AOPA endorsed PFT...

True, but I'd presume that AOPA would ultimately stand for the overall betterment of the world of aviation.
 
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True, but I'd presume that AOPA would ultimately stand for the overall betterment of the world of aviation.

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So what y'all want to do is write letters to AOPA objecting to the concept of PFT and their apparent support for it. Make clear to them that taking advertising $$ from PFT schools may impact their membership/subscriber rates and ultimately hurt their bottom line. That's likely to be more effective than writing to the flight school (not to dissuade you from doing so). The school obviously thinks it will make money on the business, and it isn't going to give it up just because we don't like it (unless you can convince them PFT will harm them long-term harm).

MF
 
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Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't having advertisers in your magazine considered an ad hoc endorsement of the product?

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If CNN runs an ad from President Bush and another ad from Senator Kerry, does it mean CNN is endorsing both candidates? No. It's called making money. That's what the media does.

MF

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I thought the media is supposed to give equal airtime to either candidate.

Either way, AOPA is a lot different an entity than CNN, it's magazine is an extension of it's association and policies. Since it promotes aviation, I'd think it would want to promote aviation in a good way. Of course, the ads do make money too, but I'd like to think AOPA just doesn't take ads for the sake of money. Let's say a group was running a full page ad (and wiling to pay for it) to promote closing Scottsdale airport and why it's a great idea. I'd like to think AOPA would choose it's association goals and vision over $$$ in that case.
 
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True, but I'd presume that AOPA would ultimately stand for the overall betterment of the world of aviation.

[/ QUOTE ]

So what y'all want to do is write letters to AOPA objecting to the concept of PFT and their apparent support for it. Make clear to them that taking advertising $$ from PFT schools may impact their membership/subscriber rates and ultimately hurt their bottom line. That's likely to be more effective than writing to the flight school (not to dissuade you from doing so). The school obviously thinks it will make money on the business, and it isn't going to give it up just because we don't like it (unless you can convince them PFT will harm them long-term harm).

MF

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The only reason I wrote the school is because I have a personal connection to it and the, now, flight school manager. I expect them to drop the program as much as I expect President Bush to announce he's gay and that he's a libertarian before the next election – i.e. I don't expect them to drop the program. But I feel better that I did the right thing in calling them on it.
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as much as I expect President Bush to announce he's gay and that he's a libertarian before the next election

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It could happen.
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I expect President Bush to announce he's gay and that he's a libertarian before the next election

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We knew he might be one of those.... but a LIBERTARIAN????? Wow!!


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Well, sounds alot like Westwind.... fast track... or "right seat direct" as it was called when I attended.... which you quickly realize it actually means a seat right into your pocket. It's a shame that schools have to lie to students. If schools would simply be honest and say it WILL cost you X amount of money to attend.... guess what, students will still come to the school because they want to fly regardless of the cost. I spent 12.5k on my private at westwind- took 75 hours. I was ready to go at the part 61 mins of 40 hours- ask my brother- pilot602. I was going to attend langa but moved to AZ to go to westwind. The whole program should have cost roughly 36k, but as most people know (as mentioned under the westwind section of jetcareers) the program doesn't cost nearly that- its quite more. The sad fact is, that in this day and age it is cheaper just to buy an airplane from the beginning and get your own flight instructor. I'm glad we finally got our apache- building mutli-time for a FRACTION of the cost to attend ANY flight school. A few things happened that made me re-think a career in aviation in that given point of my life. I'm now about 3 weeks away from graduating the Arizona Law Enforcement Academy. I think I will make my career in aviation through law enforcement. I've always loved helicopters and flying for law enforcement would be hella cool.
 
Does this mean Embry-Riddle endorses PFT/PFJ as well
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?

Taken from Gulfstream Academy's website-
Through a recent partnership, our students can now work on their degree at their Distance Learning campuses or On-line through Embry-Riddle. Classes will count as college credits towards their degree. In addition, any ratings or hours they have earned at Gulfstream as a first officer with our airline may also be counted towards their degree. For information on this program, call Toll Free # 1-877-359-4853 ext.217
 
Might be one of those things where a college will give you credit for having some of your ratings towards a degree. My old flight school chief pilot got college credits for being a commercial pilot.

At least I HOPE my alma mater hasn't coordinated with Gulfstream directly as opposed to a generic agreeance that they'll let certain advanced ratings apply toward elective credit.
 
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Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't having advertisers in your magazine considered an ad hoc endorsement of the product?

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Nope. I sure as hell hope not. I've sold advertising to people who I'd never do any business with other than taking their check in exchange for space. One of the people I'm pitching, for example, handles IT offshoring for major companies.

I hate doing it, but it's my job. And I guess if he's going to ship jobs overseas, I may as well get him to leave some money back here in America.

Reputable publications have a firewall between editorial and advertising. The ad sales guys never do anything other than pass on press releases for the editors, telling them, do with this what you will.

Shady ones, which soon become publications that you don't want to read, blur that line. They'll have editors only call advertisers when they want information for their story or do similar things. But they don't survive for very long, because readers are smart. They figure it out and dump that publication.

However, this is all inside thinking. Maybe folks reading publications figure, hey, the ad's in there, they must think that such and such company is a good one. I don't know.
 
A reply worth noting?

The response to my letter:
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–––––,

I am sorry you feel the way you do.  The only reason we offer this program
is because a lot of individuals do not want to become a CFI and they cannot
afford to pay outright the cost of gaining multi-engine experience in a
rental type of situation. The individuals who do the Pay for Right Seat Time
are not employable for the most part because they do not meet the insurance
minimums - as you probably know - dictate this industry more than any other
source.  So it becomes a chicken or egg type of scenario - how are they
going to get the time especially if they do not want to instruct, and if
they do not have the experience, they will not get employed.  Secondly, the
affiliation we have set up (it is not our business) is merely an option we
offer through two other firms.  The aircraft which are used are all single
pilot, as you mentioned,  and the right seat would be empty.  This program
does not take any jobs away from anyone.  The SIC's do not have to load and
unload cargo.

If someone pays for a seat at the expense of another pilot, I would 100%
agree with you.  However, those seats are and would be empty.  Where else
can you get multi- experience for $30 an hour?  I have attached a document
outlining the way the time is logged so that you can see how it works.  I
don't think you can equate this type of experience to working at Wal-Mart.
I think it is more closely like an internship in medical school. 

You obviously feel very strongly about this, but I do not agree with you.
This industry is unlike any other.  Pilots need to get experience and most
people cannot afford to do it in the traditional means.  This is, in my
humble opinion, a means to get some experience at a much reduced priced at
no one's expense.  No one will or has lost a job because of this program.
In fact, pilots are able to get hired because of it.  Pilots coming out of
this program through our affiliates are getting hired by the tune of 5 to 10
a month with the airlines.  They would not have if they would not have
gained the experience through this program.

I will always act in what I consider to be the best interest of the student
and prospective pilot.  Always have, always will.  I believe there is way
too much activity that goes on in this industry that is less than honorable.


Unless I have convinced you (which I doubt I have), then I guess we will
have to agree to disagree. 

Regardless, thank you for expressing your opinion.  Without people telling
me what they think, I would never know.

Good luck,

––––

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My response to the response:
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––––,

First, thank you for taking the time to reply to my message. Even though – as you suspected – I still do not quite agree with you, it is nice to know you at least took the time to respond to my concerns.

I do not expect to sway you into dropping the program but allow me to adress one or two points and then I will agree to disagree.

I am fully aware of the "chicken and egg" problem that is the early stages of the flying game. I'm lucky in the fact I have a lot of multi-time. Nearly 90-percent of my almost 500 hours total time (which granted isn't much total time) is multi-engine time. My father, brother and I bought an Apache to continue our training in. Shortly after completing my private at Langa I moved to the Southwest and earned my multi-private at 42 hours total time. All of my subsequent training and time building has been in that aircraft. My particular problem is total time and I plan on instructing to boost that time. I may have some other opportunities but right now instructing is probably my best bet. However, I've always enjoyed teaching people so I'm looking forward to instructing (as much as one can "look forward" to pay equivilant to $8/hr) but I fully understand that not all people wish to instruct.

Which brings us to the "how do you get time" question. In my opinion buying time in the right seat of a commercial operation is at best questionable time, and at worst, taking the job of another pilot. Although, now, after reading your explanation I don't believe your particular afiliation "takes jobs" many of the more "pure" PFT/PFJ situations do take jobs. Legally speaking this time may be loggable (I can not open the document you sent but I would suspect it has to do with logging the time when the aircraft is flying under part 91repositioning legs or something along those lines) but interviewers know about operations like these and many (not all) can see the obvious. Many times these "first officers" are not much more than seat-warmers and gear operators ("up" or "down" as asked for by the PIC) – or even if they do fly a lot the perception that they are just seat-warmers still hangs over their heads.

Granted, the one upside to the program you're offering is the relatively low per hour cost but at that same cost (when split with another pilot) one could join your flying club and make long cross countries. Or do what I did and partner up and buy an aircraft. Of course it's not easy but nothing in flying is easy!

I suppose my point here is this: if safety-pilot time (which is required by the CFRs) is still seen as questionable time it's hard for me to believe that interviewers wouldn't raise an eyebrow at someone logging SIC (or worse yet, PIC) time on a 135-operation, in a single-pilot aircraft.

Building time is a rough, rough task. Almost anyone can get to the commercial level (250+/- hours) but the real task is getting from that 250 to the 1,200 mark. And I know that insurance is the driving force in aviation. I'd even go so far as to say it's almost ruining general aviation. But there are other ways to build the time. Flight seeing, parachute drop flying, traffic watch, banner towing (which traditionaly is many times just as bad as pure-PFT/PFJ). I know those options are limited in the St. Louis area but anyone getting into flying must know that moving across the country several times is, unfortuntely, not unheard of!

I'm very happy to hear that your program (or affiliation) is of the kind that does not require the SIC. Or, in other words, this program is filling an otherwise empty seat. But the question then becomes is that time really worth it? I know you say many of the participants are being hired but is that because of their time in those specific aircraft or simply because the regionals are hiring and the bottom jobs are opening up again to anyone who has the total time? In the end I still believe that the stigma attached to these types of set-ups may end up hurting Langa more than it helps. But that's just my personal opinion.

However, as I stated I was very happy with the training I received at Langa and I really do think the overall "professionalism" of Langa Air is outstanding which is why it bothered me so much that the school would align itself with something like this. Granted, after reading you explanation, I do not consider this true PFT/PFJ but it's still too close for my personal comfort. It's in that proverbial "gray area."

If you do intend on keeping the program, might I suggest you add some verbage to the flyer that specifically outlines that the "right seat" that the participants will be occupying is not required, that jobs aren't being taken by people paying to be there and what exactly these "first officers" are expected to do while flying. Essentialy, in a shorter form, explain in that flyer what you've explained to me. I think that would do much to help seperate the affiliation you have from the more dubious, true PFT/PFJ situations.

It's bad enough, as a starting pilot, to have to work for such low wages but now to have to compete with people willing to pay to do those jobs makes finding a paying first job that much harder. My greatest fear is that if PFT/PFJ isn't stopped dead in it's tracks at these low levels that in a few years it won't be shocking to see something like Delta saying "you pay us to train and fly for X years and after your 'probation' period we'll consider hiring you on as a Captain." If/when that day arrives the profession of piloting will have been destroyed.

Again, however, thank you for your reply. I may disagree with the program but I do respect the fact you responded and am happy to learn that, at the very least, the program isn't filling required-SIC seats with paying customers instead of paid pilots!


Sincerely,

Me

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Like I wrote in my response, this is still in the "gray" area for me. While it may not be directly taking jobs it's still a little too close to being exploitative for my personal comfort.

At least he responded and defended his position.
 
Re: A reply worth noting?

I really don't want to be FO anymore. You know, spending entire rotations playing 'chameleon', learning from my captains and all that sorts of time-wasting. Perhaps they could formulate a program for me where I can just become a captain outright...
 
Re: A reply worth noting?

Im curious how the log it legally if the SIC isnt required to be there and the flight goes with or without the SIC/PFTer.
 
Re: A reply worth noting?

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I really don't want to be FO anymore. You know, spending entire rotations playing 'chameleon', learning from my captains and all that sorts of time-wasting. Perhaps they could formulate a program for me where I can just become a captain outright...

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I have a program like that, Doug ... send me $99.95 and I'll tell you how!
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Im curious how the log it legally if the SIC isnt required to be there and the flight goes with or without the SIC/PFTer.

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The only thing I can think of is if the aircraft is being repositioned (not carrying anything for hire) under part 91 the guy in the right seat may be able to log it under the "sole manipulator" rule. It's shaky at best and still awfully "gray" in my book.

I'm not going to sway the guy but at least he knows (like he didn't already) that some people don't like this kind of stuff. Myabe I was alittle too wussy in my response but I didn't feel like getting into an e-mail shouting match. Sorry, if I let anyone down.
 
Re: A reply worth noting?

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I really don't want to be FO anymore. You know, spending entire rotations playing 'chameleon', learning from my captains and all that sorts of time-wasting. Perhaps they could formulate a program for me where I can just become a captain outright...

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For the right amount of money, DOug...for the right amount.
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Well, since you're founding the Jetcareers Flight Academy, we'll just offer 4 pricing levels!!

Package 1:
Private, Instrument, Commercial, Multi, CFI, CFI-I, MEI: $29,995

Package 2:
Private, Instrument, Commercial, Multi, CFI, CFI-I, MEI:
Plus
The opportunity to work as a Jetcareers Flight Instructor, earning up from $6.00-$8.00 per hour, until you've earned enough flight time to meet 135 minimums!!!!
Package Price: $49,995

Package 3:
Private, Instrument, Commercial, Multi, CFI, CFI-I, MEI:
Plus
The opportunity to work as a Jetcareers Flight Instructor, earning up from $6.00-$8.00 per hour, until you've earned enough flight time to meet 135 minimums!!!! At this time, you will be offered the option of enrolling in our Direct Lance Program!!! This program evaluates your ability to fly as a charter pilot for Jetcareers Express, our own 135 carrier!!!! If you complete the evaluation (which consists of 135-mandated training) you will be offered the opportunity to purchase flight time for only $45/hour!!!
Package Price : $65,995

Package 4:
Private, Instrument, Commercial, Multi, CFI, CFI-I, MEI:
Plus
The opportunity to work as a Jetcareers Flight Instructor, earning up from $6.00-$8.00 per hour, until you've earned enough flight time to meet 135 minimums!!!! At this time, you will be offered the option of enrolling in our Direct Baron Program!!! This program evaluates your ability to fly as a charter pilot for Jetcareers Express, our own 135 carrier!!!! If you complete the evaluation (which consists of 135-mandated training) you will be offered the opportunity to purchase multiflight time for only $45/hour!!!
Package Price : $119,000

While the graduates from those other schools search high and low for entry flight instructor jobs, you can sleep knowing that your job is in the bag!!!
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