CAPT vs Sterling Flight Training
03-19-2008, 08:33 AM
#1
On Reserve
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Sep 2007
Posts: 22
CAPT vs Sterling Flight Training
I was accepted in the CAPT's flight program a few months back and I like the way they have everything set up, plus the help with job placement before school is completed is a HUGE plus but on the other hand I have looked at Sterling here in Jax and it is significantly cheaper than CAPT is but it takes a little longer to complete all of the ratings.
My question to you guys that have finished school is do you think it is better to go to an FBO or go to CAPT with job placement and does having attended CAPT look better on a resume than a small flight school?
http://www.sterlingflight.com/
http://captprogram.org/cms/index.cfm...TOKEN=57113430
My question to you guys that have finished school is do you think it is better to go to an FBO or go to CAPT with job placement and does having attended CAPT look better on a resume than a small flight school?
http://www.sterlingflight.com/
http://captprogram.org/cms/index.cfm...TOKEN=57113430
03-19-2008, 09:48 AM
#2
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 40,057
CAPT has a pretty bad repuation within the industry, based on everything I've heard. Getting "accepted" into this sort of program is normally based upon passing a credit check and being eligible for a first class medical, nothing more...don't feel to good about yourself.
But the biggest factor right now is the fact that hiring is slowing significantly, and furloughs may not be out the question before year-end.
Bridge programs (like CAPT) often provide a path for SOME (not all) graduates to get an airline job with low flight time (less than 1000 hours). The problem with this is always "what happens if I don't get hired by an airline"? A 300 hour pilot is non-employable outside of flight instruction. You've already spent a huge amount of money on the bridge program and what do you have to show for it? A commercial pilot license, which you could have gotten in your home town for $30K or less.
With pilot hiring slowing, you probabaly want to have your instructor ratings so you can make some money and build flight time to reach the new, higher minimums. When hiring is slow it is common to need 2500 to 3500 hours to be competetive for a regional job...that's 3-5 years of flight instructing, part 135 flying, or other general aviation flying.
Nobody in aviation (including airlines) cares where you got your ratings, unless the school has the the two magic words in it's name: "United States". Go to the school which offers the best value for your ratings, including CFI/CFII.
I know nothing about Sterling, but they appear to be the sort of small/medium sized local school which I would normally recommend. Be sure to research any flight school carefully...you MUST talk to a few current students, and past graduates if possible. Try to approach a student informally, without the school arranging a "forced" interview.
Also, do a lot of reading on this and other internet forums...you can get a lot of valuable info from experienced folks who have 20/20 hindsight.
But the biggest factor right now is the fact that hiring is slowing significantly, and furloughs may not be out the question before year-end.
Bridge programs (like CAPT) often provide a path for SOME (not all) graduates to get an airline job with low flight time (less than 1000 hours). The problem with this is always "what happens if I don't get hired by an airline"? A 300 hour pilot is non-employable outside of flight instruction. You've already spent a huge amount of money on the bridge program and what do you have to show for it? A commercial pilot license, which you could have gotten in your home town for $30K or less.
With pilot hiring slowing, you probabaly want to have your instructor ratings so you can make some money and build flight time to reach the new, higher minimums. When hiring is slow it is common to need 2500 to 3500 hours to be competetive for a regional job...that's 3-5 years of flight instructing, part 135 flying, or other general aviation flying.
Nobody in aviation (including airlines) cares where you got your ratings, unless the school has the the two magic words in it's name: "United States". Go to the school which offers the best value for your ratings, including CFI/CFII.
I know nothing about Sterling, but they appear to be the sort of small/medium sized local school which I would normally recommend. Be sure to research any flight school carefully...you MUST talk to a few current students, and past graduates if possible. Try to approach a student informally, without the school arranging a "forced" interview.
Also, do a lot of reading on this and other internet forums...you can get a lot of valuable info from experienced folks who have 20/20 hindsight.
Last edited by rickair7777; 03-19-2008 at 02:00 PM.
03-19-2008, 11:02 AM
#4
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2005
Position: UPS 757/767 Capt ONT
Posts: 4,357
Yeah, like what happens if the airlines they have an agreement with stop hiring. Kinda like ASA just did. It's pretty hard to guarantee employment in this day and age. At least with a straight face.
There are pages of CAPT info over a jetcareers.com
Most of it is bad.
There are pages of CAPT info over a jetcareers.com
Most of it is bad.
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