Hi all -
Thanks so much for everyone's input - I really appreciate your taking the time to help a budding flyer....
I'm at the pinacle trying to choose a new life path, hence I'm gathering as much info as possible from people like yourself so I can get a REALISTIC idea of what lies ahead. One of my greatest concerns is my age though - at 29, (from what I understand) it's not too late, but I guess that means I won't be earning a reasonable pay check for another 5 years? Oh well, everyone has to pay thier dues....
The mins seem a bit confusing to me though... CL60, you mention 4-5k, though I see alot of profiles on this board for pro jet pilots w/ alot less? "Right time/right place????" 4-5k sounds like forever, but can you knock that off at a decent pace? Some folks have told me that airline guys log ALOT more hrs and do so consistently.... Do regionals offer any advantage, or should I stay away since I have NO interest in commercial as a final goal?
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RE: schools
I too have heard nothing but good things about FSI, except for the fact that grads are NOT getting the CFI slots now - in fact the pool sounds quite large. So, if I go to FSI and get my CFI tkts, but have no FSI job at the end, I'm looking at teaching back at my FBO --- the fear in that is it may take 50 years at an FBO to log the TT let alone ME time before I can even think about an ATP and a turboprop job.... Am I way off base here or what? I have really come around in my approach to becoming a CFI and in fact look forward to the experience, BUT do not want to spend eternity there.
SO - another interesting option for training is ATP (in SAC). For about $5k less than FSI, I can get the following:
Private Single-Engine
Private Multi-Engine
Instrument Multi-Engine
Commercial Multi-Engine
Commerical Single-Engine
Certified Flight Instructor:
- Multi-Engine
- Instrument Airplane
- Single-Engine
High Altitude Endorsement (Citation)
High Performance Endorsement (Citation)
Which will leave me with the following times:
285 Hours Logged Time
190 Hours Multi-Engine Time
75 Hours Multi-Engine X-Country
62 Hours Multi-Engine Dual/Checks
3 Hours Citation 501 Jet
50 Hours Multi-Engine FTD
95 Hours Single-Engine Time
(http://www.allatps.com/ACPP/index.html)
When comparing that to FSI, you only get 55hrs multi (105hrs single). PLUS the following are ADD-ONS:
Commerical Single-Engine
Certified Flight Instructor:
- Multi-Engine
- Instrument Airplane
- Single-Engine
(http://www.flightsafetyacademy.com/career.htm)
Though I have heard that they will pay for your CFI tkts (after the initial) if you get a job w/FSI(?). Also, I don like the fact that FSI gives you 4 hrs of Unusual Attitude/Spin Recovery (but you can always get this on your own too).
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OK - so to me ATP is very appealing since not only is it cheaper, but it includes EVERYTHING (even housing). Now, having said that, I know course cost and time (needless to say ATP bases this on FAR mins - gulp!) are not the end all to selecting a training facility. From everything I've read/heard, FSI is truly top notch. Some pro pilots out there still tell me that while it might be nice to go there, in the end it really doesn't matter where you go for your primary ratings - any thoughts? Any opinions on ATP and thier programs???? Too good to be true? Too accelerated to make a good pilot?
...well, still mulling things over! Sorry for the long post. and Thanks again!
PS - CL60 can you explain in greater detail what you mean by "good deal " and "fortune job".... Not entirely clear on your last post
Thanks so much for everyone's input - I really appreciate your taking the time to help a budding flyer....
I'm at the pinacle trying to choose a new life path, hence I'm gathering as much info as possible from people like yourself so I can get a REALISTIC idea of what lies ahead. One of my greatest concerns is my age though - at 29, (from what I understand) it's not too late, but I guess that means I won't be earning a reasonable pay check for another 5 years? Oh well, everyone has to pay thier dues....
The mins seem a bit confusing to me though... CL60, you mention 4-5k, though I see alot of profiles on this board for pro jet pilots w/ alot less? "Right time/right place????" 4-5k sounds like forever, but can you knock that off at a decent pace? Some folks have told me that airline guys log ALOT more hrs and do so consistently.... Do regionals offer any advantage, or should I stay away since I have NO interest in commercial as a final goal?
-----------------------------------------
RE: schools
I too have heard nothing but good things about FSI, except for the fact that grads are NOT getting the CFI slots now - in fact the pool sounds quite large. So, if I go to FSI and get my CFI tkts, but have no FSI job at the end, I'm looking at teaching back at my FBO --- the fear in that is it may take 50 years at an FBO to log the TT let alone ME time before I can even think about an ATP and a turboprop job.... Am I way off base here or what? I have really come around in my approach to becoming a CFI and in fact look forward to the experience, BUT do not want to spend eternity there.
SO - another interesting option for training is ATP (in SAC). For about $5k less than FSI, I can get the following:
Private Single-Engine
Private Multi-Engine
Instrument Multi-Engine
Commercial Multi-Engine
Commerical Single-Engine
Certified Flight Instructor:
- Multi-Engine
- Instrument Airplane
- Single-Engine
High Altitude Endorsement (Citation)
High Performance Endorsement (Citation)
Which will leave me with the following times:
285 Hours Logged Time
190 Hours Multi-Engine Time
75 Hours Multi-Engine X-Country
62 Hours Multi-Engine Dual/Checks
3 Hours Citation 501 Jet
50 Hours Multi-Engine FTD
95 Hours Single-Engine Time
(http://www.allatps.com/ACPP/index.html)
When comparing that to FSI, you only get 55hrs multi (105hrs single). PLUS the following are ADD-ONS:
Commerical Single-Engine
Certified Flight Instructor:
- Multi-Engine
- Instrument Airplane
- Single-Engine
(http://www.flightsafetyacademy.com/career.htm)
Though I have heard that they will pay for your CFI tkts (after the initial) if you get a job w/FSI(?). Also, I don like the fact that FSI gives you 4 hrs of Unusual Attitude/Spin Recovery (but you can always get this on your own too).
-----------------------------------------
OK - so to me ATP is very appealing since not only is it cheaper, but it includes EVERYTHING (even housing). Now, having said that, I know course cost and time (needless to say ATP bases this on FAR mins - gulp!) are not the end all to selecting a training facility. From everything I've read/heard, FSI is truly top notch. Some pro pilots out there still tell me that while it might be nice to go there, in the end it really doesn't matter where you go for your primary ratings - any thoughts? Any opinions on ATP and thier programs???? Too good to be true? Too accelerated to make a good pilot?
...well, still mulling things over! Sorry for the long post. and Thanks again!
PS - CL60 can you explain in greater detail what you mean by "good deal " and "fortune job".... Not entirely clear on your last post
