Navy, medical DQ, didn't want to demote to the backseat, did non-flying navy jobs, got out, took up civvy flying, here I am. The CFI experience was time-building, I didn't get enough in the nav.

It's dissapointing to see ATP double their asking price for the RJ program for their own instructors. They can't exactly justify that by stating fuel prices but I guess if people are still paying the money....

ATP use to charge $30K for their 90 day program in 2001. I imagine the hiring / build-up at the regionals has enabled them to justify their price structure. Like you said - people are willing to pay.

In the case of the 90 day program. Its a good deal - fixed price, fixed time, ME time, get all the ratings you'll ever need and plenty of locations where one can make ends meet on CFI pay while building time...I would do it if I had the finances...


-LA

The reason they doubled the asking price for the RJ program is because no one off the street is going to pay $6000, and not get a type rating. So the only people doing the RJ program are instructors. So they need to make some money back to pay for the sim and the cost of running it. That is my opinion.

What do you get for the RJ program? 6K less in your bank account? Won't the airline train you without the RJ program graduation...Is the Rj program tied into an early interview / hiring scheme?

-LA

Basically, yes 6k less in your bank account. The company scares people into believeing that many will fail the ground school at the regonal so they should take the rj course so they could pass. Basically, pay for training.

RJ Program
 

The airlines that have interview agreements(lowered their mins) with us, require that you complete the RJ course. Upon successful completion of it, you are guaranteed an interview. Depending on your well your interview goes, or if they want more flight time because of a checkride bust, they may or may not hire you. The program does not give you a type rating, some guys liked it because it said it gave them a head start on FMS operations. There are plenty of people who have never seen an FMS and all of the other systems that make it through training just fine. It is only 6K if you are not an instructor. It is 2K if you are, I plan on trying to avoid the program unless I just can't get hired at an airline that doesn't require that course.