Pilotpip

By the time the intrest compounds a few times on that 30 year loan you had to take and as a result of missing payments while toiling at the Regionals you have crappy credit and everything else costs you more I don't think that extra 150k will be worth it. It's already gone.

FLightle

To the two original posters, you both have very valid arguments. I tend to agree with the experience beats foundation idea. I am a Riddle grad myself, current Army pilot and soon again dual Army/Civilian pilot as a CFI in the Guard.

Career aviation to me isn't rocket science, it's the result of experience, apprenticeship, personality and some risk taking. The CAPT program certainly is a bright spot in the world of flight training.

I've now taken the flight physiology, CRM/TRM/Crew Coordination, Aerodynamics, Regs, Turbine Theory, etc classes two and three times now and will probably never stop seeing the stuff in a career in aviation. I feel blessed to have been armed with good CRM/crew coordination stuff right outta school because it's already saved my butt a few times in TRAINING. I just don't feel that 350hrs and good school house training beats 1000hrs (200 training and 800 job) in practical value. Air sense, decision making, application of emergency procedures and knowing the limitations of your aircraft are the true individual pilot skills that are worth the most. That being said, those skills simply do not develop without the appropriate hours of engine drone/whine and the occasional "oh ****".

Let me start another heated idea...haha. Flight Simulator 2004 with appropriate payware advanced aircraft is scarily capable of simulating FULLY functioning FMS, aircraft dynamics, aircraft systems, emergency variables, ATC coordination (www.vatsim.net) etc.... (www.precisionmanuals.com)

I know more about advanced avionics from FS2004 than classes at ERAU (747 CBT) and the Army have provided. Funny, but true. (No, I've never touched an actual FMS.) But, just from that I can take your dispatch sheet, fully pre-flight the FMS, fly your route and deal with variables just from spending time in the Flight Simulator 2004 world.

These opinions do not represent the view of...blah blah blah....

Just my thoughts,

Forest

FLightle

Well spoken!

-Forest

LAfrequentflyer

Thanks...And I need to stop starting sentences with And...




<grin>

-LA

Flying Ninja

Embry-Riddle dropped CAPT like a cheap date should tell you something. They haven't taken on a new class since January 2006 should tell you something. CAPT is not a bright spot in flight training. You'll get just as good training from any CFI locally and put in the effort to do your studying and reading the materials from the FAA and NTSB. Save your money. There are better options than CAPT!

LAfrequentflyer

The problem with local FBOs is you get taken for a ride by the CFIs - at least I did...I went thru three CFI and as many FBO - including two AF aero clubs - before I got my PPL...I'm not easy to get along with. I expect professionalism and service. If I don't get it or results I walk...I know it works both way - I made sure I studied and was prepared (early, rested, health, safe to fly...) before every lesson and gave it my all...Scheduled early and consistently, cancellations were done 72 hours ahead of time if I couldn't be there or was unsure, etc, etc, etc...

My last CFI had a poor attitude because his loan payments from some 4 year Aero Science + flight training school were crushing his will to live...

I'm not going to another FBO. I'll pay the extra money and get the ratings at www.allatps.com. I hear nothing but good things about them...

V/r,
LAFF

Flying Ninja

Yeah, there's something to be said about CFI quality. I'm like you. I pay, I expect service. I paid top shelf dollars to CAPT, and I expected top shelf results. But that didn't happen. Their training was nothing more than studying the FAA test bank of written questions and some time wasting courses. You can learn more from an afternoon watching the Discovery channel on the same topics.

Their CFIs are no better than my local CFI for my Private certification. CAPT pretty much took the Riddle play book and changed the Riddle name to CAPT. That's about it.

Just be smart about the CFI thing. I interviewed many CFIs before I decided on mine. And it paid off.

Good luck with allatps.com! I'm sure they're better than CAPT!

LAfrequentflyer

I've heard nothing bad about ALLATPS. If you're motivated , like reading / studying , and are looking for a fast paced training environment it seems like the place to be...

Now I just need to get a job that pays $$$ so I can pay up front without taking out a loan...

-LAFF

surfer1212

The type rating does help if its in the right aircraft. I was just hired by Pinnacle Airlines because of my CRJ type rating. I have less than five hundred hours. Eleven others in my class were also hired. Most had less than five hundred hours. It's expensive, but if willing to sacrifice a few years of loan payments, it's worth it. It trully prepares you for an airline. I'm proof of that. Hopefully this will silence some of the RAA bashers. The training is good. I know some people have had bad experiences there, but for me it worked. It just took a little effort. I was there a year and three months and now I have a job.

preludespeeder

ERJ135:
Go to pan am if you are looking in the phoenix area, everyone on hear will talk **** about them, but they have a solid training program. Many on hear will kick and scream like little spoiled brats talking about how capt, atp, or regional is the answer. They are just reciting the selling point that hooked them into going there. My question is what do you do when your one interview is done and you have no job. I remember hearing on hear that grads of capt were complaing becuase they spent 100k and could not get a job because no insurance company would allow it to happen. Go to a school that offers cfi training and get the instructor cert. Not only will you have a job but you also will be able to correlate the information you learned not just recite it from rote memory.