Type Ratings?
 

Ok, as far as type ratings go, can you do the entire thing in the sims? I am a bit confused about the process. Will your company/slash airline pay for your Type certification? What is the average going rate these days for types or is it mostly aircraft model dependant?

Got my ATP & 737 type in December with Higher Power Aviation (Ft Worth..highly recommended). One week of grd school, one week of sims (6 sims including check ride). All sims. I guess you could say my company helped pay for it (GI Bill) ~$7,300

FWIW-HPA now has their own 737-200 sim but if you are wanting -300, EFIS, or something else they can make sim arrangements at Alteon (DFW) or with SWA (DAL).

Try explaining that at the next non SouthWest interview. I hope you get on with SWA.

Interviewed with U.S. Customs (CBP) and UPS after getting the type. Neither said a word. Got the job at UPS, CBP is still pending. It's not the kiss of death that many make it out to be.

I'm confused

Very good chance that a type rating will be done 100% in the sim (unless it's a DC-3 or something).

Who pays for it? It depends. Typically if the company pays for it, you'll have to sign a contract so you can in effect work off what they spent on you. Some airlines like Southwest want you to have a type rating before you even think about applying.

Most type ratings will be $10,000+. I believe ERJ's and CRJ's are around $15,000.

-Brett

Uh, yeah SWA is my first choice so I made myself as competitive for it as possible. Maybe I'm a dumb fighter pilot, but I guess I don't know any other way to pursue a goal than to give it a 100%.

FWIW-I have at least half a dozen buds that got picked up by other carriers and had their 737-type (either SWA said no, or the other carrier called first).

I didn't mean to sound like I was putting you down for it. Millitary time and southwest usually go hand in hand without the type prior to hiring. I know a couple of guys who did the higher power thing, they are great pilots, good people and didn't get SW. Now a lot of companies have looked at them as if they woudl leave if SW came calling so why should they hire them.

Slice are you considering Customs over UPS? I am curious why customs is viable, I really don't know much about that. Are you out of IAD or are you starting a LAM for yourself.

Interviewed with CBP and was invited to interview with UPS 3 days later. It was my plan B in case a major didn't call. If by LAM you mean LAMA, I'm a short timer now...less than 2 weeks. I was IAD based. There's only two career fields I've ever been interested in...aviation and law enforcement. Customs was a good way to do both with a guaranteed pilot job. No, I am definitely not choosing CBP over UPS...start class at Brown next month.


Check out this site for more info on Customs and Border Protection flying.
http://aptap.forumco.com/default.asp

Congrats and good luck at UPS!!!

-LAFF