Snow
'Not a new member'
Well I called Westwind today, the admissions person was on another call so they put me onto the owner! I have to say I was impressed at their website and school newsletter. I have heard people were impressed with Jerry's honesty from other posts on here and I say that I was quite impressed too! 
The owner at Westwind told me they and Pan Am used to have the same prices but it seems they had to jack the prices up to cover the costs of all their new Seminoles and CRJ sims. He basically said the multi route program was a money earner for Pan Am, he said you'll get about 100hrs multi time instructing with Westwind anyhow and if you need more you can always hire a twin with the money you save there.
He said ACE program wasn't really necessary, you aren't going to be flying jets when you get to a regional at the beginning anyhow. They run a simular kind of program only its in a B1900 sim and is done by actual regional airline instructors. Supposed to be just like the annual check ride the regional pilots do.
He told me that only about 50% finish the program, most dropping out after a few weeks, he told me if they drop out after a week or two often they get a complete refund!
:shocked:
I was impressed to say the least. He said he's had Pan Am students come to him in tears because they charge the $2000 fee AND keep your money for 60 days, so you cannot start training again until 2 months after you quit Pan Am! he said If someone didn't want to stay he didn't see any point in trying to twist their arm to stay.
He said how at Westwind they all know that the students are the customers and without them, no one gets paid. That and not many flight schools have the owner's office at the school and a open door to who ever wants to have a chat.
He also said that you are guaranteed a position as a flight instructor working there providing you start with a private licence or less. He said it's quite possible to get 100hrs of instructing time per month as an instructor, you basically work as much or little as you choose (limited to 8hrs a day of course) Another plus is that the school also takes in 'custom students' that is anyone not in the career pilot program. He said there's about 200 career students and 120 custom students there right now, so there's no lack of students to teach. He said after the 20 month program you should have 1200hr TT and 100hrs multi, more than enough to start applying to the airlines. He also said that 100% of the flight instructors there goto the airlines! (providing they don't take a job as a Alaskan float plane pilot or something Plus it's not a matter of, you must take any job that comes your way but rather work as a CFI until you land the job you want, wether it be cargo or passenger or whatever.
Well there you go, that pretty much sums up the 30min or so conversation I had with Jerry Dilk over the phone.
I was so impressed in fact, that I'm sending my application tomorrow! I was hooked on Pan Am before but I figure the extra that Pan Am offers isn't worth the extra money or administrative problems!
So if everything goes to plan I should be starting at Westwind on October 6th 2003! :grin:
The owner at Westwind told me they and Pan Am used to have the same prices but it seems they had to jack the prices up to cover the costs of all their new Seminoles and CRJ sims. He basically said the multi route program was a money earner for Pan Am, he said you'll get about 100hrs multi time instructing with Westwind anyhow and if you need more you can always hire a twin with the money you save there.
He said ACE program wasn't really necessary, you aren't going to be flying jets when you get to a regional at the beginning anyhow. They run a simular kind of program only its in a B1900 sim and is done by actual regional airline instructors. Supposed to be just like the annual check ride the regional pilots do.
He told me that only about 50% finish the program, most dropping out after a few weeks, he told me if they drop out after a week or two often they get a complete refund!
:shocked:
I was impressed to say the least. He said he's had Pan Am students come to him in tears because they charge the $2000 fee AND keep your money for 60 days, so you cannot start training again until 2 months after you quit Pan Am! he said If someone didn't want to stay he didn't see any point in trying to twist their arm to stay.
He said how at Westwind they all know that the students are the customers and without them, no one gets paid. That and not many flight schools have the owner's office at the school and a open door to who ever wants to have a chat.
He also said that you are guaranteed a position as a flight instructor working there providing you start with a private licence or less. He said it's quite possible to get 100hrs of instructing time per month as an instructor, you basically work as much or little as you choose (limited to 8hrs a day of course) Another plus is that the school also takes in 'custom students' that is anyone not in the career pilot program. He said there's about 200 career students and 120 custom students there right now, so there's no lack of students to teach. He said after the 20 month program you should have 1200hr TT and 100hrs multi, more than enough to start applying to the airlines. He also said that 100% of the flight instructors there goto the airlines! (providing they don't take a job as a Alaskan float plane pilot or something
Plus it's not a matter of, you must take any job that comes your way but rather work as a CFI until you land the job you want, wether it be cargo or passenger or whatever.Well there you go, that pretty much sums up the 30min or so conversation I had with Jerry Dilk over the phone.
I was so impressed in fact, that I'm sending my application tomorrow! I was hooked on Pan Am before but I figure the extra that Pan Am offers isn't worth the extra money or administrative problems!
So if everything goes to plan I should be starting at Westwind on October 6th 2003! :grin:
