bcpilot

@ kls81..

While I don't disagree with the rest here that you should NOT need an RJ course, that the airline should train you but I will agree with outaluckagain that an RJ course from the right place will be a tremendous help.

While no one has an extra $4,000.00 laying around, think of it as a investment, it will be a great insurance policy if you can afford it.

I will give you my personal example. Earlier this year, I was faced with the same dilemma & I asked the same question here, as I was worried about my 1st 121 training.

My research identified 3 courses, All ATPS, Aviator college & Aerosim.

The 7 day course from ATP is way overpriced and 4 day will not be enough.

Aviator college course was cheaper & a little better than Aerosim as it offers slightly more sim time (40 hrs total, 20 PF / 20 PNF), housing is included I didn't know what is the quality of accommodations. But they are way too busy as No one returned my calls for a few months, by that time, I had already done the course.

I did mine at Aerosim. 2 week course, 1st week (abt 40 hrs) of ground school covering systems followed by 26 hrs (13 PF / 13 PNF) in a CRJ non motion sim in the next week.

It costs $3,550.00 for the whole course. Add another $500 - $700 for Travel, stay & food. The instructor, Rodney Hurley, is a former Comair pilot who used to fly the CRJ himself.

As a result of that course, I breezed through training. Ground school was a piece of cake, I already knew all the systems. The hydraulics, fuel, electrical, pneumatics, all the systems were on my tips. I learnt the use of FMA modes, FMS use & operation, the glass transition, using the FCP, flying the profiles, all the emergencies, V1 cuts, single engine Approaches, using the QRH, switching between the roles of PF & PNF, the list is endless. I knew all this & was very comfortable I flying the sim before I reached the training house...

There are few other people I know, who did the same course at Aerosim, they all have the same view as I have and which is, "that if one has the ability to arrange the funds, it is the best insurance policy.."

There were many in my class who were just CFI's, they were young, in their 20's, sharp & were current. They worked hard & were fine without the course. However, there were many in my class and the class behind us, who had a lot of experience, airline & jet time, they all struggled to understand even the basic concepts.

I was relaxed all through the training, No issues with ground school or oral, no issues with sim, no issues in IOE, no issues with automation.
I had my challenges, which I guess everyone goes through but for me transition was smooth & easy & I believe that it was because of the course that I took.

If you decide to do this course, Pls make sure that there are at least 2 people in the course, so you can fly as PF & PNF.

Also, if you do this course, make sure you have a class date first, so you know which company you are going to. That way, you can focus on the profiles for the company you will work for. Also, do this course within 1 to 2 months of going to training. That way the concepts will be fresh when you reach the school house.

Best of luck...

bcpilot

I beg to differ with your view here... You have a lot of experience but you have to look at it from the perspective of a fresh new guy...

If you have the right company, right Instructors, right conditions, the first airline training can be very difficult at the very least, you have even used the term as drinking from the firehose...

Airlines wash out people at the blink of an eye & don't give a damn about their future.

How many threads do you reply every month, who say I didn't make it at my airline training, what to do... You offer the most encouragement & advise anyways, so why not take a look at a slightly different approach.

Anyone who has spent tens of thousands of dollars & years to reach a point where he can go to his first airline should not risk it for a small amount of money.

I am a little conservative, I believe in over preparing & My approach in life is Better Safe than sorry...

Cubdriver

Correct, and this is the crux of the problem. You have to wonder about an industry that throws people out left and right while forcing others to pay thousands out of pocket for a 50% chance of passing their training program. It's not a good scene and not a healthy way to do things.

rickair7777

They do it because they can. A lot of people are willing to put up with a lot of abuse, risk, and uncertainty for a shot at a six-figure part-time job flying airplanes. No sign that's going to change much, although there might be an actual (but temporary) shortage 3-10 years out from now.

outaluckagain

I appreciate you taking the time to comment on the topic. We can never take it for grandet that our experience alone will enough to get us through 121 training the first go at it. Everyone learns differently, so it would be best for each and every individual to take a look at their abilities, and make a decision from there.

I honestly can't see how some guys can say that time in a Baron really got them up to speed for the CRJ. Other guys think it works....just can't see how. That may be a way of describing how everyone is different.

rickair7777

My first airliner was a CRJ at a notorious bottom feeder which started off new-hire training with a brief on failure statistics. My previous experience consisted of MEI in a light twin. CRJ is an easy, easy airliner compared to other planes I've flown or heard about. Like I said, if you're a marginal pilot a prep course can better your odds. But are you going to do that for every training event of your career?

If you're better-than-average relative to your CFI peers than it's a waste of money...and more debt that you won't be paying off any time soon. Unless money is no object, then you might as well.

outaluckagain

No way would I recommend comparing yourself to other instructors as a means to determine your potential in newhire 121 training. There is no real comparison between your performance as a CFI in light twins, and a newhire in a CRJ.

Sounds like you did pretty well your first time through, but that was by no means a result of your previous CFI experience. You may have been correlating your previous success towards the CRJ, but that by no means was what got you through.

I keep hearing that automation makes it easier, but that only comes after you have learned the ropes. Your obvious quick learning style may have been a result of your personal readiness to learn at that particular point and time. It could not have been a result of your being an excellent CFI.

I do believe that your success may have been somehow correlated by you towards your CFI excellence, and this may have been what gave you the confidence........

I hear time and again how many CFI types fail due to being stuck in the CFI or single pilot mode. Transition training may help these guys.

In no way am I suggesting that people should use this mode of preperation everytime they attend a training event, but certainly their first time through 121 training, well.......

Beech90

So if its your first time flying a CRJ, you must drop $4500 to get past training no matter your background? Whether it's flying single pilot IFR, or a CFI? That's BS.

outaluckagain

You will, once again, need to consider your own personal learning style and abilities before attending your first 121 event. Of course, not everyone will need a CRJ transition course.

I don't see any connection between what you are posting, and what has been previously posted. I just can't see where it says every single pilot will need this type of training.

It is really more a consideration that may be made.

bcpilot

By " that " if you mean that I will over prepare everytime, then YES, I will always over prepare...

I was lucky that I got to learn from very good Instructors at Flt Safety. One lesson that I learnt & I will keep with me for the rest of my life, will be to fly every leg like it was my line check or my check ride and never take ANYTHING for granted. So I prepare for every trip, every day that I may get a surprise line check..