Had a conversation with a guy last week while airlining to work. He's a CRJ captain at a commuter airline.

He said he'd leave his job for FSI (to be an instructor) if they'd "buy me valuable rating like a G-V, Global Express, Falcon 7X".

I said his "valuable rating" is going to come at a high price, he won't be flying anymore, he said he's not worried, "I got my 1000 hrs PIC and a this useless type rating, its time to move on". He hasn't applied at FSI, but he's thinking about it

what's you guys take on this??

my opinion, bad move

 

Dont know on the corporate side, but many places want recency experience (ex: 500 flying hrs during the last 6 months).

 

Traditionally, FSI instructors have gotten lots of offers, depending on the type and the market. At least, the schedule is decent and pay competitive.

Usually, there are opportunities to fly with customers as contract pilots; FSI wants their instructors to have time in the plane. They also will, after some period of employment, allow one to get another type. The market for corporate guys is improving.

If going corporate: good move

If wanting to get to a major: so-so at best

GF

 

Depends on his family situation but I'd say it's a solid idea...

 

he must be absolutely crazy. why would he want to leave a regional for a job that provides decent pay and benefits, home every night, and none of the stress of being a regional captain?

 

A G-V type rating is a $100,000 event at Flight Safety. Contract pilots are $1000 or more/day. If he has something lined up in advance that might not be the worst idea in the world. Otherwise I dunno.

 

Bingo. The G-Whiz club is fairly elite (at least the members like to think they are). Getting a Gulfstream type can open a lot of doors. That most likely applies to other large cabin jets as well. Citation types, Lear types, Hawkers, not so much....

CitationAir is going to end up dumping 100+ typed and experienced CJ, Excel, Encore pilots into the market. NJA dumped nearly 500 from the Excel, Ultra, X, H800 and G200 pilots out there. A few of us were able to find work flying what we flew at NJA, but most not.

His plan is reasonably solid, but he needs to choose the facility and type wisely. The best you can expect at CMH would be a Netjets interview when / if we hire again. SAV in the G-string and you'll probably end up flying one somewhere within a couple of years.

BTW, when pilot hiring is going gangbusters, I saw happy FSI instructors at the CMH center who dressed professionally, but left the tie at home. They worked the same 7 and 7 schedules we did, got paid over the holiday break when no training was going on and were treated well by management. Last time I went through was in November '09. There had been furloughs, the instructors were being forced to take their vacation days through the holidays, schedules has gone to crap, and ties were mandatory.

Seems the treatment of the instructors fluctuates with the pilot market.

 

GV types run about 40k or so

 

He didn't say he had something lined up, I think his plan is to jump in the simulator with guys, and start networking-making connections... That's a good plan, problem is most flight departments and insurance companies want at least 300 hrs on type.

He could end up at a great flight department if this works out, making good money and flying all over the world... but if it backfires, he's gonna be a sim-instructor for many, many years

tough move, I think I'd stay where I'm at

 

He might want to go to FSI, but does FSI want him? Seems like there are lots of experienced corporate pilots out there that are available for a job like this.