Thoughts On ASA?

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
I spoke to a MD88/90 Captain for Delta, he has been with them for 16 years. He said the ASA program sounds like there is no downside to it, other than the money. HE said you get a earlier seniority number, will be building great time, etc.. I actually was shocked that he thought the program sounded good.

He also said that people do not look down upon the pay for play training. He got hired at 24 by Delta and used to get sh** for being a kid. That all changed when he became Captain.


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Hmm... Keep in mind that the captain (probably just an -88 guy because the -90 is DFW based) got into the profession in a completely different market than we're seeing right now so I'd love to have a conversation with him about his insight.

I really doubt if I'd base a 'accelerated track' program or FBO-style program decision off of anecdotal evidence.

You've got to take a good look at the big picture. Ask these questions:

-How long between the final checkride and your first line flight?
-Is the first line flight position paid?
-Does it require an internship?
-If there is a 12 to 18 month wait (or whatever it is), wouldn't I be better off flying frieght in the meantime?
-If the agreement dissolves between (insert school here) and (insert airline here), do you have any alternate plans of making good on promises?

BTW, PM me the captain's name, I might know the guy!
 
Doug,

It's a 10 week deal here in Vero, consisting of time in a Seneca in a mock 121 environment...thoses guys even have a seperate building and seperate dispatchers..etc plus a Level D Saab 2K sim. Then it's straight to a permanent, paid position once you start training in ATL. You pay for the Seneca and Saab time, but you have a Conditional Offer of Employment based on an interview with Candler before you pay a dime. Keep in mind, you are a 300 hour pilot when you start this and 10 weeks later you'll be in training with all the other new hires....one can only imagine the learning curve.

Chunk
 
Hi Chunk75!
Thanks for all of the info so far. Quick questions: What is done during the SEL and MEL "evaluation" phases? Does it really take 3 weeks for them to figure out if you can fly right?
Thanks!
Jedi Nein
 
Anyone trained here at FSI is exempt from those portions, obviously.

Is that sarcasm I smell? Are you taking a swing?

Chunk
 
Chunk's little animated sequence in his signature couldn't be more appropriate!!!
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Looks like the makings of a beautifull friendship, Sorry jedi, but I got $20 on Chunk, aka scratchy................Sooo!! LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Best Regards,
Heat2151
 
My experience with jedinein thus far has been hit and runs....

I'd be suprised if we hear from her in any substantial way....

Chunk
 
Itchy and Scratchy are somewhat close to what my primary flight training was like.

*Smacks the *CENSORED**CENSORED**CENSORED**CENSORED* computer for locking up the three times I've tried to post a response. ARRRRGGHHH!!!!*

It's a serious question. I can usually figure out a pilot by the time we're taxiing. Other instructors tell me as I gain experience, I'll be able to figure 'em out by the time we've walked to the airplane. For knowing every single procedure and task, VFR and IFR, 12 hours total, 3 on the ground and 3 in flight for VFR and 3/3 for IFR.

So, following this line of logic, what is done during the three weeks FSI schedules for the single and multiengine evaluations for someone not of FSI stock?

Thanks!
Jedi Nein
 
Well, I guess ASA and FSI don't put much stock in the "walk out to the plane" assessment theory....Perhaps they like a thorough check in different weather environment, dealing with different regimes of flight, etc...I personally have some days that are better than others. What if I had a bad day on your one flight, or the reverse; if I was an unsafe pilot who had a really good day? Scary.

This sage-like wisdom that some CFI's profess to possess is funny....1000 TT and they can read hearts and minds! Maybe they can moonlight on telephone psychic hotlines! I can hear it now, "What's that caller? You want to know what your lovelife will contain in the future? Videotape yourself walking to your bedroom, send it to me, and I'll tell you everything!"


I don't buy it, Miss Cleo.


Chunk
 
Howdy!

MIss Cleo?!? I rather liked: http://atomfilms.shockwave.com/af/content/darth_vaders_psychic

I repeat, "For knowing every single procedure and task, VFR and IFR, 12 hours total, 3 on the ground and 3 in flight for VFR and 3/3 for IFR."

That's 12 hours with a 9000+ hour CFI versus FSI's 3 weeks.... 3 weeks is 7 days times 8 hours working a day... Still FSI's three weeks doesn't make sense:

1. Is FSI assuming from the start that someone from the outside does not know how to fly therefore FSI must teach them all over from scratch, taking three weeks as the worst case scenario?

2. Is there a lot of time spent sitting on the ground watching the grass grow because of scheduling conflicts, lack of airplanes, and unavailable instructors?

3. Is it show up on the first day and receive a written test (ours is a total of 300 questions for IFR and VFR) that could have been completed before arrival, but will take the next week to complete?

4. Or is every single day jam packed with things to get done with just barely enough time to grab a meal while enroute to the airplane or ASA required exam or systems ground on whatever airplane?

$36,000 is a lot of funds to spend on 15 hours of Seneca PIC time with several ground classes and no type rating to show for it. Therefore, the questions.

Fly SAFE!
Jedi Nein
 
Would somebody please fill me in on what Jedi is arguing about? I feel like I can comment on something to this, but I can't seem to piece together what he/she is saying.....starting with the 12 hr 3/3 thing also something on unavailable instructors and watching grass grow????
 
Uh Yeah,

And I thought I was the only one that did not know what he/she was talking about! I still do not know what is going on, 3 weeks wasting time, ASA, 3/3 12/12-- I'm lost.
 
JediNein is intimating that FSI wastes peoples time and money by making them do a multi week eval period at the beginning of the ASA direct track program. What she doesn't understand, because she is commenting on something she has no experience with, is that the eval period is only for non FSI grads and is a time to figure out whether a pilot new to our happy little club here has any skeletons in their flying closet.

Basically, she is trying to start a fight with me. It's hard to fight her, because often she makes no sense. She is soooo prolific on every board I check out, I often wonder how she finds the time to fly and develop her psychic-like ability to evaluate pilots by just looking at them walk to the aircraft.

Chunk
 
*Jedi Nein shakes her head sadly. A simple question on a flight school she has no direct experience with becomes a fight.
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WIth no way to correct misperceptions through an online forum she gives up and walks away seeking her answer from somewhere else.*
 
I just got the word from management a few hours ago (not a rumor) that the ASA program is once again on hold..........
 
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