Originally Posted by
afterburn81
All opinions aside, I was wondering from the guys that went to GIA what it was like. What is so different from the training a lot of other people experienced? For example I went to ERAU but had already gotten most of my training off campus before I attended. I went through all the 141 and part 61 stuff just like the FAA requires. I did upset flight recovery and an advanced multi/instrument course at Riddle to fullfil my on campus reqs. Do you not have to instruct with the GIA training. Sorry for the confusion but I never looked into what exactly GIA is. I'm one of the guys in some killer debt having gotten an A&P as well as the CFI. When I was going through school I didn't really think there were other options out there. I just wanted to get the most out of my training and experience the most I could before I was at the controls of something that carries peoples moms, dads, sister, Gmas etc........ I couldn't just force myself to hop in the seat and pretend I knew what I was doing. I think the best part of my pre 121 career was instructing. I was able to scare the crap out of myself many times and really feel what my limitations were so that I never took aviation for granted. Flying isn't very forgiving and you only got one shot at a lot of things. There is no freeze or restart button if you know what I mean.
I did not go to GIA or any pilot puppy mill for that matter. Here's how GIA works:
You have to have a commercial with multi-engine, instrument rating as a minimum. You pay Gulfstream somewhere in the neighborhood of $30,000 to go to Beech 1900 training (it costs GIA about $10,000-$12,000 to actually train you). After you pass training, you fly as a first officer in the Beech 1900 (Continental Connection) for 250 hours. You make minimum wage per flight hour with no per diem or benefits while you are flying. After the 250 hours, Pinnacle used to give preferential interviews where the majority of GIA pilots went. GIA practically held your hand through the interview process. The ones that didn't make it could pay GIA around $11,000 for another 250 hours or just walk away. I am not sure how it works now. I think Pinnacle stopped the preferential interviews after the "410 dudes".