Indeed, these are the questions that keep us up at night.

 

I have both and i think the crj course help but it is not worht the money. It will put you ahead by maybe a sim or two tops. after that everyone else has causght up to you. I did it because it was part of my major so i had too. I am now looking back on where i went and if i would have know more about the industy then i would have went another route. Bottom line save your money.

Everyone that says to do your cfi is 100% correct you learn so much in the first few months of haveing a student scare the crap out of you. It makes your scan 10 times faster. I would also say get your MEI because 1 it is a great achievement and two you have a whole new learning curve when you start teaching in a twin and you fail one and your student feathers the other while in the pattern. Those were the days!! lol

 

Well, these are my honest opinions and i am sure that I'll be corrected if wrong. Keep in mind I do not fly an airline, just my observation and results from research.
One of the best way to learn something is to be able to teach it. The CFI/CFII/MEI would definitely give you experience and knowledge that would not be wasted.
The sim would obviously give you the experience to fly an RJ but if your company would pay you to do it, it would be rather pointless to pay for it just to fly that "shiny jet."
There are definitely more avenues to gaining the experience and knowledge of flying. Where teaching or military are the more popular ones, some folks(like myself) would just prefer not to teach whether or not they fly for an airline now or a little later. In other words, if teaching is your thing and you have the opportunity, go for it, forget that pretty certificate that says you can fly an RJ. If teaching is not really your thing, think outside the box. Whatever you do, get more than just a piece of paper you spent 1 week out of your life for that says you can fly a jet that flies itself.

Disclaimer: Please keep in mind these are my opinions and not meant to put down anyone who has chosen military or instructing as their path.

 

CFI CFI CFI...The things you learn flight instructing and hanging around a GA airport will stick with you longer than what you learn in some classroom in Florida. You will more than likely not work at a regional your whole life. You may find yourself flying GA airplanes again and the skills you get flight instructing will help you there as well as the airline. The RJ course might help you learn how to manage an airplane. CFI'ing will teach you to fly an airplane through pure talent, better understand how people work in an airplane, and learn the material i.e. multi engine flying, instrument procedures etc through teaching it.

 

Why regionals lower their minimums for people with RJ course, but will not do the same for CFI ??? Why they give preference to the RJ course ???

 

Those RJ courses are a scam. Flights scools are inherently sleazy businesses. Why on earth would you pay for something that you can get for free (i.e. the regional that hires you will train you)? Besides, what happens when you don't hired? Then what? All you have is certificate saying you played around with a sim for a few hours, instead of an actual certificate you take with you anywhere. Get your CFI. Its a far better investment. Ask anyone whos done it.

 

$$$, if you think the airlines that endorse these programs aren't getting kick backs, you're naive! (Evian spelled backwards, coincidence?)

 

I just want to throw my 4 1/2 cents out there as well. Get your CFI and instruct for 6-12 months. The airlines will be hiring off and on forever. There is no rush to jump in those fast tin cans. I developed great relationships with other instructors and even a few students. The experience and satisfaction you earn is endless. I remember dreading the CFI route and now it has become one of the single greatest decisions I have ever made. Plus, at most places you make a little more money and even get to play at night. Trust me bud, all airlines pay for you to learn what you need to know. "Transition courses" are very overratted and over priced.

 

Plus you will learn how to talk on the radio!!! I just think it is hilarious to think of myself (or anyone else) going from commercial multi to flying a regional jet out of ORD or JFK. ATC would have had a field day with me. Watch how much you learn when you realize your the one calling the shots.

 

Are there really a lot of CFIs who have talked on the radios at ORD?