DCA vs part 61

thanks montanna, were these loans around a couple years back? i thought i looked pretty hard for stuff like this. anyway, hope the information helps other wannabe pilots make informed decisions....
 
"It is still faster at DCA"

I think you're wrong but this is getting silly. I'm currently working with a guy who is on track to finish his PVT and IFR in six months part 61 and will spend about 8K and have 100 hours.

"So 500 hours multi time in the same aircraft flying the same routes and shooting the same approaches don't mean much."

Actually, it means a lot. What do you think airline pilots do? They fly the same aircraft and shoot the same approaces over and over. Multi time is an important benchmark.

"And after 1700 tt and 500 multi.... he still doesn't compete with people trying to get jobs at the Delta Connection System."

Really? Are you saying Chautauqa won't hire a guy with 1700/500? I know guys are getting interviews at XJT with 1000/100. Do you think Chautauqa is a better place to work?

The more we talk about this the more I see how you are tied into the DCA system. You don't see beyond the DCA carriers and the DCA interview guarantee. There is a big regional airline world out there and things don't really work the way you and the DCA marketers want you to believe.
 
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"It is still faster at DCA"

I think you're wrong but this is getting silly. I'm currently working with a guy who is on track to finish his PVT and IFR in six months part 61 and will spend about 8K and have 100 hours.


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It can be fast at an FBO if you have a motivated student and instructor combo. But while six months to get PVT and Instrument ticket is nice progress, it is by way no comparison to what many get at a good 141 school. A little over two months is very easily attainable for those same tickets. In those same six months your guy is "on track" to get pvt and instrument, I had already received my pvt, instrument, commercial, and started my multi commercial.

Now PlaneDiveGuy, I need to call you on your quotes.
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So 500 hours multi time in the same aircraft flying the same routes and shooting the same approaches don't mean much.

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And after 1700 tt and 500 multi.... he still doesn't compete with people trying to get jobs at the Delta Connection System.

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These are naive quotes. PIC multi time is huge. It's not easy to get that time. As of right now, someone with 1700 and 500 multi PIC that was received while working flying cargo will definitely get a look at by some companies. Now, if that same person had only 1000/100 and did the FBO route, the chances of them getting a look at are slim unless you have some good recommendations from someone on the inside. That's where schools like DCA have an advantage. They have a proven product that works and makes the airline feel good about hiring them with lower hours. They want to hire someone that is going to get through training. That's why non Delta Connection airlines also come to the school to recruit, because of the track record. That's where FBO's can be at a disadvantage.
 
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The more we talk about this the more I see how you are tied into the DCA system. You don't see beyond the DCA carriers and the DCA interview guarantee. There is a big regional airline world out there and things don't really work the way you and the DCA marketers want you to believe.

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DCA also has guys going to XpressJet, Eagle, and others. If you want to go somewhere else, it is usually just a phone call away. (the academy has good connections) Many don't choose to go elsewhere besides the connection carriers because you make good friends along the way and that makes the job that much more fun when you have good friends to share it with. (also the fact that the connection carriers were the only ones hiring at the time
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I'm afraid every FBO, flight school, academy, etc has students that progress to go on just about anywhere.

Gryphon Aviation in Tulare, CA with three turbine air tractors (crop dusters), a stearman, a tomahawk and two warriors had a student go on to Delta.

That's me!
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"It can be fast at an FBO if you have a motivated student and instructor combo."

I'll agree with that. Maybe it wouldn't work everywhere. Heck...I'm only averaging three times a week with him now for the IFR. He's flying more on his own to build XC time. What does 141 offer to speed things up that 61 can't do? I'd say ONLY lower time requirements for the ratings. But there is no reason a 61 student couldn't be motived to work hard and fly a lot and finish things very fast. You'd need CFI and aircraft availability to make it happen and not all 61 schools are up to the task but there is nothing in the regs slowing you down...other than higher times...and I could argue that's a good thing. Pilotfinance will even do loans for 61 schools, though loans for 141 schools seem easier to find.

"Now, if that same person had only 1000/100 and did the FBO route, the chances of them getting a look at are slim unless you have some good recommendations from someone on the inside."

I know 61 guy who just got called for an interview with 1000/100. He works at the same VFR 135 job as my friend but has a little more multi. He just got called for an interview. All he did was fill out the on-line app. Will he get hired? Who knows, but they don't interview you unless they would hire you.

"That's where schools like DCA have an advantage. They have a proven product that works and makes the airline feel good about hiring them with lower hours."

Won't disagree. If you "graduate" from the full DCA program, no doubt you have shown the ability to succeed. If all the regionals were wanting 3000 total and 1000 multi, I'd say the DCA program looks more appealing. When guys can get hired at 1500/500 or even 1000/100 at a good regional...I'd say the DCA programs "guaranteed interview" is less of a big deal.
 
"DCA also has guys going to XpressJet, Eagle, and others"

Both these companies are hiring "off the street" at very low times these days. No more time than a DCA guy will have once he "graduates". Perhaps Comair, for example, has higher requirements but will take DCA grads. That makes the DCA program "worth it" if you want to work at Comair really bad. Of course, by the same token, Comair might not be hiring....
 
Sorry for generalizing....
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when I mentioned about the time that meant nothing... I was refering to what the ASA Captain told us in one of our meetings... They prefer people that had to deal with being trown out of the confort zone. Perhaps to be able to dela with the "drinking from the firehose" environment at FO training???
 
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