WESTWIND rating a good choice please ?

[squadronB52]

thanks again

350,

Thanks again VERY much. Your advice is well apreciated again. And I will. I am trying to stay in the LA area right now though..... this business of flying isn;t easy ..... I already started some indoc trng with them too .....

b52

 

[Gulfstream 200]

dammm..the 2s I flew never saw those #s...maybe they were just whipped...although a few had the conversion for hotter ITTS..(-10 maybe?)

but sure, its all relative....and I was thinking more in terms of a runway pig and unruly ugly beast that the WW really is!!

but yes, I agree 100% on the comany this guy is looking into...big red flag.

What happens after you pay 20K for a rather usless type and they sell the 2 westwinds 3 months later? - look at the turnover rate of westwinds...they change hands about every 2 years...

then again...some guys are just dead set on giving some creep outfit thier money as they invision its thier only chance.....

its just not so!

personally, I would continue to CFI and job shop until I found a place that thought I was worth training..

just an opinion..

 

[squadronB52]

ok

I'm thinking on restructuring mu ww rating offer to these guys... I've gotten alot of advice that I'm making a big mistake here .....

I do feel more comfortable going to a king air or citation, etc .... but alot of guys want to see experience/ratings/etc, it seems ....

paul

 

[Ty Webb]

westwind "quick"??

have we flown one?

that things the biggest terd to ever try and crawl down a runway!!!

Have "we" flown one? I have, and I don;t think .80 is slow . . . that's the limiting speed on a 2, if I remember correctly. Even the 1, with a VMO of 360 KIAS is not what I would consider a "turd", but, hey, to a big, bad, Gee-whiz Junior driver like yourself, well, I guess everyone needs someone to kick.

The Westwind is a good, honest airplane. The systems are a little weak, but the plane has a great safety record, and you don;t need a rear-view mirror to guard against birdstrikes. I had a lot of fun flying one for four years, and when the time came to move on to the 717 I was well prepared.

I would NOT pay for my own type in that, or any other airplane. Once you do that, they know you'll do anything to keep working, and they will beat you like a rented mule.

Just remember this- there are Flight Departments, and there are Battered Pilot Shelters, and any company that asks you to pay for your own type is definitely in the latter category. You don;t want to work there. That is just the beginning. It will only get worse from there. Run, don;t walk, in the opposite direction.

 

[350DRIVER]

Paul,

I think that would probably be smart....

You have worked too hard to have to spend this money out of your own pocket at this point in the ballgame.

any other questions feel free to ask.

3 5 0

 

[gear_guy]

Just remember that you are setting a standard of how this company will treat you in the future. If they have $$ to buy a Westwind they should pay for the training. If you just have to work for this company, I would consider a 1 year training contract. This basically shifts the risk to their side of the equation. I am not saying it's the best option, but it's better than going into debt (unless you have that kinda cash layin around). Depending on the interest rate, you could end up paying twice as much for that rating, ruining your credit, etc. And for what? Just to get some jet time? The truth is, the company is only saying this because they can. Someone will eventually pay for the rating. Also consider why they are hiring you with no jet time. It probably means that nobody with any experience would go down that road. Think about it, and good luck regardless.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

"The Westwind has a good safety record" --says Ty Webb..

The Westwind has the worst safety record of any corporate aircraft, plain and simple.

do some reasearch on spontaneous combustion and its oxygen system (and IAI's "cure")

but I guess it prepares you well for Airtran...(??)

 

[squadronB52]

You guys are great !

I so much appreciate your time, all of you. I have been given very similiar advice by a friend, that it is not a wise choice ......( this is with spirit aviation, by the way, where I'm offered this full time position, if I buy the ww rating, and will be given a chance at in house, sic trng slot at a lear as well. I have just a few deays to decide on this next ww class, and my head is killing me from this decision.

I've been trying to stay in the LA, area, and I gues that's simply limited my chances of finding anyone that will accept me with out any jet experience (just had 40 hours in a t-37 years ago), or a rating ... keep instructing, hey ??

It's hard.

Thnaks again, very much .... sincerely, paul

 

[English]

Why not go to Eagle, build your experience, then continue to look for a charter or corporate job in LA? At least it would be better than flight instructing, which you seem to be burnt out on.

 

[squadronB52]

thanks

Thats another idea there ! Eagle, locally ? right ?

... thanks .......

paul