UpwardInflow

I've got fresh details on this:

RTP and Pathway candidates get typed in the A320 at ATP in Irving. It is a 7 day course which has 50 hours of remote learning (86 classes) prior to showing. This course has 5 sims and a check sim period, so six total. Immediately following the type training, the "F9 Direct" course begins, which is 4 days of Frontier specific training on the bus. 16 Level D hours (4 sims) and 8 student led A320 labs (procedural trainers?). Frontier flows callouts, and SOPs are the focus of the F9 direct course. I'm hearing conflicting data on whether or not the ATP practical comes along with the type course, but I'm inclined to believe it does because the syllabus refers to the ATP ACS, and a friend who did this course on his own walked out with his ATP card as well as the A320 type.

The program participants are paying a pretty penny for this course. My intuition leads me to believe that it should be a pretty good foundation for the F9 training in Denver. I'm excited to get this new chapter started.

brocklee9000

I don’t think any of the program pilots had an ATP. They did all the type and procedures. But when it came to training, their checkrides were a bit different. Those of us with an ATP did the oral portion of the checkride together with an APD. Those who were getting their ATP (I believe all the program pilots) had to split up and do the full oral alone.

UpwardInflow

Good info! This whole process has been a mystery, but it is slowly coming together. It kind of feels like the end of the movie "The Usual Suspects" or "The Sixth Sense"! lol!

PositiveRate20

It’s been a mystery because it has been constantly evolving and changing since the first CFI’s from ATP were hired before COVID. And whatever it is today, probably isn’t what it’s going to be tomorrow.

citationxtango

With an impending class date coming up next week I'm starting to think about pilot gear. Can anyone tell me if F9 gets any discounts on pilot gear anywhere? Thinking a new Bose headset and maybe a suitcase since my TravelPro is locked in a storage unit far away. I have a set of A20s from the airplane I used to own, but it seems I could do with something a little lighter and easier to pack. Should I wait to buy these until training starts?

ginntonic

If you really want a headset get it, but the aircraft have ship sets and most pilots are going with no headset above 18K'. Same with luggage. Buy it if you really want, but once you have the KCM badge and other documents you can commute to your storage facility and grab that TravelPro.

citationxtango

Thanks, good info. I'm used to no headsets from the last jet I flew so that won't be difficult to get used to. Any requirements for uniforms as far as vendor goes? I'm liking the JetSeam stuff and want to avoid buying anything from M&H if I can.

Xdashdriver

Lol, talk about opening a can of worms. The only approved vendor is M&H. Purchase from other vendors at your own risk, especially if you plan to be DEN based.

brocklee9000

At some point during ground you get fitted for M&H uniforms. Bleh. Last job, a blazer wasn’t required so a lot of us could easily get away with good off-the-rack slacks, and our own shirts. You’ll be fitted for a blazer, pants, and a tie, all will be payroll deducted. You will have the option to buy a sweater, hat, trenchcoat, but don’t expect any of those to demo in the fitting. Just some tired coats in various sizes and some pants so you can feel the tropical (thinner) vs sharkskin (heavier) material.

As far as shirts go, technically any brand pilot shirt. I have cut above, and ordered a few more during class (I’ll get to that in a second). Others like jetseam, or the stock M&H shirt. Whatever. Also during ground school, a particular base chief pilot will come talk to your class and make a big deal about uniform compliance. A very specific and unnecessary amount of time and focus may be given to 2 specific things: no eyelets on the shirts (since wings only go on the blazer), and a crusade against the striped tie.

I have a couple shirts I ordered from cut above a year ago, which due to the delays didn’t arrive till summer so I only got a few months use before coming here. They’re in great shape but they have the dreaded eyelets! Which are very inconspicuous but whatever. So I ordered a few more, just to be compliant. Delayed, of course, so whatever. Under a blazer they’d literally be covered, and even without a blazer you’d have to look hard to notice.

Get whatever shirt you like, God help you if it has eyelet holes. Use the standard tie or get a striped one on your own dime. I think most of my class did. You have 30 days from receipt (package at your doorstep) to exchange uniform items. Already swapped my blazer down, I was drowning in it. Kept debating the pants but ultimately kept the originals, looking into getting them altered. Fit of the waist is good but the seat and legs, not so much.

brocklee9000

The way I heard it, the stripe was the official tie and by way of grandfathering, it’s an “approved” uniform item. Or in other words, only officially allowed if you were hired prior to a certain date. How long ago was that? If so. Aside from camping out at KCM and demanding to see the DOH on your badge, how would you know who even know you were worthy of the tie or not?