Chunk,
ASA's classes have slowed (so far) to only 1 per month, when they were planning on 2/mo. I don't know what future plans are, but they're still interviewing. I see nervous guys in blue suits wandering around the hotel and the FSI building every day.
When I passed the checkride, they basically said "congratulations, welcome aboard, we'll call you when we have a class date for you." They told us at that time to expect August-November time frame. The wait for a class date can change, and while waiting, be ready to answer the phone. If you don't actually answer the phone when they call, they move on to the next name on the list until all slots are filled.
As for staying current, I went out and flew at the local FBO every couple of weeks, and took a group of friends on trips (cuts down the cost considerably). FSI also will give you extra time in the Saab every 3 weeks you're waiting. Of course, you've got to get yourself to Vero. I went once, on my way to Atlanta, spent 2 hours in the sim with my partner.
It is a great program. While there's a wait, you might consider getting your CFI anyway, as you could be building extra PIC time and getting paid for it. Sitting 9 weeks without work sucked. The reason you'll need the PIC time is that to upgrade to captain on the RJ, you need to meet ICAO ATP mins, which is 1200TT and only half your SIC can count toward TT. So for example, you go to ASA with 300TT, 200 PIC. You need 1150 SIC hours and 50 PIC for FAA ATP. For ICAO, you need 1800 SIC hours (because you need 900 if it were PIC, but SIC only counts as half). So the more PIC you have, the sooner you can upgrade. Clear as mud, right?
Hope this helps.
PS: We were assigned aircraft & domicile the first day of class, more ATL than DFW.
[ August 12, 2001: Message edited by: OnTop2 ]
