bobbysamd
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2001
- Posts
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Comair v. other schools
I interviewed for an instructing job at Comair in 1991. I traveled two-thousand miles on my nickel for this interview. After traveling this distance, my time on the property must have totaled three hours max. Maybe twenty minutes with the Chief Instructor and an hour flight with this older, tired curmudgeon in an older, tired 152. I suspect both were survivors of when the school was known as Airline Aviation Academy.
I remember well how some student was taxiing in with his landing light on. The man I was with saw it and went ballistic. He steps into the taxiway and starts carrying on, "TURN IT OFF!!!!! TURN IT OFF!!!" I was not impressed. Is that how Comair students are always treated?
I was not hired. Ya know how I found out? By silence. I was never sent a rejection letter or even given a phone call. The Chief Instructor surely knew that I had traveled from Prescott, Arizona to attend the interview because he had my resume. Granted, no one likes to receive rejection letters, but not sending one to me, especially after I had traveled a long distance at great expense, was simply rude, inconsiderate, discourteous and unprofessional.
And that's how CAA (DCA) "impressed" me. I realize fully that things can change in thirteen years, but I doubt much has changed in this regard at Comair. My point is a job interview can provide a valuable glimpse into a company's culture. The way I was treated during my interview and thereafter was a complete turn-off to CAA.
I interviewed for an instructing job at FlightSafety in Vero three months later. My experience was far different. I was there for four days. The school rolled out the red carpet for me. It put me up in one of the bungalows on campus. My interview consisted of writtens and a sim on Thursday, a flight and an interview with the Center Manager on Friday, nothing on Saturday, and an interview (and job offer) with the Chief Instructor on Sunday. I was impressed.
I will say, objectively, that in the nearly three years I've been on this board that I've seen far more negative than positive about Comair and very little negative about FSI. I have seen virtually nothing negative about MAPD, below:
Please bear with me because I've written this story a number of times. I feel it should be repeated in light of the current context.
I interviewed for an instructing job at Comair in 1991. I traveled two-thousand miles on my nickel for this interview. After traveling this distance, my time on the property must have totaled three hours max. Maybe twenty minutes with the Chief Instructor and an hour flight with this older, tired curmudgeon in an older, tired 152. I suspect both were survivors of when the school was known as Airline Aviation Academy.
I remember well how some student was taxiing in with his landing light on. The man I was with saw it and went ballistic. He steps into the taxiway and starts carrying on, "TURN IT OFF!!!!! TURN IT OFF!!!" I was not impressed. Is that how Comair students are always treated?
I was not hired. Ya know how I found out? By silence. I was never sent a rejection letter or even given a phone call. The Chief Instructor surely knew that I had traveled from Prescott, Arizona to attend the interview because he had my resume. Granted, no one likes to receive rejection letters, but not sending one to me, especially after I had traveled a long distance at great expense, was simply rude, inconsiderate, discourteous and unprofessional.
And that's how CAA (DCA) "impressed" me. I realize fully that things can change in thirteen years, but I doubt much has changed in this regard at Comair. My point is a job interview can provide a valuable glimpse into a company's culture. The way I was treated during my interview and thereafter was a complete turn-off to CAA.
I interviewed for an instructing job at FlightSafety in Vero three months later. My experience was far different. I was there for four days. The school rolled out the red carpet for me. It put me up in one of the bungalows on campus. My interview consisted of writtens and a sim on Thursday, a flight and an interview with the Center Manager on Friday, nothing on Saturday, and an interview (and job offer) with the Chief Instructor on Sunday. I was impressed.
I will say, objectively, that in the nearly three years I've been on this board that I've seen far more negative than positive about Comair and very little negative about FSI. I have seen virtually nothing negative about MAPD, below:
I instructed at MAPD in 1993. I second these comments. The program works, but so does Comair for many people. "The interview" at Mesa is not promised. It essentially yours to lose as long as you mind your Ps and Qs, unlike Comair, which seems to be very much of an uphill battle, no matter how compliant you are with the program.
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