mesa airlines
03-03-2006 | 12:01 PM
#52
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 44,888
Likes: 684
From: Engines Turn or People Swim
Originally Posted by freezingflyboy
Not sure which government's employees you are referring too. Russia maybe?
Seriously though, your "FAA examiner" is more than likely a DPE (designated pilot examiner) and is NOT employed by the FAA. These guys are actually independent contractors and are free to set their own rates. As far as reasons they charge so much, the story I have heard is that:
a) you are buying their time. Figure the average PPL checkride takes 4 hours (2 hour oral, 1.5 hour flight with .5 pre and post) your examiner is charging you roughly $50-60/hr to be there.
b) The examiner probably has a real job or is retired and would rather be on his boat or on the golf course but instead he has to drag himself down to the airport and go fly with someone who may or may not try and kill him. cha-ching, please pay another 100 bucks for inconvenience factor, cost of getting out to do your checkride (gas, food, etc) and the occasional new pair of underwear
.
c) DPE's are subject to some liability if you take your shiny new certificate out and crash your C152 into someones house. Most carry additional insurance to cover their a$$es just in case because most have significant assets (ex-airline, -military, -corporate, etc). Cha-ching, another $100 to cover insurance and aggravation costs as well as recurrency training, etc.
So there you have it. Seems very reasonable to me. That being said, one of the advantages of a 141 program is not having to pay those costs. Now, if your examiner REALLY was from the FAA, they do NOT charge a fee because they are being paid by the FAA (or so I've been told). What's the downside? From what I've heard, checkrides given by a true FAA examiner are much more difficult and most people have difficulty passing on the first try. In addition, they are difficult to schedule.
I guess the bottom line is, if you haven't figured it out by now, FLIGHT TRAINING COSTS A LOT OF MONEY!!!
Seriously though, your "FAA examiner" is more than likely a DPE (designated pilot examiner) and is NOT employed by the FAA. These guys are actually independent contractors and are free to set their own rates. As far as reasons they charge so much, the story I have heard is that:
a) you are buying their time. Figure the average PPL checkride takes 4 hours (2 hour oral, 1.5 hour flight with .5 pre and post) your examiner is charging you roughly $50-60/hr to be there.
b) The examiner probably has a real job or is retired and would rather be on his boat or on the golf course but instead he has to drag himself down to the airport and go fly with someone who may or may not try and kill him. cha-ching, please pay another 100 bucks for inconvenience factor, cost of getting out to do your checkride (gas, food, etc) and the occasional new pair of underwear
.c) DPE's are subject to some liability if you take your shiny new certificate out and crash your C152 into someones house. Most carry additional insurance to cover their a$$es just in case because most have significant assets (ex-airline, -military, -corporate, etc). Cha-ching, another $100 to cover insurance and aggravation costs as well as recurrency training, etc.
So there you have it. Seems very reasonable to me. That being said, one of the advantages of a 141 program is not having to pay those costs. Now, if your examiner REALLY was from the FAA, they do NOT charge a fee because they are being paid by the FAA (or so I've been told). What's the downside? From what I've heard, checkrides given by a true FAA examiner are much more difficult and most people have difficulty passing on the first try. In addition, they are difficult to schedule.
I guess the bottom line is, if you haven't figured it out by now, FLIGHT TRAINING COSTS A LOT OF MONEY!!!
03-03-2006 | 12:08 PM
#53
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 44,888
Likes: 684
From: Engines Turn or People Swim
Originally Posted by stanrhintx
I went part 141, had to pay $200 plus the aircraft time. Like freezingflyboy said, the IF qualifier...
I guess the examiner cost can vary quite a bit. I've heard anywhere from $200 - $400 a pop.
I guess the examiner cost can vary quite a bit. I've heard anywhere from $200 - $400 a pop.
A 141 school can fall into any of these categories:
1) No examination authority: You take a final stagecheck (just like a checkride) then pay a DPE $400 to do it again. Or you could go with the FAA...but the 3 pink slips really aren't going to look good on your record.
2) Examining authority: The final stage check IS the checkride. It is conducted by a specially qualified 141 check pilot (not easy to qualify). You pay airplane rental and instructor time.
3) Just like number 2, but they charge you a $100-300 checkride fee, in addition to airplane rental. This is just free money for the school.
03-03-2006 | 12:15 PM
#54
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 44,888
Likes: 684
From: Engines Turn or People Swim
Originally Posted by stanrhintx
So far, I haven't noticed any bad attitudes towards MAPD graduates. So far, we've got a pretty good comradery going- study groups, helping each other out. We have everything from a 5,000 hour 1900 captain going to ERJ captain to 1,000 hour CFI new hires to a few MAPD graduates and a few Delta Connection academy grads. Everyone has been awesome, no complaints here at all.
But please don't buy into JO's philosophy of life right away...suspend your judgement until you've been on line for a year...then you'll KNOW....
03-06-2006 | 07:05 AM
#55
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 139
Likes: 0
From: ERJ-145 FO
LOL... thanks for the tip, Rick. We new hires had lunch with JO last week. My official position is that I am going to maintain a positive attitude and learn as much as I can from everyone I can. That includes learning what TO do and what NOT to do, and JO is included in that. From where I stand now, he is just another business man trying make some money. I am getting all kinds of little tidbits of information from all kinds of viewpoints, and am definitely filing them away for future use.
I'm over 40, so I've been rode hard and hung up wet before, and have my eyes and ears comletely open.
I'm over 40, so I've been rode hard and hung up wet before, and have my eyes and ears comletely open.
03-13-2006 | 07:44 PM
#57
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,652
Likes: 0
From: Spartan
Originally Posted by flyhigh22
I just got accepted into the MPD program, and am looking for advice whether I should do it or not. I have 650tt and 30me time. I am currently instructing at a 141 school. Any advice would greatly be appreciated.
03-13-2006 | 08:58 PM
#58
Guest
Posts: n/a
Slice,
Thanks for the info. I was thinking that same thing after i read how bad of a company mesa really is. I just graduated with my BA in aviation and i wanted the fast track to the regionals. Guess it was to good to be true. Thanks again for your time and info.
Thanks for the info. I was thinking that same thing after i read how bad of a company mesa really is. I just graduated with my BA in aviation and i wanted the fast track to the regionals. Guess it was to good to be true. Thanks again for your time and info.
03-14-2006 | 07:18 AM
#59
Line Holder
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 234
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The weather is getting better – the summer is coming – you can probably log another 350 hours instructing before the fall. Then buy some multi engine time. Why go the PFT route, spend all this money, gain little or no valuable experience, and get all the stigma associated with PFT for the rest of your carrier? If you are just starting out you may (still should not) justify it. In your case – you are already a CFI and need only 350 hours! Go get it and have fun!
03-14-2006 | 08:34 AM
#60
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,357
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From: UPS 757/767 Capt ONT
"I just got accepted into the MPD program, and am looking for advice whether I should do it or not. I have 650tt and 30me time"
Makes no sense to me why you would do MAPD with those times. Could you explain that one?
Makes no sense to me why you would do MAPD with those times. Could you explain that one?
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