Hi Rajat ...
1. How is the flying school? According to my research and some chats with the former students, it looks like the flying school is good but you never know until you have self experience.
The biggest risk you'd be taking in your life is when you finally decide to become a commerical pilot.
After that pretty much anything and everything you choose to do, or follow, is another risk. Right from choosing a flying school, to choosing a good ground studies coaching class, when you decide to start your training (most important), etc etc. The list goes on.
Till some time back, I would advise most aspirants to try and do some homework and research on the flying schools they intend to enroll into. and more importantly, to try and get in touch with past students of those schools. However, right now even that advise is not of much use.
Most of the school owners and ex-students of those schools usually lie to the prospective students about how wonderful the school is.
This is because many of the schools want to lure in Indian students and in return give commission to their ex-students for bringing in a block of Indian students.
Many schools in USA and Canada also have Indian students who have done their CFI/Instructor ratings, but lacking students. These schools and Indian students also will lie a lot to prospective students about the conditions in the schools in order to attract more students.
So once again, it is a big risk. A risk that you'll have to eventually take and there's no other way out for you.
However, there are very few institutions in the USA which are well known, reputed, and have an established name in this industry and are the safest bets. Eg: Flight SAfety International, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.
Expect a huge and hefty tuition fee in these institutions however.
2. I am planning to do CFI course because the job opportunities with a basic 250 hour cpl are almost zero. I may be wrong but i think with a CFI rating and some extra experience under my belt, it could be of some use when i apply for a job.
Well, the last couple of years, the job opportunity was zero not just for those with a CPL and 200 hours, but for several thousands of pilots across the globe with thousands of hours including multi- turbine time.
Thats why I had mentioned earlier, it is all about timing.
When the economic scenario is good and the job market is great, you'll be hired with just a CPL and 200 hours. If the situation is crappy like it was the last couple of years (and perhaps now as well to an extent), then it doesnt matter if you have a type rating, 500 hours of Multi engine time or CFI ratings, you'll still not get a job.
Once Again : TIMING IS PARAMOUNT in this industry.
Back in 2006-2008, all sorts of people, both intelligent ones and the duds, all managed to get airline jobs simply because they had their CPL at the right place and time.
Right now you'll find close to 4000 unemployed CPL holders, many with masters degrees, A320 or B737 type ratings, CFI ratings and other work experience still unemployed simply because the current situation is just not condusive to hiring.
3. DEAN INTERNATIONAL has offered me a 1.5 year package for CPL+CFI with guaranteed 6 month internship there with a $500 stipend every month + the amount i earn teaching can be utilised to increase multi engine hours.
While it is true that you can "work" in the USA under the guise of an "Internship" program, you are best advised to be wary of guarantees given by flight schools or for that matter any outfit in General Aviation. Even written guarantees can not be trusted nowadays.
With the $500 hours that you earn every month, you might be able to purchase at the most 2 hours of Multi Engine time per month.
Also, it is unlikely they will let you hire a multi engine solo at that experience level (for insurance reasons) and will make you fly with an instructor initially. Hence, expect to pay more.
By all means, go for this program (CPL + CFI) if it suits your budget, BUT ... do NOT depend on that promise or guarantee of paid internship.
It is very much a possibility that the school would take your money, and after you finish your ratings, would tell you that "owing to the current situation in aviation, we are unable to offer you an internship program at this point of time."
Yes, this has happened before .. very recently too.
I know a few people in USA who are struggling to even find some place to build time by working for free as instructors, hence it is surprising to find some school offering a "paid internship" program right now.
Total package with accomodation and transport for CPL, CFI, CFII, MEI is $48850. Is it worth it or are these internship claims just to fool new students.
If you ask a hundred people for advise or opinions, you'll get hundred different responses.
Hence, dont take anyone's word for it (including mine).
As I sais earlier, there really is NO WAY of finding out the real truth unless you end up paying them and enrolling and seeing things for yourself.
Sadly, thats reality and one of the risks you MUST accept as part and parcel in this industry.
As a rule of thumb : Stay away from schools which have Indians as owners or which have "Indian branch offices" or "Official Indian representatives". They are just "pimps" or "dallas" to fool prospective students.
4. The visa which we would acquire is the M1 student visa which states that we cannot work or get any salary from any US personnel. How many years for would we get it.
M1 visa is usually issued for 1 year, although some students have got visas valid for 5 years as well.
5. Is it worth going for a type rating program for A320 or Boeing 737-800 instead of the CFI package which costs $ 11850 extra over basic Indian CPL programme.
First of all understand that the price quoted to you by the school of $48850 are bare minimums. Typically all students end up flying more hours, or requiring more ground hours etc. Those would only increase your expenses.
The same thing goes for a type rating on a heavy jet (A320 or B737). The prices stated are bare minimums. Even experienced turbine pilots take a few extra hours in these programs. A typical low time piston engine pilot would end up paying for more hours and for each hour extra that you spend on those Full Flight Simulators (The realistic full motion simulators of A320, B737 etc), you'd be paying roughly $600 per hour additional over and above the quoted costs !
Again ... will it be worth it getting a type rating on A320 or B737?
I dont know. It's once again a risk you'd have to take. A gamble of another 12-15 lakh rupees.
As an advise : I recommend you dont burn money on a type rating.
There are already hundreds of pilots with type ratings on A320 and many more with B737 coming soon in the coming months.
6. What are the job prospectives of a CFI in India? Even if we want to work as a CFI in USA after the M1 visa, is it possible to get a work permit or something which allows us to work in the USA in return of a fixed salary.
There are two ways to LEGALLY work in the USA :
1. Enroll in a degree program offered by a University (Like Embry Riddle for ex) you'll be on an F1 visa which is valid for 4 years and the visa also allows you to work part time.
Side by side, once you're used to the new place and culture, start working towards your pilot licences and ratings.
Once you complete your degree, you also get what is called OPT (practical training) where you can work legally for sometime in the US and in this time period you can try looking for a job and someone to sponsor your work visa.
2. Marry an American citizen.
Sorry. Cant provide much help in this area.
