Whats the usuall response time for great lakes? I sent in an app and resume 3 days ago, thought i would have heard something by now if they are that desperate.

It varies. Even with an internal rec, it took about 4-6 weeks to get a call on mine. Be patient and keep updating your quals/resume/app.

Congrats on getting hired at Mesa! ;)

I'ma have to call bull**** on that one. There were two in my class alone, and I was one of 'em.

I am concerned about the difficulty of training and would like to get the MEI and ATP written out of the way before I apply.

I wouldn't worry too much about the training. Anyone with good study habits who works hard should do fine. However, I can't argue with anyone looking to get more experience flight instructing first. It helps big time in the long run.

I wouldn't worry about the ATP written. It is a stupid test and you don't learn anything from it. I took mine at All ATPs and I didn't learn a thing and had no problems when I upgraded. Best 300 bucks I ever spent. If you want to get your MEI then go for it but I don't think it is necessary, but it will help some. Letting student pilots try to kill you for a couple of hundred hours would be good for you though, even if you are only in singles. getting some instrument students would be good for ya too, assuming you are a CFII. Most of the pepole that wash out of training are poor on their instrument skills and knowlege. Most don't have too much trouble with V1 cuts and single engine ops after a couple practices. Good luck... and for what its worth, I think Lakes is one of the best kept secrets out there. I spent less than 3 years there and landed a job with a Major and have 1000 turbine PIC under my belt.

Be my guest. If you knew any better you would know that many people don't do what they say they will. But if you just started with Lakes, you'll learn that soon enough.

That pretty much sums up the life of a CFI/CFII!!!!!!!!

Sheesh, calm down. I'm just saying that if the CP is telling people that he won't accept applicants with XXX number of hours, I can probably find a pilot somewhere in the system whose presence proves him wrong. It's not like I'm about to walk up to Brad and tell him he's full of crap...

Oh, and I didn't just start with Lakes, I've actually been here for a while (seen all of the seasons, at least), and seen pilots with less time than me get hired - some did very well, some did not. If you're willing to work yourself into a near-suicidal furor in order to hold the job, you might be able to pull it off with 300 hours.