Need Opinion

[airbuspilot]

Hey Guys,

I want to get my Lear type rating. Should I go to Flight Safety, Simuflite ect. or can I go to some smaller operation were the prices are cheaper? Does it make any difference once you have the type?

 

[TimsKeeper]

Depends on whiche operation the company you interview with uses. I'm sure the training is fine at any of those you listed but if the company uses Flight Safety and you went elsewhere it could make a difference.

With that said. It shouldn't matter but it does.

 

[airbuspilot]

Thanks that helped.

The problem is that I dont have a job lined up yet. I am just getting the type so that I can break into the corporate world. A friend told me that most of the good operators require you to be typed thru one of the big names. He said that if you went to some smaller school you would be working for the B employers flying night charter and stuff. Any thoughts?

 

[Gulfstream 200]

are you paying?

Is this for a job or just for fun?

FlightSafety does a good job and employers seem to like FSI - but the are pricy!!

 

[banned username 2]

Airbus,

A Type Rating without Time-In-Type isn't of any great value.

If you feel the need to get a Type Rating, I would consider a Citation Type Rating (CE-500) over the Lear in that there are a lot more Citations out there then Lears (20, 30 & 50 series Lears).

 

[airbuspilot]

Mostly it is to get me back to work flying. But I have to admit, Lear jets look like a lot of fun. I plan to use WIA credits and they limit how much I can spend. I am afraid that flight safety will be over the limit. I think the limit is about 10,000 for me.

 

[750driver]

A Type Rating without Time-In-Type isn't of any great value.

Airbus, I would have to agree with Falcon Capt. Since the WIA funding is a one-time opportunity, or so I am assuming, why don't you see if you can find an operator willing to hire you with the type, then invest in that specific type.

If you get a Lear type, and then find a Citation operator that's hiring, you're out of luck. Just my opinion.

*Footnote: keep in mind that any reputable flight dept. will normally pay for the type if they want you as an employee.

 

[airbuspilot]

I see your point, I will look around and see what I can find. I live in FLL so there is no shortage of biz jet operators.

 

[aeronautic1]

FLL

I too live in FLL. The majority (not all) of the LR-JET operators in the southeast are bottomfeeders. If they do offer you a job, it is on contingent that you go to (and pay) FSI/Simuflite. Alot of the LR-JET operators here are air ambulance. Beware of the "we'll pay you X number of dollars a day and we will use you 100 hours per month." That means contract work. But when summer roles around and there is no work, then you're sitting on the tarmac wondering whether you earned enough to break even. And then they are using their primary team that they sent to sim school. With a type and no time in type, you will be riding right seat for six-eight months until you have enough time to satisfy the insurance requirments. Then there is the whole hire someone with 2500 total time for next to nothing as opposed to hiring a 10,000 hour veteran who expects to be paid what, elsewhere, is a normal decent salary. Plus, there are alot of 20 series Lears down here. Let's not forget that RVSM is approaching and the big question is if an owner will invest $150,000 to upgrade the plane; pay to send the crew to RVSM school when the airplane is only worth $300-400,000. Then there is the time limited flight controls issue. If it was my money and time, I would look at newer generation aircraft.

 

[airbuspilot]

I see your point, especially concerning RVSM. What would you consider new generation aircraft? I have some time in a Canadair regional jet but I think the type in a Challanger 601/604 is just too expensive.

 

[aeronautic1]

You get what you pay for

The type may cost more but if you look at the pay profile, you are getting a real advantage in the long run with the Challenger. Plus, they like grey haired airline captains!!

 

[airbuspilot]

Hey! I don't have any gray hair! All right maybe a little. The only problem is that I think a Challenger type is beyond my means right now, even though it would be a better value in the long run. It would be great if I could find a operator that will split the cost with me. I wonder exactly how much a 601 or a 604 type would cost?

 

[aeronautic1]

Sim City

I do not know what the cost of 604 training is, you'll have to conact "sim city" for pricing. However, I got a quote last week for upgrade training in LR-JET from right to left seat w/type for $7500 (w/200 hours minimum in type in the previous 12 months). And, while I can afford to go and pay for it, I am not because if I am not on anyones certificate, then I can't get an 8410 at the same time. What's the point? In your case however, if you have a Challenger opportunity, I would contact Key Bank to suppliment what funds you already have available. They generally do not look for pay back for six months after completion of training.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

Learjet flying in South Florida - good luck wading through the scumbag operators!...

I agree, go with the Citation type rating.

Keep in mind - no time in type is rough - there is never a shortage of someone to sit in the right seat - those guys are always looking for someone with 500 hrs in type to babysit the foreigner or the zero timer in the right seat...