Dubz

Personally I think you are wasting your money to get both... I would get the ATP prep prior to your interview and study that -- understand the concepts behind the question, not just question answer familiarity. When you take the ATP question answer familiarity is the goal. There is a TON of overlap between the ATP prep and the interview prep and nothing in the interview prep that isn't in the ATP prep that will prevent you from getting a job at PSA. Good luck and happy studying.

Quarryman

If you are going to prepare for the PSA interview get the gouge for the PSA interview. Why study all this extra stuff that: 1) Does not pertain to the interview, and 2) Will be useless in both training and on the line?

Also, when you do get the job do NOT study anything except what you're given, esp limitations and procedures.

Dubz

We are discussing AQP candidates, correct? The specific gouge you refer to (I'm assuming you are referring to AI) will get a person hired at PSA but right after that you have to pass the ATP test so you may as well be prepping for the career and not just the job, right? I may have misunderstood the original statement... my point is that using Shepherd Air interview prep to get a job at PSA while preparing to take an ATP is a waste of money. AI prep to get a job at PSA is useful whether you have an ATP or not.

If you have an ATP study AI.

If you don't have an ATP; study AI and Shepherd Air.

Auburngrad2007

If I eventually want to try and get picked up by American, is PSA the best regional to possibly make that happen?

Thoughts. All military time, no civilian time. Hopefully starting a new career soon.

Dubz

Where do you live or want to live? IMO, flow rates are gambles, I would preference based on QOL while at the regional. Just out of curiosity, why would you limit your options to American?

Auburngrad2007

OH I'm not. I just wasn't sure if American looks more for future employees at PSA than they do other airlines. New to this career field.

Dubz

Actually they probably look less; the impression I had gotten from speaking with AA recruiters was that my path from PSA to AA was through the flow. It does happen and there are guys who have somehow made a glorious impression (either on paper or in person) but I don't think there are many people would say that you improve your chances of getting hired at American (outside of the flow) by going to a wholly owned.

The other piece is this -- that is true for all of the Major Airlines and their sub carriers. With that knowledge in hand and the fact that American flows a higher percentage than any other; and knowing that the remaining American hiring is going to be even more competitive. If you or anyone asking for my recommendation were to ask my answer is that the AA wholly owned airlines are THE place to be. If you have to chose one airline to limit your chances at chose the one where you are least likely to be hired at. Does that make sense?

The remaining question is where do you live or want to live?

TallFlyer

Getting hired outside the flow does happen, and the one person I personally know who made that happen for himself had a stellar military resume before he was hired at PSA.

But your first priority needs to be maximizing your quality of life while at a regional while doing your damnedest to move on to your career gig. The way to do that is get hired at a regional with bases very near where you want to live, or baring that a really easy commute.

If you've got any questions or need a referral, just let me know.

PSA help

AA is only going to hire about 75 non-military pilots off of the street this year. The rest are going to be military and flows.

For 5 of those 75 to have come from PSA outside of the flow is a pretty good percentage. Those that were taken were recruiters and a chief pilot.

I can't say that it will happen again next year, but that is where we stand this year.

Dubz

Fair point, but my point is likelihood of being hired at one of the, say, big 6. Would you say it is more likely to be hired at American or one of the others? Frankly, when a guy is sitting at PSA waiting to make the move to a career airline they could care less about the overall percentage of OTS hires coming from PSA.

I guess in a sense you proved my point since I didn't know the exact number. Very few people get hired at AA outside of the flow; many, many more get hired at Delta, United, SWA, FedEx, and UPS.

Again, if you already have a low percentage chance of getting hired at AAL then why not go to a wholly owned AA carrier where you probably won't get hired outside the flow anyway. Not to mention that (God forbid) things turn sour on the hiring front you have the flow to hold cling onto.

Just one man's opinion, worked for me... hopefully it works for you.