Type Rating
 

Hello,
I have the option to get a type rating at Flight Safety for free. This is part of the CFI program, if I get accepted.
I'd like to know which type rating will make me more marketable.
Currently I only have about 600 hours; in order to get a PIC type I need 1000,
I can instruct for another 400 hours and then get typed or I can just get my SIC now and start instructing/flying SIC at FSI Sim center and may be one of the client may let me fly right seat.


BeechJet
Canadair
Cessna Citation
Cessna 200/300/400
Falcon(Dassault)
Galaxy
Global Express
Gulfstream
Hawker
JetStar
Learjet
Twin Commander

http://www.flightsafety.com/searchre...Id=1&groupId=3

Choose the global or the gulfstream. In terms of cost, they are the highest costing types out there (35K+). Having experience teaching in the sim and or serving as a seat sub would most likely allow you to find a job out there as a First Officer on one of those planes, which is going to mean good pay and most likely a good quality of life while getting to see some incredible places.

Working down, I would rate the Falcon and Hawker types as the next in the line of succession for the same reason, then the Citation followed by the Learjet and Beechjet, because of the number of jobs that there are for people who are typed in those models. The bottom of the list would be the CRJ, the JetStar, Commander and 200/300/400 series simply because either lack of jobs, poor pay, or the fact that everybody out there has a CRJ type rating and the market is saturated.

FlyerJosh, It'll be very hard to find a job flying Gulfstrams or GlobalEx with little over 1000 hrs.

Explain to me why they are offering you the type in the first place. Is it to teach at FSI in the sim? If so, it's absolutely not out of the question after a year or two as a sim instructor.

Even though you may only have 1000 hrs in the plane, your practical experience in the sim, particularly as an instructor would probably open the door for an SIC job. Especially if you have a type rating already and have a current PC (which hopefully FSI would allow you to do each year for free or very cheap).

Ultimately it's up to you, but I would go for the type that a) costs the most, and b) has the largest potential for income/QOL. Ultimately you should decide what type of lifestyle you want too after you are done... right now I fly the Citation- not the most comfortable aircraft (especially coming out of the CRJ to the Encore), but my lifestyle and QOL are much better than people who fly larger equipment (I make airline CRJ CA pay, and am off usually 4-5 days a week, flying about 30 hrs a month.) You couldn't get me to fly a different gig.

I think you could find a job in a Gulfstream or Global- particularly if you spend some time teaching in them (Which by the way is an EXCELLENT way to make contacts for future jobs- what better way to get to know potential employers than by training their pilots?)

FlyJosh, I'd like to thank you in advance for your input.
There is something that I didn't explain, I won't be instructing at the Sim center I'll be there to help with checkout/ratings as a qualified SIC or PIC. And I believe the duration of this program is about 3 to 7 months. That means if I can't find a job during that time I'll be back at the FSI academy instructing.

Ah... okay, that changes things a bit... Since that's the case, ask yourself where you want to be in one year... then ask the same question for five years.

Are you looking at an airline or corporate background? Charter? Where do you ultimately want to end up? Do a bit of research into companies that are hiring and the fleets they operate. Consider career expectations at each company (for instance I know that I probably won't ever move from the Encore that I am flying, simply because it is the only aircraft they fly).

If you are considering a corporate job, consider either the Citation 500 series, the Lear45 or higher, Falcon or a Hawker type (Consider the smaller aircraft in those categories such as the Falcon 20). Odds are that with a type rating and 1000 hours you can find a job in the right seat of one of those types.

If you are considering the airline route, having the CRJ type will definately give you some edge over other off the street applicants.

Make sure that you give some thought to industry conditions, where you want to live and starting salaries. One thing that you might try to hunt down is the NBAA survey of salaries, or the salary edition of Professional Pilot magazine to get an idea of corporate pay rates.

~J

I need to get my foot in the door at this point, and I also like to keep my options open. It is difficult to find a corporate gig without any contacts therefore I’m open to Regionals. FSI doesn’t offer CRJ rating but they do offer Challenger 604 rating which is pretty much a corporate CRJ.
What do you think about CL604 rating?

Anybody know the difference between the CL65 and CL60 type? I have the CL65 and am looking at a possible 604 gig. Anybody know what differences training would be like, etc?

Thanks

There is no differences training anywhere that I know of. They are completely separate type ratings and require full course training to be type rated. That said, I do know of some insurance companies that I have looked into that are willing to credit CL65 time in type towards insurance minimums for the Challenger 600 series.

~J

Vader. Type?
 

Hey Vader Jump on it,

When getting a type. Keep a few things in mind.
There's a big difference between a type you get on your commercial cert and having a type as an ATP. Mainly Insurance. Most companies in the corporate arena usually have mins of 2500TT, 500-1000multi, 500 turbine, etc. And thats just to fly as a co-pilot. Sometimes depending who you know acceptions can be made, but few and far between.

If you are in a situation that someone is paying for a FSI type jump on it. Whatever type you can get. Because the CFI, CFII and MEI you got in the bugsmashers will carry over to the jets. If you can secure a spot as a sim instructor at a place like FSI or Simuflight, it wouldn't be hard to find a job. These days everyone loves level D sim time- makes you look real legit.