jetcareers - View Single Post

wheelsup · December 21st, 2007, 01:12

That's too bad, I worked there under the Rich Castle days...he ran a tight ship. He was a nice guy but didn't hesitate to kick people out if they weren't finishing on time. The ab-initio program was as close to a military type school that you could get as far as civilian schools go. I can't vouch for the training as I never was "trained" there but I honestly felt that the students got excellent training for their dollar. There were furloughed major guys there teaching ground school, the experience level of the ground instructors was staggering. I can't comment on the RJ training but I know most of the people teaching it were Mesa RJ CA's, and they don't just give type ratings away. It might have been a bit more expensive but WTF do you expect you're soloing in a $500k Bonanza, the skills and habits the students acquired flying that aircraft will help tremendously down the line.

As far as spending $100k on training…I really don't see how it could go THAT high. I talked to several of my end students doing the Baron and including all costs they had spent around $55k-$60k - that includes living expenses.

I knew something was up when I emailed Rich a few weeks ago and it bounced. It sucks that the school is going downhill, it really was a good school, I know nobody will ever believe me but Rich & Co ran a really great school.

December 21st, 2007, 01:12	#9
wheelsup Old Skool Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: _ Posts: 5,372	Re: Mesa Pilot Development Training: Avoid!! That's too bad, I worked there under the Rich Castle days...he ran a tight ship. He was a nice guy but didn't hesitate to kick people out if they weren't finishing on time. The ab-initio program was as close to a military type school that you could get as far as civilian schools go. I can't vouch for the training as I never was "trained" there but I honestly felt that the students got excellent training for their dollar. There were furloughed major guys there teaching ground school, the experience level of the ground instructors was staggering. I can't comment on the RJ training but I know most of the people teaching it were Mesa RJ CA's, and they don't just give type ratings away. It might have been a bit more expensive but WTF do you expect you're soloing in a $500k Bonanza, the skills and habits the students acquired flying that aircraft will help tremendously down the line. As far as spending $100k on training…I really don't see how it could go THAT high. I talked to several of my end students doing the Baron and including all costs they had spent around $55k-$60k - that includes living expenses. I knew something was up when I emailed Rich a few weeks ago and it bounced. It sucks that the school is going downhill, it really was a good school, I know nobody will ever believe me but Rich & Co ran a really great school. __________________ "It takes just as much time to be nice to someone as it does to be a jerk."