beehotel

I'm a CFI applying to the regionals and starting to weigh my options. With all these regionals pushing back class dates I'd love to be able to get flying as soon as possible. I'm considering CommuteAir since I will most likely be living in DC next year and from what I've heard they still have okay class dates. Really the only reservation I have is the training. I understand that most regionals are not the most glamourous jobs, which is fine. I had seen a few threads on the training being good and bad, but wanted to get a direct answer, how is the training at CommuteAir? I know that they are not AQP, how big of a deal is that? I want to get into flying at the regionals, but I don't want to rush somewhere that could end up with unnecessary failures. Thanks

C5Mafia

Our training department is actually pretty great. All the instructors are super helpful and no examiner types who are “out to get ya.” AQP vs traditional initial isn’t a big deal at all. Rather than the LOFT being your check event, it’s more about maneuvers and approaches. Would it be nice if we had AQP initial? Sure. But it’s not really going to make it harder on ya.

Brickyards

I’m currently in training here. I’m in GFS. The training derailment has been great. No one wants to send anyone home. As far as not being AQP it’s not a big deal. You’ll be more ready for the line in my opinion. My friend doesn’t even know how to derive minimums and he’s at envoy. Not that well ever need to know how to, but he didn’t retain much from training

GalacticCap

Good comma evening nerd.

Brickyards

Well played. Handshake emoji

Concorde001

Are you guys hiring FOs right now?
What are the trips like? How long is reserve at IAH? Is it able after training?
Thanks for the replies!

Brickyards

Yes. Trips are 3-6 days 4-5 legs a day. Reserve is 4-6 months right now at IAH. You can probably transfer to IAH after training but most new hire classes are getting IAD.

Pilot90210

Training is really solid. Sure, there’s some things you learn on the line too but that’s how it is everywhere. It’s really not too bad. Also, even though big airlines may fly better routes, becoming a regional pilot anywhere is a massive upgrade from being a CFI. Especially with the pay nowadays. No ragrets here

N7SP

You definitely don’t fly for C5!
trips are 80% 4 day trips, which will have usually 3 legs on first and last, and 2 to 4 legs in the middle, so you overnight outstation.
We have very few 2 day trips, and some 3 and 5 day trips.
Btw I am in the house for over 2years now.

dreadFOroberts

The above is the most accurate assessment of the trips. 2-4 day trips - I just completed a 4-day and it was almost exactly like that.

I found the training to be very good, but as this is the first airline I've flown for I cannot compare it to other programs. Each instructor I worked with was very good about feedback and helping me figure things out as I went along. Had a couple of rough areas during the course of training, and a couple of instructors discussed it, gave me a "prescription" and fixed the issues. I felt prepared at every stage. Nervous before an exam or check? Sure, and no one can prevent that, but it's in the company's best interest to prep you as best they can - doesn't do them any good to fail you.

It's not perfect. Your personality and the way you learn will dictate, somewhat, how well you 'connect' with an instructor and thus determine how much value you get from a session. There was at least one instructor that I didn't like at all, but that doesn't mean I didn't learn anything from them. It was just a harder process.

Something else which is important: many of the instructors came from ExpressJet, and I think most of them are line-qualified and actually fly. The ExpressJet folks had more experience on the -145 than anyone, so they really know the nuances of the airplane and what it will and won't do. They're not just training from the manual, they're training from the real world. Many of the Captains ALSO came from ExpressJet so there's decades of institutional knowledge there to help you.

Everyone thinks AQP is supposed to be 'easier' but what it DOES is collect data about what's happening, and allows for some flexibility in correcting deficiencies. It's more of a self-correcting mechanism in case there are training deficiencies. AQP is already part of recurrent training at CommutAir, and it will eventually be part of initial training.

The Director of Training is a former UA guy, he's smart, effective and listens to his people.