CFIs Needed

[nbv4]

yay! I finally got a call from this place about my resume. They want me to send a transcript and a reference, along with a definite "yes" that I'm interested.

Now I have just one question: Will I be OK without a car? I plan on relocating via airline, so I'm going to either buy a car there, or just have to do without. Is this feasible? How far is the dorm from the airfield? Are there places to do basic shopping within walking distance? Is there public transportation?

[WAFlyBoy]

Originally Posted by nbv4

yay! I finally got a call from this place about my resume. They want me to send a transcript and a reference, along with a definite "yes" that I'm interested.

Now I have just one question: Will I be OK without a car? I plan on relocating via airline, so I'm going to either buy a car there, or just have to do without. Is this feasible? How far is the dorm from the airfield? Are there places to do basic shopping within walking distance? Is there public transportation?

Life without a car would be very difficult. You can walk from the dorm to the flight line, no problem. But I wouldn't want to do my shopping by foot. Atwater and Merced are the two closest towns. The closest stores in Merced (the better of the two towns) is about 6 miles away. The closest stores in Atwater are maybe a mile or two, and the streets are not really pedestrian friendly. I think there is a bus stop on the base, but I'm not sure where it connects to.

And I got through this post without saying a word about ASA or the traffic pattern.... well, almost.

[flyguy]

Originally Posted by AngelFuree

I'll be sure to apply. Then we can all argue about traffic patterns.

edit: btw, since I'm too lazy to look up the sectional, what is the nearest controlled airport?

Gracias,
Management

It'll be this airport in about a month. (supposedly)

[nbv4]

Originally Posted by WAFlyBoy

Life without a car would be very difficult. You can walk from the dorm to the flight line, no problem. But I wouldn't want to do my shopping by foot. Atwater and Merced are the two closest towns. The closest stores in Merced (the better of the two towns) is about 6 miles away. The closest stores in Atwater are maybe a mile or two, and the streets are not really pedestrian friendly. I think there is a bus stop on the base, but I'm not sure where it connects to.

And I got through this post without saying a word about ASA or the traffic pattern.... well, almost.

Well what do the students do? I assume they don't have cars. How do they survive?

[WAFlyBoy]

Originally Posted by nbv4

Well what do the students do? I assume they don't have cars. How do they survive?

Sierra runs a shuttle van between the campus and Merced on the weekends. (Or are they using the bus now? I haven't been there on a weekend in a while.) If they're using the bus, you could probably catch a ride into town that way. On rare occasions, I've seen students walk to the stores in Atwater.

Atwater is in the middle of an area that survives primarily on central CA's agricultural business. (In other words, it's semi-rural.) Hopefully some other instructors will chime in to provide another point of view. But I think life without a car would be tough out here. (Especially in the summer when it's 100+ and in the spring when it's always raining.) Or maybe I'm just spoiled.

Not to discourage you though. If you want to build hours fast and make some decent money in the process, get out here any way you can.

[WestIndian425]

Originally Posted by WAFlyBoy

Life without a car would be very difficult. You can walk from the dorm to the flight line, no problem. But I wouldn't want to do my shopping by foot. Atwater and Merced are the two closest towns. The closest stores in Merced (the better of the two towns) is about 6 miles away. The closest stores in Atwater are maybe a mile or two, and the streets are not really pedestrian friendly. I think there is a bus stop on the base, but I'm not sure where it connects to.

And I got through this post without saying a word about ASA or the traffic pattern.... well, almost.

Darn it!! Almost! I'm glad that you delurked, my friend.

Originally Posted by nbv4

Well what do the students do? I assume they don't have cars. How do they survive?

Some students do have cars, but those are the ones who are basically paying their way. The other students that are coming from the airlines don't have cars. However, like WAFlyboy said, there is shuttle service provided to the students on Saturdays and Sundays for shopping.

I did manage to survive without a car for a while. I just bought myself one last month. There are a few other instructors who are managing pretty well without one., and with the comraderie that is built among the guys, I'm sure someone wouldn't mind helping you out if need be.

[AngelFuree]

I'm thinking of going to Cali this December. I'll be in Sacramento w/ one of my friends. I should stop by Atwater and check it out. I'm still interested in applying. Just one semester left of school though. Graduating this December and going out into the real world. alkjsdg;lajdsg;oiawlgkjdglakj

[airplanerik]

Originally Posted by AngelFuree

I'm thinking of going to Cali this December. I'll be in Sacramento w/ one of my friends. I should stop by Atwater and check it out. I'm still interested in applying. Just one semester left of school though. Graduating this December and going out into the real world. alkjsdg;lajdsg;oiawlgkjdglakj

Angel, if you don't like Grand Forks...you aren't going to care for Atwater. However, at least in Atwater, you are in within driving distance of the beach/mountains.

I don't mind the Central Valley at all...but then again, I don't mind Grand Forks either

[AngelFuree]

Haha yeah, I know that, I meant "real world" as in out of college and starting to pay those stupid loans. If I go to Atwater, it wouldn't be for more than a year anyway I'm hoping.

[AngelFuree]

I e-mailed George inquiring about the job. Hope to get a reply from him.

Flyguy, did you ever get my PM btw?

edit: Nick, I read in one of your earlier posts about you getting a road bike...did you ever get it? If I end up working in that school, you'd have a riding buddy. I love my road bike.

[flyguy]

Got it and replied.

[SmitteyB]

This thread is too long. Stop posting.

[WAFlyBoy]

No.

[Nick]

Originally Posted by SmitteyB

This thread is too long. Stop posting.

And you're not helping!

[Nick]

Originally Posted by AngelFuree

edit: Nick, I read in one of your earlier posts about you getting a road bike...did you ever get it?

Yeah, I got it. 700 miles later I've got fourteen (14) flattened tubes hanging in my closet. None went flat in the first 250 miles so in the last 450 I've averaged one flat tire ever 32 miles. Basically it comes out to: every time I go on a bike ride I get a flat tire. You can buy my bike if you want to. My next is coming from WalMart. After all, if I'm in it for the exercise, and I'm ending the ride at the same place I started, why do I need to go fast??!

Originally Posted by AngelFuree

If I end up working in that school, you'd have a riding buddy. I love my road bike.

Sounds good; come on out.

[WestIndian425]

Originally Posted by Nick

My next is coming from WalMart. After all, if I'm in it for the exercise, and I'm ending the ride at the same place I started, why do I need to go fast??!

LOL...you've seen the light, my friend.

On topic, I'd say that we really are going to need some more instructors. More students are coming in (on top of those already here) and we need people to teach them how to follow the SOP...I mean fly.

[flyguy]

We need more instructors, we need more airplanes, we need more mechanics, we need more examiners, we need more of just about everything but students.

[flyguy]

Oh yeah, and we need more runways.

[AngelFuree]

Originally Posted by Nick

You can buy my bike if you want to.

I have three useable, and one not useable. Don't think I need more, haha.

My next is coming from WalMart. After all, if I'm in it for the exercise, and I'm ending the ride at the same place I started, why do I need to go fast??!

Because fast is fun! Yum, I love going fast. I'll never go back to mountain bikes. Road bikes are so addicting. But anyway, I'd say be careful w/ the Walmart bikes (I know you've heard that phrase a million times). I don't say it because of assembly, but because these cheap bikes cut costs by using cheap parts, ESPECIALLY the wheels. They are REALLY REALLY bad. After the frame, the most expensive parts of a bike are usually the wheels. Walmart/Target bikes have bad wheels that are easily susceptible to bending, untrueing, or even collapsing. My parked unuseable bike is a Target bike. The wheels got so untrue by jumping curbs. Something that shouldn't happen just by jumping curbs. I'm 145lbs, pretty light, and it shouldn't have to endure so much damage. My 210lbs friend bent his wheels the same way. His wheels became so untrue he had to walk back home. Build quality along w/ quality control on those bicycles isn't good. If you're looking to save money, go to a bike shop and buy a relatively inexpensive bike from there which might run you around $200. They're usually good enough to meet your needs.
And I agree with you, if you have no preference on bikes, there's no need to spend $1000 on a road bike if you're not really enjoying it. I know I wouldn't be able to exercise without one though, because it wouldn't be fun enough to make me wanna go out and ride.

Sounds good; come on out.

Excellent!

[nbv4]

Originally Posted by WestIndian425

I did the train thing. I flew in to Oakland, then took Amtrak to Merced (about a 3 hour train ride), then took a cab.

Another option is to fly into Fresno or Modesto, but the tickets are usually more expensive to those airports.

Neil

I'm making arrangements to go out there right now. About how much would a cab ride from Modesto to Atwater cost? Would you have to make prior arrangements with the cab company before making this trip?

[WestIndian425]

Originally Posted by nbv4

I'm making arrangements to go out there right now. About how much would a cab ride from Modesto to Atwater cost? Would you have to make prior arrangements with the cab company before making this trip?

From Modesto to Castle is roughly $20. You don't have to make prior arrangements. Just tell the agent at Amtrak, and they'll point you to the right direction.

[woog315]

Are they flying the Duchess at all on the Atwater campus or is it all Da42s? How many Duchesses do they have in their fleet? Their website doesn't give much current info for CFIs other than the fact they are looking for a few. Do they offer benefits? I'm finishing up my instructor ratings now and am considering applying there, are they still hurting for instructors as bad as they were a few months ago? Thanks

[flyguy]

Originally Posted by woog315

Are they flying the Duchess at all on the Atwater campus or is it all Da42s? How many Duchesses do they have in their fleet? Their website doesn't give much current info for CFIs other than the fact they are looking for a few. Do they offer benefits? I'm finishing up my instructor ratings now and am considering applying there, are they still hurting for instructors as bad as they were a few months ago? Thanks

We have a few students finnishing up in the Duchess just because we didn't have enough Seminoles so we borrowed three Duchesses from Livermore. One thing they forgot to consider was that not too many instructors had the 5 hours PIC required to instruct in it, and the problem got worse when the instructors started to leave for the airlines. Another thing that was overlooked was the only examiner within 100 miles that can do a multi checkride wasn't qualified to give checkrides in the Duchess. From my understanding that issue has been resolved though, as we paid for her to take the checkride to give checkrides in the Duchess. We never did get Da42s. As of now we've got 6 PA44s, 3 BE76s and because we are shorthanded in maintainence, we usually have only 2 or 3 multis up on any given day. Fortuantely the last of the multi students should be done by the end of the week. The remaining students are all working on private so they will have several months to get the multi fleet back in line, and get all the instructors standardized. It seems the plan is to use both Duchesses and Seminloles, but remember the original plan was to use Twin Stars so you never can be sure. No bennefits, but the pay is good and free room and board on top of that is not bad at all. (well the food is bad, but the overall compenstation the instructors get is good) I hear they are possibly negotiating some medical bennefits, but since we are contract instructors it creates complications with offering bennefits. As long as the regionals are hurting for pilots, Sierra will be hurting for instructors, so they'll probably be hiring pretty much continuoulsy for the next few years. Hopefully there will be at least one opening comming up in the next month or two. Sierra has plenty of issues, but it looks like they are starting to turn things around, and even with the BS its probably still one of the best CFI jobs out there.

[woog315]

Originally Posted by flyguy

We have a few students finnishing up in the Duchess just because we didn't have enough Seminoles so we borrowed three Duchesses from Livermore. One thing they forgot to consider was that not too many instructors had the 5 hours PIC required to instruct in it, and the problem got worse when the instructors started to leave for the airlines. Another thing that was overlooked was the only examiner within 100 miles that can do a multi checkride wasn't qualified to give checkrides in the Duchess. From my understanding that issue has been resolved though, as we paid for her to take the checkride to give checkrides in the Duchess. We never did get Da42s. As of now we've got 6 PA44s, 3 BE76s and because we are shorthanded in maintainence, we usually have only 2 or 3 multis up on any given day. Fortuantely the last of the multi students should be done by the end of the week. The remaining students are all working on private so they will have several months to get the multi fleet back in line, and get all the instructors standardized. It seems the plan is to use both Duchesses and Seminloles, but remember the original plan was to use Twin Stars so you never can be sure. No bennefits, but the pay is good and free room and board on top of that is not bad at all. (well the food is bad, but the overall compenstation the instructors get is good) I hear they are possibly negotiating some medical bennefits, but since we are contract instructors it creates complications with offering bennefits. As long as the regionals are hurting for pilots, Sierra will be hurting for instructors, so they'll probably be hiring pretty much continuoulsy for the next few years. Hopefully there will be at least one opening comming up in the next month or two. Sierra has plenty of issues, but it looks like they are starting to turn things around, and even with the BS its probably still one of the best CFI jobs out there.

Thanks for the info. I've got about 200 hours in a duchess so maybe I could help alleviate the problem a bit roughly how many hours are you getting a month right now?

[Allbert]

Flyboy or any of you other current Sierra staff members - given the fluid nature of the business and its been a while since anyone posted detals on instructor hiring would anyone care to give a general update on life there and present hiring requirements. I have been following this thread since about the beginning and may even get around to applying one day.

Things such as current mins for hiring, hours flown/ground/worked.
Are pay levels still pushing the $3000 per month? Is there a requirement to remain for a period ie bond etc? And what about the mystery meat, I hate mystery meat, is there a vegetarian option or is it the old Chinese style vegetarian ie pork with some veges thrown in?