BE90_Driver
New Member
Many have asked what kind of experience that TAB may provide. ERFly posted a very good summation on the TAB experience under the "too good to be" thread I believe. I know who ERFly is. I believe that he will make an excellent F/O on the Saab for Colgan and I wish him well in that endeavor.
The truth is the training side, i.e. the ground instruction, the 121 Indoc class, CRM. All of it was some of the best training I've ever had. For the initial ground we had a furloughed DAL FE who knew his stuff. Although he's no longer with program, I really learned alot from him. My CRM was taught to me by a 40 year vet who flew for Pan Am and my 121 was taught to me by a UAL pilot who was very involved in the pilot's union. The point is, that there is a wealth of experience to be had.
Unfortunately, the program also has WAY too many problems. Mostly due to the piss poor management of the company. Here's the most recent example. Several of my former peers there were grounded so that their (TAB EXPRESS AIRLINES) 1900 ground school could be completed. First of all it was for their start up airline and second I believe it's wrong to penalize (ground) those who have no intentions of investing or flying for your company; especially since many of them have been there at least a year; which makes it before their idea to start an airline. What makes thier side project any more important than students still enrolled in the older curriculum trying to get out? They shut the primary training for a week to cater to a select few.
I feel that TAB was worth the turbine time and LOFT flights as well. But the management needs a major overhaul. As far as what to expect upon completion. Bills for overages which are supposed to be covered, stated in my contract at least, yet I still got billed money for an "all inclusive" program. Also no solid job options. Yes Colgan at 500 as well as American Eagle; but as of this posting TAB has not placed anyone with Eagle. I have nothing against Colgan either. I know several people flying for them now who are happy; but Chuck Colgan et al. can't seem to make up their minds about PFT. As for Mitch Mitchelson, he would rather have you spend money for their airline which equates to this, 25,000 for 250 hours 1900 time. That's what they offered me when I finished. No thanks.
If it sounds like I'm bitter it's because I am. I feel like I got raked over the coals and that TAB did not deliever a product it advertised. I tried to be diplomatic but it seems that when you try to look out for your money, your investment it only makes it worse.
Please understand this is my opinion of my experience. I encourage those interested to visit DeLand and speak to other students, away from Steve or Al and "refered" students after the tour to get a true sense of TAB. Despite the negative's I ranted about I still believe I came away with some solid training despite the b/s of the management. Oh well, at least when I finally achieve my goal of flying the the line this type of stuff will be old hat for me!
BE90 driver
The truth is the training side, i.e. the ground instruction, the 121 Indoc class, CRM. All of it was some of the best training I've ever had. For the initial ground we had a furloughed DAL FE who knew his stuff. Although he's no longer with program, I really learned alot from him. My CRM was taught to me by a 40 year vet who flew for Pan Am and my 121 was taught to me by a UAL pilot who was very involved in the pilot's union. The point is, that there is a wealth of experience to be had.
Unfortunately, the program also has WAY too many problems. Mostly due to the piss poor management of the company. Here's the most recent example. Several of my former peers there were grounded so that their (TAB EXPRESS AIRLINES) 1900 ground school could be completed. First of all it was for their start up airline and second I believe it's wrong to penalize (ground) those who have no intentions of investing or flying for your company; especially since many of them have been there at least a year; which makes it before their idea to start an airline. What makes thier side project any more important than students still enrolled in the older curriculum trying to get out? They shut the primary training for a week to cater to a select few.
I feel that TAB was worth the turbine time and LOFT flights as well. But the management needs a major overhaul. As far as what to expect upon completion. Bills for overages which are supposed to be covered, stated in my contract at least, yet I still got billed money for an "all inclusive" program. Also no solid job options. Yes Colgan at 500 as well as American Eagle; but as of this posting TAB has not placed anyone with Eagle. I have nothing against Colgan either. I know several people flying for them now who are happy; but Chuck Colgan et al. can't seem to make up their minds about PFT. As for Mitch Mitchelson, he would rather have you spend money for their airline which equates to this, 25,000 for 250 hours 1900 time. That's what they offered me when I finished. No thanks.
If it sounds like I'm bitter it's because I am. I feel like I got raked over the coals and that TAB did not deliever a product it advertised. I tried to be diplomatic but it seems that when you try to look out for your money, your investment it only makes it worse.
Please understand this is my opinion of my experience. I encourage those interested to visit DeLand and speak to other students, away from Steve or Al and "refered" students after the tour to get a true sense of TAB. Despite the negative's I ranted about I still believe I came away with some solid training despite the b/s of the management. Oh well, at least when I finally achieve my goal of flying the the line this type of stuff will be old hat for me!
BE90 driver
