Falcon Aviation and Continental Express

rfroehlich3 · February 10th, 2006, 17:35

Hello all,

I would just like to introduce myself and give you a little bit of info on a possible future for you. I was an instructor at Falcon Aviation (formerly Peachtree Flight Center) for almost two years. I am now a line pilot at Continental Express (ExpressJet). I have been here for almost two years and recently I have had the opportunity to become one of the interviewing pilots. I would basically like to say that Falcon is a great school, with good equipment and good instructors. After seeing what is coming through our door at Express, I would definately say, in my professional opinion, you will not find any better training anywhere else. The most important part of flying is learning the information on the ground. The airplane is a horrible classroom. If you don't learn it on the ground first, you will never be able to apply it in the air later. Falcon does a great job of teaching you the details that you need to not only pass an interview, but also REALLY keep you safe while you are flying. You will not always be students and instructors and some day those details will be the tools you need to accomplish your every day jobs as airline pilots. I would very much like to see some Falcon Aviation students come to interview with me at Express. It is a good group of guys running this school!

ffccfi · February 13th, 2006, 19:57

I was recently hired at ExpressJet (Continental Express) after training and instructing at Falcon Aviation. I more than half way through my training at Express and can honestly say that things that I learned at Falcon have made this 121 training program easier and helped me to succeed to this point. ExpressJet is an awesome place to work with lots of opportunities. Just as Rob was saying, Falcon not only tought the necessary flying skills but the atmosphere at Falcon helps to develop the type of people I want working with me at ExpressJet. ExpressJet prides on hiring good people (you have to sit 24 inches away from these people for 8 hours a day, four days in a row). I really enjoyed my time at Falcon and can say that after training at many other flight schools/academies that it is among the best. An instructor told our class the other day that people who never used flows, never saw any type of glass, or never learned how to use any type of autopilot where the people that usually had the hardest time in training. All thes things are items which are stressed in the ciriculum at Falcon. Good luck to everyone and I hope to see some more Falcon people at ExpressJet!

Bwatz · February 13th, 2006, 20:32

Lets not forget who your greatest mentor of all time was.. I think he taught you some life skills that hopefully will come in handy...

Bwatz · February 14th, 2006, 23:07

BTW, are you and Spencer still dating?

3yrpilot · February 17th, 2006, 11:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bwatz

BTW, are you and Spencer still dating?

WTF does this have to do with Falcon and Continental Express??

meyers9163 · February 17th, 2006, 23:54

So I thought about Falcon before and was not too sure about them. I understand you can do a pro course with them however you only get a CFI and nothing more for 44k (185 tt)? How many hours did you guys instruct there on average a month and what do instructors make there? Also 120 days zero-employment isnt that a lofty guarantee? Keeps me away a little bit by saying that. I am interested just hesitant I guess by all the decisions you have to make with training. I will have a PPL by the time I go some where so what would a round about cost be there at Falcon then and time frame to instruct? Also you guys at express they didnt care you do not have that much Multi time? Just a coupel questions thanks!

ffccfi · February 18th, 2006, 10:12

Let me just start off by saying that Falcon would is an awesome place to get instruction and work, mainly because of the new equipment and the high quality of instructors that work there. If you end up going with Falcon you will see that our CFI program is probably among the hardest CFI programs you will find but that is because the cheif instructors that instruct the program demand excellence. This show where the CFI pass rate from Falcon is much higher than the average pass rate with the ATL FSDO. Now with that said, you most likely will not get the program done in 120 days. The 120 days is in training days, so any days you do not come out or do not fly do not count toward your 120 days. That 120 is more or less the number or lessons you have to complete. So if your awesome and work really hard, it is possible just not very probable (this is coming from an instructor who has instructed in the program). As far as instructing goes, there were months that I got 80+ hours but its because I worked my but off to do it. You really control your own schedule there. This just means that if you hang out aat the flight school they will give you as few or as many students as you can handle. The pay is very competitive and they have bonus options that can get you up in the mid 20s for pay. Then finally to anwser your question about Express, they are only requiring 100 hours of mulit right now (around 150 to 200 to be competitive, but there quite a few in my class that only had 100). So I guess what is your definition of low multi time? Continuing on with what Rob said before from his experience interviewing, it is kind of amazing how much people do not know (including people coming from huge highly recognized schools). I hope I helped you out. Let me know if there is anything else I can do for you. I know it is a hard decision to make about investing lots of money. I really believe that I would be struggling in the 121 training environment if it had not been for the instruction I got at Falcon for my CFI and CFII. Good luck and I hope to see you at Falcon sometime.

06Flyer · February 18th, 2006, 12:54

ffccfi,
So, the CFI course is longer than 120 days? I have a full time job in north Fulton county. I will have 90 I dome. According to you that is not a realistic time frame. WHat is a more realistic time frame if I trined 4 days a week?

ffccfi · February 18th, 2006, 20:03

The 120 days is for the professional pilot program which includes the instrument, commerical, and CFI. The CFI should not take any longer than a few months! The 120 days is for all those ratings!

surreal1221 · August 30th, 2006, 04:22

Hello gents,

Do you guys know anyone that was attending college during their tenure at Falcon?

I'm presently a Troy University distance learning student pursuing a Political Science degree. I most likely will take as many semesters off as needed while I'm actually going through the program at Falcon, and finishing up classes while I'm working.

Just want to know how many others, if any, have done this as well.

ffccfi · August 30th, 2006, 16:31

I was going to school and getting my Commerical Single Add on and my CFI from Falcon. I was not alone either. I can think of atleast five others that where getting instruction while attending school at the same time. So it is very possible especially if you find the right instructor who has free time when it fits your schedule. My instructor was always going above and beyond to work around my schedule. I also tried to do this as much as possible when I became an instructor there. Let me know ifi you have any more specific questions. I hope this was helpful!

surreal1221 · August 30th, 2006, 17:00

Was very helpful! Thank you.

Tim · August 30th, 2006, 17:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by surreal1221

Was very helpful! Thank you.

I am doing my classes online with Riddle also...I did find out that if I finish my commercial I would get 18 more credit hours...Now just have to weigh the cost options.

ffccfi · August 31st, 2006, 17:54

If you guys have any questions let me know. Good luck with your flying and hope to see you guys out at Falcon sometime.

flyer767 · September 2nd, 2006, 15:52

I have my PPL and am currently comparing schools before putting a huge amount down. Since you attended Falcon and now at at Continental Express, how would you compare (if you happen to know) your program of which you speak very highly compared to the 90 day track at ATP in Atlanta or Ari-Ben Aviator school in Ft.Pierce FL? ATP says it offers between 140 to 200 multi hours (in reality 60 is in a simulator) and Aviator boasts 222 ttl hrs and 200 multi just coming out of the 90 day program, housing included at both schools. I was a former flight attendant at Delta and have been in numerous positions over the past 10 years so am familiar with the industry. But choosing a school is tough. Any comments on these other schools if you happen to know? Thanks.

jima7011 · September 6th, 2007, 07:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bwatz
BTW, are you and Spencer still dating?

Quote:

WTF does this have to do with Falcon and Continental Express??

I think he was attempting some humor there--just forgot the ole

tag.

February 10th, 2006, 17:35	#1
rfroehlich3 Newbie Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 3	Falcon Aviation and Continental Express Hello all, I would just like to introduce myself and give you a little bit of info on a possible future for you. I was an instructor at Falcon Aviation (formerly Peachtree Flight Center) for almost two years. I am now a line pilot at Continental Express (ExpressJet). I have been here for almost two years and recently I have had the opportunity to become one of the interviewing pilots. I would basically like to say that Falcon is a great school, with good equipment and good instructors. After seeing what is coming through our door at Express, I would definately say, in my professional opinion, you will not find any better training anywhere else. The most important part of flying is learning the information on the ground. The airplane is a horrible classroom. If you don't learn it on the ground first, you will never be able to apply it in the air later. Falcon does a great job of teaching you the details that you need to not only pass an interview, but also REALLY keep you safe while you are flying. You will not always be students and instructors and some day those details will be the tools you need to accomplish your every day jobs as airline pilots. I would very much like to see some Falcon Aviation students come to interview with me at Express. It is a good group of guys running this school!

August 30th, 2006, 04:22	#10
surreal1221 Old Skool Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Alpha Tango Lima Posts: 9,840	Re: Falcon Aviation and Continental Express Hello gents, Do you guys know anyone that was attending college during their tenure at Falcon? I'm presently a Troy University distance learning student pursuing a Political Science degree. I most likely will take as many semesters off as needed while I'm actually going through the program at Falcon, and finishing up classes while I'm working. Just want to know how many others, if any, have done this as well. __________________ AGI.MEI.CFI.CFII.FO.CRJ2 \| Josh \| The TRoP \| Rmble On \| ALPA \| IVAW \| ACLU \|

August 30th, 2006, 16:31	#11
ffccfi Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Washington D.C. Posts: 32	Re: Falcon Aviation and Continental Express I was going to school and getting my Commerical Single Add on and my CFI from Falcon. I was not alone either. I can think of atleast five others that where getting instruction while attending school at the same time. So it is very possible especially if you find the right instructor who has free time when it fits your schedule. My instructor was always going above and beyond to work around my schedule. I also tried to do this as much as possible when I became an instructor there. Let me know ifi you have any more specific questions. I hope this was helpful!

August 30th, 2006, 17:00	#12
surreal1221 Old Skool Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Alpha Tango Lima Posts: 9,840	Re: Falcon Aviation and Continental Express Was very helpful! Thank you. __________________ AGI.MEI.CFI.CFII.FO.CRJ2 \| Josh \| The TRoP \| Rmble On \| ALPA \| IVAW \| ACLU \|

August 31st, 2006, 17:54	#14
ffccfi Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Washington D.C. Posts: 32	Re: Falcon Aviation and Continental Express If you guys have any questions let me know. Good luck with your flying and hope to see you guys out at Falcon sometime.

February 13th, 2006, 19:57	#2
ffccfi Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Washington D.C. Posts: 32	I was recently hired at ExpressJet (Continental Express) after training and instructing at Falcon Aviation. I more than half way through my training at Express and can honestly say that things that I learned at Falcon have made this 121 training program easier and helped me to succeed to this point. ExpressJet is an awesome place to work with lots of opportunities. Just as Rob was saying, Falcon not only tought the necessary flying skills but the atmosphere at Falcon helps to develop the type of people I want working with me at ExpressJet. ExpressJet prides on hiring good people (you have to sit 24 inches away from these people for 8 hours a day, four days in a row). I really enjoyed my time at Falcon and can say that after training at many other flight schools/academies that it is among the best. An instructor told our class the other day that people who never used flows, never saw any type of glass, or never learned how to use any type of autopilot where the people that usually had the hardest time in training. All thes things are items which are stressed in the ciriculum at Falcon. Good luck to everyone and I hope to see some more Falcon people at ExpressJet!

February 13th, 2006, 20:32	#3
Bwatz Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 33	Lets not forget who your greatest mentor of all time was.. I think he taught you some life skills that hopefully will come in handy...

February 14th, 2006, 23:07	#4
Bwatz Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 33	BTW, are you and Spencer still dating?

February 17th, 2006, 23:54	#6
meyers9163 Old Skool Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 2,169	So I thought about Falcon before and was not too sure about them. I understand you can do a pro course with them however you only get a CFI and nothing more for 44k (185 tt)? How many hours did you guys instruct there on average a month and what do instructors make there? Also 120 days zero-employment isnt that a lofty guarantee? Keeps me away a little bit by saying that. I am interested just hesitant I guess by all the decisions you have to make with training. I will have a PPL by the time I go some where so what would a round about cost be there at Falcon then and time frame to instruct? Also you guys at express they didnt care you do not have that much Multi time? Just a coupel questions thanks!

February 18th, 2006, 10:12	#7
ffccfi Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Washington D.C. Posts: 32	Let me just start off by saying that Falcon would is an awesome place to get instruction and work, mainly because of the new equipment and the high quality of instructors that work there. If you end up going with Falcon you will see that our CFI program is probably among the hardest CFI programs you will find but that is because the cheif instructors that instruct the program demand excellence. This show where the CFI pass rate from Falcon is much higher than the average pass rate with the ATL FSDO. Now with that said, you most likely will not get the program done in 120 days. The 120 days is in training days, so any days you do not come out or do not fly do not count toward your 120 days. That 120 is more or less the number or lessons you have to complete. So if your awesome and work really hard, it is possible just not very probable (this is coming from an instructor who has instructed in the program). As far as instructing goes, there were months that I got 80+ hours but its because I worked my but off to do it. You really control your own schedule there. This just means that if you hang out aat the flight school they will give you as few or as many students as you can handle. The pay is very competitive and they have bonus options that can get you up in the mid 20s for pay. Then finally to anwser your question about Express, they are only requiring 100 hours of mulit right now (around 150 to 200 to be competitive, but there quite a few in my class that only had 100). So I guess what is your definition of low multi time? Continuing on with what Rob said before from his experience interviewing, it is kind of amazing how much people do not know (including people coming from huge highly recognized schools). I hope I helped you out. Let me know if there is anything else I can do for you. I know it is a hard decision to make about investing lots of money. I really believe that I would be struggling in the 121 training environment if it had not been for the instruction I got at Falcon for my CFI and CFII. Good luck and I hope to see you at Falcon sometime.

February 18th, 2006, 12:54	#8
06Flyer Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Atlanta, GA, USA Posts: 33	ffccfi, So, the CFI course is longer than 120 days? I have a full time job in north Fulton county. I will have 90 I dome. According to you that is not a realistic time frame. WHat is a more realistic time frame if I trined 4 days a week?

February 18th, 2006, 20:03	#9
ffccfi Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Washington D.C. Posts: 32	The 120 days is for the professional pilot program which includes the instrument, commerical, and CFI. The CFI should not take any longer than a few months! The 120 days is for all those ratings!

September 2nd, 2006, 15:52	#15
flyer767 Newbie Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 1	Re: Falcon Aviation and Continental Express I have my PPL and am currently comparing schools before putting a huge amount down. Since you attended Falcon and now at at Continental Express, how would you compare (if you happen to know) your program of which you speak very highly compared to the 90 day track at ATP in Atlanta or Ari-Ben Aviator school in Ft.Pierce FL? ATP says it offers between 140 to 200 multi hours (in reality 60 is in a simulator) and Aviator boasts 222 ttl hrs and 200 multi just coming out of the 90 day program, housing included at both schools. I was a former flight attendant at Delta and have been in numerous positions over the past 10 years so am familiar with the industry. But choosing a school is tough. Any comments on these other schools if you happen to know? Thanks.

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