Delta Connection Academy

qball194fa said:
I really am happy with the decision. I now have the excitement in flying again. It is something I really enjoy and I love talking about it, and sharing the joys of flight with others.

That was sad at DCA ~ When I found out that I needed out was when I actually felt SICK because I didn't want to fly. It was so bad that I actually was not looking forward to the flights, and I actually said to my wife "Dang it, I have another flight tomorrow!" That was when I knew I needed out. Never before, or since have I felt that way. I thought it was sad, so I got out.

Those that find it is what they want, I really tip my hat. I wanted to enjoy learning about flight, talking about aviation, learning something new, and taking an airplane for a flight. At DCA it was more of a disappointment in that aspect to me.

Supra: It is sad to hear that this is still going on. I know there are a lot of good instructors (like the gentleman that finally got me through Instrument). I have seen DCA's website state that he has moved on to the airlines now, and I hope he is happy. I'm betting he is. I hope over time that place really cleans up it's act. I've heard it's getting better - which is a HUGE positive! It will take time, because there was a LOT wrong with it. I never understood how the instructors made it on 10/hr... maybe if you lived in southern MO or something (no offense to anyone living there, but let's face it, the cost of living is much lower there than many other places). Living in Central Florida, on $10.00 per hour... I wish I knew how that was done... especially if you only had 2 students (which was common - at least when I was there)... You'd be lucky for 4 hours per day, or roughly $200.00 per week... when rent alone will run around $600.00 (at least) per month... that doesn't leave much to actually LIVE on. Does any DCA CFI's - past or present care to chime in on how that task is actually accomplished?

Thanks!
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Now with all the Chinese students that is not really a big prob. My instructor alone has 7 students so some times he can have 14 hours or more a day. Mind you the last two students he got were passed on to him by two other CFI's . As I have said before, DCA is not great, but it is no where as bad as it was when you were there. It could be because most of the previous head honchos were given their walking papers.
 
Nismaxdan said:
Now with all the Chinese students that is not really a big prob. My instructor alone has 7 students so some times he can have 14 hours or more a day. Mind you the last two students he got were passed on to him by two other CFI's . As I have said before, DCA is not great, but it is no where as bad as it was when you were there. It could be because most of the previous head honchos were given their walking papers.
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Until participating in this forum, I had no clue they were given their "walking papers". What happened? who did/said what? What's the facts about it? I honestly don't know ANYTHING other than appearant changes have occured. Who was all let go?
 
Susan Butrell suposseddly quit(quit or be terminated!) Most of the original recruiters are gone. Two are currently on reserves here at Comair. The new Pres is Delta's ex chief pilot. He's been cleaing house. Bill Leech, Pete Balesteri and someone else were kicked to the curb. There are several left that need to go to, like John O'brian and Mike Kern (Comair washout and head of Security.) come to mind. Mike Odell head director of MX "left" He was my boss when I worked there, really nice guy.

Anyone know where Fabio went?:confused:
 
I do recall right toward the end of my time there - so maybe November 2005 or so - he (fabio)actually got hired... I don't remember to which airline though.
 
I honestly don't know. I know Bill leech was a drinker and had several DUI's which is why he never went to the airlines. I flew with Pete several times and was really impressed with his knowledge and learned some things. He got me through my 5 peat on the INST end of course. I was busting for just being nervous and making stupid mistakes. On my ride with him, he said that this was going to be like a real IFR flight and he was just a passenger. Didn't write anything down and asked only a couple of questions. I was so calm and focused. He said to treat my end of course the same way and I'd ace it lieka champ and I did. Maybe a current DCA instructor or one that just left recently might be able to give us the low down.
 
"I honestly don't know. I know Bill leech was a drinker and had several DUI's which is why he never went to the airlines"


I would be careful with that comment. I know this guy personally and that is not the case at all. He is an FAA Examiner. He could not be an FAA examiner if he had this problem. That is close to slander.
 
RedBaron1 said:
I would be careful with that comment. I know this guy personally and that is not the case at all. He is an FAA Examiner. He could not be an FAA examiner if he had this problem. That is close to slander.
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What knowledge do you have of why Bill Leech is no longer with DCA?
 
It has nothing to do with what the previous post stated. It has to do with the direction the academy wanted to go. The academy wanted to go in a different direction than what the CFI managers wanted to take it. The academy is transfering to an FAA-FITS program. Which is the FAA Industry Test Standards. The others wanted a different approach to the curriculum. There was nothing they, meaning the CFI managers, did that was wrong or illegal. I wanted to clear that up because these are good people, whether you agree with their management style or not.
 
H46Bubba said:
...Anyone know where Fabio went?:confused:
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Fabio is still there. Unless this Fabio is a different person.

See Brian, I told you DCA management would find out I have been on here. Read posts above.:banghead:

I know who Mike Kern is but remind me who John O'brian is again. The name sounds familiar though.
 
Nismaxdan said:
Fabio is still there. Unless this Fabio is a different person.

See Brian, I told you DCA management would find out I have been on here. Read posts above.:banghead:

I know who Mike Kern is but remind me who John O'brian is again. The name sounds familiar though.
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Tell Fabio that he needs to come back to JC! :yar:

John O'brien is director of operations.
 
Nismaxdan said:
With the slick, over gel hair? If so yes.
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I don't ever recall seeing him with hair - at all... I think he was loosing some on the top and decided to shave it all off.

This guy is hard to miss because I'd say he was about 6'4" (or so), and just a guess on the weight, but it would HAVE to be around 350.

Like I said... hard to miss... very nice guy though, always willing to help students out. Probably one of the better instructors and check pilots that DCA had. (at least at the time I was there)
 
Yeah he's hard to miss. He was my instrument ground school instructor for the first half. Great guy. Though he gave us some nasty mental images when he talked about diving in the Bikini Atolls and talked about wearing Speedos!:banghead: He was always available to answer questions about anything even thought you weren't his student or in his group.
 
H46Bubba said:
Yeah he's hard to miss. He was my instrument ground school instructor for the first half. Great guy. Though he gave us some nasty mental images when he talked about diving in the Bikini Atolls and talked about wearing Speedos!:banghead: He was always available to answer questions about anything even thought you weren't his student or in his group.
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LOL Yep... that's the "Fabio" I'm talking about... great guy though.

He did have a way of explaining some things that many other instructors had difficulty describing.
 
H46Bubba said:
Yeah he's hard to miss. He was my instrument ground school instructor for the first half. Great guy. Though he gave us some nasty mental images when he talked about diving in the Bikini Atolls and talked about wearing Speedos!:banghead: He was always available to answer questions about anything even thought you weren't his student or in his group.
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Hey Bubba, theres' a rumor going around that Comair may lower the mins even more to 400/100. Any truth to that? Its' on APC under Mesa's low time thread, or somwhereabouts.
 
FatBastard said:
Hey Bubba, theres' a rumor going around that Comair may lower the mins even more to 400/100. Any truth to that? Its' on APC under Mesa's low time thread, or somwhereabouts.
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I haven't heard that rumot. They're filling the classes pretty good and they're doing two classes a month. I hope not. Just lowering the bar even more. Hell I have over 400, even if I had 100 multi I still wouldn't bite on that offer.
 
Pete B. did my MEI ride. He seems very intimidating, but he's very helpful. My MEI ride was very relaxed. He put me at ease and treated the whole check like two guys just talking about aviation. I also heard that DCA was going through an extreme makeover. It's about frickin' time. Last I heard was that FABio was working at the academy part time and flying charter E-120's across the road at Falcon. Any current students or prospective students want to chat about DCA, PM me and let's chat. As a former student/employee I can give you the good and bad.
 
RedBaron1 said:
It has nothing to do with what the previous post stated. It has to do with the direction the academy wanted to go. The academy wanted to go in a different direction than what the CFI managers wanted to take it. The academy is transfering to an FAA-FITS program. Which is the FAA Industry Test Standards. The others wanted a different approach to the curriculum. There was nothing they, meaning the CFI managers, did that was wrong or illegal. I wanted to clear that up because these are good people, whether you agree with their management style or not.
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Red Baron, What's the difference between the current triaing curriculum and the FAA-FITS? I know they wanted to go Part 142.
 
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