ERAU/Direct Hire

[av8trxx]

Can anyone post the stats on how many ERAU grads get hired at AE or any other affiliate airline with reduced flight times? What does it take to be considered for this program? Do only a select few students qualify? All in all, how valuable is going to ERAU (or any aviation U.) just to get into a 'direct track" program to get hired at reduved times. I have been searching the news releases for ERAU, UND ect and can't find any info.

You would think if so many of their grads were getting hired, you can be sure they would be advertising the fact and it's no where to be found. I bet it's much more likely that very few students are selected for such opportunities.

[DE727UPS]

"how valuable is going to ERAU (or any aviation U.) just to get into a 'direct track" program to get hired at reduved times."

I don't know. I got a buddy who has 1200 total and 50 multi who has a class date at Ameriflight. Six months to turbine PIC. Seems like the straight up, part 61, route worked well for him. I also know a UND guy who qualified for a Horizon interview with reduced times and didn't get the job.

In my mind it's not worth it to pay big bucks and bend over backwards for one of these programs when folks are getting good jobs with fairly low time anyways.

"You would think if so many of their grads were getting hired, you can be sure they would be advertising the fact and it's no where to be found."

Well, either they are honest in their advertising, unlike most schools, or there really aren't that many that are successful with the program.

[crashmbern]

i go to ERAU in DAB haven't heard of anyone that got hired by the direct route thing, i hear the mins for it is 500/100, i know a few instructors that had just over 100 multi but they probably had way over 1000 tt.

adam

[CaptainChris87]

a Former CFI at my FBO came fresh out of riddle(PRC) with 660 tt, and worked at my FBO for 4-5 montsh and then got picked up by AE, not too long ago, a CFI told me he probably obtained an internship for them through the school, afterall he gto a 4.0 over at riddle.

[wheelsup]

The AE thing isn't an "internship". It's just a LOA with them that allows any ERAU student with 500/100 to interview if that student received I believe a 3.0 GPA.

I have a 3.7 and just had to obtain a letter from the dean stating so and could've interviewed there awhile ago. Why didn't I? I don't want to be based in San Juan with an unlimited upgrade time. I realize I could've tried to interview (and still may just for the practice of interviewing for my desired airline), built some time, and moved on, but I have a much better QOL as an instructor believe it or not! A few friends have done it, however. The opportunity is there for the taking, if you meet the quals.

IMO, the better internship is done with ASA. They'll hire you with I believe 350/50 once you graduate. When times were good (pre-911) ACA/ASA couldn't fill their classes with enough 250-350 hr grads. Now things are quite a bit more stagnant.

I wouldn't come to ERAU because of the 'possibility' of getting an internship and moving on. Doing so is like playing with fire. Come to ERAU because you like aviation. I graduated about a year and a half ago and the costs have skyrocketted since then. I paid about $80,000 for my 4-year and flight training (priv-CFII, about $35k for those ratings, so about $45k for my 4-year all costs included) in their new aircraft. I also did it in 2 years and 10 months because of highschool transfer credits and taking classes over the summer. I think the costs now are in the 6 figures - crazy. Were there ways to save money? Absolutely. I had a good time, went to the beach a good percentage of the time, and learned a lot (not just about flying). Here's the kicker though - if I ever had kids or knew someone who wanted to fly, I would not recommend ERAU. They're pricing themselves out of their league.

cya
~wheelsup

[ERAUPilot_ThetaXi]

Most pilots here get hired as flight instructors to Riddle, then get hired by the airlines. Last fall, we lost about 35 instructors to American Eagle. Which made more room for the students to become instructos. It's a pretty good system over here.