My short Delta Connection Academy Experience

[Satan]

My vote's for all the training programs in Florida, especially in light of the unusually calm hurrican season

 

[aeronautic1]

Follow the money...

Look, if you want to train in Florida, go to Professional Flight Training in Ft. Lauderdale (954-938-3043. Outstanding equipment/instructors, there own in-house 135 Navajo operation and 737 cockpit sim trainer. Get all your instructor/ATP rating here then shop your resume. The regional business is saturtated with low-time pilots in the right seat which is why the copilots @ ComAir. Air Wiz etc... make less money that a waitress at Denny's. It's multi engine PIC time that builds a resume. What better way to do that than by flying Nava-joes and 402s. That's how I got into Hawkers, Citations and Learjets. I cannot even imagine being pigeon-holed with an outrageous education loan and barely being even able to pay the rent as a regional SIC. The only winners in the airline training school business are the airline training schools.

 

[AZaviator]

So help me out here. I am looking into moving to FL next summer to attend one of these schools. I have been in contact with DCA. They are the only one to actually e-mail me back. PanAm gave me the pre-written response. I have not been in contact with FSI as of yet. For those of you who know something about these schools, pros n cons , about FL schools. Thanks guys!

I would pursue ATPs. Their training is very fast paced, but in my opinion is very good. They quote you one price for all your training and that is the price you pay. There aren't any hidden costs, nor do they sell you or make you pay for extra programs you don't really need.

I would avoid Pan Am. The training there is decent, but is very overpriced. They make you sign up for additional programs there such as CRM, and the ACE program, which are programs you could do without.....plus, they significantly increase the price. I personally know several people who are very competant pilots who have gone to Pan Am and left for other schools after paying over $10,000 for their private pilot's license.

As Bobbysamd stated, Flightsafety seems like a good school and one worth checking out. In addition, I would maybe even pursue looking into some FBOs. You might find the best deals there.

Good luck!

 

[vikaero]

Training is what you make of it.... I went to a now defunct school in Oakland, cali...well.. we had plenty of people with the 10-15000 $ private accusing the school, equipment, instructors etc... BUT.. RARELY did anyone look within to see what they did to get to that predicament. Some had the attitude that just because they were at a flight school it was the schools responsibility to HAND OUT the certificates and ratings. Nobody was too keen to shoulder personal responsibility... especially the ones that were not cutting the mustard.

Personally, I feel that before starting flight training the onus is on the student to have a honest picture of who they are and what they want as well as what it will take to get there.

....Just my two cents.... not defending academies/certificate factories OR FBO training.

 

[Dirty Sanchez]

I was an instructor in the Orlando area and have numerous friends that instructed at DCA. The entire program is incredibly overpriced and the school owns you. "You better not be late for a flight or it will be a bad reflection on you when you interview for the CFI job." After being ripped off for your ratings you will be walking on eggshells during your CFI indoc, which will not be for 6 months after you finish your CFII. As an instructor you will not make enough to live. A friend of mine is in a group there now where there are almost twice as many instructors as students. It will take you 2-3 years to get the 800 hours of dual given to interview with a regional.

By the time you finish with all that you could have been flying for a regional for a year. It is not worth it. You can get an interview with a Connection Carrier on you own for one third the cost and one half the time.

 

[aeronautic1]

800 hours given?

What's up with that? Look, I NEVER got my instructor ratings and have been invited to interview with every regional that I submitted to. I only have not interviewed because I will not prostitute myself for $1700 per month (before taxes) to work like a dog for these operators. I would rather fly 402 back and forth to the Bahamas for $30-40 per hour than have to share a crash pad for five years with a bunch of slobs.

Spend your money with a good school (not airline school) and you will get that CFI job without nearly as much heart ache that these vultures will create.

Good luck in your flying career.

 

[as739x]

I just wanted to thank all of you for your reply's to my questions. Very helpful!!!!

 

[cgwilk2000]

What's up with that? Look, I NEVER got my instructor ratings and have been invited to interview with every regional that I submitted to. I only have not interviewed because I will not prostitute myself for $1700 per month (before taxes) to work like a dog for these operators. I would rather fly 402 back and forth to the Bahamas for $30-40 per hour than have to share a crash pad for five years with a bunch of slobs.

Spend your money with a good school (not airline school) and you will get that CFI job without nearly as much heart ache that these vultures will create.

Good luck in your flying career.

Aeronautic,
Thanks for sharing that information. If possible, could or would you mind sharing how you developed the total time to be invited to several regionals without instructing? How much multi did you have prior to applying and how was it earned? 402's to the Bahamas sounds like you have arrived for now. How did you get there if you don't mind sharing. If not I guess I understand.
Thanks,

 

[aeronautic1]

no problem

Lots of rental time... flying for work related services to the Bahamas (I am a corporate yacht captain)... after the magic 1200 hours, hauling freight (500 hours VFR/135) to the Bahamas... had a friend of a friend who is a Lear captain buy a boat but didn't know anything about it and we traded out knowledge which is how I go my first jet seat (who you know, not what you know) and thru that experience met other captains; it just kind of perpetuates itself. Walking resumes into frieght, 135, corp offices... I cannot express how inmportant it is to have a strong resume. Don't get me wrong. Being a CFI is an important rating to have. Quick way to build time if you do not have the money to rent. However, there are less expensive ways to get your instructor ratings than bending over and taking it up the six at the airlines academy. I personally know of two guys who gradutated Embry Riddle and Comair who are waiters at Roadhouse Grill and Outback wondering the same thing as you.

My times are 2500+ total, 1500+ multi of which 1010 are SIC turbojet. CAll Professional Flight Training at FXE. 954-938-3043. However, they are going to be pretty busy cleaning up after Francis. Best of luck.

 

[Jungle_Jet]

As the operator of a 141 school, I can't tell you how frustrated I get from talking to kids who feel that reading ads in a Flying magazine equates to researching their choices.


In my opinion, the DCA program is one of the biggest scams in aviation, and potentially a greater threat to this industry than Gulfstream.

These kids are dropping $10,000+ for their PPL in a 25 year old 172, fighting for time with 250 other wannabees. The instructors they are getting are nothing more than low time kids themselves, who are using their students to rack up time for their "guaranteed interview".

In essence, DCA is charging doouble the going rate in exchange for an "interview" that the prospective student could get on their own if the were so inclined.

Want some other opinons? Talk to Comair guys who are flying with these academy grads. You won't hear many positive responses, that's for sure.

Save your money, go to a local FBO or privately owned 141 school and train with professional/career instructors. Use common sense when reading the price list.

Earn your way into the cockpit, don't buy it by attending "...the only flight school owned by an airline...".

 

[aeronautic1]

reading magazine ads in Flying (etc)....

and showing them to mommie and daddy; "I wanna be an airline pilot, now!!"

Geez!!, these schools are one of the reasons why pilot pay is lower than a missed approach.

Why not go into the military and get FREE aviation training and a gall-darn nice paycheck and benefits to boot? You know what they say about a Navy man in dress whites and gold wings....

Geez!! Use your head, man!!

 

[JediNein]

You know what they say about a Navy man in dress whites and gold wings....

Yeah. *SIGH*

 

[aeronautic1]

Now hear this...

So, I am airlining to Albany to pick up a Citstion and before boarding, I purchase SCUBA DIVING magazine. Right there on page 29 is an ad for Delta Connection Academy. "Dive Exotic Locations," "Dive More," "Dive First Class." It states that pilots work about 15 days per month. Further, it states that being a pilot is a high paying career. Anyone care to input the starting pay of a F/O after being interviewed and hired by Delta Connection? After taxes? Number of actual airline hires to number of graduates?

 

[bobbysamd]

Comair "ad"

So, I am airlining to Albany to pick up a Citstion and before boarding, I purchase SCUBA DIVING magazine. Right there on page 29 is an ad for Delta Connection Academy. "Dive Exotic Locations," "Dive More," "Dive First Class." It states that pilots work about 15 days per month. Further, it states that being a pilot is a high paying career. Anyone care to input the starting pay of a F/O after being interviewed and hired by Delta Connection? After taxes? Number of actual airline hires to number of graduates?

<barf>

 

[jaxpilot]

Im glad the news about DCA is getting out. As Ive said before I went there and then got smart and switched to ATP. Talking with other experienced pilots, pretty much the only thing I hear when the topic comes up about me switching to ATP is "good choice". I wish I would have discovered flightinfo and jetcareers before I went to DCA, but Im glad I did and still had time to get out. Cost me $6,000 for my CFI, II and MEI at ATP. DCA QUOTES $7,500 for JUST the CFI, and I can tell you it takes more than that. All i can ask is that people do their research before committing to a place like DCA/Pan Am.