Originally Posted by mooney

"The CRJ 700 has a capacity of 70 passengers, how is it that different from your argument?. If the idea is the weight difference then you have a point and im not the one to say how different a CRJ will be from an Airbus 320, but if Spirit think is ok and Jet blue thinks the same (since they dont requiere turbine time with the cape air program) then your argument should bit a little more convincing."


Because they were talking V1 cuts. A V1 cut in a CRJ is basically a non-event since it has basically centerline thrust (altho i've seen plenty of peeps screw it up). Throw 2 big jets or turboprops way out on the wing and it's a little dicier...

Originally Posted by phoenix 23684

Ok his mistake, let's change the CRJ thing for a Saab or Q400. I fly the Saab and V1 cuts in the sim, since knock on wood I have not had a real one, are quite exciting, specially loosing the critical engine with negative auto-coarsen, I would bet that they are more eventful than on any computerized bus. So in my opinion a progression should be CRJ, Bus, Saab. Being sarcastic of course. On a serious note, I am always told by people who have flown many different aircrafts that right now I'm flying the hardest plane that I will ever probably fly.

I'm a Riddle grad, Aero Engineer though, and good luck to those kids, wish I could have had that chance or somehow get into Spirit. Currently only 500 hrs in the Saab.

All of you that are bashing these kids, I bet you anything, had you have the chance of going straight to a Major/LCC you would have jumped at the opportunity. I don't know of any pilot that if offered their dream 6 figures job would say, no thanks I feel I need more REAL WORLD EXP at $18-30k before I can seat on a Boeing/Bus. Right!!!

Originally Posted by Short Bus Drive

6 figures?
Anyway, wasn't bashing the "kids". And yes, I would have jumped on that wagon if offered. However, when I graduated from Riddle, quite a few experienced jet captains/first officer/second officerrs on the street (Eastern,....).So.
Good luck on the Saab. Are you ManAss based, or work for someone else?

Originally Posted by SeamusTheHound

I am also a Riddle grad. I didn't know anything about the aviation industry when I decided to go there, no daddy or uncle who was a pilot, so it seemed like the best place to become immersed in aviation. It wasn't until later that I learned how many other avenues (FIT, UND, Purdue, OSU, or even FBO) that I could go to accomplish my goal of getting a degree and quality flight training. Knowing what I know now I probably would have gone to a bigger school with more diverse academics and a decent flight program. Riddle wasn't even remotely as expensive then as it is now, so cost wasn't such a huge factor.

That being said, my education at Riddle paid off well for me. I earned good grades and was selected to be an intern at United, which ultimately led to an interview and a job (after 2200 hours of outside flying experience including corporate and commuters).

Just to be clear, a United internship was no guarantee of a job. You needed to perform your duties well for a semester so that you could get a favorable evaluation. Then you were only guaranteed an interview after you built some flight experience. Some pilots were able to leverage relatively low experience into a successful interview, but most had copmaratively competitive flight experience with others being interviewed.

While there are exceptions to every generality, most former interns completed training and gained line experience without any problems. Also, many interns that I know at United have become involved in ALPA leadership and continue to work on behalf of their fellow pilots to improve their profession.

While it worked OK for me, I don't think I'd do it the same with what I know now. Especially with Riddle's current astronomical cost, even a shot at a major job at graduation is a risk that might not pay off. You could lose your medical, or perhaps just decide that you don't like the industry. Also, I do believe that there's something to be said for gaining a broader background of experience that you can bring to the cockpit.