FSA

[neen]

Okay quick question for you guys. Does FS have a limit on the number of certificates or hours you can come into their pro pilot program with? If you already have your private, inst, and csel etc...etc..? I called the school and got 3 different answers from 3 different people so now I am just plain confused Any info you guys have will be greatly appreciated.

[launchpad]

It all depends on how much cross country, and x/c solo time you have........there really is no limit unless you want to do the rest of your training under part 141......depending on your background and time, you'll probably be enrolled in a part 61 course which follows the respective part 141 syllabus, but the only difference you'd see is that you have to take a checkride with an FAA DE....call the school again and ask to speak to the chief instructor...he'll be able to give you the no BS 100% correct answer.......

[ananoman]

You can go there at any stage of your training. The only thing that may change is whether you are part 61 or 141.

FSI divides its initial training into 5 steps.
1. Private
2. Commercial Maneuvers and Time Building
3. Multi Private
4. Instrument
5. Commercial Multi

After this most do the Commercial Single Add On and CFI/CFII

If you do not complete step 2 at FSA then your commercial multi checkride will be part 61 with a DE. Based on the number of hours you have when you arrive, they can decide if it is worth it to complete step 2 or not.

Even if the step 5 check ride is part 61, you can still complete steps 3 and 4 part 141.

When I was there I had students come in at many different places in their training. Some only came for the Commercial Multi Add On w/Instrument, others came only for the CFI/CFII. It all depends.

For real answers about your training needs you would have to talk to the Chief Pilot or one of his assistants. The Marketing people are not pilots and are not really equipped to answer this type of question.

I would also urge you to go actually look at the school before you decide to go there. If you take your log books then you could get all these questions answered in person. If this is not possible, or you don't want to spend money to make an extra trip, then do not worry. The first thing they do when you enroll is have the Chief Pilot and the Assistant Chiefs evaluate where you are in your trainig to make sure you are signed up for the right program.

[neen]

Thanks for the advice. I know FS is where I would like to go but lets face it it's expensive. I am trying to get as much on my own as I possibly can to help lower my costs execpt for my commercial multi and maybe my private multi. I without a doubt want to be trained at FS for this. I am still working on my instrument at this point and am still trying to decide if I should get my commercial single done before enrolling in the professional pilot program. Any thoughts on this? My goal, eventually, is to fly corporate so I would like a shot at one of their internship slots. Thanks again


When I say internship I don't mean any of the direct track programs....I want to do the full motion sim stuff

[launchpad]

well as far as your multi ratings, you'll only need to get a commercial, not a private...so just get all your single engine work (including comm single engine and instrument) done before you come here and you can probably be enrolled in a commercial multi-engine add-on course....which will be part 141......after that, you can go whichever route you want to go.....I believe you have to get your CFI with flightsafety before you can do the internship, but i'm not 100% sure....

[ananoman]

I'll second that. The only reason they do the multi private is so that when the student does their instrument rating in the Seminole it is all multi PIC. If you already will have your instrument rating, multi private would be a complete waste of money. You would be better off getting your commercial single first, then doing the multi add on at FSI.

The internships were originally created to give the people on the CFI waiting list something to do. Now that the waiting list doesn't really exist there are two ways to go:
1. Interview and be hired to be a CFI, then instruct for 800 hrs and go to the internship. You will get a type rating.

2. Interview and not get hired to be a CFI, but be offered the internship. It is my understanding that this is what Snow did (read about it in his post). You will not get typed (you have to have 1000 hrs to be type rated by FSI) unless you get a flight instructor job where ever you end up and get your total time up to that 1000 hr minimum. You will probably have to do something to get more time anyway as it is hard to get a corporate job with 300 hrs, although it has been done.

[neen]

Cool, thanks for the advice. I was also wondering..do you have to go through the pro pilot program in order to be able to interview for a CFI position or the sim center internship? Or do you just have to complete at least one of the courses that they offer?
If I can take the courses individually... I think I will make out better financially because (correct me if I'm wrong ) if I start FSI with my ppl, inst, and csel...I could do the multi add on w/inst privileges and my CFI. I am just confused on where and how my cmel comes into the picture. Any thoughts or suggestions?

As far as the 2 options that they have for the internships, that is something that I will decide when and if I get offered one. . My main focus right now is to get my ratings.

[launchpad]

[ QUOTE ]
Cool, thanks for the advice. I was also wondering..do you have to go through the pro pilot program in order to be able to interview for a CFI position or the sim center internship? Or do you just have to complete at least one of the courses that they offer?
If I can take the courses individually... I think I will make out better financially because (correct me if I'm wrong ) if I start FSI with my ppl, inst, and csel...I could do the multi add on w/inst privileges and my CFI. I am just confused on where and how my cmel comes into the picture. Any thoughts or suggestions?

As far as the 2 options that they have for the internships, that is something that I will decide when and if I get offered one. . My main focus right now is to get my ratings.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yep...you only really have to do the CFI course to interview for an instructor position......The CMEL is the license you'll get when you come here....that will be the only program you'll be enrolled in . . . the rest of the programs that they might have sent you information on are irrelevant.....after you do the commercial multi-engine add-on, you'll have a commercial, instrument single and muti-engine license......you then move on to your CFI and instructor ratings....

[neen]

HAPPY, HAPPY....JOY,JOY!!!!!!

Talked to the folks at FSI this morning and the courses can be done individually. There is no req. to go through the pro pilot course to be eligible for the sim center internship. YEA DADDY!!!!!!
No flight training loans to pay back at all whatsoever!!

Launchpad, Ananoman thanks for all the help if I could kiss ya I would ...or at least by you two a beer

[stuckingfk]

[ QUOTE ]

HAPPY, HAPPY....JOY,JOY!!!!!!

Talked to the folks at FSI this morning and the courses can be done individually. There is no req. to go through the pro pilot course to be eligible for the sim center internship. YEA DADDY!!!!!!
No flight training loans to pay back at all whatsoever!!

Launchpad, Ananoman thanks for all the help if I could kiss ya I would ...or at least by you two a beer

[/ QUOTE ]

So what are you going to do? Will you apply in hopes of getting picked for the sim internship? Because if this is what you're going to do, I might try too.

[launchpad]

right now, a lot of centers need interns......so if you're not a complete doofus and want to apply, i'm sure you'll get it.....

[neen]

I'm without a doubt gonna do my multi add on and cfi at FSA and pay for it out of pocket like I did with my other ratings. After that I will pray to the powers that be (God, Budda, Heineken) that I am selected for an internship.
If you want to go corporate then I would totally suggest it....if your goal is the airlines I would still try to get as many ratings as you can at an FBO before going to FSA...that way not as much money to pay back.

[ananoman]

I would suggest you work at FSA as an instructor if possible. You will be more marketable if you have the hours, and it is not a bad place to work as an instructor.

[stuckingfk]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm without a doubt gonna do my multi add on and cfi at FSA and pay for it out of pocket like I did with my other ratings. After that I will pray to the powers that be (God, Budda, Heineken) that I am selected for an internship.
If you want to go corporate then I would totally suggest it....if your goal is the airlines I would still try to get as many ratings as you can at an FBO before going to FSA...that way not as much money to pay back.

[/ QUOTE ]

Jay Alder (sp?) was here at UND recruiting students for Flight Safety. I said I wouldn't be needing any training and he seemed ok with that if I still wanted to apply for the internship.

I'll probably apply once I get closer to 1000 hours (500 more to go).

[Snow]

Neen, how much has your training cost so far in part 61 land? If you want to do your CFI here to get an internship that's ok but you might have some catching up to do, FSA holds its students to a higher standard. The people in my CFI class who came from the outside had a harder time than those who did most of their training with FSI. If you want to get the internship, you need to be a good instrument pilot and have good general aviation knowledge, on top of that to get an instructor position you also need to be a good teacher. The percentage of those who get hired who apply for CFI positions are not as high as I was led to belive. I don't know why this is but in the last round of interviews I heard they only hired one person as a CFI of the 10 who interviewed. (I know this person) Just some food for thought.

[neen]

Hey Snow,
Thanks for the heads up how you liking Atlanta so far? I have read all of your posts and it's nice to read posts about FSA's internship.
When I first decided to do my flight training, FSA's standards were part of the reason why I wanted to go there for all of my ratings. However, the cost was just way too much on a flight attendants salary...taking out a loan was not an option I wanted to pursue. I saved up $25000 (not all on a F/A's salary ), quit my job bumping people in the knees w/ a galley cart on the CRJ (part of the reason I wanna go corporate ) and have been training ever since. I have been fortunate enough to find an FBO that listened to my needs both financially, and what I wanted from an instructor. Also, working as an F/A prior to my training helped out by leaps and bounds because some of the pilots I worked with were there for me whenever I needed them...some even went on a few flights with me to help with some of my "rusty areas".

I'm looking forward to going to FSA and auditing some classes before my Multi add-on and CFI so that way I at least know what to expect and what is expected of me. Call me nuts but, I am also looking forward to the challenge, that's how I do my best work. . I am a little worried about the CFI interview, but hey....I'll cross that milestone when I get to it. I don't wanna freak myself out too much, too early because if I do I, I will go into it losing half the battle. I am not worried about the teaching as much though.

[ananoman]

You will always be nervous at any interview, but if you work hard during the CFI training you will be well prepared. Just realize that like anything else in this business, you can do a good job and still not make it. The CFI interviews can go either way. I think some of it depends on what their needs are and who grades your presentation. The good thing is that you can reinterview after doing your CFII (which you need anyway), and now can get the internships even if you do not end up working there as a CFI.

Doing your Multi add on at FSI will make the process easier. The sim profile they do is based on their checklist and proceedures, so it is much easier if you are familiar with the Frasca and have flown using their checklist.

Good luck.

[Snow]

Well good to hear Neen, I know of 4 past F/As who were training there, one is currently a CFI there and another doing a direct track program. I would recomend practicing teaching material to your non-pilot friends, that way if you'll get some good feedback if you make since or not. Good luck.

[neen]

Thanks for the advice Snow...don't forget to check out Spondivits while your in ATL. They have great seafood and it's not too far from the Delta compound. Oh yea, Ruth Chris's steakhouse in Buckhead is good too.

[neen]

Thanks for the good words Ananoman, hopefully I can get as much as I can out of auditing FSA's instrument course. I know FSA is really intense when it comes to instrument training and I want to be sure that I am on the same page as everyone else. I am hoping to rent some time in the same type aircrafts as well in my spare time before I get to Vero so that I am familiar with them as well.