Originally Posted by
GuppyPuppy
That's a huge ($125,000.00) gamble. What if JB isn't JB in 4 years? What if you don't make it? Do you get any type of refund at any point along the way if you opt out? Will you get any health benefits during your 4 years of training?
Don't expect any respect from your peers for choosing this path.
GP
A lot of comments on the $125,000. That's a huge amount, no doubt, but after breaking it down it's not entirely unreasonable. Most of this is pulled from program's FAQ:
- It includes all transportation and lodging for four years. Where I live, that means I'm not spending $57,600 on rent over the course of four years (I currently spend $1,200 a month on a tiny studio apartment). For someone like me, that has now effectively brought the cost of training down to roughly $70,000, about the same as ATP's program which trains hundreds of Regional pilots each year.
- All other miscellaneous fees are included (even an iPad, for what it's worth). I know I spent a small fortune on examiner fees, materials, etc. during my initial training.
- You become a salaried, benefitted employee at CAE for two years, or longer. Instructor salary is over $40K per year. I couldn't dream of getting close to that at my local flight school.
- This is obviously subjective, but as CAE has a strong international reputation, you're arguably going through a more regimented and airline focused curriculum compared to one's local, GA flight school.
- There is no obligation to sign-on with JetBlue at the conclusion of the program. You're free to recruit with any airline if you desire. So, if it seems every pilot and their dog will actually hate you, fine. Go sign on with a Regional. When it's all said and done you really haven't spent that much more on your training, unless you currently live rent free.
- If you do drop-out, you obviously keep any ratings you've earned. They're yours, not JetBlue's or CAE's. You do not have to pay any remaining fees, but you will not receive a refund for payments made.
- There is no financing partnership available through CAE or JetBlue, so good luck finding a bank to give you a $125,000 loan.