Transfer into Business Jet Direct?

Asta

Asta

New Member
FSA's business jet direct program looks ideal for me, but I wonder what ratings you need to get from FSA to enter the program. I already have an PPL and was thinking about getting my Instrument/Commercial etc locally (New York) at ATP or a local FBO/part 141 school. (I can't leave the family in New York for months to go to Vero).

Does anyone from FSA know:

1. What training do you need at FSA to enter the Biz Jet Direct program?

2. Is this program truly the best way to get into corporate/frax, or would I do better to begin at a regional?

3. As a program entrant, can you chose the center where you work? And how long are you assigned there?

4. In the program, do you do more than fly simulators? How much time do you actually accumulate?

5. What are your real duties at the centers? How much are you paid?

Any help/insight appreciated.
 
Asta said:
FSA's business jet direct program looks ideal for me, but I wonder what ratings you need to get from FSA to enter the program. I already have an PPL and was thinking about getting my Instrument/Commercial etc locally (New York) at ATP or a local FBO/part 141 school. (I can't leave the family in New York for months to go to Vero).

Does anyone from FSA know:

1. What training do you need at FSA to enter the Biz Jet Direct program?

2. Is this program truly the best way to get into corporate/frax, or would I do better to begin at a regional?

3. As a program entrant, can you chose the center where you work? And how long are you assigned there?

4. In the program, do you do more than fly simulators? How much time do you actually accumulate?

5. What are your real duties at the centers? How much are you paid?

Any help/insight appreciated.
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1. To be able to do the business jet direct you have to AT LEAST do your CFI, CFII or MEI at FSA in order to interview for the chance to go to a center.

2. In my opinion, and from conversations I've had with other students, BJD is the best opportunity and the easiest way to get a job with a coporate flight department (aside from knowing someone personally - but then you still have to get the hours) This way you are flying to get the hours and better yet you are flying with people who would possibly be hiring you.

3. I believe you can request certain centers. It depends on the need mostly for which center. I'm sure many of the people who went to a center and who are here on JC can answer this better, but I think that most go for 6 months or longer. (not sure though)

4. I think someone else is going to have to chime in on this one, because I haven't found out myself. I really want BJD so I hope it's mostly flying.

5. Again, I don't know about duties. Pay I believe is around $7 per hour and you are only part-time. If you instruct first at FSA and complete your 800 hour contract, you are able to keep the same pay with benefits that you had while an instructor (about $16 per hour). If you stick around FSA and instruct for 1200 hours you leave to go to a center at around $17 per hour and keep your same benefits.

So it's up to you what you wanna do. It definatly is a great program and a great opportunity if you can do it. I know you said that you couldn't come down to Vero to do any training, but you would have to at least do your CFI and pass the interview. I hope this helps you a bit in your decision. Hopefully some other people who have some experience directly with the business jet direct program can give more backround. Good luck with everything. Let me know if you have any other questions.
 
"Biz Jet Direct" !one111one!!

it never ceases to amaze me what schemes these big schools think up in order to fleece people.
 
SuperStarFlyer said:
5. Again, I don't know about duties. Pay I believe is around $7 per hour and you are only part-time. If you instruct first at FSA and complete your 800 hour contract, you are able to keep the same pay with benefits that you had while an instructor (about $16 per hour). If you stick around FSA and instruct for 1200 hours you leave to go to a center at around $17 per hour and keep your same benefits.
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i hope that includes a bottle of KY jelly. cause your gettin screwed!
 
well it's only temporary to help you get positioned for a "real" job (like i said... 6 months to a year). I think the experience alone is worth it's weight in gold... but that's just my opinion.
 
the business jet direct program isn't a scam...it's a paid internship........

FSA doesn't make any guarantees......

You have to apply and interview for the program. I believe the time period/commitment is 1 year, but I'm not 100% sure.

Generally, you get SIC qualified in at least one type of aircraft simulator. You take the same groundschool, sim training, etc. etc. and basically get enough knowledge for a type rating. You job definition is "intern", however, and you'll do intern type things.....take out the trash, file papers, get coffee, etc. etc. The sim time is an added bonus. A lot of people have been given actual type ratings at the end of the year commitment...but it's not a guarantee........

The big benefit of this program is that you can gain knowledge and experience in larger/different types of aircraft. Also, if they need a person to sit in the sim as a non-flying pilot, they call you.....You get to interact with the people who will potentially hire you.......

to the guy who said it was a scam, please get the details before you speak........


to the guy who started this thread, it's basically a paid internship with a huge opportunity to network and get good experience. You will end up flying the simulator quite a bit. A lot of people have been able to get jobs with corporate operators, and some even do contract work for FSI.....7$ an hour isn't too bad considering the experience you are gaining, and the fact that you're working 40 hours a week......

When I instructed at FSA, I steered a number of people away from the direct track towards this program, and most of them are very happy where they are......good luck
 
Thanks all of the above (helpful) posters.

Frankly, I don't give a rat's posterior if they pay me McDonald's wages if they get me what I need, which is a rating, experience, and a job with a corp/frax/charter outfit.

I'm still not clear, however, if entrants in the program will get actual SIC time in jets, or if it is all simulator work. Their website refers to entrants' becoming "SIC qualified," but does not say exactly what you get. I'm not sure getting coffee for corporate pilots is going to impress them so much they'll want to hire you. I'm not even sure what SIC qualified means.

And, apart from the opportunity for face time with corporate pilots, is there any distinct advantage of this program over going ATP all the way, getting a regional job, building time, then trying to hook up a corporate gig? Seems that getting real world flight experience, even in a Beech 1900, should count more than getting coffee and left seating in a sim.
 
The centers only have the simulators so the SIC time is only simulated (but in full-motion level D simulators). You will get SIC qualified meaning you will have experience flying that aircraft, that's all it really means. You may have the opportunity to be type rated in certain simulators but that's not guaranteed. I also know that doing "coffee runs" may not prove what type of pilot you are but it sure does show them what type of worker you are and shows them that you are willing to do whatever it takes.

As far as doing a regional route to get to a corporate department... I'm sure you could do that route but you have to know people usually to land a corporate gig, that's why the BJD is a good opportunity. It gets you the contacts you need to get the job.
 
Asta said:
FSA's business jet direct program looks ideal for me, but I wonder what ratings you need to get from FSA to enter the program. I already have an PPL and was thinking about getting my Instrument/Commercial etc locally (New York) at ATP or a local FBO/part 141 school. (I can't leave the family in New York for months to go to Vero).

Does anyone from FSA know:

1. What training do you need at FSA to enter the Biz Jet Direct program?

2. Is this program truly the best way to get into corporate/frax, or would I do better to begin at a regional?

3. As a program entrant, can you chose the center where you work? And how long are you assigned there?

4. In the program, do you do more than fly simulators? How much time do you actually accumulate?

5. What are your real duties at the centers? How much are you paid?

Any help/insight appreciated.
Click to expand...

You only need to do two ratings I thought, but not sure. I do know people that did CFII/MEI and were allowed to go to a center.

I would say it's a great way to get into corporate.

I know some people that did contract work on the side from contacts they made at the center.

It's a paid internship, so expect to be doing paperwork when not flying the sim. However- I'm not exactly sure. As far as I know the pay is based on your ratings. If you're not a CFI I thought it was 8/hr. If you are a CFI it is the 14/hr they pay regular CFIs. Pure speculation/word of mouth.
 
Asta said:
Frankly, I don't give a rat's posterior if they pay me McDonald's wages if they get me what I need, which is a rating, experience, and a job with a corp/frax/charter outfit.
Click to expand...


nothing makes this man happier than when people spout off stuff like what you just said.

061129_mesa_hmed_12p.hmedium.jpg
 
Asta said:
Thanks all of the above (helpful) posters.

Frankly, I don't give a rat's posterior if they pay me McDonald's wages if they get me what I need, which is a rating, experience, and a job with a corp/frax/charter outfit.

I'm still not clear, however, if entrants in the program will get actual SIC time in jets, or if it is all simulator work. Their website refers to entrants' becoming "SIC qualified," but does not say exactly what you get. I'm not sure getting coffee for corporate pilots is going to impress them so much they'll want to hire you. I'm not even sure what SIC qualified means.

And, apart from the opportunity for face time with corporate pilots, is there any distinct advantage of this program over going ATP all the way, getting a regional job, building time, then trying to hook up a corporate gig? Seems that getting real world flight experience, even in a Beech 1900, should count more than getting coffee and left seating in a sim.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure it means you get your SIC type rating. If you go there with ATP mins, and your written, you get your ATP and a type rating.
 
I don't know what they pay people who were not instructors, but I was paid $7 hr for the first two weeks I was at a center, then $14 hr after that. After a while I was bumped up to $15 hr. Although the job is 'part-time' and without benefits, I pretty much worked full time hours, sometimes even overtime. It just depends.

When you first arrive at a center, they are supposed to run you through the initial for what ever airplane you will be used in. Then you get a 'SIC Signoff' I don't know what FAR it is from. I think it is a 61.50 something (.57 comes to mind, not sure). If you are curious, look it up. You need this signoff to act as a SIC in a 2 pilot airplane. The SIC Type is a different animal and is rather new. If you complete an initial and get the signoff you would meet all the requirements as far as I know, but you may need 3 landings in the actual airplane, not sure on that one.

I never received this, I just got my ATP and type rating right off the bat. After this, you work in the sim with clients. If you get a 'single' who is in initial, they usually get 3 hrs in the sim. They will spend 2 hrs in the left seat as PIC and then 1 hr in the right seat as SIC. So you do get to fly a little. Even as SIC, you are busy. All the guy in the left seat has to do is aim the airplane and call for checklist. The guy in the right seat is usually a lot busier.

For recurrents, clients spend 2 hours in the left seat and that is it. So, they are not as fun.

If you are not in the sim and want more hours, they can usually find something that needs done. So, you should be able to get enough hours to feed yourself.

Overall it is a great program.
 
montanapilot said:
nothing makes this man happier than when people spout off stuff like what you just said.

061129_mesa_hmed_12p.hmedium.jpg
Click to expand...
It is true that you cannot eat a type rating, but the pay is fair. A type for a midsized jet retails for around $30k, so between what they pay you and the training you get it is a good deal.
 
Yes, you can transfer into the program. I checked with Jackie at FSA today -- a very smart, helpful, and pleasant woman: she represents the company well, I think.
 
To follow up:

1. OK, you put in time in the simulator. How is that logged? In other words, if you're not going to be building actual time at the center, what kind of time are you building? Is SIC time in a level D simulator included in your TT?

2. Does it make sense to build actual in-air time before you go to the center? Or during your time in the center -- i.e., can you CFI on the side for an FBO while at the center?

3. My concern is that you will graduate without enough TT even to get hired by a regional, much less a corp or frax (Net Jets, eg, wants 2500TT). So the program may get you great experience in the sim and face time, and the corp guys may think you're competent, but without the minimums what are you to do?

4. Each center has sims for only a few types of planes. Does this limit your opportunities with employers? For instance, if you train on a Hawker sim, are you less likely to get a job with a frax that flies only Lears?

Great thread, guys. Thanks for the assist.
 
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