wish i could help you out with that also, didn't want you to think i was just bailing on more advice, but, i don't really have any.

My university had all 1999 172R's. I've flown a couple SP's as well. They're very nice airplanes (the R was much more basic than the SP though) KLN89B GPS, cloth seats, dual OBS, single NDB with movable card. We also had a couple 152's and an older 172, all commercial training was done in a 172RG (circa 78-81), our Duchi' were from 79-80, etc, all very well maintained. Honestly, though, just as much could have been completed with a 150 or a cherokee as could be done in a skyhawk. Finding a twin trainer can be more difficult, but asking around your FBO should net you some answers. Check the other local airports, look for the smaller, old time flight schools, vs. the new ones with multiple frasca simulators, etc. Also remember, the purpose of time building (say for your commercial certificate) is to "build time". You'll find yourself having to fly further, rent more often, to build the same amount of time in the faster (and more expensive) skyhawk, than you would in the older smaller 152. Same time, if i was taking the girlfriend for a 100 dollar hamburger, i'd advise you to rent the "big plane" so she feels special...

 

Take off your pink colored sunshades.

Just because there are guys here who see clearly enough everything that is wrong in this industry, and see what needs to change, does not make them "salty whiners". Everything they complain about is fully justifiable.

Glad you think everything is peachy, though. We can all look forward to better pay, and better T&Cs with guys like some in this thread around, who would be willing to thank their airline for every stale crumb of bread thrown at them, because they get to fly a shiny jet.

We are grossly underpaid for what we do, and the last thing this industry needs is more guys who seem to be perfectly content with the wages and conditions lowering the bar even further. Some posters satisfaction with the wages seems to hint at this.

 

......................

 

Actually, I don't necesarily think that regional captain pay is that great, considering the investment towards the career, the time away from home, as well as constantly having your job, and life, for that matter, on the line, constantly. BUT, income, and what one thinks is, or is not, good income, is subjective. There are people who would kill to make $60K, no matter what career they are in. No, I don't feel that way.

My point was that I have never wanted to become an airline pilot, due to being under any impression the job was all glitz and glamour, and that I'd get to wear a uniform, and fly a shiny jet. I just enjoy flying, and have ever since I've been a little kid, and thus, always wanted to be an airline pilot. I understand that a love for flying can be satisfied by owning your own airplane, and being a weekend warrior. Trust me, I am considering that. My other point, was that no job is glitz an glamour, so in other words, going into any career because of money, or because you think it will give you prestige, is not the right reasons.

Actually, no, I don't think that. I never said that, or meant to imply that. My point was that nobody can look into the future and say for sure what the airlines will do over the next year, much less the next 5-10+ years. Things may become worse, or they may become significantly better. Someone hired during the next few years may see the opportunity to move on to a major, or they may spend their life at a regional. For anybody to tell someone that they shouldn't pursue the career, because they probably won't fly for a major, isn't, in my opinion, a fair statement, because nobody knows for sure. One person's experience, may not be another person's.

I am VERY aware of what is going on in the airline industry. Up until just about a month ago, due to my working in the airline industry, I had decided to not pursue the airline pilot career. It wasn't until I talked to a CAL FO, who really had a lot of encouraging things to say, that I began looking into it, again. With that said, I am working on a degree in a non-aviation field, and am simply waiting to see what will happen over the next few years, to the industry. If things don't improve, I will simply pursue another career, and fly for fun.

You do have to find what makes you happy. As per my post being jibberish, I don't think it was, so much as I was in a rush to write that, before I headed out the door, and didn't make the points as clear as I should have.

 

Found another FBO close to my current living situation... 110 for the plane, and 40 for the instructor... it's an older 172.

Given my current time and PPL, it should cost approx 29,000 to complete all of my ratings / required hours (given leeway for added time if needed) at that FBO... 7n7 for those of you that are curious...

I found out they do have financing avail, but most of my training will have to be on weekends since it gets dark here early now... (And I'm stuck at work all day) But if I could bust out 12 hours of flying every weekend... I could be done in 4 to 5 months (counting weather days, etc...) I don't know, it's no doubt cheaper... but is it the best learning environment?

The instructor is supposedly really good, and also is a furloughed airline pilot...

Also I'd have to get all the multi ratings somewhere else... they don't have one... Add another 5 grand for that I'm guessing? He did say he's looking at a seneca, but doesn't have the business for it right now, but if he got 3 or more multi students, he'd pick it up...

 

Don't be in such a hurry. Why try to get it done it 4 to 5 months? Do it on weekends, when you can, and a couple days after work in the summer when it stays light longer. Seriously, my main problem with ATP is the 90 day program takes you from PPL to CFIMEI so quick. No time for things to sink in. No time to practice what you just learned. Doing it so quick makes for a lousy learning environment, not better. Anyhow, go speak with the furloughed airline pilot CFI and see what he thinks. Talk about structure.

Don't worry about the multi time. Concentrate on becoming employable as an entry level professional pilot.

 

agree with was 727 said, honestly, the "entry level" pro pilot isn't going to be in the pointy end of an RJ. What happened recently, might be very rare, and may not happen by the time you're making the jump to the industry.

I Can't remember what part of the country you're flying in...Why no night flying? For myself, i loved flying at night. Some of my best flight training days, involved me getting off work at 5pm, going to the airport, flying for an hour or two, and then headed back home to throw down a cold one, relax for a few hours, and get to sleep.

Flying on weekends should be doable, i wouldn't try to fly a 12 hr day, no reason to do that. For your commercial certificate, you'll have to build 50 hrs of X-country flying, you'll need that time before you're able to get your instrument rating in a part 61 school also. Wouldn't be a bad time to do the weekend jaunt from here to a hundred dollar hamburger and back, always fun at night (just don't hit a mountain). I'd say, go talk to the instructor, see what type of guy he seems like, tell him your goals, and see how interested he is in helping achieve those goals. Also, see how eager he is to get back to his airline. If things start to come around, it's never fun for your instructor to pack up and leave to get back to the 121 world.

People learn differently from different people, i hated losing students mid semester, and hated losing instructors the same way when i was a student. It'd be one of the biggest difficulties i could see at a pilot factory also, once hiring resumes, the instructors down there are going to start jumping at the first airline jobs that become available, creating high turnover, and the ability for your six months of flight training to drag into eight months, ten months, or a year before you know it, all because you're having to adapt your learning process to multiple individuals over a short period of time.

 

ahhhhhhhh must be nice.

 

Thanks for the info! I hope to never share a cockpit with a negetive nancy like yourself. I hope your quest for higher wages and better work rules works out well for you, but there is always someone to take lower wages and crappier work rules then yourself. I am trying to avoid the regional arena all together if possible, but thanks for your contribution to your own stated problem. We all appreciate you willingness to work in your self described horrible conditions for extremely meager compensation. Maybe someday you can start your own airline and pay pilots 50 times what they are willing to work for! You will be a hero!

 

You do not know me, or how I am to fly with so save the name calling for your friends/kids/wife. I do however, see things as they are, and unlike you refuse to act as an advocate for the crap the regionals are filled with just because I love to fly.

I researched long and hard what I was getting myself into, and from the very beginning was not planning on spending my career flying in the U.S for crap wages, and my quest has only begun. If I was not in need of money as much as I am now, I would be a little more content.. at least for the time being. No where in the world is this industry perfect, but I think it is safe to say that the U.S is a bar-lowering nation as far as T&Cs and pay goes at the airlines.

And if I was to start an airline, I would lease a few A380s, put the captain requirements at 2000TT 500PIC, pay them 60,000$ a year.

For F/O it would be 250 and a multi-commercial, and put the starting pay at 15,000$ per year.

Then like all management, I would laugh at all the suckers whoring themselves because they finally get to fly a big jet. I know I would have no shortage of applicants.


I'm not saying don't do it. But don't sit there and say that everything is OK the way it is and isnt that bad, because that just makes you look like a fool.

My biggest gripe is the money because at the moment it is preventing me from further bettering my life. It would be one thing if we didnt deserve more, but I believe it is scandalous to be accepting these wages for what we do.