambled and lost. All you people considering CAPT keep that fact in mind. I don't have a problem teaching in a Cessna. It certainly wasn't my initial desire to do so. But then again, I felt behind due to my late start in the industry and would have preferred not to do CFI if I didn't have to. If I had to do this all over again, I would have skipped CAPT, saved all my money, and went the CFI route because the more I read and learn about being a CFI, the more I realize how valuable it is.

My goal now is simple. Get my CFI and I'm going to teach those younger people for free (they pay the plane of course) in my spare time. Flight training is simply too expensive and I'll do my part in helping others to achive the dream I can't and still enjoy being in the skies.

* * *

FreightNazi

If I do suck as a pilot, that's only proof that CAPT produces sucky pilots. As for nobody wanting to hire me, well, maybe that's because CAPT hung me out to dry and never opened any doors for me with low time.

* * *

Skycam

I paid way too much. And now that CAPT has raised their price to $85,000 to fly their new SR20's, it's even more expensive. My efforts is to show people how ruined I became because of CAPT and that it's simply not worth the money you spend at CAPT to get to where you want to be.

 

[Amish RakeFight]

Flying Ninja,


Does your pager go off anytime CAPT is mentioned on one of the numerous aviation forums on the web?

You spew the same old stuff on every board.

 

[Flying Ninja]

You spew the same old stuff on every board.

At least I'm consistent and not changing my story. If you don't like it, don't read it.

 

[CLR2LAN]

Flying Ninja,


Does your pager go off anytime CAPT is mentioned on one of the numerous aviation forums on the web?

You spew the same old stuff on every board.

The fact that you've been able to track that and you've taken the time to look/follow him around suggests you have no life.

 

[Amish RakeFight]

The fact that you've been able to track that and you've taken the time to look/follow him around suggests you have no life.

Obivously, you've come to continue to mix it up with me, having lost over on the other thread. Looks like you've found some time to devote towards my posts. Don't be too enamoured with me, I'm just not that great a guy.

Anyway, it requires no tracking. If you got your head out from where the sun don't shine, you'd well know this guy Ninja's story. It's quite obvious to folks who frequent the message boards that Ninja got screwed by CAPT and has reiterated his plight NUMEROUS times. We all FULLY understand now.

 

[Flying Ninja]

New members join all the time and they may not know my story. I'm not trying to bore the regulars. I'm trying to reach the new people so that they don't get taken by a bad flight school. I don't think what I'm doing is wrong.

 

[EMB170Pilot]

I did CAPT program and got hired onto the 170 with 500TT/ 105 Multi.

I graduated top of my class!

Best money I ever spent!

 

[AvroJockey]

Take your balls out of your purse, man up and get a job other than flying a jet at a rediculously low level of hours.

Now that's funny! :laugh: