Ohio State and PSA's agreement
 

I have not seen this posted yet so I wanted to pass it along.

The Ohio State University and PSA Airlines to Sign Pilot Training Bridge Program Agreement | Ohio State University Center for Aviation Studies

looks like PSA will give preferential interviews to graduates of the aviation program. Not a new thought process however it does show that some airlines are in fact concerned with getting pilots.

That's awesome!!! Congrats, first one OSU has ever done and well overdue! Really glad to hear it.

Unless you live in or near one of our bases, I would take your degree to a "better" regional. Check out the various PSA threads to see what I am talking about.

This may be helpful to OSU seniors, but I wouldn't use it (or any other bride program) as a basis for selecting a college.

These programs come and go notoriously and are not to be relied upon.

Even if the minimums are lowered for a graduate of a University Aviation Program - how will PSA help these graduates get those required minimum flight hours after completing the basic training?

USMCFLYR

Read the article. It says participants must work a minimum of 2 semesters as a flight instructor for the university. I'm sure it would take a little more than 2 to get the required hours.

I graduated from OSU 2 years ago and knowing the workings of the aviation department, it would those CFIs a little longer than 2 yrs to get to ATP mins

Too bad you can't just write a check for the ATP. That would make things easy.

Pinnacle had a bridge with western michigan, no interview, straight class date.

But...but after those two years you could be a real airline pilot!! Hehe

Haha. I skipped their CFI program, got my MEL instead and had a job right when I graduated.

I did read the article....and it didn't answer my question ;)
With the downturn of enrollment in aviation programs, and the reported drop in students getting ratings across the board, exactly how will OSU and PSA help get all of those prospective graduates the numbers of hours required to meet the new minimums of the ATP rule?
I agree with you - I'll bet that it will take more htan 2 semesters of instructing to get the mins (not only total time, but all of the other types of time required too).

USMCFLYR

You can...but it would be a rather large check.

Probably cheaper to just buy a piper cub and fly the wings off it for 7 or 8 months.

5th year seniors doing the CFI requirement
6th year seniors oing CFI, indoc, and SIM
Graduation! and "Guaranteed" job
OSU and PSA split the tuition. ;)
Win-Win-Lose

Seriously, though, don't they only need 1000TT and not 1500?

This program ended when the WMU guys didn't have the required time to fly the Saab.

Not until the NPRM is published with final rulings. It is slated for May 2013. However, you know that date will pass with how fast the FAA gets things done.

One thousand hours are not easy to get as a CFI in Ohio. In the winter, the weather sucks and alot of training (commercial) requires high ceilings for things like chandles etc. Not to mention icing, so there goes your 2 O'clock instrument lesson. This agreement will not by any means meet the staffing requirement for PSA in the years to come, but it's something that might help them, and also OSU get tuition cash.

I still talk to some of the instructors there. Its going to take them YEARS to get the time needed :(. OSU is a great university but not for flying.

Path to Poverty
 

This appears to be just another carrot on the stick...

Step One, go 40-50 thousand in debt (conservative average)
Step Two, slave away on poverty wages as a CFI for 2-3 years( not enough students)
Step Three, Hired at poverty wages with no QOL into the right seat for 4-5 years.

Now you are in your late 20s or early 30s trying to dig yourself out of a hole.

All this great decision making, just in time for the repeal of age 65 due to "age discrimination". Canada has set the precedent with the no age limit for domestic operations. It's only a matter time before it happens here. That will be a significant part of the solution for the "pilot shortage". The other major solution will be management gaining greater efficency through consolidation and employee productivity.

No age limit as long as you can pass a first class is right around the corner.

You know, it always surprises me when I bring that up and people just laugh as if its so inconceivable. When regionals start cancelling 35% of flights daily, you better believe the FAA/congress will reluctantly act and the age limit goes bye bye.

Not until we have a national transportation meltdown due to a true pilot shortage. Besides it won't help that much...beyond 65 it eventually gets harder and harder to pass 1C medical and pass recurrent...and that's for the guys who actually want to keep flying.

Or at least until Roger Cohen scares the right people into thinking there is going to be one.

I heard the same thing when age 65 passed. It was a common expectation that most would only stay to 62-63 and retire. Why would someone leave a job with outstanding senority that is essentially part-time, with max pay and benefits?

Just from personal experience and observation walking around the airport, we all know that a 1st Class Medical can be easily obtained.

Who needs a bridge when you have a shortage. Just get 1500 and you interview them and then you decide who you want to fly for. Just don't mess up the written or your paperwork.

The problem with OSU is as a CFI you would be there for many a years to get to 1500 (I graduated 2 years ago, didnt go the CFI route and have more hours than some CFIs that graduated 2 years before me!). Any prospective student who does his/her research would choose a different school all together.

Kent State is only 2 hours to the Northeast... Instructors leave all the time up there :cool: Might have been a better program for PSA instead of OSU.

What are the chances of some of the major airlines having bridge programs such as these?

Zero (in the US anyway) for the conceivable future. They have tens of thousands of regional and 135 pilots to pull from, they have no need for any sort of bridge program.

Thank You.

Well, the second part of what you said is correct, however, Delta has established a bridge program with several universities. The scenario is that after gaining the mins and instructing for a set amount of time at those universities, passing all your exams, having a min GPA, etc, you are guaranteed an interview at ExpressJet and then after working at ExpressJet for a set amount of time, you'll be given preferential interview at Delta if/when they are hiring.

I know for a fact that Western Michigan, UND, ALLATPS, and I believe Emby Riddle are included, not sure about which others.

For the next 5-7 years it will not be needed, but as things progress, this might come into play.

Michigan Sucks. Just thought I'd throw it out there

I believe FIT will be cementing a similar program with Expressjet and PSA.

Let them instruct for a few years and meet ATP mins.

Not much chance at all

I know it's not direct entry but your employer is already on its way to doing just that

Beat Ohio!:mad:

Seriously? Have you read the past few posts? Delta is already doing it! Candidates won't make it to Delta for many years to come but it's in place!

Preferential interview doesn't mean they will hire them. Delta probably will like to cut someone else feed before theirs.

Big rumor is that Delta will hire USAir, UAL and AA feeder pilots before their own. Also other companies might do the same.

Where did you hear that from big rumor from? I do know that psa asked usairways to hire as few pilots as possible from them. Usairways has been obliging.