Many of us seem to be in the same boat (or lets say plane)... We are working on our private licence now and then thinking of going to a flight school once we get our PPL. Most seem contempt on going to a flight school that offers GURANTEED INTERVIEWS and paying a little extra to go to this sort of school. I am skeptical in thinking if in the upcoming year of two if a guranteed interview will even be needed. The outlook is looking good so that there will be a demend for ANY pilot who meets the minimums.

My guess is that regionals will continue to have hiring interviews at hotels across the country as they are doing now. And they will continue to be at the top dollar flight schools interviewing there as well.

Of course in this industry anything can change in a blink.

What do you think?

 

Be careful about schools that offer "guaranteed interviews." The only thing you are guaranteed is an interview, not the job. This interview often comes only after you have spent a lot more money than you need to for your ratings and flight time experience, usually followed by working for the school for a set time period at an unbelievably low wage. Flight instructing does not pay well to begin with, but these schools will give you even less.

Then industry is starting to turn around like you said. I think you would be much happier and better off flying and learning at your local FBO than wasting your money for that guaranteed interview.

Just my 2 cents.

 

Since the pilot demand is high at the regional level right now, you don't need a guaranteed interview. If hiring stops, the "guaranteed" interviews will also stop instantly (read the fine print).

There are several things wrong with this kind of program, but the biggest problem is that people view it as a shortcut to avoid the cfi phase. Unfortunately you end up spending more time and money getting that guranteed interview than if you got your CFI ratings, but now your eggs are all in one or two baskets...if they stop hiring or don't hire YOU, now what? The CFI can apply to ANY airline that's hiring, and if no one's hiring he can work as a cfi until hiring resumes.

Ask the school for DETAILED hiring statistics IN WRITING over the last five years...they will hem and haw and will try to give you the numbers for SEP 2005 (probably their best month ever), but they are VERY unlikely to give you a straight answer. Also ask them what happens to those who don't get hired. After you watch them dance to the tune of these questions, use your gut instinct

 

Want a guaranteed interview? Get a commercial multi with instrument privileges.

 

As a young pilot you have alot of learning to do. It is amazing how your perceptions about aviation change over time. The school you go to has little to do with your success. Only YOUR hard work, devotion, and skills as a pilot will get you the job you WANT.