Gulfstream Int'l Flight Academy

Re: Gulfstream Int\'l Flight Academy

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if i did pft, and then went to interview wiht comair...what would the employer say to me about it.

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Think of it this way. Who are the folks you'll be interviewing with?

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If you’re interviewing at Comair then you'll probably be interviewed by someone who PFTed...
 
Re: Gulfstream Int\'l Flight Academy

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If you’re interviewing at Comair then you'll probably be interviewed by someone who PFTed...

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Thats a pretty significant accusation. Not trying to start a flame but what info do you have that would point to ComAir execs and senior captains PFTing? Just curious.
 
Re: Gulfstream Int\'l Flight Academy

Matt,

I believe a long time ago they made new FO's pay for their training. So I think he meant that some of the more senior guys at Comair probably did that.
 
Re: Gulfstream Int\'l Flight Academy

When I was canvassing the airlines with resumes when I was a CFI, I do remember someone from Comair calling me back and telling me "Congratulations!" and that I'll need to bring a check for around $300 or so for the evaluation and another $12000 or so for training in the metro or brasilia.

I remember telling the lady on the telephone that if I worked for an entire year as a CFI, didn't eat or spend a dime, that I'd still have to borrow $3,000 from my parents in order to get a job. No thanks!

I don't think she even said goodbye before she hung up on me! haha!
 
Re: Gulfstream Int\'l Flight Academy

My bad, I had no idea. Well learn somethin new everyday. Thanks for the clarification.
 
Re: Gulfstream Int\'l Flight Academy

I am told that there is a significant percentage of PFT'ers at Comair. The PFT was in effect from about 1989 to 1994 if I recall. I may have the years wrong.

I got that same call Doug. And email. And fax. And package in the mail. And another call. Tell me it isn't a profit center LOL.
 
Re: Gulfstream Int\'l Flight Academy

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if i did pft, and then went to interview wiht comair...what would the employer say to me about it. I hear alot of bad things, but dont realyl understand why its so bad...other than every one says its evil.

[/ QUOTE ]Airlines aren't going to care how you got your experience, really. It's just frowned on within the pilot community. A friend of mine is an RJ FO at ACA and a UND grad, he bought 200 hrs of right seat time with a Pt 135 outfit just like Gulfstream offers. At his ACA interview, all they asked was whether he had proof that that company's ops manual required an SIC for an aircraft certified for single-pilot ops. Other than that, they didn't bat an eye and he got the job, obviously .

Incidentally, I consider Gulfstream, Alpine and others of their ilk more "pay for experience" than "pay for training"; PFT is more like the training fees Doug mentioned, which nobody charges anymore, though a few places have training contracts which require you to stay at the company for a certain period of time or reimburse the company for their training costs. Colgan is one such place, IIRC.
 
Re: Gulfstream Int\'l Flight Academy

Why is everyone complaining about how hard it is to build time?

Some days, I hate seeing my name on the flight schedule........

[tosses flame grenade and runs for cover.........................
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Re: Gulfstream Int\'l Flight Academy

As much as I despise Gulfstream, and PFT in general...I know a guy who went through there, and just got hired by Mesa with around 700TT. I have more time than him, but I am banging around half the country in a Bonanza while he is flying a jet. I'm not really jealous because I'm happy where I am , and happy having gotten to where I am without paying for anything beyond ratings, but it is frustrating. As long as people keep hearing stories like his, PFT will be alive and well. Like Doug says- everyone wants to be an airline pilot, few actually want to become one.
 
Re: Gulfstream Int\'l Flight Academy

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[tosses flame grenade and runs for cover......................... .]


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Aren't you the one who's supposed to extinguish the flame grenades?
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Re: Gulfstream Int\'l Flight Academy

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[tosses flame grenade and runs for cover......................... .]


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Aren't you the one who's supposed to extinguish the flame grenades?
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True enough. Sometimes, the urge to go rogue is tempting!
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Re: Gulfstream Int\'l Flight Academy

If you are looking at skipping flight instructing then check into Flight Safety's ASA program. It is probably the ONLY program that is solid and based solely on your knowledge and flying abilities at 300+ hours. First you complete the CIME program. Then the academy sets up an interview with ASA. It is the same interveiw that you would get if you submitted a resume with 1200+ hours (their mins I beleive) and were called in for it. The interveiw is basically made up of 50% instrument knowledge, 40% personality (who are you), and 10% 121 REGS. After passing the interview and recieving a COE (conditional offer of employment)you then do 30 hours of advanced IFR LOFT training in the Seneca III focusing on ASA's callouts etc. After passing the final stage check in the Seneca you go on to 80 hours of ground school, learning about the FMS, glass flight display, flight director, Auto pilot, and high altitude operations to name a few. From there you go to the SAAB 2000 Level "D" SIM where you fly 36 hours (18 each seat) followed by a checkride that is evaluated by the head SIM instructor from ASA in Atlanta. After passing that you head up to Atlanta for the CRJ ground school.

This is a simple short version of the ASA program. I may have left out some minor details or they may have changed a few things since I last signed up for it myself. It is a great program that has a very high success rate. ASA has said that almost all of the students that have gone through the program have done exceptionaly well in the CRJ ground school, taking some of the highest scores in the class and on the SIM rides. Not bad for 300+ hour pilots.

The program isn't cheap. It is $25,000 hard earned or borrowed
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dollars. The program is also on hold right now but they anticipate it starting again in the spring (2004) after they get all of their current Brazillia pilots trained for the CRJ.

I am sure some people will say this is pay for training but I will argue that it is not. All Flight Safety is doing is getting you to the proficiency level of a 1500+ hour GOOD instrument pilot at 300+ hours. The military does it all the time.

Flight Safety had originally wanted to bring in a new CRJ level "D" with glass for the program but ASA said no because then it would be considered PFT B/C you would be paying for training in the RJ. This way you are getting proficient with the panel of an RJ but doing it in the SAAB (turbo prop).

Anyway, good program anyway you look at it...ILS
 
Re: Gulfstream Int\'l Flight Academy

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you only get $8.00/flight hr

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See, there IS a job where you make less than a CFI!
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Man, I make more than that as a ramper...
 
Re: Gulfstream Int\'l Flight Academy

My understanding is that those "bridge" programs like the Flight Safety's ASA program, Comair's Jet Direct Program or Mesa's PACE program require that you start from zero hours.. ie: you cant walk into them with a commercial rating, etc which makes places like Gulfstream more attractive for pilots who dont want to give up their ratings just to get into a bridge program.

Ryan
 
Re: Gulfstream Int\'l Flight Academy

When we were looking at FSI they were discussing the program as though my husband would finish all his ratings and then start this other program. I don't remember them saying he'd be giving up any ratings. What would be the point of him finishing and THEN doing this ASA if that's really how it worked? So maybe FSI is different....or maybe I just don't remember them saying he'd give up his ratings. ??
 
Re: Gulfstream Int\'l Flight Academy

What do you all think of TAB then? It seems like the program that they offer is a cross between FSI and Gulfstream.
 
Re: Gulfstream Int\'l Flight Academy

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My understanding is that those "bridge" programs like the Flight Safety's ASA program, Comair's Jet Direct Program or Mesa's PACE program require that you start from zero hours.. ie: you cant walk into them with a commercial rating, etc

[/ QUOTE ]I can't speak for the other two, but regarding Mesa, you're thinking of the full 18 month MAPD ab initio program, not the PACE program. The MAPD PACE program (essentially the last semester of the ab initio curriculum) requires at a minimum a commercial ticket with instrument rating, 250 hrs TT, an associates degree or better, and a first class medical.

http://www.flightcareers.com/pace.htm
 
Re: Gulfstream Int\'l Flight Academy

The ASA program was seperate from all of your ratings at FSA. At least it was when I was looking at them.

I think TAB is a lot like Gulfstream becuase when you finish all the training you fly one of their airlines around florida.
 
Re: Gulfstream Int\'l Flight Academy

I don't know all to much about PFT but I do know when I graduated from FSI my roommate went to Gulfstream with a few other people. Guess what, while I got my CFI and fly out to the practice area in a 172 heavy, he and everyone that went with him from FSI are now at Northwest Airlink flying a CRJ. I am totally happy for him and only have myself to blame. So now, almost 2 years later, I am packing my bags and going to the Mesa PACE program to hopefully break through. Sometimes I wonder would I be at NW Airlink if I went with him? Just something to ponder. Oh by the way, NW Airlink came to Gulfstream to recruit, he never flew to see them. Pretty crazy when 3000 hour guys can't get hired. Just my $0.02. Good luck to all though and fly safe.
 
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