Ok...the direct track programs for ASA, Express Jet and Eagle are basically Pay for interview types of programs....once you show interest in the program, you'll get a watered down interview with one of those regionals....the minimum flight experience is different for each one....i think ASA is 300 and Express Jet and Eagle both want 500 (but I could be wrong)....If you get a conditional offer of employment, you plunk down 25 Large (maybe more, I'm not sure). You start what FSA calls the AATP program...basically you, another AATP guy and the instructor go on "loft" flights.....they have made up special profiles for the Seminole with call outs from the airline that you're supposedly going to. I believe you have to complete at least one or two steps (4 and 5) at FSA or you have to do an additional amount of training in the AATP program....I think the total flight time when everything is said and done is about 25 hours (give or take). If you successfully complete that,you go to the sim and learn the airline specific call outs, procedures, etc.etc.etc...now that they have the ERJ sim, it's basically an exact replica of the training program you'll go through at the airline you're going to......at any time during this time, you can wash out and lose all da money...and remember, food, lodging and booze are gonna cost you extra.......if you make it through the gauntlet, you go to the airline and their training program, again you can wash out at any time..........
as far as the business jet direct program, or whatever they're calling it these days, it's basically an internship. if you get your CFI at FSA, you can apply for a paid internship at one of the other FlightSafety learning centers...many people have gone to Atlanta, Wilmington, Wichita and Savannah, but there are a lot more. They used to only offer these internships to people who were hired on as instructors and waiting to start (back when the wait was more than a year), but I'm pretty sure it's available to anyone who completes at least one CFI ticket with FSA. After the internship, a lot of people are able to find work at corporate operators, and some get hired on by the centers as sim instructors....but more opportunity than the direct track programs in my opinion.
As far as the price for the internship, yes it's free, but you have to pay for the cost of the CFI ticket. If you choose to stay as an instructor at FSA (and assuming you get hired), you'll get your CFII and MEI paid for also (just the base price, not any extra training or lodging, etc. etc.) After that, you'll go through standardization, a 1 month training process which includes a lot of ground school and 4 or so checkrides....I'm pretty sure you get paid during this training.
phew......if you have anymore questions, feel free to ask
As far as I'm concerned, the internship (or whatever they're calling it these days) is a much better option than the direct track programs, and it's a much better way to get a wide variety of experience and meet a lot of people who can take you places. The direct track programs are for people with SJS who dont' want to work in order to get ahead. On top of that, you'll be a 300 hour pilot with about 100 multi, with airline training who can't get an airline job if you washout or your airline goes Tango Uniform....that's something to think about.....you're pretty much stuck and probably will end up instructing :-D just my opinion
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