<thread jack>

Riddle/UND/Purdue/Parks/WMU/OSU/etc offer a standardized pilot. In essence, each pilot they graduate is a "product" that (hopefully) has completed a standardized training program and performs to a minimum standard above the basic PTS. They also typically have advanced systems and simulator and/or aircraft experience. Because of this, these programs have proven the "trainability" of their graduates to the airlines...and the same cannot always be said of pilots who have trained in the FBO environment.

Doesn't mean one is better than the other, and all programs (and graduates from each program) are not made equal.

</thread hijack>

 

I would agree with boiler. I HAVE been to both an FBO and a flight school. In fact, I got my private part 61 and the rest part 141/142. The training is vastly different at both. Checklists and procedures are more centralized to the way airlines do things. We have advanced classes in aircraft systems, nav systems and CRM, things an FBO won't teach you. That way things are a lot easier in ground schools because you've heard most things at least once in your career. I can go and talk to pilots all day long about detailed topics and deal with advanced aircraft. If I can figure out how to fly an Airbus, I can learn to fly anything else . Obviously it'll take a lot of hard work and studying, but I can do it.

 

"We have advanced classes in aircraft systems, nav systems and CRM, things an FBO won't teach you."

HAHA...

Sometimes I wonder how I got so far in aviation without all that stuff, me coming from a small FBO background and all.

Know what, I've never thought all that stuff was such a big deal. Would it help if your a 300 hour wonder looking for an RJ job? You betcha. Otherwise, it's kind of a waste of time as the experience/background you pick up by taking your time to become a seasoned pilot before going to the airlines kinda helps you fill in the blanks.

I, too, spent some time at Riddle and 141. Riddle training was of marginally better quality than the FBO. But at what cost? It certainly wasn't worth the money and I'm VERY glad I didn't take that route for all my ratings. I learned things, experienced things, at the little school that I'd NEVER have seen at Riddle.

 

I did my US certificates/ratings at FlightSafety Academy in Vero Beach. I have also had some flying lessons at an FBO.

No comparison.

The level of professionalism and attention to detail at FS was tremendous and I consider it money well spent. The FBO was a joke in terms of appearance, attention to detail, aircraft scheduling, attitude (bad, considering I was a customer), facilities, etc. FS was run professionaly and expected professionalism from their students.

When people ask me about it there is simply no hesitation about recommending a professional level of school.

Sorry for the thread drift.

 

Funny Saab, I also had lessons at an FBO and a "University Flight School" and I agree there was no comparison.

The FBO was superior in every regard.

I found the FBO to be much more professional, in fact every aspect you found FS to excel at, I found my local FBO to offer a superior product in. That is not to say that the FBO next door didn't suck the chrome off exaust pipes. Nor is it to say that every University level flight program is not as good as the FBO training I recieved. I found the formal ground school to be invaluable, and despite my best efforts, don't think I came anywhere near duplicating it with my students.

The individual variations are tremendous, and you have to examine each school individually, rather than say "all FBOs are inferior to all Universiy Flight Schools", or vice versa.

 

I'm not saying that all university flight schools are better in every way. Every school and FBO is different. There will never be an agreement between the univ vs FBO battle and it is naive to think so. We will never be able to change each other's opinions. Just as an example, my second IP was a Flight Safety grad and he regrets ever going there. Everyone is different. I just think that the extra advanced training that you get outside of single engine training is valuable and interesting.

 

I also experienced FBO and Erby Diddle...And you know what? For getting me a job 2 days before graduation driving some Dash 8's, I'm not going to complain at all (I used to despise Riddle - you know what I'm talking about Rob). I learned vast amounts from both. I think experiencing both has afforded me a rather well rounded start in this game.

I doubt anyone is quitting school to get the job, it's the grads they're hiring, not the students. I could be wrong, but come on, lets be a little realistic.

Attack me all you want, I won't be back on this forum for about 7 weeks...I should be reading that 660 pages of material PDT gave me. Ground school starts on Wednesday!

 

hey I'm the same and in your class, hows the studying going?

 

"For getting me a job 2 days before graduation driving some Dash 8's"

So, Riddle "got you a job". Do they just assign class dates to Riddle guys these days?

How about. "I earned the job because I did well in the interview process and met the airlines min hiring standards". It just doesn't sound right when one says "My school got me my job". Kinda like....I paid my money, now where's my job....

It's a sense of entitlement I'm just not comfortable with. Such strange times we live in. I almost liked it better when a Riddle guy had to scratch and claw for a CFI job, like when I graduated, and the "ERAU job placement service" was a joke.

I really hold nothing against folks for taking whatever job comes their way, whenever it comes there. I just think it's sad that the industry has stooped so low as to view a guy fresh out of Riddle, no other background, no other experience, as someone qualified to be a 121 airline pilot with 300 hours of flight time.

Just the other day a sport plane here in Spokane landed on a road when the engine quit. Guy did a great job. The guy had 140 hours and the local media was making an issue of what little experience that was to be flying an aircraft. How amazed would they be to see the backgrounds of some airline F/O's these days?

 

PAX are probably more worried about the 300 hr pilot landing on their car on the highway than flying with a similar pilot at the airport.

How many low time pilot articles have we seen with little to no reaction. PAX don't care. Doesn't mean we shouldn't tho...