Question about the fast track programs

[LoadMasterC141]

Anyone at FSA, or who has done one of these know the deal?

http://www.flightsafetyacademy.com/c...eTrack_000.pdf

If I am a CMEL/SE w/IFR pilot with around 260/20 ME and apply for this program in a desire to work for ASA or AE, it looks like I would have to do Phase IA and IIA for a total of $2,340, and then complete phase II and III for a total of $18k?

Sounds wrong considering what I have heard, but that is the way it looks.

[Crockrocket94]

The 18grand sounds right for ASA, however I believe eagle will cover 10k.

[chade7320]

Originally Posted by LoadMasterC141

Anyone at FSA, or who has done one of these know the deal?

http://www.flightsafetyacademy.com/c...eTrack_000.pdf

If I am a CMEL/SE w/IFR pilot with around 260/20 ME and apply for this program in a desire to work for ASA or AE, it looks like I would have to do Phase IA and IIA for a total of $2,340, and then complete phase II and III for a total of $18k?

Sounds wrong considering what I have heard, but that is the way it looks.

That is correct, you have to do the evaluation I and II then you will do the AATP program which is about 18k for ASA. I just finished it for ASA. Going to atlanta next week to start indoc

[LoadMasterC141]

You paid $22k for that? Wow.

[ufgators]

Originally Posted by chade7320

That is correct, you have to do the evaluation I and II then you will do the AATP program which is about 18k for ASA. I just finished it for ASA. Going to atlanta next week to start indoc

So after you do the Phase I and II evaluation do you inteview with an airline and then if they give you a conditional offer complete the rest? Thats what I understood from their website but I'm curious if it works as advertised.

[TexasFlyer]

I'm confused. Why would anyone pay all that money for a 8 week course to get on with a Regional.


You are going to pay $18k for a 8 week training program to get on with a regional (who is hiring many people with only 600TT and 50-100 multi anyway)?

Are you crazy? Or am I just confused?

Why not do this?

1) Get all your CFI's in about 6 weeks time working at it full time. You can do it for well under $10k at most FBOs doing it full time. Now, since you already have at least 250 hours, that'll get you to at least 285 hours TT with lets say a bare minimum 20 PIC multi.
2) Then make some money as a CFI which pretty much pays for the money you just spent on the CFI ratings.
3) You only need to teach for 12 weeks at a busy flight school. At a busy flight school that will bring you to a total of at least 580 to 600 hours with at least 80-100 multi PIC time. Possibly more all around in hours!

Guess what?
1) That qualifies you to get hired by any of those airlines in the FSI program.
2) You did it for much less since your CFI money pretty much paid for the money you spent on the ratings to begin with. So consider the CFis free. The only money it cost you is 10 weeks living money to cover your rent and food. So say in reality, the total cost of this extra time is around $4,000.
3) And it only took you 10 weeks longer.

So is 10 weeks longer worth a savings of $14k after you back out the cost difference and add back the CFI pay you made for 12 weeks? Any logical cost-time-benefit analysis will point to a resounding YES!

Oh, and you say $14 is not a lot of money? Well, $14k may very well be close to if not slightly more than your whole first year salary at a regional after tax. So for a pilot, you are darn right it's a ton of money!

Maybe I'm missing something here? But logic tells me this program would be possibly worth it if hiring mins were like 2000/800 or something like that to get hired. But when the regionals are welcoming people with 600/100 or less from off the street, this program looks like a bad decision.

And quite frankly, in the real business world, I would question someone with such bad judgement as to choose such a program. And due to me thinking your judgement is bad compared to someone else I interviewed, you'd not get the job. But then, I have learned the airline industry will hire people who exercise bad judgement such as this. Maybe some day that'll change, but when they can't fill classes and they still need to fill up those cockpits, they can overlook a certain degree of bad judgement.

Just something to think about. If anyone thinks this is best for your situation, go for it. But I hope in "real life" you mature quickly and gain the ability to analyze situations and make decisions that demonstrate you have a high level of logic and good natural judgement. After all, we will be in the cockpit together some day and I'd like to fly with people who exercise good judgement.

Oh, there is one case this program is the right choice. You are rich or have a rich family so money is not an option since you will not have to pay back that loan. So if you can do it without incurring any debt at all, go for it then since it may be the right choice. Why? Well, you will have a slightly higher seniority number since you beat the poor working class guy to the cockpit by about 2 months. But this is the only way it's the right choice.

I'm done with my rant now

[ufgators]

Looks like ASA may be slowing down on their hiring. This program seems to be a big gamble if the regionals start slowing down or stop hiring.

[bLizZuE]

ASA is no longer hiring, and current applicants that were accepted are being put into a pool to await class dates.

[TexasFlyer]

Originally Posted by bLizZuE

ASA is no longer hiring, and current applicants that were accepted are being put into a pool to await class dates.

Yep. And exactly why I kept saying these expensive programs with guaranteed interviews are not good. Nothing in life is guaranteed. Especially in aviation. Okay. I do guarantee one thing in aviation. Even using your best judgement, it's still expensive to get trained as a pilot and you will be very broke for many years!

[crjsomeday]

$22,000 take make $18,000 a year? I don't understand that. What happens when mother Delta reduces capacity due to fuel and you fly a fuel guzzling RJ? ASA has no guarantees of continuing to feed a shrinking mainline. Furloughs are coming.........

[Crockrocket94]

CRJ, enough. It's obviously a risk they are/were willing to take.

Let them be.

[crjsomeday]

Not trying to be doom and gloom, just trying to paint an accurate picture of possible scenarios. Everyone has to take in numerous opinions and then make their own decision. You have to pursue an aviation career with your eyes wide open. Anytime there is this much money involved you have to make an educated decision.