type rating

John2375 · June 18th, 2005, 12:34

I pretty much know what the answer to this question is going to be, but for the hell of it I'm going to ask:
I have approx. 350 total hours, of which 45 are multi.
**IF** I were to go and get a type rating in a Cessna Citation, would that make me at all marketable? I realize that yes, I would have to network extensively, and yes, could only hope for at best some sort of SIC position.
The director of the place that I would get the type rating at claims at least that it's possible to get hired with the qualifications I would then have; I realize he's selling a product and so might say what I want to hear, which is what I think when I see minimums for the copororate gigs pretty high.
I'm not looking to hear the answer I want to hear; I'm just trying to find out if it really does happen or if I should hold off for something else.
:-)
John

C650CPT · June 18th, 2005, 12:48

[ QUOTE ]
I pretty much know what the answer to this question is going to be, but ...

[/ QUOTE ]

John
You've answered your own question. That "small" voice you hear is called common sense. Common sense would tell you that even with a type rating you have virtually nothing to offer an employer at your present experience level. Is is impossible? No, but it would be extremely implausable at your experience level to acquire a corporate gig. The ONLY way I would consider getting a type at your experience level is IF someone was offering me a job and also was offering to pay for the type. Relax, you'll get there soon enough, but don't go spending a bunch of money on somehting that right now is not going to yield a return.
Keep in mind even if you would be legal to be SIC the Insurance companies really run this show.

Jim

NJA_Capt · June 18th, 2005, 14:19

The voice of reason....

I agree. It would be pretty worthless. You would also have a "limited" type rating until you acquired 25 hours in type. Save your money and use it toward building your time instead. The only reason for a type rating is to ACT as PIC in a turbine powered airplane.
After building time as an SIC, a reputable company will pay to send you to a type school (a real one, not a weekend gimme type). A REAL good corp gig will type you even to fly as a SIC.

The airlines don't type FOs because it is a waste of money to type someone until they are going to upgrade.

PS....One of the first questions an interviewer is going to ask/look for, is how much time you have flown (in the jet) in the last 6 months and last 12 months. It will not look good when you say "0"

NJA_Capt · June 18th, 2005, 14:33

[ QUOTE ]
I'm just trying to find out if it really does happen or if I should hold off for something else.

[/ QUOTE ]
OK, although my above post pretty much sums it up, to be totally honest I have to answer this question too.

Yes. It can and does happen. It is EXTREMELY rare. I personally know a person who was FSI typed in the B1900 at 300 hours. However, his employer paid for him to gain this rating.

But I still wouldn't do it for several reasons. I must assume, since you are considering paying for it yourself, that you are looking at a "weekend" sort of type rating in the <$5000 range. I personally would only want a type from one of the "major" training centers (ie....2 week course). Many (not all) insurance companies will only accept pilots who attended a course through FSI or Simuflight etc.

Looking4Lower · June 18th, 2005, 20:25

Most corporate and charter gigs will probably need to see more total time than 350 hours (i.e. 1500 and 2500 are common numbers from what I've seen) and also an ATP on your license. As previously noted, it's not unheard of to get a sweet job with less than these, but pretty unlikely unless you are the Olympic gold-medal champion of aviation networking. A type can show that you are cabable of passing the ride and it looks good for insurance purposes, but other than that it's probably not useful at 350TT.

viper548 · August 6th, 2005, 02:12

I got a CE-500 type at 380hrs and it did me absolutly NO GOOD. I had a couple offers to sit right seat with no pay, but that the other guy had a single pilot type, so I wouldn't be able to log it.
I did the training in the airplane, which was a blast. If the checkride is done in an airplane, there is no 25hr limitation.
I used my VA benefits, so it was 60% paid for, but if I had to do it again, I would have just spent the money on building more multi time.

Like everyone else mentioned, having a type is useless, unless you have some decent total time to back it up.

Casper · October 6th, 2005, 23:51

1200 min TT and at least 300 multi. Having your CFI(I), MEI also shows quality.

DA-2000guy · July 24th, 2006, 07:13

DO NOT Pay for your own type rating. If a company wants you they will pay and you may be asked to sign a training contract.

I understand your desire to "get flying" but you have to build your time like everyone else. Money will not buy you into the right seat of a citation. Most insurance companines will require a type for one of the big three training centers.

Not sure what a type goes for now but when i went though a CE650 Intial it was around 20K. The DA-2000 Type is around 33-39K. (Depends on options, CATII, HUD...ect.) Only professional contract pilots pay their own type. The other posts were correct...save your money and put it into some twin time.

June 18th, 2005, 12:34	#1
John2375 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Bradenton, FL Posts: 131	type rating I pretty much know what the answer to this question is going to be, but for the hell of it I'm going to ask: I have approx. 350 total hours, of which 45 are multi. IF I were to go and get a type rating in a Cessna Citation, would that make me at all marketable? I realize that yes, I would have to network extensively, and yes, could only hope for at best some sort of SIC position. The director of the place that I would get the type rating at claims at least that it's possible to get hired with the qualifications I would then have; I realize he's selling a product and so might say what I want to hear, which is what I think when I see minimums for the copororate gigs pretty high. I'm not looking to hear the answer I want to hear; I'm just trying to find out if it really does happen or if I should hold off for something else. :-) John

June 18th, 2005, 12:48	#2
C650CPT Senior Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Home Sweet Home! Posts: 957	Re: type rating [ QUOTE ] I pretty much know what the answer to this question is going to be, but ... [/ QUOTE ] John You've answered your own question. That "small" voice you hear is called common sense. Common sense would tell you that even with a type rating you have virtually nothing to offer an employer at your present experience level. Is is impossible? No, but it would be extremely implausable at your experience level to acquire a corporate gig. The ONLY way I would consider getting a type at your experience level is IF someone was offering me a job and also was offering to pay for the type. Relax, you'll get there soon enough, but don't go spending a bunch of money on somehting that right now is not going to yield a return. Keep in mind even if you would be legal to be SIC the Insurance companies really run this show. Jim

June 18th, 2005, 14:19	#3
NJA_Capt Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Low Earth Orbit Posts: 1,359	Re: type rating The voice of reason.... I agree. It would be pretty worthless. You would also have a "limited" type rating until you acquired 25 hours in type. Save your money and use it toward building your time instead. The only reason for a type rating is to ACT as PIC in a turbine powered airplane. After building time as an SIC, a reputable company will pay to send you to a type school (a real one, not a weekend gimme type). A REAL good corp gig will type you even to fly as a SIC. The airlines don't type FOs because it is a waste of money to type someone until they are going to upgrade. PS....One of the first questions an interviewer is going to ask/look for, is how much time you have flown (in the jet) in the last 6 months and last 12 months. It will not look good when you say "0"

June 18th, 2005, 14:33	#4
NJA_Capt Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Low Earth Orbit Posts: 1,359	Re: type rating [ QUOTE ] I'm just trying to find out if it really does happen or if I should hold off for something else. [/ QUOTE ] OK, although my above post pretty much sums it up, to be totally honest I have to answer this question too. Yes. It can and does happen. It is EXTREMELY rare. I personally know a person who was FSI typed in the B1900 at 300 hours. However, his employer paid for him to gain this rating. But I still wouldn't do it for several reasons. I must assume, since you are considering paying for it yourself, that you are looking at a "weekend" sort of type rating in the <$5000 range. I personally would only want a type from one of the "major" training centers (ie....2 week course). Many (not all) insurance companies will only accept pilots who attended a course through FSI or Simuflight etc.

June 18th, 2005, 20:25	#5
Looking4Lower Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: On your TCAS Posts: 539	Re: type rating Most corporate and charter gigs will probably need to see more total time than 350 hours (i.e. 1500 and 2500 are common numbers from what I've seen) and also an ATP on your license. As previously noted, it's not unheard of to get a sweet job with less than these, but pretty unlikely unless you are the Olympic gold-medal champion of aviation networking. A type can show that you are cabable of passing the ride and it looks good for insurance purposes, but other than that it's probably not useful at 350TT.

August 6th, 2005, 02:12	#6
viper548 Senior Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 814	Re: type rating I got a CE-500 type at 380hrs and it did me absolutly NO GOOD. I had a couple offers to sit right seat with no pay, but that the other guy had a single pilot type, so I wouldn't be able to log it. I did the training in the airplane, which was a blast. If the checkride is done in an airplane, there is no 25hr limitation. I used my VA benefits, so it was 60% paid for, but if I had to do it again, I would have just spent the money on building more multi time. Like everyone else mentioned, having a type is useless, unless you have some decent total time to back it up.

October 6th, 2005, 23:51	#7
Casper Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: I dont care Posts: 194	1200 min TT and at least 300 multi. Having your CFI(I), MEI also shows quality.

July 24th, 2006, 07:13	#8
DA-2000guy Newbie Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: The good Ole South Posts: 16	Re: type rating DO NOT Pay for your own type rating. If a company wants you they will pay and you may be asked to sign a training contract. I understand your desire to "get flying" but you have to build your time like everyone else. Money will not buy you into the right seat of a citation. Most insurance companines will require a type for one of the big three training centers. Not sure what a type goes for now but when i went though a CE650 Intial it was around 20K. The DA-2000 Type is around 33-39K. (Depends on options, CATII, HUD...ect.) Only professional contract pilots pay their own type. The other posts were correct...save your money and put it into some twin time.

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