andy- you can't recieve PM's yet, just tried to send you one

What does all of this say about DCA in Florida? Is the Connection Academy in Sanford about to implode as well?

It's hard to tell. SFB will probably be fine in the short term, as the excitement over the new SR-20's builds and the programs get finished. DCA has already threatened to "let instructors go if they can't get the Cirrus training down quickly, cause we don't need them". So unless their corporate culture changes, i really do not see many of their current students wishing to work for them. I also see the attrition continue to rise, not just because of low minimums for the regionals, but because of better opportunities at other flight schools. DCA just signed a huge contract with the Chinese to continue the flight training of their students, and if i'm not mistaken, DCA is the only flight school training pilots for China in America. So DCAs resources have always been heavily devoted to that, and with the instructors leaving, I can't see how they can let that program slip in the slightest without them breaching their contract with the Chinese. Since DCA has always pushed getting the Chinese students out very quickly i can't see them pulling their dwindling instructor corps from the international group....leaving everyone else...who knows where

i guess only time will tell.

Why would the insturctors not be able to "get the Cirrus training down quickly"?

True about the foreign pilots. Every time I fly in or out of the ORL area it takes me forever just to check in because they all want to give their life stories over the radio.

no particular reason, i don't think it's going to be that big of a deal..but the SR-20's are QUITE the upgrade over the current fleet..The only planes in the fleet with GPS are the newer seminoles..so there is very very little experience with any glass cockpits..so there are usually hiccups in training with some folks here and there...but shouldn't be a huge issue..just another piece of the puzzle

haha i'll never forget the DCA International student exchange with MCO approach

Approach: "N12345 what are your intentions?"
N12345: "To become an airline pilot!"

silly

Andy, small clarification. DCA isn't the only school in the country training Chinese students. Our school had quite a few not too long ago (Thanks to them we had in excess of 300 flights per day out of our school alone, catapulting the airport we operate out of in to the top %10 of the busiest airports by number of flights according to the FAA).

Anyways, they might have the biggest Chinese contract right now but I really don't think they have the only one.

If you are already a CFI (either one they hired off the street, or a "home grown" DCA one), do they stick you for more $$$ to upgrade to the SR-20?

Pardon me for asking a question as it relates to earlier posts in this thread, but if training at DCA cost $30k would you attend? I'm a Chief in the Navy and would like nothing more than to fly. When I retire I won't necessarily be a spring chicken and will need to change careers in a somewhat rapid fashion. I'm not interested knocking out low-quality hours (if there is such a thing) for the sake of logging hours, but time is a concern. GI bill will pay roughly 50%-60% of the cost at DCA. I'm still looking but I'm not aware of too many other schools that accept the GI Bill. I'm currently at a staff command and do a lot of traveling. I have a great time on the road and know I would enjoy being an RJ Pilot.

Thanks in advance for your responses and advice.

they'll most likely charge current instructors for all the manuals/checklists...which is about 100 bucks..but last i heard they weren't going to charge for the training itself (aside most likely not being paid for said training)


to CPOonfinal:

- it's still a great school to train at curriculum wise. It always has been. The only issue i see is paying for housing.. I know many people that spent well over 100K without help from the gov't in SFB. So 30K i think would be on the low side...then on top of that..what are you goign to do with 250 hours?

you're going to have to build more time than that to fly in the airlines, so the choice then becomes "do i teach here, or elsewhere?"

good luck and definitely take advantage of that great gov't benefit!

let me know if you have any more questions.