Considering CAPT? BE WARNED!
 

For those of you with zero time (or very little time) who are thinking about CAPT as your flight training solution, think again. Unless you're going into their program with time, don't be fooled when you read any materials or press releases regarding the following (explanation to follow):

American Eagle Airlines agrees to guarantee interviews to pilots completing the Commercial Airline Pilot Training Program who meet the following requirements and American Eagle Airlines is interviewing pilot candidates:

* Successfully complete the Commercial Airline Pilot Training Program with a letter of recommendation from the CAPT Program Vice President
* Attain a minimum of the following FAA Certificates and Ratings:
- FAA First Class Medical Certificate with No Waivers
- Commercial Certificate
- Instrument and Multi-Engine Ratings
- MD-90 Type rating through the Commercial Airline Pilot Training Program
* 400 Hours total flight time (may Include 25 hours of MD-90 Level D simulator time)
* 100 Hours multi-engine time (may Include 25 hours of MD-90 Level D simulator time)

BE WARNED if you are entering their VERY EXPENSIVE ab initio program. By my personal experience and those of others, CAPT is known to play favoritism. So unless you are successful in kissing their ass, and not **** off anyone along the 12-14 month training duration, don't expect to get that letter of recommendation. The 400 hour total time requirement won't even play into those entering CAPT under the AB INITIO program. You simply won't get 400 hours total time from CAPT. Unless they have changed their ab initio program, to my knowledge, all you will be walking away from that program at the end is 225 hours of LOGGABLE total time and less than 100 hours of multi-engine time (a source tells me that this is in the neighborhood of 65 hours or less). This being said, you can forget about American Eagle as an option out of their ab initio program. So let's do the math:

TOTAL TIME:
225 hours of total time
+ 25 hours of MD-90 Credit
______________________________________
250 hours
-> You are short 150 hours to meet American Eagle's Requirement
-> Average cost for 140 hours at $110/hour rental = $15,400

MULTI-ENGINE TIME:
65 hours of multi-engine time
+ 25 hours of MD-90 Credit
_______________________________________
90 hours
-> You are short 10 hours to meet American Eagle's Requirement
-> Average cost for 10 hours at $180/hour rental = $1,800

Time Building Cost: $17,200
CAPT Ab Initio: $85,000 - $100,000

Basically, you're looking at shelling out $102,200 to $117,200 to get into American Eagle from zero time at CAPT. And this does not include the cost of housing and living expenses, bills, etc.

Be VERY CAREFUL about exactly what you will walk away with from their programs. And have it in your contract exactly what you will get, as well as a statement that they can not change their deliverables to you during your entire time there. While the development of CAPT-American Eagle is a good one, it is by no means an agreement that applies to anyone that enters the CAPT program. Make no mistakes about this. Do not be played by their marketing department and their expert pillow talk to get you in the sack with them. Also do not let them tell you how American Eagle is in desperate need for pilots and that this is a great opportunity for you. By the time your 12-14 months are completed with CAPT, the hiring party at American Eagle will most likely be over.

If you are considering CAPT, you must ask yourself a simple question: How much certification and ratings and flight time can I get with $85,000 to $100,000 (the proposed new price for the ab initio program) elsewhere? You do not need to train in a very expensive Cirrus to get your certifications and ratings. Many people have done it in far less expensive airplanes. Remember, CAPT is in the business of making money. And that's their goal. Throwing new Cirrus SR20's will definitely capture those who only see the pretty airplane. Don't be fooled or charmed by these pretty planes and a type rating that you can't use in this country. Do yourself a favor and research your options before committing to CAPT. Do you want to spend your hard earned (or borrowed at sick interest rates) money getting what you need (and more) elsewhere or would like like to play with pretty airplanes? Because at the end of the day, you'll get your certifications and ratings...it's a question of if you want to pay a lot for it or a lot less for it. And don't forget to ask how many people they have left in the ditches...those who have paid for a dream that CAPT failed to deliver as promised.

Putting all your eggs in one basket is never a good idea. What if "airline X" stops hiring? You're out all that money and with no CFI ratings, no way to build time to get someone else to look at you.

I didnt think the CAPT program existed anymore

There is too much money to be made off some poor kids dreams...CAPT will come back under another name / management...Unfortunately.

-LAFF

They're already back...got bought out by some unknown company called FTSI. And now they're gearing up to peddle their warez again. And people need to be aware of their smoke and mirrors parlor tricks and do their research. It simply isn't worth going to CAPT considering you can get so much more for the same amount of money everywhere else.

Unfortunately, there will always be people who will buy the expensive brand because, well, it's expensive. For the rest of us, I think doing a little leg work will leave you with the same conclusions that I've come to realize about CAPT the very hard and expensive way.

Sadly there will always be misinformed people out there that will fall for these programs. :(

It's all about a marketing scheme. People hear about an accelareted program and love to listen to the numbers as if they apply to you. most people in the industry know that you cant possibly accomplish what they say are going to be the end results. Its just like watching an info-mercial on tv. If it sounds to good to be true it probably is.

First Class Medical with no Waivers?
 

Is a First Class Medical with a vision stipulation the same as a 1st class med with a waiver?

I thought the airlines didn't care about this as much?

Rich