What would you do?

[flybub]

I second Bobby with FSI. I went in with my private and 7 months later I had my Comm. MEL and SEL, and Instrument. I also logged about 60 hours of flight time. Awsome aircraft (where else are you going to find 20 brand new seminoles) and where else do you get 4 flights to go up in an acro. aircraft and do loops, barrel rolls, and spins. Getting a job with them right away is almost guaranteed but everyone is looking for instructors, you just have to get lucky and find the right person to talk to. Good Luck

 

[Dale Cox]

I am attending Panam, at the Phoenix campus, in November. The school is really impressive. I also toured the Fort Peirce campus. The counselor went out of her way to show me around on a moments notice. I am still trying to solicit some feedback on the school but my mind is pretty much made up. My only concern is whether to spend $8000 on their CRM program which consits of flying their CRJ simulator. I do not want to take this course if they are not willing to hire me as an instructor when I am done. The counselor told me they absolutely do not hire instructors unless the CRM course is completed. Again, still no guarantees. Go with PanAm. First rate flight school and all around better training rather than just building hours. Any pilot can fly straight and level in a Seminole for 100 hours, but does not make you a good pilot. I am convinced Panam will make me a better pilot.

 

[ChadCRJ]

Dale,

Thanks for your reply. I'm with you, I have decided that Panam will be the place for me. Even though ATP is only 35k compared to 51k(that is for me going in with a ppl) at Panam. I feel more confident that I will beable to learn more instead of rushing through everything. Besides I'm only 18, no need to rush and do a 90 day program. Panam will give me more of a life and allow me to do a BS distance degree when I start to instruct. When do you think your going to start out in Phoniex?

Chad

 

[Dale Cox]

Chad,
I'll be starting in November. I already have my Private. Instrument and Commercial so I'll be starting half way through their program. You are starting at a good age. Wish I got my Private at 18. I'm 32 and hoping this industry picks up a little. By the time you're done with everything the airline industry will pickup. You have plenty of time to wait it out. Just build the hours. My brother is with Skywest and he started out just like you. See ya. -Dale

 

[Lucky]

assuming you get hired at pan am as a CFI, who are they getting there CFI's hired by afterwards?

 

[acaTerry]

Mainly CHQ and AirNet. Had a few go to CMR but that's all over b/c of the politics of hiring THEIR own people. A few just went to Mesaba too. Still no bites from Delta!

 

[wickedpilot]

Chad,

I attend Comair (now DCA), in Jacksonville (JU) my freshman yr. of college. I got my private and instrument but have since moved onto training elsewhere. It's not a bad flight school if you set strict goals for yourself and don't let them control your training pace. I'll go ahead and give it my recommendation only because I accomplished what I set out to do and left b/c of finacial terms. I have seen students however, who have taken up to two years just to get their Commercial certificate at the "Academy" because of the way they do scheduleing and the amount of students that attend. I had a flexible instructor and was able to fly more than other students so I moved along quicker. I still have a lot of good buddies down there at CRG and visit often. It doesn't seem you are conisdering DCA much but if you change your mind and have any ?'s...post away.

My 2 cents

Oh, and nice job in getting your Private in 42 hrs.

 

[T/SF34/A]

$$$

51K opposed to 35K??

I'd go with the cheaper of the two. Just me though.

If you're taking a loan (I'm guessing you are) keep in mind that that 51K is going to be closer to 90K in the end; After paying all the interest.

 

[Dale Cox]

Changing of the mind

Chad,
I fell obligated for some reason to advise you that I have changed my mind to attend ATP. As you see from my memo to you above that I had been set on attending PanAm. The ATP program is less and I dont have to shell out $8000 for an RJ simulator. I'll use that $$ to build multi hours that I can log. I'm at 255 hours and through my Commercial - makes sense for me to finish with ATP for about $15,000 rather than $33,000 at Panam. However, I still think you are making a good choice on PanAm being were you are. If I was just done with my private I would also go with Panam. It's a part 141 program and ground training is so important. Remember though - most airlines do not care where you attended school. Again - however ground school is critical and Panam will give you excellent training. Guess straight and level in a Seminole is not so bad. Also, if you are taking out that loan SF34 makes an excellent point (see below). You could easily end up paying $100K after the life of the loan.

 

[ChadCRJ]

Loans

Dale,

Thanks for the reply. Yea I do realize a 51k loan does turn into a pretty big number. I won't have to take out all 51k though. My parents are willing to put done 30k or so.. so that will help for sure. In the long run I figure I'm going to have to take out around 35k for food, housing, and college to pick up the rest of the program costs. Like I said I'm young and not really to worried at this point. If I was 30 or so yea I think ATP would be the place to go considering the price an all.

Chad