CAPT Program: Questions and Answers

Seth_Beckhardt

Seth_Beckhardt

New Member
Good day all,

My name is Seth Beckhardt and I am a Flight Crew Training Instructor at the CAPT Program. I have been with the program for more than two years and have served in a variety of capacities within the organization.

As you have probably guessed, we have been monitoring the threads at JetCareers regarding the program and I've been given the opportunity to address the questions and concerns about the program. Two ground rules about any submissions or threads, I will not answer personal attacks on anyone at the program and I will not answer any questions about the recently settled lawsuit. Other than that everything is fair game.

With that in mind, feel free to ask me anything and I will answer (or debate) to the best of my ability.

Blue skies and tailwinds,

Seth
 
"and I've been given the opportunity to address the questions and concerns about the program"

Who gave you this opportunity? Would you not be here unless someone from CAPT gave you this opportunity? Are folks in the CAPT program free to express their opinions at an internet forum like this without worrying about repercussions with their training?

Sorry to jump on you, but your answers so far seem to be the party line. You sound a lot like a recruiter....or a military PR guy. Not that there is anything really wrong with that, but if you've come here to do damage control for the CAPT program, and you want to be credible, you'll have to start sounding like you're giving us YOUR honest opinion and not just what CAPT program management wants us to hear.

Just an observation based on what I've seen so far...from a 1983 Riddle grad.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Who gave you this opportunity? Would you not be here unless someone from CAPT gave you this opportunity? Are folks in the CAPT program free to express their opinions at an internet forum like this without worrying about repercussions with their training?

[/ QUOTE ]

I made the suggestion to the Director of Recruiting/Placement and he concurred. I am one of the most senior individual, in terms of longevity with the program, so I'm in a unique position to answer questions (for the Naval Aviators here, you could call me a plank owner).

As I said in another thread, we don't discourage students from participating in other forums with alternate views about the program.

[ QUOTE ]
Sorry to jump on you, but your answers so far seem to be the party line. You sound a lot like a recruiter....or a military PR guy. Not that there is anything really wrong with that, but if you've come here to do damage control for the CAPT program, and you want to be credible, you'll have to start sounding like you're giving us YOUR honest opinion and not just what CAPT program management wants us to hear.

[/ QUOTE ]

From the above, I'm one of those folks who had a hand in building the party line. I was the primary recruiter when I first started with the program and I moved into the instructor corps later. I am free to express my opinions and the only time I vet my answers is to fact check numbers.

[ QUOTE ]
Just an observation based on what I've seen so far...from a 1983 Riddle grad.

[/ QUOTE ]

Excellent, then I extend an invitation to you to come to the program and speak to our students on real life in the airlines and to meet with our senior leadership on your concerns about the program.

Regards,

Seth
 
[ QUOTE ]

Excellent, then I extend an invitation to you to come to the program and speak to our students on real life in the airlines and to meet with our senior leadership on your concerns about the program.


[/ QUOTE ]

Trying to decrease enrollment these days eh? They're doing that at my university too, must be a new trend.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Excellent, then I extend an invitation to you to come to the program and speak to our students on real life in the airlines and to meet with our senior leadership on your concerns about the program.

[/ QUOTE ]

Don, if ya take him up on this, I'm flying over to see it.
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Excellent, then I extend an invitation to you to come to the program and speak to our students on real life in the airlines and to meet with our senior leadership on your concerns about the program.

[/ QUOTE ]

Don, if ya take him up on this, I'm flying over to see it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Invitation extended.
 
"Excellent, then I extend an invitation to you to come to the program and speak to our students on real life in the airlines and to meet with our senior leadership on your concerns about the program."

How about I speak to the students about my concerns about the program and speak to the senior leadership about real life in the airlines.....
 
[ QUOTE ]
"Excellent, then I extend an invitation to you to come to the program and speak to our students on real life in the airlines and to meet with our senior leadership on your concerns about the program."

How about I speak to the students about my concerns about the program and speak to the senior leadership about real life in the airlines.....

[/ QUOTE ]

Sounds reasonable. Name the date and time you're available. Please leave me a name and telephone number via e-mail so I can coordinate the visit.

Regards,

Seth
 
Seth,

Is it true that because the CAPT program is loosing money, that ERAU students are paying for the difference in order to keep the CAPT program alive?

-Brian
 
[ QUOTE ]
Seth,

Is it true that because the CAPT program is loosing money, that ERAU students are paying for the difference in order to keep the CAPT program alive?

-Brian

[/ QUOTE ]

Brian,

I am not privvy to that information and that question should be directed to the senior leadership at Spruance Hall. I am amending my off limits areas to include any questions about corporate financial matters.

Regards,

Seth
 
It would have to be in a bar, T-shirts and tennis shoes okay. Open to any JCer's who wish to attend. I don't answer my phone. PM is fine.
 
[ QUOTE ]
It would have to be in a bar, T-shirts and tennis shoes okay. Open to any JCer's who wish to attend. I don't answer my phone. PM is fine.

[/ QUOTE ]

It would be our pleasure to have you as our guest and to have you visit our facilities at anytime. Please bring any of your associates who would like to see the CAPT program. It would be our pleasure to give you a detailed, comprehensive tour. You are welcome to attend in the attire of your choice. You will be considered an honored guest.

Regards,

Seth
 
I guess it's time for me to chime in.

I don't have any problem with 0-Commercial MEL programs. There is plenty of evidence that intelegent individuals CAN be trained in a short period of time. I went to FSA, and there were plenty of CFIs there that hadn't flown a bit before they started there.

Given the choice, I would rather have sombody with pleny of experiance. But if I had the oportunity to train somebody from scratch the way I wanted, I wouldn't have a problem hireing that person.


What I do have a problem with CAPT is the marketing that implys that job placement is garuented. I think CAPT is makeing promises that they know (or should) they can't keep. The current job market simply can't support that kind of placement.

Also CAPT is like everything else at ERAU, much to expensive!

For $80,000 I could go to my local college, get my CFI/MEI, BUY a C-150, fly it for 1200 hours, buy 100 hours in a twin.

After all that, I would meet pt 135 mins, and could start flying for a living.


I went to FSA, and was very happy with the training I recived, but now that I have all that debt, I can't afford to take the pay cut that flying full time would bring.
 
[ QUOTE ]
For $80,000 I could go to my local college, get my CFI/MEI, BUY a C-150, fly it for 1200 hours, buy 100 hours in a twin.

After all that, I would meet pt 135 mins, and could start flying for a living.

[/ QUOTE ]

I forgot to add

And then I could pay of a 737 type and ATP checkride.
 
I'm with ya there USMCmech. $80,000 is re-friggin-diculous for any program. People just need to suck it up and instruct. It doesn't take all that long and you come out a better pilot in the end.

Most of the instructors at my FBO also work at a charter company next door. I was talking to the chief pilot from there the other day and he told me that the best captains are always former (or current) high-time CFI's. I'm not sure what he meant by "high-time" (hour-wise), but now that I'm doing my CFI I can absolutely understand what he's talking about.

The more I learn about what it takes to be a professional aviator, the more programs like this scare the heck out of me. I still believe that the people who buy into these programs are in aviation for the wrong reasons.

My favorite quote lately (I think it's from Doug) has been "Everyone wants to be a pilot, noone wants to become an aviator". I like that.
 
Hi Seth-

I'm an alumni (alumnus?) of ERAU and quite a few of the CAPT details made me leery of the program.

However, I think it's great that you've offered yourself to discuss/debate/whatever the program.

Welcome to Jetcarers and make sure you always wear protective headgear in the forums!
smile.gif
 
Everytime I hear an "Echo Romeo" callsign........I want to land immediately.............
grin.gif
 
Doug,

Thank you very much. I appreciate the opportunity to directly answer any questions about the program.

As a veteran of many free-wheeling forums, I will not only carry my headgear but also an asbestos suit.
laugh.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top