Helicopters to Regionals
12-27-2016, 09:55 AM
#81
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2016
Position: P-28
Posts: 151
It isn't the greatest program, but if you are already living in SD it might be an option for you. In general they send you to Coastal Aviation in San Diego to get your fixed wing hours. They expect you to use your GI bill to help cover the costs. You have to provide your own place to stay. Coastal has some form of crash pad you can buy into while you are there. The good part is that it is in San Diego and the weather allows you to build your time quick with few cancellations. There have been a few threads on the program in the military forum here.
01-16-2017, 07:04 PM
#82
New Hire
Joined APC: Jan 2017
Posts: 4
Put this in the military section, but also wanted to place the post here since there seems to be more visibility.
Well, I've been reading around these forums for the past couple hours. I must say it has been interesting.
I went to a hiring seminar yesterday in San Diego and was able to talk to a bunch of the recruiters from the regionals. It seems like there are a lot of openings, and a lot of what I've been hearing about a pilot shortage seems to be showing in the regionals specifically. One thing of note, I think any rotary wing guy considering the transition right know is aware of the Envoy program. Well, PSA, and Piedmont will also be offering a similar program as well. It seems AA has realized that we can be taught, and more quickly and cheaper than a "cadet" off the street.
Reading a lot in the regionals thread has been, well, shall we say enlightening? I'm just curious if there is anyone out there that has recently made the switch, or close to the switch.
Here's my considerations at this point. There's the "easy" button which is Envoy, PSA, and Piedmont right now. They all offer competitive FO pay, and bonuses keeping it around 60k a year. The upgrade time seems pretty similar from what I've gathered, with less than a six month disparity between them.
The other option is getting my 250 FWPIC time on my own. My current plan is getting my multi-engine when I get back from deployment roughly July/August timeframe. Then looking at CFI to get the rest of the time, using the weekends first, and next year around March I'll have about two months of terminal leave to get as many hours as possible in two months to get the 250.
So, I guess I'm debating between those two options. The first one, is the easy button, and what I've seen in the regionals thread they all seem like good options. Is there anyone who has done those already? The only commitment that I'm aware of is the 2 year commitment from the transition program. Is there some fine print that I'm missing there?
The second one may take a little longer, but opens up other options such as SkyWest, endeavor, express jet, and well all of the other regionals.
Any recommendations or reason for one over the other?
Oh, quick breakdown for me.
Navy -60 guy, retiring next year at 22 years, prior enlisted so only doing MSR from wings..
~1300 TT and will be current, or should be baring something crazy, when I retire.
~125 FW time, not pic though as almost all of that was flight school.
Well, I've been reading around these forums for the past couple hours. I must say it has been interesting.
I went to a hiring seminar yesterday in San Diego and was able to talk to a bunch of the recruiters from the regionals. It seems like there are a lot of openings, and a lot of what I've been hearing about a pilot shortage seems to be showing in the regionals specifically. One thing of note, I think any rotary wing guy considering the transition right know is aware of the Envoy program. Well, PSA, and Piedmont will also be offering a similar program as well. It seems AA has realized that we can be taught, and more quickly and cheaper than a "cadet" off the street.
Reading a lot in the regionals thread has been, well, shall we say enlightening? I'm just curious if there is anyone out there that has recently made the switch, or close to the switch.
Here's my considerations at this point. There's the "easy" button which is Envoy, PSA, and Piedmont right now. They all offer competitive FO pay, and bonuses keeping it around 60k a year. The upgrade time seems pretty similar from what I've gathered, with less than a six month disparity between them.
The other option is getting my 250 FWPIC time on my own. My current plan is getting my multi-engine when I get back from deployment roughly July/August timeframe. Then looking at CFI to get the rest of the time, using the weekends first, and next year around March I'll have about two months of terminal leave to get as many hours as possible in two months to get the 250.
So, I guess I'm debating between those two options. The first one, is the easy button, and what I've seen in the regionals thread they all seem like good options. Is there anyone who has done those already? The only commitment that I'm aware of is the 2 year commitment from the transition program. Is there some fine print that I'm missing there?
The second one may take a little longer, but opens up other options such as SkyWest, endeavor, express jet, and well all of the other regionals.
Any recommendations or reason for one over the other?
Oh, quick breakdown for me.
Navy -60 guy, retiring next year at 22 years, prior enlisted so only doing MSR from wings..
~1300 TT and will be current, or should be baring something crazy, when I retire.
~125 FW time, not pic though as almost all of that was flight school.
01-16-2017, 07:23 PM
#83
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2016
Posts: 2,559
All of your time after obtaining a PPL (if you did so, may not have if you did only military time) is PIC, up until your ME training, at which time you will be flying a plane you are not rated in yet, so you can't log PIC until you are rated in the ME plane.
It all comes down to how much of your own money you want to spend. One method uses the GI bill, the other your money. If you can find someone with a plane and they let you fly it for gas and maintenance only, or you buy your own plane, it can be a lot cheaper than renting alone. But renting, you can take a friend along for fun. Choosing the part 91 path keeps your GI Bill funds intact for college for your spouse/kids. Up to you.
It all comes down to how much of your own money you want to spend. One method uses the GI bill, the other your money. If you can find someone with a plane and they let you fly it for gas and maintenance only, or you buy your own plane, it can be a lot cheaper than renting alone. But renting, you can take a friend along for fun. Choosing the part 91 path keeps your GI Bill funds intact for college for your spouse/kids. Up to you.
Originally Posted by bluesfan78
Put this in the military section, but also wanted to place the post here since there seems to be more visibility.
Well, I've been reading around these forums for the past couple hours. I must say it has been interesting.
I went to a hiring seminar yesterday in San Diego and was able to talk to a bunch of the recruiters from the regionals. It seems like there are a lot of openings, and a lot of what I've been hearing about a pilot shortage seems to be showing in the regionals specifically. One thing of note, I think any rotary wing guy considering the transition right know is aware of the Envoy program. Well, PSA, and Piedmont will also be offering a similar program as well. It seems AA has realized that we can be taught, and more quickly and cheaper than a "cadet" off the street.
Reading a lot in the regionals thread has been, well, shall we say enlightening? I'm just curious if there is anyone out there that has recently made the switch, or close to the switch.
Here's my considerations at this point. There's the "easy" button which is Envoy, PSA, and Piedmont right now. They all offer competitive FO pay, and bonuses keeping it around 60k a year. The upgrade time seems pretty similar from what I've gathered, with less than a six month disparity between them.
The other option is getting my 250 FWPIC time on my own. My current plan is getting my multi-engine when I get back from deployment roughly July/August timeframe. Then looking at CFI to get the rest of the time, using the weekends first, and next year around March I'll have about two months of terminal leave to get as many hours as possible in two months to get the 250.
So, I guess I'm debating between those two options. The first one, is the easy button, and what I've seen in the regionals thread they all seem like good options. Is there anyone who has done those already? The only commitment that I'm aware of is the 2 year commitment from the transition program. Is there some fine print that I'm missing there?
The second one may take a little longer, but opens up other options such as SkyWest, endeavor, express jet, and well all of the other regionals.
Any recommendations or reason for one over the other?
Oh, quick breakdown for me.
Navy -60 guy, retiring next year at 22 years, prior enlisted so only doing MSR from wings..
~1300 TT and will be current, or should be baring something crazy, when I retire.
~125 FW time, not pic though as almost all of that was flight school.
Well, I've been reading around these forums for the past couple hours. I must say it has been interesting.
I went to a hiring seminar yesterday in San Diego and was able to talk to a bunch of the recruiters from the regionals. It seems like there are a lot of openings, and a lot of what I've been hearing about a pilot shortage seems to be showing in the regionals specifically. One thing of note, I think any rotary wing guy considering the transition right know is aware of the Envoy program. Well, PSA, and Piedmont will also be offering a similar program as well. It seems AA has realized that we can be taught, and more quickly and cheaper than a "cadet" off the street.
Reading a lot in the regionals thread has been, well, shall we say enlightening? I'm just curious if there is anyone out there that has recently made the switch, or close to the switch.
Here's my considerations at this point. There's the "easy" button which is Envoy, PSA, and Piedmont right now. They all offer competitive FO pay, and bonuses keeping it around 60k a year. The upgrade time seems pretty similar from what I've gathered, with less than a six month disparity between them.
The other option is getting my 250 FWPIC time on my own. My current plan is getting my multi-engine when I get back from deployment roughly July/August timeframe. Then looking at CFI to get the rest of the time, using the weekends first, and next year around March I'll have about two months of terminal leave to get as many hours as possible in two months to get the 250.
So, I guess I'm debating between those two options. The first one, is the easy button, and what I've seen in the regionals thread they all seem like good options. Is there anyone who has done those already? The only commitment that I'm aware of is the 2 year commitment from the transition program. Is there some fine print that I'm missing there?
The second one may take a little longer, but opens up other options such as SkyWest, endeavor, express jet, and well all of the other regionals.
Any recommendations or reason for one over the other?
Oh, quick breakdown for me.
Navy -60 guy, retiring next year at 22 years, prior enlisted so only doing MSR from wings..
~1300 TT and will be current, or should be baring something crazy, when I retire.
~125 FW time, not pic though as almost all of that was flight school.
01-16-2017, 07:25 PM
#84
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2016
Posts: 755
Originally Posted by HighFlight
All of your time after obtaining a PPL (if you did so, may not have if you did only military time) is PIC, up until your ME training, at which time you will be flying a plane you are not rated in yet, so you can't log PIC until you are rated in the ME plane.
It all comes down to how much of your own money you want to spend. One method uses the GI bill, the other your money. If you can find someone with a plane and they let you fly it for gas and maintenance only, or you buy your own plane, it can be a lot cheaper than renting alone. But renting, you can take a friend along for fun. Choosing the part 91 path keeps your GI Bill funds intact for college for your spouse/kids. Up to you.
It all comes down to how much of your own money you want to spend. One method uses the GI bill, the other your money. If you can find someone with a plane and they let you fly it for gas and maintenance only, or you buy your own plane, it can be a lot cheaper than renting alone. But renting, you can take a friend along for fun. Choosing the part 91 path keeps your GI Bill funds intact for college for your spouse/kids. Up to you.
01-16-2017, 07:27 PM
#85
New Hire
Joined APC: Jan 2017
Posts: 4
Originally Posted by HighFlight
All of your time after obtaining a PPL (if you did so, may not have if you did only military time) is PIC, up until your ME training, at which time you will be flying a plane you are not rated in yet, so you can't log PIC until you are rated in the ME plane.
It all comes down to how much of your own money you want to spend. One method uses the GI bill, the other your money. If you can find someone with a plane and they let you fly it for gas and maintenance only, or you buy your own plane, it can be a lot cheaper than renting alone. But renting, you can take a friend along for fun. Choosing the part 91 path keeps your GI Bill funds intact for college for your spouse/kids. Up to you.
It all comes down to how much of your own money you want to spend. One method uses the GI bill, the other your money. If you can find someone with a plane and they let you fly it for gas and maintenance only, or you buy your own plane, it can be a lot cheaper than renting alone. But renting, you can take a friend along for fun. Choosing the part 91 path keeps your GI Bill funds intact for college for your spouse/kids. Up to you.
01-16-2017, 07:35 PM
#86
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2016
Posts: 2,559
This is all true, but you lose the bonus, as well as incur a 2-year commitment, I believe?
Originally Posted by PSA help
Some of the regionals have helo transition programs. Envoy has one, and PSA and PDT are finishing setting one up right now. They partner with a flight school and pay for you to get your fixed wing ratings. You lose the sign on bonus in most cases, but it is a great way to go from rotorwing to fixed wing simply and easily.
01-16-2017, 07:39 PM
#87
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2016
Posts: 2,559
Yeah, then all your FW time prior to your COML endorsement won't count as PIC. Should, but won't.
Envoy's RW2FW program may be up your alley then, though before you agree to that, what with losing your bonus and the contract you must sign, I'd weigh those against the cost of just getting your hours by yourself. Considering you'll need the ME time too, you may find Envoy's program putting you ahead of the game.
Another option is any 141 school in your area. GI Bill pays for that, too, up to a certain amount per year ($10K? Not sure). Go with whatever is fast and cheap. You ain't marrying her, just getting your quals on.
.
Envoy's RW2FW program may be up your alley then, though before you agree to that, what with losing your bonus and the contract you must sign, I'd weigh those against the cost of just getting your hours by yourself. Considering you'll need the ME time too, you may find Envoy's program putting you ahead of the game.
Another option is any 141 school in your area. GI Bill pays for that, too, up to a certain amount per year ($10K? Not sure). Go with whatever is fast and cheap. You ain't marrying her, just getting your quals on.
.
Originally Posted by bluesfan78
I did get my FW and RW commercial at the end of flight school down in Pensacola, but I haven't flown any FW since then. Single w/ no family so the GI bill will be for me to use, and I have zero desire to go to school anymore. So if there's a method to use the GI bill to burn hours I'm all for that. Hadn't heard much about that though.
01-16-2017, 07:53 PM
#88
New Hire
Joined APC: Jan 2017
Posts: 4
Originally Posted by HighFlight
Yeah, then all your FW time prior to your COML endorsement won't count as PIC. Should, but won't.
Envoy's RW2FW program may be up your alley then, though before you agree to that, what with losing your bonus and the contract you must sign, I'd weigh those against the cost of just getting your hours by yourself. Considering you'll need the ME time too, you may find Envoy's program putting you ahead of the game.
Another option is any 141 school in your area. GI Bill pays for that, too, up to a certain amount per year ($10K? Not sure). Go with whatever is fast and cheap. You ain't marrying her, just getting your quals on..
Envoy's RW2FW program may be up your alley then, though before you agree to that, what with losing your bonus and the contract you must sign, I'd weigh those against the cost of just getting your hours by yourself. Considering you'll need the ME time too, you may find Envoy's program putting you ahead of the game.
Another option is any 141 school in your area. GI Bill pays for that, too, up to a certain amount per year ($10K? Not sure). Go with whatever is fast and cheap. You ain't marrying her, just getting your quals on.
.
01-17-2017, 07:29 AM
#90
Standing by to Stand By
Joined APC: Jul 2016
Position: Holding
Posts: 76
When I interviewed for the RTP in July, they didn't say anything about losing the bonus. So it's up to 23K for time building, plus whatever the new hire bonus is, and 2 yr commitment. They ask that you use your GI bill but it's not a deal breaker.
ENY counts all your first pilot time from primary towards the 250 FWPIC, so you may be closer than you think.
I wasn't aware of the other 2 WO doing an RTP but it doesn't seem far fetched. The ENY one seems to be taking off, they just partnered with a second FBO in San Marcos, TX in addition to the original in San Diego.
ENY counts all your first pilot time from primary towards the 250 FWPIC, so you may be closer than you think.
I wasn't aware of the other 2 WO doing an RTP but it doesn't seem far fetched. The ENY one seems to be taking off, they just partnered with a second FBO in San Marcos, TX in addition to the original in San Diego.
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