Good thread this, I've been watching it develop with great interest, as I too have been considering all options available to me at this point in time: finish the instructor rating I started / B737 TR / Shed TR / ATP academy etc.
With my first IR renewal under my belt (thankfully with minimum fuss and cash outlay), I'm looking at my next steps. I've heard more stories about people doing self-sponsored 737 type ratings and getting jet jobs from it, one with a certain new charter outfit not entirely unconnected to senior moderators on this site.
Now, speaking personally, and I stand by to be flamed here, if I were >95% certain of getting a job, I would mug the bank manager (again) and enrol on a B737 type rating course tomorrow. Luckily I'm still in enough good standing with the bank to do this, although all that money eventually has to be repaid.
However I am very concerned, firstly that it would not get me a job, and secondly that it would do me harm later in my career to be one of those flash gits who bought his way in. I'm not casting aspersions myself upon those who do this, more power to them, I am just worried about how potential employers would see this in the future. Todays line pilots make tomorrow's fleet managers and people's memories are long. All in all it's a high risk, high reward strategy.
So, all in all it looks like I'll be finishing the FI(R) rating I started last year and taking the well-trodden instructor route.
cheers!
foggy.
Last edited by foghorn; 28th August 2002 at 10:11.