so which is it?

"There is nothing wrong with being a CFI or going to Jet U or GIA or getting a job towing a banner at the beach."

I think there is. You're comparing getting paid to do an honest entry level job to paying for a job that's part of a scheme to lower the career expectations of pilots. The idea being that an airline doesn't need to hire copilots if it can find people willing to PAY to be copilots. It's not a healthy thing for the profession....

If you think nobody is going to care during the course of your career that you went to Gulfstream, you're living in a bubble. I think that attitude is perpetuated at Gulfstream cause that's what you guys all want to hear. If you're not sure about that, do a little research here, at flightinfo, or at jetcareers, and see what you come up with.

"And call me a scab if you want but I'm enjoying what I'm doing and my quality of life is outstanding"

I don't think you're a scab but that's exactly what a scab would say. "I'm enjoying what I'm doing and life is outstanding". People that came before both of us sacrificed tremendously to make this career what it is. They weren't scabs and they didn't pay for jobs.

Believe me, many in this career don't, and won't, ever look highly upon someone who PFJed. Best you just keep it to yourself...

With attitudes like that, I wonder why a lot of people see us as whiny glorified bus drivers... God forbid someone actually enjoy their job.

Preach it Jd. I go tinto flying because I love it not for the money. If I was in it for the money I'de have bailed as soon as I got in. I truly love what I do and don't care about the money. I got in cause I wanted to and would not change a thing. And who cares how you built your time, you built it. It's a pitty there is so much jealousy amongst pilots.

ConnectionPilot,

I think there's been decent advice given on this board so far.

Let me add some things.

You said you don't want to flight instruct, fine, let me tell you some options.

Gulfstream: Don't do it. I'm sure their training is actuallly very decent, equipment is probably good, and safety record is top notch. However, I'm against the fundamental idea of paying an airline itself to sit in the right seat.
Besides, it's 30 THOUSAND DOLLARS !


Let me give you non-instructing options for LESS than 30,000 bucks, and you can end up at regionals with low time:

The best one I can think of is Flight Safety Academy's Direct Track program.


First, you pay $5000 for a single and multi engine evaluation. Then, you interview with a regional airline. Yes, you interview UPFRONT, and only if you're hired, you're given a conditional letter of employment, and THEN proceed with the rest of the program for $22,500. Total $27,500.
If you're not hired by one of the airlines, you can interview with the other ones.

But note that only once you've been hired by the airline, do you proceed to pay the $22,500 to Flight Safety. Otherwise, you don't pay them.

4 Airlines participate in this Direct Track program: XJT, Eagle, TSA, and ASA. The ASA program as far as I know, is on hold so far. The other three are running.

Minimums: ASA and TSA: No hourly requirements, just need Comm-Multi-Instrument.

Eagle: 336 total time, 36 multi to interview

Xjet: 400 total time, 100 multi to interview.


The attractive thing is you dont pay the huge sum of $22,500 to flight safety academy unless you pass your interview and are hired.

Link:

http://www.flightsafetyacademy.com/c...escription.pdf

This route mentioned is much better, I think, than Gulfstream. So don't waste your time and money at Gulfstream.


Another option: Mesa's MAPD/PACE program. PACE is for Comm-Multi-Instrument rated pilots. Cost about $12-15000 (Half of Gulfstream), and upon completion, guaranteed interview with Mesa. Again, most, like 90% of those who do this program, get hired at Mesa.
This option is better than Gulfstream, costs less as well.

Link: http://www.flightcareers.com/Pace_Br...i_Training.htm

So follow either one of the two options above, but don't go to Gulfstream.

"And who cares how you built your time, you built it"

A lot of people do. There are honorable ways, which are most of them, and a few dishonorable ways. That would be Gulfstream, PFJ, or being a scab.

Do you guys actually think paying for a job is an acceptable way to enter this industry? Perhaps the attitudes I'm getting from the masses who talk agaisnt it on the net, and in real life, are not representitive of this thread.

Has nothing to do with if you like your job or not. I like mine, too. There are limits, though, to what steps one should take to make it in this biz. I'm gonna say it's not good for us all, as a whole, if doing whatever it takes to be happy as an individual has no limits. Being a scab so one can be a happy Capt sooner than later comes to mind....

is3cm,

I'm curious, why did you pay $30,000 to go to Gulfstream?

Why didn't you consider something else like mentioned above in my post ?(please read it)

Just curious, thanks.




BrownTail LOL you're a funny guy.

But from having read your previous posts, you sound like a pretty reasonable/wise person, so I'm sure you're yanking chains.
You wouldn't go anywhere near Jet University. And neither would I.

"The best one I can think of is Flight Safety Academy's Direct Track program"
"Minimums: ASA and TSA: No hourly requirements, just need Comm-Multi-Instrument"

Personally, I don't think people with 250-300 hours belong in the right seat of an RJ.

Another negative of FSA direct track is you could be "hired" into the program with ASA, do the program, and then ASA stops hiring. There is a guy at Jetcareers this happened to that, last I heard, has been waiting several months for a class date and still doesn't have one.

If you love your job, have a little respect for the industry, and yourself. Work your way in. I'm not saying that flight instructing is for everybody. I've found my niche. But there is no other industry where you have to PAY to go to work. Military, pipeline, and other routes will get you there too.

Once you have the credentials, they should be paying you. Not the other way around.

"have a little respect for the industry"

Yeah, that's partly my point. I think if you PFJ you are showing disrespect for the industry, and the career, in a big way. In their defense, I can totally see how a Gulfstreamer misses that, with the fancy website and the bubble they are in.