Type Rating - ATR 42/72?

[VS-LHRCSA]

Aer Arann are a great outfit to work for. Not the most organised and sometimes a little too laid back but once you get used to it, it's fine.

You could do much worse, that's for sure!

[babymike737]

I had my name down to do an ATR type rating with Skyblue. Sort of had a promise from Air Wales for a job when completed. I then met up with a certain person by chance.

One week before the start of the course, I changed over to the 737 with Skyblue. Their training is excellent and would recommend using them for ATR or 737 Two months later, that person phoned me for an interview for a good low cost airline. Have now got 1400 hours on the 737. 6 months later Air Wales went tits up.

I Would say, unless you have a sniff of a job, don't do it, as I know of a few guys who are still "working behind a bar", with a rusty old ATR type rating in their back pocket.
I was very lucky! It Really was, in my case, of "being at the right place at the right time", and of "who you know!"

I know that to get a 737 job now with no hours is virtually impossible. Even Ryanair ask for 100 minimum. The airlines like to train you under a bond, using their trainers and bring in the SOP's at the same time.

ATR's are less common, but the lack of line experience is not such a factor. As a result there tend to be lots of ATR rated pilots, for not so many jobs!

Good Luck! Keep smiling, and don't give in!

[potkettleblack]

If you are at the point when you feel that your chances of a job and your networking skills are getting you nowhere and you decide to pay for a rating then I would stay clear of the ATR. With Air Wales going tits up the opportunities in say the UK and Ireland are limited. Aer Arran have in the past taken people from Sky Blue but they have also failed a number of people during OPC's in the past few years. Fact is that they would prefer to interview you and put you through your paces in the 737-200 and then train you direct knowing what sort of person you are.

If you look at where the jobs are turning up at the moment it is on the A320 and 737 for self funded and non funded alike. Yes there are some jobs in the turbo prop market given that the jet operators are hiring like mad which tends to pull up the experienced TP guys. Outfits like GECAT are placing A320 guys like crazy with the likes of BMI, Air Malta, Aer Lingus and others. These usually come through recommendations and so you will need to impress them. 737 jobs are always available through Ryanair if you are desperate enough but as pointed out they require time on type or worse still if they take you on them you will have to pay for the rating again.

[ICING AOA]

You pay them for the rating so they obviously make some money or at least minimise the loss ie with safety pilots, TRIs and TREs etc.

if you stay more than 3 years at aer arann, then the company will reimbourse you the whole cost of the type rating

[potkettleblack]

Incorrect 50% of the cost paid at year 5. Discount that back to todays money and you will find it is a lot less than half. 20k for an ATR rating is a lot by the way when you can get a 737 or A320 for around the same sort of coin and salaries are a lot higher. Don't get me wrong, nothing wrong with the ATR as such and I think the likes of Arran would have great flying but the economics just don't stack up.