surreal1221

You want to PAY to fly a larger aircraft.

You still haven't answered why you don't want to be PAID to teach?

How would it affect hiring at other airlines? Oh if only legit airlines could get away with making people pay 50k to sit right seat to build precious turbine time. Please.

erj145aviator

What about legit airlines, and paying to fly for them. Legit came into the equation after you implied this question to be just another one of those kind of questions. AND Technically you don’t pay to fly for them, because you get 2,000 dollars back which is labeled as flight pay. Please what? I honestly just want to know from people who have gone, what it's like, and how things went when they applied to other airlines. I DO appreciate the very little advice I have gotten, which might not be directly related to the initial question, but it still helps. So much for getting advice off these forums.

Pilotpip

Quit reading the gulfstream propaganda and realize that there's a reason that gulfstream and other pft outfits aren't looked upon with much respect. If you think that CFIs from ATP are looked down on, wait until you are trying to find a job flying something that isn't a gulfstream airlines 1900. You'll be pretty screwed when your contract with them is up anyway becuase most airlines won't hire you with 600 (or however much they give you) total regardless of if it's part 121 experience. If gulfstream was such a good company, they wouldn't need to hire captains off the street people would stay there. Senority doesn't mean a damn thing because by the time you can go to a decent airline you'll go to the bottom of the pole like every other new hire.

Why do people look down on PFT? Would you want somebody operating on you, or your loved ones that was well trained, accomplished and had years of experience or somebody that paid extra for a 7 month course because they wanted to be a doctor faster? Why should an airline pay a decent wage when there are people that are willing to work for less? In some cases they're even willing to pay to work there! You think you're helping yourself get a leg up, but all you're doing is causing your pay, and the pay of every other pilot, to come down.

Posters on this thread have given you advice. It is, however, not the advice you were wanting to hear. I'd suggest considering this a good commentary on how the industry looks at PFT as a whole...

surreal1221

Well said pip. I wish I could have stated what you said three posts ago. . . but at last - it was said.

erj145aviator

Well that helps some. I don't understand why people see it as a bad thing, if it's only to get hours to move on. But it is how it is I guess. And for me seniority is a big issue because i'll be stuck an F/O for a good 4-years because of my age. However, just because someone has the aptitude to do it faster than others does not mean they aren't as good or even better. But at least now I can see why everyone doesn't like the idea. What else is there to do besides instructing, if you only have 300-400 hours, about 200 of it multi?

Thanks.

POPA

So the fact that you're $27K in the hole is moot because you got $2K back?

Oh, and by the way: I hate to break it to you Sparky, but if you consider flight instructors to be teachers, then I'm going to go ahead and say that Jungle Jet drivers are computer programmers.

Pilotpip

In aviation, like other professions, people are respected because they earn respect. Regardless of if you come from the military, instructing, pipeline patrol, or whatever you can do with a commercial ticket you have gained experience as a result of your work background. Buying time and buying jobs does not earn respect in any profession and aviation should be no different. You work hard and sacrificed for your ratings and experience. As a result, you're compensated accordingly. This is why people don't respect PFT.

There are fast routes, there are hard routes. Remember that the easiest route isn't always the one that will net the largest returns. Being saddled with debt that you can't pay off on $17k will quickly make you a jaded pilot with a chip on your shoulder. Work for it, go to a better regional, make better money, and show respect for not only yourself, but ever other pilot out there that's trying to do what they love and keep a roof over their head while doing it.

usmc-sgt

-Banner tow
-Sightseeing
-Traffic watch
-Skydiving drops
-Pipeline flying
-Fish spotting
-Ferrying
then add a few more hours maybe 100-300 (2-3 months of doing above jobs)

-Most regionals as an FO such as Colgan, Xjet etc
-Airnet Fo program

and there....you have earned an honest living, gained respect, got some actual flight experience instead of being a right seat passenger in a 1900 and had some fun exploring the many facets of aviation not to mention saved 30k

LeoSV

-A little off topic, but are there traffic watch jobs that use fixed wing instead of rotorcraft?
-Instructing isn't just about flying a 172 and teaching. You gain experience in getting caught in bad weather unexpectedly, near misses with other traffic, knowing how to deal with difficult tower controllers, getting better with the radio, all kinds of things. My instructor says he learns something new everyday when he flies with students. You can't just buy experience. Remember, your flying families around in the airlines, gotta be on your game EVERYTIME. Somebody else on here said that the best way to become a 4000 hr. pilot is to fly 4000 hrs., that pretty much sums it up. Don't try to rush your way in, especially if you're young. Enjoy the smaller planes and have fun along the way. There will be plenty of time for the big jets. Think of single engine planes as your teenage years and the airliners as your adult years.

de727ups

"It’s quite obvious that many people don’t like Gulfstream Academy, but if you don’t like it…why?"

Do a search here or at jetcareers.com. So much info it will take half a day to see it all.

"So much for getting advice off these forums"

The young folks these days want instant gratification soooo bad. Do a little research before you slam us. What you're asking has been discussed over and over. Use the search function.