Plantation Air

Pirate,
Many thanks old boy. I certainly agree with you, unfortunately in these trying times, this appears to be a good entree' into the business. I've noticed there arent many of these programs out there. Do you think it's because it's a scam or because the scam companies cant make money off of said programs?

taymor1234

hi man I am going over to in Jan PM please so we could talkmy email is
[email protected]

ZBowFlyz

It's hard for me to say so I hesitate, I have no first hand experience with them. I have sent in a resume and heard nothing (SPIFR 135 experience and over 1000 dual) so I wonder why am I not getting a call for a legit position? I am in no way implying PFT is the reason but it still makes me scratch my head. I wonder if the other guy going in Jan is a PFT?

Anyway, enough with that. I know for a fact that logging SIC time in a single pilot airplane is technecly illegal however, I discussed it with our POI and he acknowledged it was illegal but added that there is no way to police it really. There are grey areas due to insurance or company requirements, for example. So it falls to the pilot's constution to decide what's right.(just my opinion, take it for what it's worth)

I believe you when you say they seem legitiment, and I believe they are. But I'd urge you to remember that you are potentially worth $20,000 to them. How would you act? If they wern't blowing some smoke in your direction well... they would loose your money. Another thing to consider is that with the economy like it is there isn't much movement, so even if you are the best Navajo SIC they've ever seen, they can't hire if there is no positions.

Be advised that everything any company does is to make a profit. The only reason ATP doesn't do this is because they don't have a 135 certificate... yet. ATP has there own form of this in the X-C phase where two pilots log time (legally) in the same airplane. They are charging both of you and only flying one plane. (I think it's a brilliant idea from a revenue stand point)

I don't have a dog in this fight so I don't care what you do. Everything I wrote was off the top of my head so take it with a grain of salt. Personally, I don't like the idea of PFT because I feel like a company should have to incure some cost to train me. That makes it so that they have a stake in weather or not I succeed.

I don't know how you feel about imperfect, underpowered airplanes flying in all weather mother nature has to throw at you. With appalling avionics. At night. At max weight with very few alternate options. In the Rockies. (BTW John Denver isn't full of s__t man!). No way in god's creation am I going to pay them to do that, they can pay me. That's how I feel.

I'm sure someone will be along shortly with first hand knowledge.

chignutsak

So if you succeed, is it appalling that the company would offer you a steak?

NoyGonnaDoIt

Things may have changed (I don't keep up) but as recently as about two years ago, they were doing some single-pilot 135 cargo ops in Metroliners with no autopilot.

You might want to confirm that and, on the logging issue, try to determine whether their OpSpecs now require multiple pilots. There was a fairly well-publicized incursion problem involving Key Lime a few years ago and it's certainly possible that one of the fixes was the addition of a 2-pilot requirement.

Also, without being either for or against PIFT, read the employment agreement carefully, especially the pay-back provisions which tend to say that if you leave or they fire you, you have to pay them back for the training. Might even be worthwhile to join a legal service plan to have a lawyer take a look at it so you at least understand it.

As you continue to inquire, recognized that any operation is going to get mixed reviews from its current and former employees.

ZBowFlyz

Ah yes, both informitive and on topic.

If you care enough to waist a post maybe you should consider an english teaching position.

Plantation Air

Check your e-mail.

Plantation Air

I don't know how you feel about imperfect, underpowered airplanes flying in all weather mother nature has to throw at you. With apauling avionics. At night. At max weight with very few alternate options. In the Rockies. (BTW John Denver isn't full of s__t man!). No way in god's creation am I going to pay them to do that, they can pay me. That's how I feel.

Wow, no one really put it that way. Excellent points throughout! I guess the fact that they have any interest in this program right now is a testament to how desperate folks are to get a start in the business. Got a lot to think about though. Cheers.

SkyHigh

If the part 135 ops specs make provisions for a first officer then they are a required crew member and the time is completely legal. Airlines across the nation operate planes that are certified for single pilot operations with a crew of two and all that time is legal.

Pay to play is coming back. A pilot can either sit on the sidelines and pay their dues in wasted years of their lives or they can pay in cash up front and get ahead. In the end we all pay for our jobs.

Skyhigh

FlyingPirate

Get ahead and go nowhere once you get there. Where is he suppose to go when there are thousands of pilots who already have better experience than he will be getting by sitting right seat in a PA-32?