Airline Pilot Central Forums - New to the Industry

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Quote:

Originally Posted by soldierboy (Post 338865)

I will go to AriBen Aviator so I can use my VA/GI Bill from the Army retirement I will get to help pay my training.
Does anyone know if another regional besides Eagle uses DFW as a base? I think I will like living there with my family if I can get it and on with a descent regional.
Anyone know the time it takes to get to the left seat at Eagle?
I will start my flight training in 2 years when I retire and start my second carrer.

I don't think you realize just how much things change within six months, much less 2-3 years from now. Even if you're doing your research the right way, you may not be able to tell which company will be the best for you until just a few months before you're ready to apply. Time to the left seat at Eagle right now is still among the longest in the regional industry, but a lot might change by the time you're ready. It's good that you're asking questions, but at this point you need to be much less concerned about QOL, upgrade, and domiciles and just worry about getting your training in. Assuming it will take you at least a year to get all your certs, three years is an eternity in this industry.

Two years before starting training is also a long time in the flight school industry. Since you want to use your GI Bill, you have to go to a part 141 school with a VA-approved program. You cannot train under part 61 and get VA reimbursement. Right now, many of those larger 141 schools are changing policies and enrollment options to accommodate foreign training contracts, rather than U.S.-based students or veterans. U.S. students find it harder to find the financing compared to Chinese or Indian students, and that's where the money is. I know of at least two major flight schools in Arizona who have stopped accepting U.S. students all together and get 100% of their business through foreign contracts. Many 141 schools are going that direction to stay afloat. Also, since the GI Bill doesn't pay a dime toward your Private license, you should just find a seasoned instructor at a small local airport for your first license. It will be cheaper, and probably better instruction than many of the 141 pilot factories out there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gbntpilot (Post 338772)

That's a question that could be discussed at length for DAYS on here. Each airline has their own set of advantages and disadvantages, good and bad points, and reputation. If you haven't even started flight training yet, the one thing you can definitely count on is the fact that everything in the industry will change an untold number of times before you're in a position to apply. The airline that's very attractive today may not even exist by the time you're ready, and the worst airline in the country right now might be the most attractive later on. Also, the answer to your question all depends on where you want to live, what your goals are for your career, your priorities, blah blah blah. When I first started training I was dying to work for Air Wisconsin. No offense to the wisky guys, but I'm kind of glad I did some more research and ended up where I did. While I envy AWAC's pay scale, Mesaba is a better fit for me and where I want to be.

Piedmont isn't terrible in comparison to many others out there, like Mesa. Most of the negative comments you've heard about Piedmont are probably in regard to their training department though. It needs a serious reorganization. Just, please, stay away from GoJet. If you get people started on this forum about that company, your thread will get hijacked in a matter of minutes, filling up with all kinds of nasty stuff. If you're curious, do a search. Otherwise, don't even go there.

You don't need to be qualified in the CRJ, ERJ, DHC-8, (whatever) in order to apply to a regional. When you're hired they will pay for your training. The way things are now, most of the new hires flying those jets/t-props had never flown anything bigger than a Seminole before they were hired. In the past, you really needed some experience flying something bigger than a trainer (cargo, air taxi, charter, etc.), or a lot of instructing experience to be competitive in a regional airline interview. But, the industry as a whole needs pilots so badly now, that's just not the case anymore. I just hope for your sake that the bubble doesn't burst before you're in a position to take advantage of it. Everything is cyclical here. We've definitely had our upswing. The million dollar question is, how long will it last, or has it already hit its peak and begun back down? That's up for debate.

Hope that helps.

I was wondering.....Have you ever seen guys retire from the military and then attend flight school (in your class) while you were taking your training?

Stay FAR away from CAPT (Commercial Airline Pilot Training Program) based out of Flagler County Airport in Palm Coast, FL. I hear they're teaching English there these days. Pathetic...

Some guy was PMing me about CAPT about a week ago. I forgot your screen name. I sent him over to JC. Hope he's still around.

Thank! My spidy sense is about a week behind these days. :) I thought I felt a disturbance in the force...another lost soul looking to give away his hard earned money (or worse, borrowed money) to give to a flight school founded on a lack of ethics and morals. I hope he didn't sign up there...poor kid.

If you want to get airline oriented trainning then go to FSI. If you just want to get your licences then go to AriBen. Defenitelly FSI is more expensive but better quality of trainning. As far as getting a job, my opinion who ever hires you first. Apply to all of them and then you deceide.