LOW FUEL

not to much fun in a x=wind, but great to rest your hands on...

ScaryKite

yeah the Ram horns are weird when you first see them, but once you get the hang of it, its very comfortable to fly. The airplane all in all is an awesome machine. Its extremely automated and redundant, very user friendly and hand flys well. Some things I dont like about it, like its inherent desire to overspeed during cruise, autopilot couldnt intercept a course to save its life, and it has some funky cup holders, but I like it. Its a blast on repo flights.

trackpilot

So tell me EXACTLY why i should not apply at TSA with the mins this low??? These are actually the exact hours that i have and i'll be graduating next month. Although i was about to work on my CFI over the summer. But why do that if i can get hired at a regional right away???

blastboy

Cool! I'm thinking about sending in an app to TSA in a few months, that's why I was asking. Do they fly anything else beside the ERJ?

ScaryKite

because instructing might actually teach you something and make you a better pilot, and I am not making any assumptions about your training or skills, but going through the training at TSA is tough for someone with little multi and IFR skills. Its a lot of airplane for someone with 250 hours, I am not saying impossible, but its tough. If you go to TSA and bust out of training, that big red X will follow you for a while. I know instructing sucks, the hours, the cancellations, the pay, and the students. But trust me, you have your whole life to live if your just now graduating college, have some patience and dont expect things to fall in your lap, sometimes you have to work for the things that are worthwhile. Thats why an option like TSA is easy, its not worthwhile.

ScaryKite

no right now they are a single type fleet. They used to have J-41s and atrs but they are all gone now.

ScaryKite

and also theres a damn good reason why TSAs mins are that low, and its not because all of the applicant pools have dried up. Think about it for yourself and take some sjs pills. I wish I would have before I went to TSA.

blastboy

What's the typical work schedule at TSA? Days/month?

trackpilot

Yeah that's the reason that i wanted to flight instruct. So that i could improve my skills and knowledge. I won't lie i know i'm not that great right now but that's mainly due to the fact that i haven't flown for awhile since i've been doing an internship for the past semester.
Is TSA's training all that hard though? Everyone i talk to says that flying the jet is a piece of cake.

ScaryKite

flying the jet is a piece of cake, making it through all the sh** you have to do in the sim to get to fly the jet, is tough. V1 cuts, single engine approaches, RNAV approaches even the stalls, are all things you will be tested on in a checkride. During the training you have to show proficiency in a long list of items, no flap landings, single engine go arounds, emergency decents, there are a lot of skills that are required to pass the checkride that come with flight experience and task management. Give it a shot, you might make it. I am in no way trying to discourage you from trying. I personally wouldnt want anyone to think they are not good enough to make it, but the airline doesnt look at it that way, if you cant demonstrate the required abilities in the airplane you will get cut, because there is always someone next in line who will be able to. its something to think about. I know if i were asked to be a captain right now I would love to. But i dont think i am ready for that job yet, and am looking forward to the experience that I will accrue over the next year or so as an FO.