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Spirit and ERAU contract deal

Old 12-02-2007, 08:47 AM
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Default Spirit and ERAU contract deal

For those who say is impossible jumping to a mayor right after college, this thread is for you. As part of a new program Spirit Airlines hired 8 Embry-Riddle students (recently graduated or graduating in December) to be line pilots for the A320.

I’m currently a CFI here in ERAU, and some of my colleges were among those hired. This has increased big time motivation in the school and interest in keep a good GPA (3.5 needed for this program)

The program was created after Spirit came last semester looking for flight instructors to teach their ground lab. The idea was to hire CFIs who would work for 2 years in their ground training, and then they would have the option to apply for a flying position. Only one person applied and was selected for that program. Once working in Spirit as a ground instructor, this person demonstrated good leadership and knowledge and when there was a need for pilots they selected her for pilot training, she passed everything flawless and it was then when they decided to come back to ERAU and look for pilots this time.

This program is a test program, where they are going to see how these 8 folks go through their training. If is successful like the previous ERAU graduate, then they said they will come back next semester.
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Old 12-02-2007, 09:23 AM
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Captains having to babysit FOs with 50 people in the back are bad enough. Now we see it with 120 in the back.

So Riddle now has another way to sell their overpriced program. Give us hundreds of thousands of dollars and if you're one of the lucky eight out of a couple hundred you get to fly a big bad Airbus. I'd love to know what the pilots at Spirit think of this.
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Old 12-02-2007, 09:31 AM
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Not to mention that there overpriced program dont teach none of them students proper grammar.

Last edited by coldpilot; 12-02-2007 at 09:32 AM. Reason: Added poor grammar for a sarcastic effect.
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Old 12-02-2007, 09:33 AM
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That is easily the poorest written thing I have ever seen.
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Old 12-02-2007, 09:55 AM
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Aren't you the same guy who thinks you could be an astronaut with just a physics minor? Dream on dude. Most astronauts are military test pilots, or guys with PHD's in engineering. You must be one of the most brainwashed people I have ever come across. You are actually buying everything that ERAU tells you.

BTW, I agree with everyone else about the grammar. Concentrate on that first before trying to get hired at a major.

Originally Posted by FNG1
I personally think that an airline pilot with some physics background might be enough (maybe physics minor).
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Old 12-02-2007, 10:20 AM
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Seriously...if 10-15 kids at ERAU put their individual 100K together, they could buy a VLJ, hire a check airman, and run charters until they all had 1000 TPIC. At the end of the day it would involve less risk (i.e. no risk of being one of the 492/500 NOT selected to go to Spirit), be more fun, and probably make them better pilots (scary). Also they'd have a share of a jet at the end of the day, instead of the same FAA certificates for which everyone else paid a lot less.

Also, who is to say these 8 ERAUers didn't have close to the mins already? Maybe they weren't the typical ERAU grad (i.e. maybe they all already had lots of time from grandpa or daddy's plane).

I understand the euros do stuff like this all the time, but the US has plenty of qualified pilots who are much more qualified, and there is no need for this type of BS. I think the Spirit pilot group should do something about it.
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Old 12-02-2007, 10:32 AM
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Originally Posted by nicholasblonde View Post
Seriously...if 10-15 kids at ERAU put their individual 100K together, they could buy a VLJ, hire a check airman, and run charters until they all had 1000 TPIC. At the end of the day it would involve less risk (i.e. no risk of being one of the 492/500 NOT selected to go to Spirit), be more fun, and probably make them better pilots (scary). Also they'd have a share of a jet at the end of the day, instead of the same FAA certificates for which everyone else paid a lot less.

Also, who is to say these 8 ERAUers didn't have close to the mins already? Maybe they weren't the typical ERAU grad (i.e. maybe they all already had lots of time from grandpa or daddy's plane).

I understand the euros do stuff like this all the time, but the US has plenty of qualified pilots who are much more qualified, and there is no need for this type of BS. I think the Spirit pilot group should do something about it.
I agree........and I'm not just saying that because I went to FIT......But going from ANY flight school / college straight to a A319/320.....wow.....I don't know if that is such a great Idea.......
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Old 12-02-2007, 10:48 AM
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Hey Captain, can we do a fly-by over my mommy and daddys home?
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Old 12-02-2007, 01:13 PM
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How about 144/198 pax plus 3/4 FA's flying in and out of 3rd world countries like Guatamala City, Lima Peru, San Jose Costa Rica, Port-au Prince Haiti, etc in the Middle of the night?

This high quality protoge has admited, and I quote "I am in way over my head". She is also, its been told, going throught the program a second time.

Kim has been very humble as its been told, and realizes that what she is getting into is way over her head. I have also heard reports, however that the new batch of 8 are a bunch of arrogent asses and if they are not careful will permanently ruin the program for future Riddle Rockets.

As for my personal opinion I believe its possible to teach a monkey how to fly an A320 series A/C, however I think that given the type of flying we do at Spirit the lack of real world flying experience these Riddle pilots have will, if allowed to continue, create a very serious safety issue.
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Old 12-02-2007, 01:30 PM
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It still seems to be, at least from where I am scoping this out from is that paying your dues the old fashioned way produces better pilots, nine times out of ten. Not to knock any of the folks out at ERAU, but it's real world experience that seems to trump everything else. IMHO, the trick is to find the total package in that one individual who will sit in that right seat or left seat. The advent of these "zero to hero" programs come at a price, and we're just not talking about the mighty dollar either. Doesn't mean those folks who take that route are any less of pilots, but would you rather find this out in the air, or on the ground?

I for one, will do it the old fashioned way. Now, if I could just find the time to get the "do" done..

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