Instructor Training

[Old Dominion Flyer]

While perusing the Falcon website I noticed the instructor training program and saw that I needed to call for pricing info. I called Mike Melton yesterday and left a request for info about earning my CFI/CFII/MEI at Falcon. Today I received an email with pricing info. However, it isn't easy to understand.

The website advertises a Flight Instructor Package with Combined CFI/CFII/MEI. The pricing list I received contains individual prices for each rating, not the package price. Furthermore, these prices are broken down between program and non-program. How do I determine if I'm in the program or not? I've called Mike back but it seems as if I call at times when he is unavailable. If it matters, I'll be doing this Part 61. Can anyone with experience with Falcon shed a little light on this for me?

[Fly4Fun]

I tried to call today, and left a message, I can clear up all of your questions for you. Our Program is setup where if you pay for the initial MEI and you sign a six month contract with us we will pay for your CFII and CFI single ratings. I recommend this route to all CFI applicants and it has proven to be beneficial for the student and the school. So really all you would be paying for would be the MEI which is at a cost of $8,020. The Non Program rate just indicates you are not enrolled in the full Airline Career Path. Give me a call back later today and we can discuss further. Im usually on the phone if I dont answer and do my best to return all phone calls that day. Talk to you soon.

Thanks

Mike M

[LAFF]

Interesting...Glad I found this thread. It answers questions I had about your program.

-LAFF

[surreal1221]

And Mike. . .that cost for the MEI is at a Part 141 structure correct?

To instruct in an aircraft as an MEI, one needs 5 hours of PIC time in type. So, could you perhaps post the cost numbers for a 10-15 hour course?

[MultiComm]

Yes, the price listed above is for the Part 141 program which includes 25 hours.

We do have a 61 course for the Multi Initial CFI that allows only 8 hours plus a couple hours in the sim in addition to Ground School.

This cost is $4,795

This is a course for the FULL time student and that has recently accumulated time in the DA42 via our Commerical Multi Program.

[Shhhh, not while im flyin]

Originally Posted by Fly4Fun

Our Program is setup where if you pay for the initial MEI and you sign a six month contract with us we will pay for your CFII and CFI single ratings. I recommend this route to all CFI applicants and it has proven to be beneficial for the student and the school. So really all you would be paying for would be the MEI which is at a cost of $8,020.

I do not see that program on the website. Thats for 25hrs dual? A month long?

What is the pay? Hourly or Salary?

[MultiComm]

The program in question is the airline career path program. This is one of the options on the "pilot training" drop down menu. It includes

Private
Instrument
Multi Commercial
Single Commerical
Multi CFI
Employment (w/ add on ratings) -- with contract

If you have addtional questions, please let us know

Spencer

[Berkut]

Originally Posted by Fly4Fun

Our Program is setup where if you pay for the initial MEI and you sign a six month contract with us we will pay for your CFII and CFI single ratings. I recommend this route to all CFI applicants and it has proven to be beneficial for the student and the school. So really all you would be paying for would be the MEI which is at a cost of $8,020.

This sounds like an interesting program. Do you start work as an instructor as soon as the MEI is completed? Is the contract in place before you start on the MEI, or does the school wait until the MEI is done before entering the agreement?

Also, I see on the website that company housing may be provided, with contract. What's the scoop on that?

[TexasFlyer]

Let me know what you find out on that 6 month contract. I'm doing my MEI Initial there right now.

I'd love to sign a 6 month contract as an instructor if they pay for my CFI and CFI-I Add on ratings. So if this program still exists, I'll be signing on the dotted line in about 45 days. That is of course if they still have a need and if they feel I would be a good addition to their team of instructors.

Fingers crossed.

[Old Dominion Flyer]

I inquired about this to the Marketing/Recruiting person on May 28th. Here's a little excerpt from the email he sent me. "We have changed our policies and benefits, still have health/vacation, we are not currently paying for any additional ratings at this time." I suppose Falcon doesn't need instructors as much as they did in the past. I was disappointed things changed like this. Back in March when I initially inquired I still had a few weeks remaining in my last semester of college, so I had to wait a few weeks before making plans to train there. After I graduated I called to see if the program is the same only to realize things are different. Such is the nature of things, I suppose.
If only I had dropped out and gone to Falcon in March, curse me for completing my college education!
If you have additional questions go ahead and call them, they're very good at responding to your info requests in a timely manner.

[Berkut]

Ah, thanks for the info. If that's the case, I will probably have to go another route. I can't spend $17,110 on the CFI/II/MEI.

[TexasFlyer]

I suspected that to be the case. Instructors are sticking around now. They are still extremely busy though.

The program I enrolled in last year (thier old career pilot program) stated that if I pay for my Initial Instructor Rating, that I'd be hired on as an instructor and they'd pay for my other two ratings. Of course there is no contract signed when you start training that states such a guarantee of employment. So I knew if things changed, that might go out the window. A risk I was willing to take since I know nothing is every guaranteed.

As for me now. Hopefully they are still hiring in about 3 months. If not, I'll be pretty disappointed since I'd like to instruct for them. Especially since I moved across the country to attend their program and I'm in a lease that would be very expensive to break if I were forced to move out of Atlanta before June of 2009.

No matter, it looks like I am going to be paying about $10k more than I originally planned due to the change. Luckily I have access to the funds if that is the case. Then just fingers crossed that they hire me once I complete the program.

[Berkut]

Originally Posted by TexasFlyer

The program I enrolled in last year (thier old career pilot program) stated that if I pay for my Initial Instructor Rating, that I'd be hired on as an instructor and they'd pay for my other two ratings.

It appears that the career program currently advertised on their website still includes that. They may have just stopped paying for ratings for off-the-street instructor applicants.

[Fly4Fun]

Alright, let me see if I can clear some of this up for you guys. As you know the airlines have for the most part slowed if not stopped hiring. So we backed off our incentives for instructors, we still do all the basic things such as Health Benefits and good Pay between $22-$25/flight or ground hour. So the incentives we have for our full program students (those who have gone through our entire program with us) like Texas Flyer will complete their MEI and Falcon will pay for the CFI Single provided the individual stays with Falcon for at least six months. With those who are just doing an Initial CFI or MEI with us, Falcon will help that person obtain any addtional rating at a seriously reduced cost utilizing company resources. For example if a student does his/her Single CFI with us and is interested in adding the CFII, we would more than likely put them in the G1000 or Standard Sim (Falcon CFIs do not pay for Sim Time) for check ride prep and then send them to a checkride shortly there after. So really the only thing the instructor is paying for at that point is a few hours in the airplane and maybe a little ground work. The other thing that comes into play with the CFI "Initial" check ride is that it must be done through the FSDO, its great that the Atlanta FSDO is so close but they are extrememly busy and typically takes a while to firm up a checkride date. This can be somewhat frustrating to a CFI candidate because the training can be done in a matter of a month, and then they have to sit around waiting on a checkride for 7-10 days. After the intial the added rating can be conducted with any Designated Pilot Examiner and those are a dime a dozen and check rides can be scheduled typically within a couple of days. I hope this clears a few things up, Falcon really wants to see our Instructors excel and we will do our best to help ease the financial burden after the Initial. Let me know if you have any additional questions. And Texas Flyer please come talk to me after you get your MEI, you know we will help you get your addtional instructors ratings.

PS,
If you try to reach me via email or on the phone throughout the day, I try my best to return all phone calls that day, but with touring potential students and developing marketing and advertising I get pretty tied up so bear with me and I will get back with you. Thanks for your Patience.

Mike Melton
Marketing/Recruiting
faarep@falconaviationacademy.com
770-486-5561 ext 204

[TexasFlyer]

Thanks Mike! That's good news to hear that things still are as I hoped for once I complete my MEI-Initial (targeted for about 30 days from now... pending that FSDO schedule of course).

Being up at PDK now keeps me a little withdrawn from the action down there at the main base. So it's tough to keep up with all the changes and excitement the company is going through as a whole (I do miss that since I always enjoyed watching Falcon grow first hand... and that is easy to do since at FFC it's easy to overhear all the great things planned for the company). But then I love flying out of PDK a lot better since the airport environment at PDK is awesome. Not to mention it's only a 12 mile drive for me each way to PDK, versus 51 miles each way to FFC (and with current gas prices, that would be painful).

Thanks for the clarification. I'll be talking with you very soon.