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.

 

[Clyde]

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

The best way to get a type rating is to let the company pay for it. Some of these schools advertise for all kinds of type ratings and will make it look like it is the way to go. It isn't. Unless you interview somewhere and your class date is contingent upon getting a type-rating, it is not worth the time and money to get one.

"Could someone explain to me the importance of a type rating."
Yes. If you are going to operate as the Pilot In Command on an aircraft that weighs more than 12,500 pounds or a turbojet powered airplane, you are required to be type-rated for that specific airplane. In other words, on a Boeing 737, the captain must be type-rated but the first officer does not have to be. Your airline will provide this training for you.

"Would this be a good investment right out of school (ie... right out of a four year institution)."
No. You would be better off taking the money you would spend on a type rating and investing it into a Roth IRA or some mutual funds. Seriously, because a type rating right out of school isn't going to do anything for yoiu. Unless someone else is willing to pay for one right out of school, don't do it. Also, if you were to get a type rating, be prepared to answer questions about this airplane in an interview. Pretty easy if you are currently flying whatever you are typed in, but if you are not current or have never actually flown it, it can hinder you.

 

[typhoonpilot]

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

Clyde is mostly correct, but there are chances in Asia for 737 typed guys. China Airlines of Taiwan is probably out of the question with your total time. They have heaps of candidates with more total time than you. They would also require you to have a 737-800 endorsement, not 737-200. I also doubt that mainland China would look at you without at least 500 hours in type. In fact, I'm not even sure they hire F.O.s there on the 737. I know there a handful of captains, one of whom posts on Flightinfo from time to time, he may know more. You might try a search for threads on flying in China to find his username and PM him. Air Asia in Malaysia is a possibility, but you would need to do a Malaysian conversion. Watch what is happening in India. They are just starting to grow and might require some expat pilots domestically in the next few years. Jet, Sahara, Kingfisher, and Air Deccan all have big plans. Jet and Sahara just got approval to fly international and will be picking up some widebodies as well. There isn't a tremendous pool of qualified pilots in India, even Air India had to let some contracts recently for their expansion. Indonesia is another place to look. Lion Air has started getting 737s and there are already lots of other operators with them. Got a two day layover there at the end of the month, I usually end up drinking with the local expat mechanics so I'll see what I can find out.

Mind you, none of what I said is an endorsement for paying for your own type. It is always better to have someone else pay for it. That takes a little more time and effort, but it builds character in the process.


TP