SAAB 340 rating: deal or no deal?
 

Hi everybody!

I just wanted to hear what your take on this deal is:

SAAB 340 TR including touch&go:s and 100h line training, 17,000€.

Deal or no deal, given the current aviation market?

No deal,

Anyone who pays for line training needs help!

Good offer(compared to some T/P T/R you see advertised), but no deal.

Nothing to stop you enquiring with the 340 operators on there recruitment requirements, but I would imagine, even if you get a response, they will confirm the replies you get on here.

Big gamble at this time with several turboprop operators reducing crew numbers and the ones who have gone under recently, there is a healthy supply of type rated/TP crew not to mention jet crews in the que ahead of you.

No deal, you can get a 737 type rating + 100 hours line for that amount of cash.

Still wouldn't reccommend that...

mona lot:

Actually, it's not a matter of paying for line training. The "retail price" for the 340 rating is 17,000€. The 100hs are just a nice bonus, and I will get some kind of payment during that time, too.

Reluctant737: where can I get that on 737? I don't think 737 is such a good idea. Lots of unemployed 737 pilots out there with loads of experience.

Nearly There: it's not just about building some time. I will get contacts and perhaps more time at the company, if lucky.

If you got 17,000 Euros laying around in your bedroom, DEAL.

If not, and you'll have to beg / borrow / steal it from somewhere - NO DEAL.
17,000 Euros can feed you and pay quite some bills for a REASONABLE amount of time if you're single.....why shoot it off for some fineprint on your license that no operator cares about?

I don´t understand. If you have the money for a TR then why not buy it? Why sit around and whait for an airline to call you ans say hey we will pay it for you.

Here in Sweden at the school I will probably attend www.bfsaa.se there is a type rating course with Ryanair. If at the moment I graduate, Ryan is in need of pilots, then sure as hell I will buy my TR instead of just sitting around without a job or being a flight instructor.

If you have a TR you will be more open to the airlines since they don´t have to pay for you and you can start flying directly wothout wasting time on line training.

Fabbe92 the problem is that unless this person has a job on the proviso that he gets a type rating speculating on a type rating is near on useless.

The 100 hours won't get you anything as most companies want 300+ although more commonly 500+ on type, add to that you have to keep the type rating current every six months so forking out yet more money and that the saab 340 is a small time aircraft in the amount of companies that use it. Then you have the problem that the company you join will probably have its own way of operating the aircraft and SOP's and thus may not look to kindly on your type rating or may make you do it again using their procedures. The other big problem is that say he can't get a job on the saab 340 other companies may view it as suspicious and not want to take him on for fear of him leaving as soon as he can!

Not looking so good now is it?

PS you changed your tune about RYR, I mean according to you we had a dual enginge flame out on landing and didnt hire the cream of the crop!

If it was me I'd say no, there are still opportunities out there although you may have to travel to deepest darkest continents or do instructing, both great experiences. I did it and wouldn't change the way I did it for all the money in the world. Gave me a few good stories to tell and taught me more that I ever learned in flight school.

I totally agree with the above post, most companies would prefer to train you their way with their SOP's so as to condition you to their mentality. Ironing out bad habits is harder than starting from a clean slate.

The other opinion I have is that what happens if you have shelled out for a TR and the company you aimed for doesn't want you? You have now limited your job opportunities to 1 aircraft type.

my 2 pence

Nick

There aren't many SF340 operators taking people on right now.

Robin Hood (yeah, I know) are about the only ones, but they want time on type I think and a minimum of 300 hours.

With over 1000 hours on type I can't find anything worldwide, so even though I don't agree with buying a rating, it's not my business, but certainly not the right time to be paying out all that money.

Who's the company anyway ?

PM me and i'll tell you if they're just after your money.

aarrrrhhhhhhhh!

DONT PAY TO FLY C*&T

As far as UK Saab 340 operators go, the biggest(and perhaps only) by far isLoganair. They have roughly 15 Saab's in the fleet. They are currently fully crewed, including a full hold pool. No recruitment expected for some time. New FO's are also expected to self fund the TR in any case. Even with a Saab rating, you've got nil chance I would suspect. I actually know a current Saab rated pilot with over 2500 hours on type who's looking for work just now...says it all really!

fabbe you make me +*#-$%
 

Have you ever paid for anything yourself apart from chocolate bars???

Did it ever cross your mind that food you eat, the roof you sleep under and the bills you get REQUIRE MONEY????? :ugh:

With 17,000 Euros and not any ridiculously high standards you can eat, sleep and pay your bills for A YEAR if you're single. Why would you waste it on a TR which won't help you to get a fricking job anyways???? There's not even 5 SAAB340 operators I can think off the top of my head.

Grow up please, and realize you actually have to work for money. Mommy and Daddy won't be there forever. :ugh:

Their inheritance will :E

Lets say I want to work for Ryanair. How will I do that if I don´t pay for their TR course?

fabbe92 theres a large difference between having a job offer on the proviso of getting a type rating and SPECULATING on a type rating! Get it?

Whilst its not ideal to buy a type rating, having a firm job offer from a company and doing a company course is a hell of a lot better than walking down buying any type you see in the hope of getting a job.

Fabbe,

You are quite right.

Sadly, if you don't want to be left with an expensive 'Beer Mat' = Licence then buying a type rating is probably the only way ahead. The market changed and it isn't going to change back!

Now, which type to choose is the clever bit! Pick very very carefully and I believe that you will find work. What can you fly that hardly anyone else can?

I don't think purchasing yet another 737 / Bus rating will help a low hour Frozen ATPL. What are the other possibilities?

No deal!
This is just crazy! A few years ago it was becoming the norm to have a type rating after completing your initial training. Everybody has a type rating, so then no advantage, apart from airlines are not paying for them anymore! Now it's starting to become the norm to have line training. Next thing...everybody does line training. Once again no advantage to gain employment. Airlines win once again as they are not paying for that.
You would not do this in any other profession, and at the moment no amount of line training is going to help.
Flying is a fantastic job, it really is, but it IS a job, and as such we should be paid for carrying out the skills we have learnt!

Hi Avro,

Yep, I would not disagree with anything in your post.

It is nothing short of madness that the Low Hour folks are falling foul of these Type / Line Training schemes. ( I believe that such schemes will not result in employment given the economic melt down ).

However, as it is now becoming standard practice to self fund at least a type rating, if you must self fund which type might get employment ?

Something quite rare but still actively working out and about in europe. How about the Shorts 360?