If you could become a airline pilot today how would you do it? - Page 2

Adamallica · April 15th, 2005, 03:27

Well, I don't want to get into an argument....I'm not trying to be an advocate for ATP, just want to make sure that what's here is correct....but 75 hours are shared with another student....hardly half....anyway, I think we know where we each stand, so I'll be glad to drop it.

av8trxx · April 16th, 2005, 01:54

From what I have gathered, things at SNA are average to pricey. Perhaps this is why you haven't found the FBO route there to be less costly. You may want to investigate flying clubs as they are usually cheaper. Whle I don't know of any at SNA other than http://www.ocflyingclub.com/index.cfm, others might. Depending on how close you are to Carlsbad/Palomar Airport http://www.pacificcoastflyers.org might be an idea too.

As far as the shared ME time:
Safety pilot time can be valuable to some, but I think the great majority do not get near what they can out of the experience.

I did such a program to get my ME time up to regional mins. The differance was that all my safety pilot time was done in a simuated crew environment in an Aztec with Lenair at SNA. There were Captain & F/O duties and checklists to do. It was an invaluable experience, esp compared to the unstructured safety pilot time most log. While under the hood, your only job was to fly. The safety pilot did all the radios, navigation & checklists. Anyone who is going the pro track should definately consider this kind of approach to safety pilot flying. Of course, if you aren't a part of a defined 'crew' program you will have to create your own but it is well worth it/ It takes the stress off the PIC, while giving the S.P. a valuable learning experience through all the tasks required. One can never appreciate how much work a First Officer does until you have been put into that situtation.

kellwolf · April 16th, 2005, 01:59

Agree with running the safety pilot as a simulated crew. When I did my time building for my instrument rating (cross country 50 hours), I got together with a friend and did this. Technically, the safety pilot is PIC, and s/he handles all radios, navigation, checklists and looks for traffic. The person under the hood flies. It worked well for both of us. It also gives the safety pilot more to do than look out the window.....

av8trxx · April 16th, 2005, 02:42

That is the only way to go in my opinion. I tell ya, I was so lost those first few flights it was pathetic! There was literally so much to do that I was the one behind the airplane as the Safety Pilot! I couldn't wait till my turn under the hood to take the workload off. Being in the LA basin kept it fast paced, so there was hardly a chance to catch up when you fell behind. It was all a bit overwhelming at first but being a part of such a program definately teaches you cockpit management and how to be a good F/O.

Doug Taylor · April 18th, 2005, 03:26

Steve, you're one of the more senior members of the site, are you close to done yet, bro?

kellwolf · April 18th, 2005, 03:55

Well, the wheels are in motion. I should be at Skymates by early May at the latest, which puts me having everything from PPL-MEI (FAA willing) sometime in June or July. Then it's off to find an instructor job. Oh, and I'll be one class away from my degree by then as well.

scoobs · April 18th, 2005, 17:34

This is what I'm trying to figure out.My plan is to get my private and instrument and so I can clep 15 credits and get my AS faster.Then hopefully get picked up by the reseves/guard and go from there.

kellwolf · April 19th, 2005, 03:28

Well, if you're looking into ERAU online, I wouldn't stop at the IR. They don't give you more than 3 hours of credits for less than Commercial ME. Trust me on that one. I CLEPed out of 12 credits, and that saved me a TON of money.

FlyinRyan · April 22nd, 2005, 16:08

Well I have a meeting with ATP in Long Beach on Monday nothing formal but just a Q&A with the CFI because he went to their Jax location for the 90-day and is instructing in LBC. I want to run the idea by them of me going to the local FBO that I like at SNA and then maybe transfering to ATP for the 90-day CPP.

Bog · September 29th, 2005, 03:00

Don't do it at all. Take your cash, get your PPL, Instrument, and multi. Buy into a partnership in a high-performance single and fly that on the weekends. You will be MUCH happier in life.

April 15th, 2005, 03:27	#26
Adamallica Newbie Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Crestline, CA Posts: 10	Re: If you could become a airline pilot today how would you do it Well, I don't want to get into an argument....I'm not trying to be an advocate for ATP, just want to make sure that what's here is correct....but 75 hours are shared with another student....hardly half....anyway, I think we know where we each stand, so I'll be glad to drop it.

April 16th, 2005, 01:54	#27
av8trxx Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: KSAN Posts: 392	Re: If you could become a airline pilot today how would you do it From what I have gathered, things at SNA are average to pricey. Perhaps this is why you haven't found the FBO route there to be less costly. You may want to investigate flying clubs as they are usually cheaper. Whle I don't know of any at SNA other than http://www.ocflyingclub.com/index.cfm, others might. Depending on how close you are to Carlsbad/Palomar Airport http://www.pacificcoastflyers.org might be an idea too. As far as the shared ME time: Safety pilot time can be valuable to some, but I think the great majority do not get near what they can out of the experience. I did such a program to get my ME time up to regional mins. The differance was that all my safety pilot time was done in a simuated crew environment in an Aztec with Lenair at SNA. There were Captain & F/O duties and checklists to do. It was an invaluable experience, esp compared to the unstructured safety pilot time most log. While under the hood, your only job was to fly. The safety pilot did all the radios, navigation & checklists. Anyone who is going the pro track should definately consider this kind of approach to safety pilot flying. Of course, if you aren't a part of a defined 'crew' program you will have to create your own but it is well worth it/ It takes the stress off the PIC, while giving the S.P. a valuable learning experience through all the tasks required. One can never appreciate how much work a First Officer does until you have been put into that situtation.

April 16th, 2005, 01:59	#28
kellwolf Old Skool Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 13,529	Re: If you could become a airline pilot today how would you do it Agree with running the safety pilot as a simulated crew. When I did my time building for my instrument rating (cross country 50 hours), I got together with a friend and did this. Technically, the safety pilot is PIC, and s/he handles all radios, navigation, checklists and looks for traffic. The person under the hood flies. It worked well for both of us. It also gives the safety pilot more to do than look out the window.....

April 16th, 2005, 02:42	#29
av8trxx Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: KSAN Posts: 392	Re: If you could become a airline pilot today how would you do it That is the only way to go in my opinion. I tell ya, I was so lost those first few flights it was pathetic! There was literally so much to do that I was the one behind the airplane as the Safety Pilot! I couldn't wait till my turn under the hood to take the workload off. Being in the LA basin kept it fast paced, so there was hardly a chance to catch up when you fell behind. It was all a bit overwhelming at first but being a part of such a program definately teaches you cockpit management and how to be a good F/O.

April 18th, 2005, 03:26	#30
Doug Taylor Agent Smith Join Date: Dec 1969 Location: KSDL Posts: 40,240 Blog Entries: 1	Re: If you could become a airline pilot today how would you do it Steve, you're one of the more senior members of the site, are you close to done yet, bro?

April 18th, 2005, 03:55	#31
kellwolf Old Skool Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 13,529	Re: If you could become a airline pilot today how would you do it Well, the wheels are in motion. I should be at Skymates by early May at the latest, which puts me having everything from PPL-MEI (FAA willing) sometime in June or July. Then it's off to find an instructor job. Oh, and I'll be one class away from my degree by then as well.

April 18th, 2005, 17:34	#32
scoobs Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Diego Posts: 677	Re: If you could become a airline pilot today how would you do it This is what I'm trying to figure out.My plan is to get my private and instrument and so I can clep 15 credits and get my AS faster.Then hopefully get picked up by the reseves/guard and go from there.

April 19th, 2005, 03:28	#33
kellwolf Old Skool Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 13,529	Re: If you could become a airline pilot today how would you do it Well, if you're looking into ERAU online, I wouldn't stop at the IR. They don't give you more than 3 hours of credits for less than Commercial ME. Trust me on that one. I CLEPed out of 12 credits, and that saved me a TON of money.

April 22nd, 2005, 16:08	#34
FlyinRyan Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: SoCal Posts: 52	Re: If you could become a airline pilot today how would you do it Well I have a meeting with ATP in Long Beach on Monday nothing formal but just a Q&A with the CFI because he went to their Jax location for the 90-day and is instructing in LBC. I want to run the idea by them of me going to the local FBO that I like at SNA and then maybe transfering to ATP for the 90-day CPP.

September 29th, 2005, 03:00	#35
Bog Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 1,164	Don't do it at all. Take your cash, get your PPL, Instrument, and multi. Buy into a partnership in a high-performance single and fly that on the weekends. You will be MUCH happier in life. __________________ "To be old and wise you must first be young and stupid." - Anon

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