If anyone has any questions concerning the Flight Technology program at Central Washington University, let me know. I am currently a sophmore there, earned my Private my freshman year, did instrument over the summer, got done with Commercial last quarter, and now and working on my CFI. I also worked at Midstate Aviation, where you will do all the training, as a lineman for several months. www.midstateaviation.com is the website.

Just let me know, later.

 

Don't you mean Sophomore? Better go back to english class......just playing. Sounds like you are working hard. As an alumni of the program it's nice to hear that there are still some highly motivated people there.

 

When do you graduate from Central? How did your employers after graduation view your degree from CWU? Thanks

 

QCappy, I sent my resume to Horizon via FedEx on Friday. It should have arrived today. I have 2100 TT, 165 Multi, 45 Turbo Prop (ATR-72), Prior Part 121 experience, ATP Written (94%), and a BS in Aviation Operations. Do you know how these qual's would stack up with other new hires?

A few more questions for you if you don't mind:

Are there any over nights in Sacramento, CA (I live 5 mins from SMF)?
Are those overnights in the Prop or Jet?
Do you stay in your assigned equipment for the remainder of your time with the company or can you bid for other equpment?
Paid while in training?
Single/Double occupancy (if any at all) while in training?
I heard mention of a salary and not an hourly rate on another forum. Are pilots paid on an hourly or salary basis?
How long could I expect to spend on Reserve?

Thanks for your words of wisdom. It sounds like you enjoy working at Horizon and that's great to hear. Would you mind emailing me at [email protected] as I can not send PMs yet on this forum. I'd like to have someone to contact in the future re: Horizon. Take care.

 

I graduated in '98. I've only had one....well two if you count Midstate. The other being Horizon and they seemed to like it a lot!

 

Yes.
The Q400.
You can bid to other equipment as an FO but there is a severe penalty to do so (I believe you go to the lowest payscale for two years)
Yes.
Double.
Hourly. Take your hourly rate, multiply by min guarantee (86.3 for reserve/composite and 92 for lineholder), multiply by 10.4 bid periods per year and you get your approximate pay.
The length of time on reserve varies greatly by epquipment to begin with. Next it is really a crap shoot based on how the seniority is moving that particular day/month/year. Some have been on reserve for over two years currently, but that is starting to change since we are beginning to hire more. It also depends how your particular bidding group bids. Some senior guys may take reserve so they can get weekends off, or not work as much or something to that effect. So, as you can see, there is not real good answer to the reserve question.

 

I went to CWU !!! and flew for Horizon !!! I graduated in 1990. CWU is at a disadvantage since there are so few graduates compared to UND or ERU. Most of the benefits of going to an aviation university is that others who have gone before you are out there selling the praises of the school to everyone's benefit. CWU is so small that graduates just disappear into the world and don't seem to make much of a dent. When I was at Horizon there was no special place in the hearts of management for CWU graduates either. They are much more excited to hire UND guys. A few years ago I approached CWU with the idea of teaching Horizon Basic Indoctrination and Dash 8 systems as in place of the systems class and one other. I was sure that if CWU was to put Horizon Air's own training into is curriculum that CWU graduates would gain a huge advantage. CWU declined, idiots.

The good news is that out of the 20 in my graduating class only two are still working as pilots. The rest are all successful and happy. I wouldn't put much stock in a CWU flight tech education.

SkyHigh

 

Thats cool SkyHigh, yeah we just got the Q200 and Q400 Systems classes put in. Dale Wilson, one of the instructors got an oppurtunity to take the classes with Horizon, and now he is taking his notes - and what he learned, to teach the students here. Many Instructors are taking the classes too, so we will see how that turns out. As long as there is not a negative opinion of CWU students, I'm a happy man.

 

SkyHigh,

I would agree back when you graduated that was the case about CWU grads. However, I feel since around the time I was there 94-97 things were beginning to change. I was in the first group of direct hire with Horizon and more internships with other airlines were developing. From what I have heard Dale Wilson has been a great attribute to the program. He showed when I was still there and seems to do a great job trying to promote the school. There are many former CWU guys at Horizon, and several that have moved on to Alaska as well. Several of my former students are now at Horizon and Skywest. I think the program is slowly gaining momentum. There was so much turnover in the professor ranks that it seemed like it could never really gain any steam in the aviation community. Hopefully that will continue to change.

 

They need to start hiring some professors with some actual piloting experience. What they have now is a joke. Even Dale's best claim to fame is as a metro FO. Not good. When I was there we had a few WWII vets and everyone had piloted a heavy jet of some kind. They have no business telling anyone anything about aviation. Sad...

SkyHigh