Flight Safety SIC
 

Does anyone know anything about flght safety sic positions? What exactly does the job consist of and what kind of pay can be expected? Do you travel or just work at one location?

This is based on my experience doing an initial at FSI and having one of their SICs for my whole training footprint.....SICs are there to simply play the SIC role when FSI has a client going through a type training and there are an odd number of people in the training class or in my case when you're the only one. They are there to perform the necessary duties running checklists, slinging gear, etc while you learn to fly the plane and complete the training program. One thing that is nice is that flying the sim is all the SICs usually do. They know the instructors and their training profiles and can be a great help when bells and whistles start going off.

Based on chatting with mine, he indicated that he stayed on one fleet type at one location and they had enough work for him to be full-time. That's not to say they may send you TDY at another training facility. He was young 20's and with about 700TT. They certainly do get to meet a lot of different people and network which should work in their favor in finding future work.

Hope this helps...

I was an SIC at flightsafety wilmington DE since i was a junior in college. I worked there and instructed on the side to continue to build time. You will be placed in one program initially, and if needed in the future they might put you in a second program. You will go through the same initial training for the A/C that a paying client would get, except you wont get a type at the end of training, that will come later. They will keep you busy doing sim work but if it ever drops off you can do other admin duties around the center, but should go instruct or fly to build time. Over time you will meet ALOT of clients and if you hang in there long enough you will get a job. It normally takes about a year and a half or 2 years from what i have seen in many copilots, depending on the current economic state. I started in the Hawker program and got a job with a large part 91 corporation flying a hawker and eventually moved in to the Gulfstream 5 that they had also. I got my job initially with 1100 total flying hours, 70 multi, but i had 2000 hours of sim jet time and knew the checklist and abnormal procedures better than most. you will get to that point to after 2000 hours in the box! have fun, let me know if you have any questions.
DSflyer

My experience echos fjetter's post.
I went through initial with two of the SIC'ers at SimuFlite.
They were local to the Dallas facility.
At least this first time through, they also attended the oral with the guy whom they were flying with and swapped seats too in the simulator.

USMCFLYR

So is this a type of job you would leave a regional for?

No. It's sim time. Nothing more. And making contacts takes a long time.

I did the SimuFlite version in college. Met several people, made some contacts, got a few trips out of it. It's good experience and an easy way to get into a turbine aircraft and get some varied experience.

Not sure how FSI does it, but at SimuFlite you got the 8410 straight out of initial depending on your instructor and a PIC type after 80 sim sessions.

Probably not unless it offers other benefits that are hard to quantify in the QOL realm. Otherwise you are probably better off continuing to fly the line at the regional unless FSI offers you an instructor position which is an entirely different scenario.

DSflyer05 & fjetter:

How did you guys get into the SIC program @ FSI? Is this the same FSI in Vero Beach, FL? Or did you complete your training, then attended the SIC program at one of FSI locations?



atp

ATP....I wasn't a SIC there I was getting a PIC type and had a FSI SIC for the sim portion of training because I was the only one in the class. It's my understanding is that each FSI location is responsible for hiring candidates. When I did my training at the Wilmington FSI my SIC was a local guy that had recently graduated ERAU. He had all of his ratings through MEI and about 700TT. My guess is that they post their vacancies on their website.

You mean to tell me that I can complete the Pro Pilot program @ Ariben Aviator; instruct for 6-8 months and accumulate about 700-1200 hrs TT...with about 70-80% of that being multi and could possibly be awarded an SIC slot, then a job flying SIC? Or be awarded a "job" right from the rip and the SIC training comes after accepting the position?

Btw, if you have a link so that I could check out their SIC program that would be appreciated.





atp

Here's a link that took all of 15sec to find about a current opening at their DFW location.

https://us1.i-grasp.com/fe/tpl_fligh...zbchwybpokmgxn

Once hired they'll put you through the required ground school for the type of aircraft you'll be sim-ing. Mind you that you will do little flying, more checklist and flows and PNF duties. As far as flying an actual airplane that comes from networking with guys coming through the training facility and a little bit of luck.

You don't have to go to the Flight Safety Academy in Vero to be eligible. If you are there long enough and the schedule works out in their favor they will issue a type rating.

If you are more inclined to pursue a Corporate/Charter career it certainly can get you many contacts. If you want an airline career stay in the instructor's seat and keep building time. Even so part-time instructing should still be considered as you may have a good in at a Corporate operator but if you don't meet insurance mins you're SOL

https://us1.i-grasp.com/fe/tpl_fligh...zbchwybpokmgxn

Ouch!!!!:rolleyes:


Great information!

Given my age...49...and having a possible 13-14 year career with a Part 121 outfit as the industry stands now, going Part 91 or 135 may be the best route for me. Just wanna get on with stable company/corporate flight department that has a good mix of a/c in their fleet and ride it out to retirement or when I'm unable to hold medical.

Thanks again!



atp

I recommend visiting the sim center in person. Talk to the CM and DOT. In many cases, that is all you need to get a job there. Some centers offer full time employment with benefits.

DirecTo:

What is an 8410 and on average, how long does it take for to accumulate 80 sim sessions?


atp

I interviewed there back in late winter, pretty cool setup. The guy went on vacation shortly and I never called them back. I'm going to get my ATP mins then start looking seriously.

Any latest and greatest on FSI SICs?

it’s the paperwork for a PART135 qualifying event (.293, .297, .299) that doesn’t involve the issuance of a new type rating. If you are getting a new type rating, you will also have an 8710 through IACRA.

He may have found his answer in the last 10 years since he posted that. :)

good catch. I may have been slightly tired when I answered that. 😂

Curious myself

Bump. I see some SIC listings at Flight Safety but am interested in hearing more experiences.

Current SIC at FSI. PM me if you’d like.

FSI Flight Safety
 

hello, I saw you are a SIC at FSI. I live in Tucson and currently fly the Challenger but was looking for a something a little less hectic and part time May work for me. I was wondering if I could speak to you on the position of SIC? My name is David French, and as I said, I live in Tucson. Former military and currently work for Flexjet.

Thank you

Regards

David

Any up to date info on FSI instructing positions - already did a search read the good bad & the ugly wondering specifically if anyone can comment on SEA and/or LGB?