A320 type rating in the US
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A320 type rating in the US
Been looking at few places in the US for a 320 rating, have googled it and searched here on PPRUNE but not seeing many aussies that have gone there.
I am looking for any kind of feedback on the following:
Flight training international, Miami or Denver
Aerostar, Miami or Orlando
Pan Am, Miami I think
Or any other ones you would recommend or avoid at all costs.
The prices seem to be fairly similar but wanted to hear from anyone that has been to any of the above, you can PM me if you want.
DM777
I am looking for any kind of feedback on the following:
Flight training international, Miami or Denver
Aerostar, Miami or Orlando
Pan Am, Miami I think
Or any other ones you would recommend or avoid at all costs.
The prices seem to be fairly similar but wanted to hear from anyone that has been to any of the above, you can PM me if you want.
DM777
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I did mine at US Airways contract training.
They were fantastic. Not just a sim school but an operator of over 300 A319-320-321's.
Not my first jet type rating but by far the best!
You can find them on google or I can give you contact details.
Cheers
They were fantastic. Not just a sim school but an operator of over 300 A319-320-321's.
Not my first jet type rating but by far the best!
You can find them on google or I can give you contact details.
Cheers
Last edited by insert_name; 20th Sep 2013 at 08:29.
O/S A320 rating
g'day,
I did mine at Aerostar in Orlando, great instructors, great equipment, great fun. look them up on Facebook or google them. They can sort out your accommodation also.
They send all the CBT and an interactive program of the cockpit, like a working Fixed base sim. you have to complete all the CBT before you arrive.
the course is 3 days ground school, then 2 Fixed base and 6 sims (from memory). The SIM's are all the latest LCD screens with the latest updates, so you can do RNAV, probably RNP by now.
Things to consider:
SIM buddy: if you don't have one, they will find you one. But, you may end up with a mismatch of experience/skill (think 200 brand new CPL guys/girls, English is there 2nd). You can do it with one of their support pilots, but you will then only do 2 hours per session, so you have had less exposure.
Engine types: they have the IAE V2500, if you are going to work for an operator with different engines it'll be up to you to learn those procedures.
Airbus SOP: Every airline says they are doing Airbus SOP, but from my experience, it is a fair bit different. Again, up to you to do the work.
CASA validation: IIRC they quote 8 weeks to put it on your licence, so you need to wait till you've got it on your license before you can start you training, 8 weeks is a long time!!
Extra SIMs: Seriously consider an extra SIM or 2, after all, its cheaper, so if you spend more you'll learn more. If you have any info from your new employer, or can get some of the SIM profiles and do these while you are there. Dual Hyd, Smoke or anything that involves flight law downgrade. It's a funny aeroplane, the more you see the better off in the long run.
If you have a job, and the operator has a preference, you might find it may be better to do it their way. Their provider will train you much closer to their SOP than a Airbus school. It is a lot of work to play catch up when you get back.
Pan Am in Miami only has a Cat C sim, so can't do Zero flight time sim, so you will need to find a Cat D sim or your employer will have to do it. (which they are usually don't want to do)
Make sure they are a CASA approved school, otherwise it'll be a nightmare to convert. If you have a FAA license, you can then convert that way. The other hurdle is the TSA. Because you want to learn to fly something, they want to make sure you aren't going to fly into a building, so it requires fingerprints, background checks etc. This all takes time and money, about $800 and 4 weeks from memory.
Otherwise, there was a Hooters next to my hotel!
I did mine at Aerostar in Orlando, great instructors, great equipment, great fun. look them up on Facebook or google them. They can sort out your accommodation also.
They send all the CBT and an interactive program of the cockpit, like a working Fixed base sim. you have to complete all the CBT before you arrive.
the course is 3 days ground school, then 2 Fixed base and 6 sims (from memory). The SIM's are all the latest LCD screens with the latest updates, so you can do RNAV, probably RNP by now.
Things to consider:
SIM buddy: if you don't have one, they will find you one. But, you may end up with a mismatch of experience/skill (think 200 brand new CPL guys/girls, English is there 2nd). You can do it with one of their support pilots, but you will then only do 2 hours per session, so you have had less exposure.
Engine types: they have the IAE V2500, if you are going to work for an operator with different engines it'll be up to you to learn those procedures.
Airbus SOP: Every airline says they are doing Airbus SOP, but from my experience, it is a fair bit different. Again, up to you to do the work.
CASA validation: IIRC they quote 8 weeks to put it on your licence, so you need to wait till you've got it on your license before you can start you training, 8 weeks is a long time!!
Extra SIMs: Seriously consider an extra SIM or 2, after all, its cheaper, so if you spend more you'll learn more. If you have any info from your new employer, or can get some of the SIM profiles and do these while you are there. Dual Hyd, Smoke or anything that involves flight law downgrade. It's a funny aeroplane, the more you see the better off in the long run.
If you have a job, and the operator has a preference, you might find it may be better to do it their way. Their provider will train you much closer to their SOP than a Airbus school. It is a lot of work to play catch up when you get back.
Pan Am in Miami only has a Cat C sim, so can't do Zero flight time sim, so you will need to find a Cat D sim or your employer will have to do it. (which they are usually don't want to do)
Make sure they are a CASA approved school, otherwise it'll be a nightmare to convert. If you have a FAA license, you can then convert that way. The other hurdle is the TSA. Because you want to learn to fly something, they want to make sure you aren't going to fly into a building, so it requires fingerprints, background checks etc. This all takes time and money, about $800 and 4 weeks from memory.
Otherwise, there was a Hooters next to my hotel!
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Go with USAirways in Charlotte They have good equipment/Instructors there I did my A330 with them or PanAmI did the B727 and B737 there in Miami Stay the hell away from Aerostar they are bunch of jerk offs, they do not own there simulators they have boot leg courseware copied from around other training centers and they cant even look you straight in the eye. Good luck.
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Thanks for your posts boys and girls, 900+ views tells me there are a few people out there looking around, but the mixed opinions are going to make the choice a bit harder.
Anyone remember the approx price at USAirways in Charlotte ?
DM777
Anyone remember the approx price at USAirways in Charlotte ?
DM777
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A320 Type Rating
I recommend anyone wanting to do type rating O/S check with CASA before setting out. Move afoot to only accept a course conducted by Airbus or major airline.
None Airbus approved courses can have big gaps in what is taught.
Would be a big disappointment to spend time and money then find CASA say course not acceptable.
None Airbus approved courses can have big gaps in what is taught.
Would be a big disappointment to spend time and money then find CASA say course not acceptable.
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Any updates?
So, which training centres in the U.S. are approved by CASA?
Also, what's the difference in getting a PIC rating or a Co-pilot rating in regards to scoring a job in Asia?
Thanks
So, which training centres in the U.S. are approved by CASA?
Also, what's the difference in getting a PIC rating or a Co-pilot rating in regards to scoring a job in Asia?
Thanks
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A320 type rating in the US
CASA except a type rating from USA as long as it's FAA approved. Mine got put on my licence easily. I just sent all the training records to CASA and paid the fee.
As far as jobs in Asia I think most of them look for time on type but I could be wrong.
As far as jobs in Asia I think most of them look for time on type but I could be wrong.
FTI are ok.
Theres also K n S in PHX that use the America Wes.......excuse me, I mean USAir sims. Sophie Sturgis is the contact there. Pretty good outfit, all America Wes.......I mean USAir line pilots and trainers that conduct the training.
Theres also K n S in PHX that use the America Wes.......excuse me, I mean USAir sims. Sophie Sturgis is the contact there. Pretty good outfit, all America Wes.......I mean USAir line pilots and trainers that conduct the training.
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I did mine at Aerosim. You do your sims with Jet Blue and all is the one place (Orlando) unlike Aerostar where you have to fly somewhere else to do the sims. I went with them because I found out several people at Tiger and those at Skywest go there. Aerostar's courseware is borrowed from Aerosim.
No worries getting it on the licence with CASA as well.
Aerosim give you heaps of VPTs and I felt more than prepared. You end up doing 8 sims in total (6 as PF/PM and 2 of them solely as PM for your sim buddy for their pre-check and check ride). The test is a non event as you are fully prepared for it.
From talking to a lot of people seems well better than anything you get here in Oz. Is 15K where here is around 30k. I looked at US Airways and they were $11,500 if you had a sim buddy or 15K solo. They never got back to me in time and ended up going with Aerosim. No regrets.
Cheers
No worries getting it on the licence with CASA as well.
Aerosim give you heaps of VPTs and I felt more than prepared. You end up doing 8 sims in total (6 as PF/PM and 2 of them solely as PM for your sim buddy for their pre-check and check ride). The test is a non event as you are fully prepared for it.
From talking to a lot of people seems well better than anything you get here in Oz. Is 15K where here is around 30k. I looked at US Airways and they were $11,500 if you had a sim buddy or 15K solo. They never got back to me in time and ended up going with Aerosim. No regrets.
Cheers
To the guy who said to me,
"When you add up the hotel and airfares, doing an A320 endorsement in the USA is the same price as doing it in Australia"
Well I'm paying for 2 return tickets to Miami (only one of us doing the rating though) and all up with Airfares, car rental and accommodation for 28 days the bill in Aussie Dollars is $18,136. That includes $1500 dollars for food and petrol for 28 days.
So can someone please tell me how Ansett can justify $34k for the initial A320 long course????
Exactly how much more can they teach you at Ansett Sim Centre? I could pay for 4 extra hours in the sim in Miami and do the extra scenario's that Ansett teach if I knew what they were and it might cost me $2000 more tops.
"When you add up the hotel and airfares, doing an A320 endorsement in the USA is the same price as doing it in Australia"
Well I'm paying for 2 return tickets to Miami (only one of us doing the rating though) and all up with Airfares, car rental and accommodation for 28 days the bill in Aussie Dollars is $18,136. That includes $1500 dollars for food and petrol for 28 days.
So can someone please tell me how Ansett can justify $34k for the initial A320 long course????
Exactly how much more can they teach you at Ansett Sim Centre? I could pay for 4 extra hours in the sim in Miami and do the extra scenario's that Ansett teach if I knew what they were and it might cost me $2000 more tops.
How on earth is it only costing you that much? Does that include TSA clearance? Student Visa's?
And which school is that through?
And which school is that through?
Thats with Pan Am. $10,500 AUD for the on site ground school option. Course duration around 21 days give or take a day.
Oh I forgot about the TSA thing. Thats $150 AUD. No student visa required if you qualify for the VOA scheme.
Oh I forgot about the TSA thing. Thats $150 AUD. No student visa required if you qualify for the VOA scheme.
Ewwww, I wouldn't touch PanAm with a 5,000ft barge pole from what I've been told about the place.
Good luck.
morno
Good luck.
morno
A rating is a rating, is it not?
That's what it's all about isn't it? Securing yourself a long term job using that rating.
It doesn't look good on your cv if you can't get through the line training! It will follow you for years!
My thoughts exactly Fathom.
Why do people insist on the absolute bare minimum, instead of a decent type rating that will help you come line training time?
morno
Why do people insist on the absolute bare minimum, instead of a decent type rating that will help you come line training time?
morno
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A320 type rating in the US
In total I paid $18,000. Including airfares, accommodation, spending money, type rating, TSA application and M1 visa.
Didn't have any problems getting through line training etc. I did put in significant work of my own though.
Didn't have any problems getting through line training etc. I did put in significant work of my own though.