RJ Pilot Prep Program
 

Good Evening,

I just wanted to get some info from current RPA pilots in regards to the Pilot Prep Program.

I am currently about 9 months or so from mins (need the full 1,500).

Right now I've narrowed down my list to Republic, PSA and Endeavor. I am going off of bases, really want a DCA base as I have family in Virginia as well as factors like QOL, contract and pay. Also taking into account what people say of if you get stuck for whatever reason would you be happy at the regional of your choice.

For someone in today's aviation environment would you recommend doing a program like this?

I don't need any multi time, I wouldn't need the final 100 hours paid by RPA. I am more so worried about will RPA be hiring in the 9 months or so that I will have mins. I am also well aware things can change this far out.

Appreciate any input and guidance. I just wanted to get the opinions of someone who's walked my path and what they think of this program and what they would've done if it was offered to them prior to regionals.

Thanks!

For what it’s worth I was recently accepted into LIFT and one of my questions was whether or not LIFT would supply all the pilots Republic needed. Their answer was... “Not with only this location. We expect to produce around 350-400 pilots per year from LIFT and we estimate we will need at least 800 pilots a year.”

I personally think a pilot prep program is good if that’s the regional you’re interested in. There’s really no downside that I can see.

Start applying about 5-6 months out and keep a eye on the industry as things change.


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What is this program? Never heard of it.

Very similar to the cadet program but for non 141 folks...

http://rjet.com/airline-careers/cadet-opportunities-2/

I’m trying to stay I’m northern Virginia too. My 3 are PSA, Republic, and Commutair. The main reason I was looking at PSA is because I like how they have CRJ900s, and the flow however, I’m hearing more and more how the flow is very flawed.. Commutair seems interesting tho. Dulles base and they have a pathway program with United that seems to actually have results

Whats flaw about flow? It's a no interview flow that has results as well. Its just going to take a while to flow. Unlike like the CPP where there isn't a guarantee of being accepted...

the PSA threads say very bitter things about the flow. The whole “flow time is actually 15 years (10 pilots/m X 12months X 15years = 1800 (current # of PSA pilots))”. Believe me, the advertised 6 year flow is very attractive to me, especially since I do not have a bachelors degree. But what is reality vs propaganda?

RJ Pilot Prep Program
 

Hence why I said awhile, but that doesn't make it flawed..........


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It sounds flawed to me when they advertise 6-7 years but in reality it may be closer to 15. At that point, it’s not really worth advertising, to me at least.

If you don’t have a degree, flow is your best hope unless you have military flying experience or a crazy impressive flying resume. Better to get there in 15 years than never get there at all.

Republic has been upping the number of new hires per class lately. Whether that means they are planning ahead for expansion remains to be seen, but you’ll definitely be a qualified candidate and in demand in 9 months or so. You can be awarded DCA within a few months of being on the line, folks from my class did so. The same is true for all the other bases except MIA and IAH at the moment. Upgrade into DCA currently takes about 7 months longer than earliest available upgrade into EWR or LGA at 2.5 years. Hopefully the large classes being held are a sign that more upgrades will be needed in a couple years, helping to lower those upgrade times.

You should be more than able to knock out an online degree of some sort in less than 15 years while working at another regional, if that’s what’s holding you up.

Oh that note. What’s the best course of action for a regional pilot to work on getting a Bachelors? right now I have enough credits for 1 semester. So that leaves me with 7 semesters. but once I finish my Commercial, multi, and CFI I could count my pilot certs as credits toward the end of my degree right? Maybe eliminating 2 semesters? So, that would only leave me with roughly 5 semesters left. As a regional pilot, how many classes do pilots typically take during a semester in order to work and have time for their class?

Thank you for the input!

Great! Thank you very much for the input as well as information in regards to DCA. I do appreciate it!

Not sure how flight ratings can translate into college credit unless you are doing some type of worthless aviation degree.



As a Regional pilot, you will need to do your college online. It is just not feesable to get the same time off every week.

What degree would you recommend an airline pilot/hopeful get, then? Considering the only thing they really care about is that you have the block checked, why not do something you enjoy, and might actually learn something useful for your career? Yes, you could make the argument that you should have something you could fall back on should you lose your medical, but you can still get that with an aviation degree (airport management, if that's your thing, or parlay it into a Masters in aviation safety, or something).

It really depends on what degree you go for. That's exactly what I did with my school, since the Army paid for all of my ratings, I just used the FAA cert to show that it was completed, and checked the block for the credit. You usually have to be careful that you don't go over arbitrary numbers for how much external credit you have, though... That's stuff you need to talk with your adviser about, though. There are plenty of respected (read: regionally accredited) schools with online programs that you should be able to apply aviation ratings towards credit. You just have to find what's right for you.

I believe Utah Valley University has an online professional pilot program, and is regionally accredited. (I was looking at going there years ago when I was a helicopter guy, and not interested in fixed wing...).

Excelsior has online degree programs as well, and I had good communication with them, just never got into it.

I ended up at Bridgewater, if you care, but they don't have much of an online presence for aviation just yet. (I was only able to get I think two major courses done that way.)

I started my Masters with Florida Tech; not sure what they have for Bachelor's online with aviation focus.

It comes down to this. What if you suddenly have heart problems, Epilepsy, or something else one the long list of conditions that will disqualify you from a First Class FAA Medical? That aviation degree is worth about as much as the paper it is written on. Diversify, get a degree in something else you are interested in so you have something to fall back on in-case the unexpected happens. The only instance where an aviation degree can be beneficial is when an R-ATP is attached with it. Otherwise you are right, all it is worth is a box check.

I’ve been looking at UVU as you suggested. How many online classes do you think is realistic to do as a regional pilot per semester? I’m just curious about what a rough estimate would be, so I can guess how many years it’d take to get my bachelors.

Wouldn’t an aviation degree still be valid within the aviation field? Like aviation security, airport operations or whatever else?

Remember that it’s not just about loss of medical. It’s also about the economy taking a turn and aviation in general getting hit hard. In those cases not only are you out a pilot job but they don’t need additional management people in aviation either, so your aviation degree becomes useless. Get your degree in business or accounting or something that doesn’t involve aviation to better hedge for the unknown.

That’s assuming EVERY PSA stays for the flow. There are things like PSA CA lifers that choose not to flow, loss of medical, and attrition. PSA pilots get on with many other carriers. So I’d argue that it actually is closer to 7-10 years for flow. In any case, it’s an awesome back up.

True, but those jobs are limited and a lot of them are given through the 'good ole boy' rather then someone who may be truly qualified.