December 24th, 2008 | 
Author: I'm planning on becoming a commercial pilot. I want to gain employment with a regional ASAP. I'm considering an accelerated flight school like ATP. Pro's are it's quick but cons are sub par instruction from new pilots. I'm also wondering if you even need to spend the extra cash for instructor ratings as the regionals are hiring with such low minimums (wouldn't need to build much time). Does the airline really care if I train locally with a FBO? Do they care if I have an instructor rating? Pro's and con's of each from any pilots.
To answer your question from a non-bias position John. B is right in many ways. Military pilots are better trained than any FBO or Part 141 flight school. Its not how fast you can take the written tests or fly off the required hours, but what you actually gained in knowledge and experience.
Military training goes over and over until it is a natural response and yes military training takes much longer.
Many FBO/141 schools are a puppy schools pushing as many students through to make a buck. I have seen this over and over. Think about this the passing grade is 70% the minimum standard for the FAA or (C) average. Would you want the C-average heart surgeon to operate on you, I think not. So why would you want a C-average pilot flying commercial aircraft. Insurance companies are looking at this as well and most airline policies are not to hire the C-average pilot sorry to say.
I as a passenger I would want a captain that is trained and qualified with lots of take off and landings as possible under their belt maybe a (A) average captain and not a puppy school trained captain (C). The airlines that are hiring are also looking at this. They do not care what school you came from, but what knowledge and experience did you obtain coming out of the school.
How can a pilot learn experience form an accelerated program? Experience comes with time and training. I would suggest you slow down and learn as much as you can from us old grayed haired guys who have much knowledge to pass on to younger students if they will sit and learn. Aviation is not something to rush.
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As someone who hires pilots, though for business jets not the airlines, I could care less about an instructor rating. Nor would I care where you got licensed. I've little faith in the training anywhere other than the military. Just get the ratings, build whatever time you can any way you can and forget about how good a pilot you think you are when you show up for the interview. They're hiring an employee, not a pilot. Anybody can fly and they know it. So come across as a willing employee and you're in.
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Please don't listen to John B. There is obviously something not right with him if he thinks military trained pilots are the only good pilots amongst other things. (He is obviously very old school)
Airlines look at the big picture when hiring you. Sure a big part of the interview is how well you fit into their company with your personality but the way you were trained and who you have worked for in the past will be looked at. I know there are certain airlines that won't look at you if you have done training through certain flight training schools so make sure you find one that has a good reputation in the industry. Having an instructor rating isn't something to have but it will give you so much more confidence with your own flying abilities and aircraft knowledge. If the airline sees in the interview that you have done instructing in the past they will have in mind that you could do a check & training role in the future with them. So it is a big advantage over someone who hasn't.
From my experience if you don't do the instructor rating you generally have to move to a remote area to build your flight time up, where as being an instructor you can pretty much stay in a city area. If none of that appeals to you then do an accelerated course if you are happy spending years in the right hand seat before promotion. If you want the left hand seat quicker you are better off going off and doing some command charter or instructor work before the airlines
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Working in the heart of the aviation industry
To answer your question from a non-bias position John. B is right in many ways. Military pilots are better trained than any FBO or Part 141 flight school. Its not how fast you can take the written tests or fly off the required hours, but what you actually gained in knowledge and experience.
Military training goes over and over until it is a natural response and yes military training takes much longer.
Many FBO/141 schools are a puppy schools pushing as many students through to make a buck. I have seen this over and over. Think about this the passing grade is 70% the minimum standard for the FAA or (C) average. Would you want the C-average heart surgeon to operate on you, I think not. So why would you want a C-average pilot flying commercial aircraft. Insurance companies are looking at this as well and most airline policies are not to hire the C-average pilot sorry to say.
I as a passenger I would want a captain that is trained and qualified with lots of take off and landings as possible under their belt maybe a (A) average captain and not a puppy school trained captain (C). The airlines that are hiring are also looking at this. They do not care what school you came from, but what knowledge and experience did you obtain coming out of the school.
How can a pilot learn experience form an accelerated program? Experience comes with time and training. I would suggest you slow down and learn as much as you can from us old grayed haired guys who have much knowledge to pass on to younger students if they will sit and learn. Aviation is not something to rush.
References :
A&P/IA
http://www.stacheair.com
Accelerated in not the best way to go.
I did my private the slow route.
It took me 6 months flying about twice a week.
I did my instrument the fast route and ended with 40 hours of instrument.
Exhaustion!
I was not as confident as I wanted to be.
I had to fly another 10-15 hours with a safely pilot and my confidences went up drastically.
I would not recommend it.
I recommend find a good school then interview the instructors.
Look for one that has more than 800 hours.
I am not going the instructor route myself to build time.
I have an airplane & I fly with anyone that will let me in the seat.
Either way you go, you will have to build time.
Don't expect a "fast track".
Don't rely on the minimums as the gospel.
If they say they are hiring at 500/100 most of pilots being interviewed have 1000/200.
Even if they happen to hire you at 500/100, you still have to pass the training.
I have known a couple who just didn't make it.
Even to fly a single engine for pipeline requires 700 tt.
main points — get a good instructor, find a mentor and use the king videos.
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pilot