Sierra - As Expensive as FSI

[veer]

I was wondering what about sierra would mae it out####e the rest of the accademies out there ? It is almost as expensive or more expensive than some of them and has had a very bad rep in the past. I was interested in them as they offer Instructing opportunity to international studetns for an unlimited # of hrs. or at least thas what the guy on the phone told me.

Thankz
tj

[SFLAX]

I just finished the program at Sierra in 21 months, waited two days and have been flight instructing for 3 weeks now. 3 students right now, but they let you have a month or so to get a full 5 to 7 students. As for cost, I feel I basically paid for my job. I mean that I did all they asked, and they gave me all they promissed me. Not saying that the road was easy or very frustrating. But in my opinion, I think anyone whom just complains about a program they could not finish need to look at themselves first then the program. In my start class for CFI's I had two other guys that started after me, so they finished faster then me. But it all depends on how hard you are willing to work. As for the forgien students, they are coming after the first of the year. But it should be a 3 year contract. As for the bad rep, I disagree. I have never had a pilot at Sierra whom completed the program and instrusted not get a job at a regional. I had 5 instructors at my time, all fly 121 some where. If you have any questions let me know.

[DE727UPS]

Honest question. You got your CFI in 21 months and now you have a job as a CFI. How is this any different from someone going to any flight school and getting their CFI and getting a job as a CFI? I mean, what is special about Sierra? And your CFI friends who got hired at regionals. That's great, but it seems like 1000 hour CFI's from anywhere are getting hired at regionals. What sets Sierra apart?

[veer]

What was the cost like including living and all ?

Thankz
tj

[flyguy]

What sets Sierra apart? Well unless someone attends every flight school in the world it would be hard to testify to whether or not it is the best, but I'll mention some things that I think are some of Sierra's strong points.

Groundschool - the average private pilot who trained at Sierra is said to have about the same ground knowledge as the average newly minted commercial pilot trained at the average FBO. Shortly after I got my private, I got checked out at a nearby FBO and I knew the FARs much better that the CFI. They teach us a lot, drill it into us time and again, and make sure we know it well. The oral stage checks at Sierra are about 10 times more in depth than the checkride orals. At my last checkride the DE mentioned that Sierra students always do fantastiac on the orals.

Instrument flying - except in the summer months, there is ofter a stratus layer over the whole area, making for excelent IFR training. We can fly actual approaches without having to get knocked around. Also, we are located in an area where there is a cluster of airports offering many different kinds of approaches. Just at OAK we have an ILS, 2 VOR, and an NDB approach and that dosn't even include runway 29. Fly 10 minutes NE and at CCR there is an LDA, VOR, and an NDB. Up a little further APC has a LOC and a VOR. Just to the East of OAK, LVK has another ILS. These are all within about a 25 nm radius. If you want to fly an x-c, you can take your pick from SAC, STS, MOD, FAT, MRY and many others, which gives us several more ILSs and other non-precision approaches to choose. Also the airspace is very complex. OAK is C in underlying B. This allows for plenty of exposure to the ATC system in the terminal environemnt. To any aspiring professional pilot, this is very good experience. I will give you that all I just mentioned can be achieved at any FBO in the area, but our instrument training is top notch. A few months ago I posted a question the the checkride board about people's opinion about what the hardest checkride is and most people said it was the instrument ride. All I can say is that my checkride was about the easiest thing I've ever done since I've been flying. That has to say something about the training I recieved.

I can't testify to the commercial or CFI training yet because I am just starting on my commercial multi, but so far I feel I've recieved outstanding training. I don't really care if it sets us apart, or is the best that's out there. All I care about is that it is working for me and I feel good about it.

[flyguy]

Veer,

I won't lie, you'll end up spending a lot of money out here. I think we are about in line with FSI and the cost of living out here is among the highest in the nation which certainly does not help. Its up to you to decide if it is worth it.

About foreign students, I don't know the details but we have several international instructors who have been around for several years. They are waiting on finnishing up degrees and/or waiting for overseas jobs. There is no time limit that I know of, they can stay as long as they need to.

[veer]

Thanks FlyGuy. I had completely forgotten about this post untill i saw some movements in the forum itself. Would you happen to know what the requirements are for working as a CFI ? What is their hiring like ?

Thanks
tj

[flyguy]

To work as a CFI for Sierra you must complete at least instrument through CFII at Sierra, however if they get desperate for instructors they will hire from outside, and/or hire sierra students who have their CFI but not their CFII yet. You can work on your MEI after you begin instructing. If you want to ground instruct, you can get your CGI and if they are hiring ground instructors you can usually begin ground instructing while working on your initial CFI, or CFII. The hiring is good right now. My instrument ground instructor just got hired as a flight instructor about a month after completeing his CFII. The hiring at the regionals is starting to pick up, and that is rolling down to us.

[jani82]

They are waiting on finnishing up degrees and/or waiting for overseas jobs. There is no time limit that I know of, they can stay as long as they need to.[/quote]

I have seen in many posts that having a BA degree is almost a must when getting hired by a regional. But most of the people are referring to any BA degree, and not an Aeronautics related one. Is it true that basically any BA would do??? or does it have to be aviation related.

[surreal1221]

21 months to a CFI . . .man.

And Jani82, guys are getting hired at the regionals with damn GEDs. It's the major's and legacies that are essentially extremely difficult to get hired at without a BA/BS degree.