But as far as billing goes, only one is charged or they split it? 4 hour flight is billed 2 hours each?

Just want to make sure they aren't trying to double bill PSA or the students. As in a 4 hour flight, both are charged for 4 hours each.

 

In regards to the RTP, does PSA pay for the examiner fees? (VA does not) , also being that we have Commercial and Instrument ratings, do we need to take another written exam, if so does PSA pay for them (VA will not). Any insight on the day to day activity/ living conditions would also be greatly appreciated. (what does $400 a month room get you) thanks in advanced.

 

From what I've seen, your quote from sky warrior will include housing and the three check rides. I don't know details about the quarters while you're there, but they must be decent enough as two friends there now haven't complained about it.

 

I never saw the bill so I can't be 100% sure, but you report the hours you logged on a weekly and monthly basis to skywarrior which they use for billing PSA. PSA pays for per pilot per hour and not per aircraft. You fly a 4 hour sortie with another RTP pilot and PSA is billed for both pilot times that are logged at $75 per hour per pilot. Granted the safety pilot logs 0.2 less, and I assume charged 0.2 less. My understanding is that PSA is fully aware of this.
Skywarrior won't keep you from flying single pilot if they can't schedule you with another pilot, but flying single pilot is the exception, not the norm. As you can imagine, their margins on a single pilot sortie is extremely slim at $75 per hour, if there is any at all.

 

Examiner fees to the DPE is paid out of pocket, unless something has changed since mid-June.
The living quarters will vary depending on what's available when you get there. I finished RTP mid-June and they had one house, 2 bedroom/ 2 bath, and rest were in an apt complex. I'm not sure what the apt scenario is as I stayed in the house. Regardless of where you stay, there's two to a room. The house had min kitchen utensils, but enough to suffice, laundry, and internet. I imagine the apartments are the same. I heard the apts have access to a pool and gym. The house did not. However the house is less than 5 mins to the airport, where as the apt is about 15 to 20 mins.
I flew my butt off down there to finish as fast as possible, and I was perfectly ok with giving up the gym and pool for closer commute.
Let me know if I missed anything.

 

That's pretty accurate. I'm currently in the beginning phase of training at SkyWarrior. The living arrangements are pretty nice at the apartments. The drive to the airport is pretty easy, but it does take about 15 mins. I opted to bring a few essential items for the kitchen and a small TV. I would highly recommend bringing anything you may want for comfort. The company provided a new memory foam mattress for each person, some minimal furniture, washer, dryer and few basic cleaning supplies. We we're the first group to live in this apartment, so I'd imagine the beds will be reused. Most of the furniture was second hand, but totally adequate.

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Hey, all. I've got a little less than twelve months of active duty before my obligation is up and I would love to utilize the RTP. I'm trying to get a feel for how competitive it is to get an RTP slot. I'm an Army UH-60 guy, and being commissioned, have only about 260 military hours. But I do have about 250 of civilian time (much of it from a flight university). I'm hoping not to raise flags because I haven't been able to get much flying done in the Army (there's just waaay too many commissioned UH-60 guys and not enough flight hours).

 

From my understanding, at the end of the day you have to meet the r-atp hours. That would mean....

250 hours civilian (what certs?)
260 hours military

PSA will offer $23000 to help you meet the remaining 240 hours. Shoot me a PM, I can answer some more detailed stuff.

 

I made sure to leave all my sim time (even my part 141) out of my totals. Different people have different views on what our sim time can count toward of the 750 hours, but I'd err on the side of caution.

As long as you need 250 hours or less to meet the R-ATP minimums you should be fine, assuming the program is still available, which it most likely will be. If you are on the high side of that you may end up coming out of pocket or needing to hedge your bonus to pay anything in excess of the going allowed amount (currently up to $23,000).

 

I'm hearing rumors that bubbles are starting to form at SkyWarrior and that it's taking much longer just to get past the private checkride at the beginning. Anyone have any insight as to what's going on and how to alleviate some of that? I've heard weather, maintenance, and other unspecified challenges.