Originally Posted by
Qotsaautopilot
The instructors are good for the most part, yes. Some though are not like anywhere else. The big difference between spirit training and training at most other airlines save maybe the shiit cargo carriers we seem to love to recruit from is the program itself. Ground school is a joke and the Fts work only about half the time. It's a program designed to be cheap and make you legal. If you require extra training it's cheaper to pink you and give you another session than give everyone the extra session before the type. You are on your own for the oral. The ftds (systems) teach you nothing to prepare for the oral. Not sure why people keep defending the training here. Anyone coming from a previous 121 would know in a couple days that the spirit program is trash
I have been in several 121 initials and many more 135 initials. The sims at NKS are by far in the top two. The procedure trainer is near the bottom because of its issues of being glitchy and sometimes just not working. You are forced to make due with it and push on because a cancellation means an adjustment in schedule which means money lost for the company. That is all they care about. As far as the overall quality here, I would say it's in the bottom of the pack. No fault to many of the instructors, they are trying to work with what they have. Blame JS and the bean counters. Just ask your buddies at other majors about their training in the A320. It's night and day from ours. Twice as much quality sim time as ours. A lot on ojt here and luckily there are some great OE Capts and other great line pilots to fly with.
You are on your own for ground school but be sure to ask your instructor questions if you don't understand a system. As far as instructors, it varies. Most are good, several are in it for their own selfish reasons. Many instructors at other airlines look at it as a failure on themselves if a student doesn't make it. Here at NKS it's just based on $$$.
You can have every FTD and sim be with a different instructor which can be confusing because you lose track between technique and procedure.
One thing for sure about the program is it is designed to be as cheap as possible, just like many other things here including free high fives.
The program is doable. Have a good partner, do the flows, study the guide and limitations, seek out the good instructors that are willing to help.