You're in a regional airline interview:
Question
Interviewer- I see here that you washed out of xyz airline training program a while back. Why do you believe that you can make it through our training program?
Answer
You as a CFI- To be honest with you, I just wasn't prepared for the rigors of airline training the first time around. I only had 300hrs TT at the time of my first training experience. But since then, I've gone back and instructed another 700hrs and gained valuable experience, not only in the flying aspect, but also basic knowledge. You know that theres know better way to fully understand a concept than having to teach that concept to someone else. I believe that I've gained the experience to have a much better outcome this time around.
You as a jet transition graduate- ???????
I disagree. I can argue that 121 flying is doing the same thing over and over again. Take-off, climb, cruise, auto pilot set, descent checklist, and land.We really do the same thing everyday.
There is a great deal of CRM in CFI'ing IMHO.
And that ain't good. More and more it's looking like you're going to have to buy your way into an interview.
Sorry KLB, but this is a pure load of Bantha Fodder...It always has been and it always will be. Sitting in the right seat of a 172 CFI'ing is more or less doing the same exact flight over and over and over and over again. Telling a student "right rudder, right rudder....RIGHT rudder!" for 1000 hours is not going to prepare you for the right seat of an RJ...
There is no logical reasoning for this position. The two are night and day. It's like comparing flying fire attack with basket weaving ( ok, so not that extreme...I'm be overdramatic to make a point). Though your academic abilities and knowledge will certainly be superior, and perhaps your scan...to a degree. Your adaptability to work in a CRM based cockpit flying a systems intensive transport category aircraft will by no means be more enhanced by flight instructing. We get plenty of 1000 to even 2000 hour CFI's come through our program and interestingly enough a lot of them bite it hard and wash out..primary reason is arrogance...secondary reason is they are no more prepared for 121 flying then the 250 hour fresh RJ course grad. You can either do it or you can't.
The only kind of experience that will really give you an edge up is something like part 135 crew based flying. Lot's of single pilot IFR stuff may even hinder you to a degree as you will have to start thinking in a way that divides everything you used to do on your own in two.
The CFI argument has always been a filtering criteria for airlines that really...just don't like you...and don't want to hire you. Sorry to be so blunt..but I hate this argument...it's about as logical as a Vulcan on crack!!
Sorry KLB, but this is a pure load of Bantha Fodder...It always has been and it always will be. Sitting in the right seat of a 172 CFI'ing is more or less doing the same exact flight over and over and over and over again. Telling a student "right rudder, right rudder....RIGHT rudder!" for 1000 hours is not going to prepare you for the right seat of an RJ...
There is no logical reasoning for this position. The two are night and day. It's like comparing flying fire attack with basket weaving ( ok, so not that extreme...I'm be overdramatic to make a point). Though your academic abilities and knowledge will certainly be superior, and perhaps your scan...to a degree. Your adaptability to work in a CRM based cockpit flying a systems intensive transport category aircraft will by no means be more enhanced by flight instructing. We get plenty of 1000 to even 2000 hour CFI's come through our program and interestingly enough a lot of them bite it hard and wash out..primary reason is arrogance...secondary reason is they are no more prepared for 121 flying then the 250 hour fresh RJ course grad. You can either do it or you can't.
The only kind of experience that will really give you an edge up is something like part 135 crew based flying. Lot's of single pilot IFR stuff may even hinder you to a degree as you will have to start thinking in a way that divides everything you used to do on your own in two.
The CFI argument has always been a filtering criteria for airlines that really...just don't like you...and don't want to hire you. Sorry to be so blunt..but I hate this argument...it's about as logical as a Vulcan on crack!!
If I were not a CFI then I could not get a job as a CFI even if I had an additional 500 hours of real life experience or if I paid a company 6000 dollars for an extra week in a simulator.But you got your CFI ratings to get a job teaching? Some could say that's BS - that the school should train you to be a CFI.
I see we will likely go round and round on this one. Look it is really simple. Experience matters. Anyone who tries to discount that fact is either...
a) trying to justify their position
b) seriously out of tune with the real world
c) all of the above
I sometimes dread starting a 4 day with a brand new FO here at my company...and we have high hiring minimums!! I couldn't imagine having some 300 hour FO next to me. As captain you have enough to put up with on a daily basis let alone teaching a new hire how to fly an airplane and learn the intricacies of the 121 world. Don't get me wrong, I try to be a good captain and impart solid knowledge on my FOs (have always been an educator) but I won't teach an FO things he/she should have picked up with years of experience already under the ol' belt.
It may ultimately be up to the FAA and airlines to set hiring minimums, however it is our job on the 'frontline' to keep them honest. Just like it is a citizens job to keep their government's practices honest.
Thank you Kelvin, well put![]()
I appreciate your input always, it's really valuable, but i just dont agree on the "good captain" part.
I'm really sorry that you were ever a new F/O, and never needed help getting a hang of things. Hate to break it to you, but no one is going to be absolutely up to speed even with 5,000 hours if all that time has been in a single piston. You were a new FO too....dont forget that.
More loans and little money to pay them off - many of them at such a young age.