I am an aspiring commercial pilot. I have been researching details and just wanted to know why some people that failed part 121 training say go to part 135? Is it easier? Just curious on the topic.

 

Typical 135 planes are smaller, less complex, and usually more similar to older GA planes which noobs may be comfortable with.

But the real reason may simply be that 135 might more readily hire folks, while regionals might be leery of someone with a 121 failure history.

But some 135 training programs would not be easier than some regional programs.

 

Smaller classes and a chance to redeem themselves with experience.

 

That is helpful! It seems like a decent amount of people fail, why is that? What programs would be best to look into after having 1500 Hrs.

 

Ahh, that makes plenty sense. Just exploring my options when the work starts to pay off.

 

Well, until very recently many of these programs were seeing most of their applicants come with previous 121 or 135 time or, at least, quite a bit more ME time. But as applicants with those times got sparse, they increasingly we're dealing with people with mostly SE time - and much of that in slow lightweight fixed gear trainer aircraft, a bare 25 hours of ME, and not a whole lot of complicated time. Worse yet, the hiring rate at the majors had robbed the regional's of their senior instructors as they got their CJOs at a time when they needed to do far more new hire training than many had previously needed. So you got newbie instructors teaching relatively vast numbers of new hires with a syllabus intended for more experience newbies. Higher attrition was probably inevitable under those circumstances.


You mean after washing out of a 121 program? I'd go 135. Ameriflight can put you into aircraft faster/more demanding than typical CFI work. After a year of that give the 121 world another go. It'll be much easier the second time around.

From the Ameriflight website:

And it doesn't have to be Ameriflight, but something similar would make for an easier transition.

 

121 programs are not difficult or particularly complicated. They do require a particular ethic, which is simply that one must study. I have seen those who showed up for training completely unprepared to study, and who thought that the understanding and knowledge should be infused into them by osmosis.

Considerably more initiative will be required in a shorter period of time, to get through the initial training at an airline, than required for primary training; more personal discipline. Those who arrive expecting the airline to make them a pilot may leave disappointed. Those who show up prepared to take the materials given and put in the effort stand a better chance of success. Hundreds of thousands have done it; there's nothing magic or hard. You can too.

It's not for everyone. There are a lot of jobs out there and airlines are just a piece of the pie. The timbre and pace is not the same at all airlines, either; nor is the culture. There are many other paths in aviation, and some very good ones. Choosing 135 isn't a function of failing out of 121; it's sometimes a matter of preference, sometimes availability, sometimes living locally, sometimes gaining experience, etc. There are some very good 135 jobs out there. There are some that are not so good, either.

Bear in mind that depending on the operation, 135 training isn't a gimme, either. Whatever path you choose, commit to never settling for a minimum standard in your own study, in an employer's offering, in maintenance, schedule or the proverbial quality of life.

 

Very helpful. To wash out, I was thinking just a step from flying light aircraft that I am flying now to something else. I would hate to have 100k invested in my career and then fail a checkride I'm not too sure how that would affect your long term career. If one went to say sportys and did their ATP program they offer would that prepare them better to transition into jets. I just never understood going from a Cessna 172 to a jet lol.

 

That is very helpful, and cleared up many questions I had. Completely see what you mean with Ethic! I wouldn’t want to skim by, that’s taking your life and others at risk.