King Air 350 Type rating

[Spot]

Most of the pt 142 sim schools have FAA approved prerequisites for their classes. Better check into those to see if you meet them. I heard for the pt 135 PIC upgrade class (Experienced Transition or whatever you want to call it) that in addition to the type you have to have some minimum experience (like 200 hrs right seat, not sure if these apply for King Airs). A guy told me that these are their most failed classes which is why the FAA required the pre-requisites. Just a heads up. Good Luck.

 

[phil]

Lots of part 135 operators do it this way, it is done all the time-these kinds of ops are a world apart from the way privileged fracs or the airlines operate, and it is normal, the way business is done.

If you say something to your employer, and he doesn't see it your way, then how about getting yourself a manual and taking personal responsibility for studying on your own in addition to any training you might receive? There are many pilots that do that anyway, no matter what kind of sponsored training they receive.

Be thankful for the upgrade opportunity, maybe you could ask for more time to prepare instead.

 

[FlierDude]

Push for the full school!

Put together some salient points (owner's aircraft not exposed to training risks, your ability to concentrate on your primary function - safety, excellence of audio-visual aids and learning on a state-of-the-art sim at FSI/Simcom/Simuflite, etc.). You know this employer, catch him at a good time and make it clear you feel he'd best be served by a professional trained by professionals.
The alternative school he's considering is the worst of both worlds - strained training (wx, pop-up trips amid training), poor AV aids, not as cost-efficient as it would seem.
Sorry, phil, but just because "lots of Part 135 operators do it this way" doesn't mean it's the best way to go. Just the cheapest - and at the pilot's expense.
I know 135 operators that maintain training contracts at FSI (I worked at one), with multi-pilot discounts it's not as costly as one would think.
The professional training would set a good precedent. Join the NBAA, also.

 

[100LL... Again!]

How can he do both the training and the checkride?

I do not think you can sign the 8710 as the instructor then turn around and administer the ride?

Does that seem unusual to anyone?

 

[F16fixer]

Simuflite wants around $17,000 for the initial 12 day course on the type. I suppose thats why they are trying to avoid them. I guess I would prefer to have a fully trained pilot in my front seat. That price isn't too much for someones life is it? All these corp guys are a bunch of cheap A holes.

 

[FlierDude]

By 'corp guys', do you mean owners? If so, some are cheap, but many aren't. The 'K-Mart' types come around when they see the PFT guy take a walk a day or two before a trip. Then they either bite the bullet and hire a full-timer, or hand the airplane to a management company. I've seen a couple mgmt. cos. eat the owner up in 'expenses', too.

Bottom line, there's no free lunch.

 

[WMUSIGPI]

It always amazes me to see owners pay top dollar for new equipment and maint. but are the cheapest mo-fo's around when it comes to training the crews that operate the equipment.

 

[BHS]

I hear Dat!!!