Type Ratings ???

[Lawn Dart]

I plan on going to school for Aviation at a local state college, However, I have looked into some of these get ratings fast schools such as Regional Airline Academy etc... It seems their main selling point is that you leave their school with a type rating. Could someone explain to me the importance of a type rating.

Also I have found some of these other schools such as Pan Am and Continental Airlines that offer type rating schooling. Would this be a good investment right out of school (ie... right out of a four year institution). How important is this type rating in the aviation industry?

Thanks for the help

 

[skeezer]

It's worthless unless you want to work for SWA and it's a B737 type, or you actually have a decent amount of time in the typed aircraft.

Skeezer

 

[SkyBoy1981]

Like Skeezer said, worthless really...unless you know that you're going to be flying the particular aircraft you are being typed in.

 

[b757driver]

Not only that, but at 29 hours, I doubt thatany school would evenaccept you. You need a certain minimum number of hours and ideally have some previous turbo prop or jet time. Otherwise, you will not be able to swallow the "water from the fire-hose".
Even seasoned pilots who have gotten an extra type rating to make themselves more marketable have found that it did not do them any good.
Save your money and time, study hard and complete your basic aviation program. The type can wait until you are ready for the ATP and then you can do a combined ATP/Type Rating which is a much better route for you.
Hope that helps a bit.

 

[BoilerUP]

Do yourself a favor, save yourself the money of getting a type in a regional aircraft. Its about as useless as the temp certificate it is written on when given the cost/benefit of such a venture.

If you are hell-bent on getting a type, I'd suggest Citation 550 series. There are a ton out there flying, so the ratio is more in your favor. But then again, without time in type, it probably doesn't mean much...other than perhaps some scumbag operator putting you in the right seat for peanuts a day.

If for some odd reason you have money to burn after getting all your primary ratings, get your CFI, CFII and your MEI then build multi time. Its the hardest to get, and often you have to buy outright the first 20-30 hours before you can be checked out to fly the airplane yourself, and split time with others.

Good luck...


EDIT: PLEASE, stay away from Gulfstream, TAB, and RAA. Your checkbook (and pride, and colleagues) will thank you down the road.

 

[crisd2007]

B737 200 Type Rating

Hi,
I have CFI, ME, IR, CPL with a current total of 1378hrs. No turbine time. Since being a Canadian my chances to fly for any US carrier is slim to non. I plan to acquire an FAA B737 200 series Type Rating with either PremAir or Flight Training International in Denver. Then perhaps seek an airline in the Orient like China or Taiwan. Now, is this a sound or wise plan to you? Any comments or suggestions will be more than appreciated. Especially from someone with international flying experiences. Many thanks

 

[JAFI]

chrisd, I'm not clear if you have a US or CA certificate. If only a CA certificate you cannot get a FAA rating on your CA certificate. As to the "FAA 737 200" type rating. There is no such thing. In CA they specify which 737 you are certificated to fly but in the US a 737 type is good for all models of a 737 (with differences training). Now you can get a 737 200 on your CA certificate if you use a CA certified simulator or CA tail number aircraft using a Transport Canada Inspector if you meet the flight time requirements of your country.

But, (without meaning any offense) I think if I have to explain this you do not have the flight background to even start. IMHO opinion, with your flight time a 737 type rating is worth a pint of piss. I would rather have a pint of good Canadain Beer (any flavor will do) and for the cost of a type rating you can buy many pints and have more value.

One other thing, with 1000 hours a 737 type rating could be out of your league right now. If you really want a type rating, look at the Citation 500. A much more managable type for your background.

JAFI

 

[EMB170Pilot]

People who "pay for training" are frowned upon.

Nuff said

 

[100LL... Again!]

waste of money

 

[Clyde]

Hi,
I have CFI, ME, IR, CPL with a current total of 1378hrs. No turbine time. Since being a Canadian my chances to fly for any US carrier is slim to non. I plan to acquire an FAA B737 200 series Type Rating with either PremAir or Flight Training International in Denver. Then perhaps seek an airline in the Orient like China or Taiwan. Now, is this a sound or wise plan to you? Any comments or suggestions will be more than appreciated. Especially from someone with international flying experiences. Many thanks

Crisd2007,
I travel to the Orient quite a bit. If I were going to get a type rating with intentions of flying over there, I wouldn't get a 737 type rating. Most of the airplanes over there are widebody aircraft, and the majority of the 737's I see over there are NG's such as -500's and -700's. A valuable type rating to have for over there would be any of the following: Boeing 777, 747-400, 757/767; Airbus A340, A330, A320/321/319; McDonnel Douglas MD-11. My top three choices would be the 777, A340/330, 747-400 and MD-11 in that order. The reason is because those are the ones you see over there the most.

Now, here is something more important to look at. Before you invest the money in ANY type rating, make sure you are going to meet the requirements of the airline in question. For example, I saw an add in a magazine in a few years ago from Singapore Airlines looking for pilots. The requirements were not only a type rating in a specific widebody, but they wanted 3500-5000 hours in type as well.