Cessna CE - 525 Type Rating

MavFlyer

MavFlyer

Well-Known Member
Hey guys,

I'm looking into getting a SIC Type Rating in a CE - 525. I found a place called SkyBlue Jet Aviation in Sanford,Florida. They offer one for about $5,000 and it only takes 3 days. Also you get an hour of actual time in the aircraft so you walk out with an actual temporary cert. I've asked around to some of my contacts in the airlines/corporate world and many of them think it sounds like a great idea, and they said that job opportunities would be promising. I am working on my CFI ratings right now and plan to have them finished by Christmas. I should be in the 300 - 350 hour range in the spring, possibly more. My questions are; What are the job prospects for me with those hours and a type rating? Where does SkyBlue Aviation rank with the likes of Flight Safety,Simulflite,etc

Thanks!
 
A type rating with 350 hours is not a good idea. Save the money for CFI, CFII, MEI. It will be much more valuable in the next few years. Most SIC positions will require at least a 1000 hours. Getting your CFI will allow you to build hours and make money instead of paying, who would have thought. A type for 5k is a pretty good deal but it will be a waste when you have to spend the same for recurrent until you get enough time to actually be consider for a position.

If you own a citation or your father or father-in-law does by all means go for it, but sending a resume with 350 hours and 1 hour in type will be a waste of paper.

My advice is don't be in a rush to jump into something because you can say "I have a type rating I meet one requirement for a job opening." Think it through, build your knowledge instructing or using your commercial and when the time comes and you are qualified you may be able to tell the boss to fork over his 5k.
 
Are you sure about that? I am friends with a kid in Texas about my age, who is flying contract flights on the Citation. He has just over 400 hours. By the spring/summer time I will already have had 50 - 100 hours of instruction time because I will be doing some instructing once I get my CFI's here soon. Money isn't an option, I have that covered, along with the type I'll get high performance and high altitude endorsements.
 
MavFlyer said:
Are you sure about that? I am friends with a kid in Texas about my age, who is flying contract flights on the Citation. He has just over 400 hours. By the spring/summer time I will already have had 50 - 100 hours of instruction time because I will be doing some instructing once I get my CFI's here soon. Money isn't an option, I have that covered, along with the type I'll get high performance and high altitude endorsements.
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It sounds like you had your mind made up before you asked so go ahead and get your SIC type. Just promise to come back and tell us how much good it did you a few years from now.

With 6000 pilots on the streets who have thousands of hours of jet time more than you on the streets what makes you so employable?
 
Is something burning?


At any rate, paying money for an SIC in a CitationJet is pretty worthless.

1. You do NOT need a 525SIC on the license to be a contract FO.

2. If they fly 135, then they will put you through a 135 check on the airplane and you will get a SIC "type" that way.

3. Save your money for a better investment. There is NO reason to pay for an SIC. Honestly.


Getting 1 hour in a Citation is not going to make or break a job. Not that I know of anyhow.
 
Well if money isn't an option then why are you in this profession? Do what your daddy did or invest in something that has a return then buy a Citation. A Citation type at 350 hrs will not give you any return and that is even if you do get a job. If you have that mentality that money isn't an option and are willing to take low pay or pay for all your training/types then you are going to end up 10 years from now wondering where all your money went. Go spend the money on something you enjoy if its burning a hole in your pocket. After about 200 hours of sitting right seat busting your ass in a Citation for low wages you aren't going to think it is very fun. Why do you think the 20 year airline captains gripe about page, QOL, ect. It's a job and the fun factors decreases with the number of years you do it. As previously stated this isn't a race. There is a smart way to do things and then the other way. Don't be the guy that sacrifices his integrity, industry pay, and quality of life to get some right seat SIC time.

You came on here asking for advice. People will be honest with you. Please take a solid look at the experience of the people replying and take an honest look your situation. They are not trying to discourage you from pursuing your dream they are merely trying to prevent you from making mistake they have or people close to them have made.
 
And crockrocket is right a 525 is a single pilot airplane. What do you think the pay will be if you fly for a pt 91 operator where an SIC is optional? Pt 135 will pay for your type and SIC checkride when your experience warrants it.
 
Whoa, you could not be more wrong on me here. Don't judge me off of 2 messages. I came asking a question thats it. I greatly respect and am considering everyones responses. Now before you accuse me of being a stuck up rich kid think twice. I'm paying my way through school just like everyone else. I was fortunate enough to have a parents with great credit that have allowed me to set aside quite a bit in loans for my schooling. I have also won a few scholarships that have given me free money to use on flight training. I have also fast tracked through alot of my training to save costs and it has worked greatly. So don't come and bash me for being eager and anxious. As for my daddy going and buying a Citation, I wish.
 
MavFlyer said:
Whoa, you could not be more wrong on me here. Don't judge me off of 2 messages. I came asking a question thats it. I greatly respect and am considering everyones responses. Now before you accuse me of being a stuck up rich kid think twice. I'm paying my way through school just like everyone else. I was fortunate enough to have a parents with great credit that have allowed me to set aside quite a bit in loans for my schooling. I have also won a few scholarships that have given me free money to use on flight training. I have also fast tracked through alot of my training to save costs and it has worked greatly. So don't come and bash me for being eager and anxious. As for my daddy going and buying a Citation, I wish.
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SO, you have a lot in loans...and you will have 300-350TT, with 1 hour in type.

Look at the Lear 31 FO thread. Can you pay back your loans on $25K/year? For that job, you would need an additional 1200TT and 100 PIC (not SIC) in a Lear.

Just giving you something to think about. Good luck with your decision.
 
$5,000 for an hour in a Citation. WOW! Especially an SIC type rating in what is pretty much a single-pilot certified aircraft?

I wouldn't touch it.

350 hours and an SIC type rating in a Citation is, well, a great story to tell to your CFI during your first hour of ground instruction when you break down and start working on your CFI-Airplane.

"Soooo... What's your background..."
 
MavFlyer said:
Whoa, you could not be more wrong on me here. Don't judge me off of 2 messages. I came asking a question thats it. I greatly respect and am considering everyones responses. Now before you accuse me of being a stuck up rich kid think twice. I'm paying my way through school just like everyone else. I was fortunate enough to have a parents with great credit that have allowed me to set aside quite a bit in loans for my schooling. I have also won a few scholarships that have given me free money to use on flight training. I have also fast tracked through alot of my training to save costs and it has worked greatly. So don't come and bash me for being eager and anxious. As for my daddy going and buying a Citation, I wish.
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welcome to the internet...
 
MavFlyer said:
Whoa, you could not be more wrong on me here. Don't judge me off of 2 messages. I came asking a question thats it. I greatly respect and am considering everyones responses. Now before you accuse me of being a stuck up rich kid think twice. I'm paying my way through school just like everyone else. I was fortunate enough to have a parents with great credit that have allowed me to set aside quite a bit in loans for my schooling. I have also won a few scholarships that have given me free money to use on flight training. I have also fast tracked through alot of my training to save costs and it has worked greatly. So don't come and bash me for being eager and anxious. As for my daddy going and buying a Citation, I wish.
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You did say money was no object. That only means one thing.
 
I had a friend in PA who got the oppertunity to right seat a CE550 right after he got his Multi Commercial. He had about 290 hours and they send him to SIMCOM for a 3 day recurrent course to get him up to speed on the CE550 series. He got an SIC out of it, but you do not need an SIC unless you fly abroad.
After about a year in the Citation, they werent flying much and he decided to go get his CSEL, and all his CFI tickets.
 
Ive got the SIC. But realize that the only time you would be needed would be for an international run.

What else could you do with $5K?

-Down payment on a plane
-Put towards CFI rating
-Invest in stock market

The days of wet commercial pilots going straight to a jet are going...going...gone*

* Unless you go to work overseas
 
Sounds like a lot of youth and no wisdom, MavFlyer. I won't bore you with rehashing the above points. I wouldn't do it, I think it's a mistake.
 
esa17 said:
Unless you know someone with a citation you're wasting your time and money.
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:yeahthat:

I believe that's the significant caveat as well. I can't see the value added with spending the money for a type rating without KNOWING there's something out there to immediately utilize the rating.

heck, might as well spend more money and get a 737 rating. More value added than a 525 type rating. . .duh!
 
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