Who is it, btw?

cheers!
foggy.

Foghorn,

The companys' name is Astraeus.

Ah. I was not aware of that fact.

You know it really worries me after reading these posts that so many of you are considering paying up to 18k for your own type ratings!

For what? Sure the experience will be worth while but wake up please!! 18K????

No airline is interested in somebody who has a type rating and no experience on type! This is merely putting cash in the pockets of the businesses that operate these courses, it really is not benefitting you enough for the amount of money it costs!

You'd be far better off investing in a decent MCC course and or an instructors rating to build more hours and gain experience that way.

IMHO, and that is all it is, I believe that you guys are shooting not only yourselves in the feet but also the other poor studes out there also looking for a job at the end of already shifting £50k on a course!

Please dont let the airlines EXPECT us to pay for our own type ratings in future, by building those foundations now, for your own sakes.

I personnally will be investing in the AQC, after IR, and am very much looking forward to it, but I would not even consider paying so much money for a type rating when the airlines would want to retrain you anyway in accordance with their own operating proceedures.

Mate,

Get your IR.
Get an MCC.
Get an instructors rating and join the queue looking for instructing jobs.
Apply for airline jobs for years and get nothing but Dear John letters.

You might then look at things differently.

I do not wish to reignite the old debate re self-sponsored type ratings. There are pros and cons of every approach to getting a job.

At the end of the day it's all to do with market forces. If there are enough people out there with the money or access to credit to pay for a type rating, people will self sponsor and airlines will hire them. There is enough circumstantial evidence to suggest that a significant number of people have been hired with self-sponsored type ratings in the past - often by the airline with whom they are doing their base training.

To apply your argument ad absurdum none of us should be paying for our CPL/IRs - the airlines should stump up through sponsorship. But then how many of us self-sponsored (foggy's hand goes up)?

Also notice that quite a few of the people considering the type rating route are (cough) more mature and have families and other commitments. Several years of instructing on the breadline may not be a viable option for them (hell, I'm only 29 and I don't fancy that sort of money again - I struggled to live on similar money last time at the start of my 'old' career).

Sure, it's one hell of a big gamble for the less than rich. But then, isn't life a series of calculated gambles? Wasn't doing the CPL/IR in the first place? You pays your money and takes your choice.


cheers!
foggy

I dont see how a self funded Type Rating is a good idea. It plays into the hands of the likes of Ryanair, while they make a fortune out of their core business of flying people around, they charge desperate wannabe's for a type rating. WHY??

There is no justification for this other than the fact that employers seem to have figured out that pilots in general are fairly dis-united group of employees and wannabes in particular are completely unrepresented. Neither BALPA nor the IPA represent the views of wannabes. Is not bad enough to be bonded?

Paying for your own type rating is only going to screw it up for others that follow later. I certainly cannot justify to myself (and certainly not to the wife) spending an extra 18k on a type rating. If enough people do this how long will it be before it is another "requirement". We have been hoodwinked into paying for MCC courses ourselves. I keep wondering whats next?

1st point: Foggy, I am not your mate.

2nd point: Even though I would side on not having to pay for your type rating, just so that it doesn't ever become another standard requirement by the airlines, I can however see the point of view of those more financially fortunate with nothing better to do than waste their money!

Well, that's me told then :rolleyes:

Morning Glory,

I do understand what you are saying, and luckily enough I've never had to pay for a type rating, but an interesting fact is that, EJ, Ryanair etc are all loosley based around the Southwest model in the USA and they only hired pilots who payed for their own type ratings. Perhaps this is the way the UK/European market is heading in the next few years - food for thought !!!

I don't have too many problems with paying for type ratings after a firm job offer has been made as long as the pilot is then not bonded for conversion/airline specific training.

To bond already-rated people is IMHO wrong.

Not just wrong foggy, it will not stick in court, so I am toild by a reliable souce. Bonds work only because of a loss incurred by the employer. No loss, no case.

Thanks all for the input,

I must say that I am against the idea of paying for my own type rating.
The problem is I want to fly. At the age of 39 decided on a career change, got my self retrained, did well passed every thing, exams and flight tests, except IR, first time. Thought this might, just might get me a sniff at a job. Sadly I was very much mistaken.
With the remaining money from my redundancy all I would like is to is make my self more employable.
Have taken all advice onboard, think I'll just go into round 3 of CV deployment and save cash.

Safe flying to you all

Flying F

Useful Type Rating
 

People who know me know that I am dead against the 'paying for a type rating' argument. However, there seems to be quite a few wannabes who are prepared to go down this path.

So - with the introduction of the new single-engine turbine IFR legislation on the horizon I am suggesting to wannabes that if you are interested in paying for a type rating you should be looking seriously at the C208 or PC12. Sure, single-engine time in the logbook but they have more modern systems than you will find in any F27, it's a turbine engine and they are operated in copious numbers around the world.

Forget about paying for F27, SH360 and 737 type ratings (leave that for the employers!). If you must - go and get yourself an SET rating that will be of some use in the future.

I agree
 

Wow I have to say I agree with what you say (Even though I know the Cesna Caravan and about its complexity I wouldn't compare it to a F27). I just would like to know where I could get some more info about price and requirement for this Type rating. :confused:

The main question is whether such turbine aircraft will be certified single or multi crew! Single crew = likely 700 hrs min requirement.

Trust a lawyer to come out with a line like that......;)

Greetings Splat! :) How's things for you? I'm currently at home weighing up options and turning my hand to some DIY and home improvements. :eek:

As far as I am aware the first C208 which rolled off the line in 1985 was certified single-pilot and nothng has since changed.

In line with the other countries operating SET's on IFR operations (Canada, Australia, S. Africa, etc) I would imagine that the CAA will require two bods on pax operations and single-pilot for cargo. However, there is nothing to stop you pulling the A/P C/B and logging P2 time on a cargo operation ;)

Grivation,

DHL are going to use the Caravan when it becomes available in the UK?

Ditch aging twin engined aircraft......what on earth are you saying?

DHL fly the 757 in the UK! Slightly larger than a Caravan..... old yes, but in the same league? NO!

Unless you have some definite info on job opportunities with a type rating, I imagine your info may be a little bit misguided.

You could have wannabees paying for Caravan ratings, then ringing up DHL to be told ...... "Sorry, unless you have at least 1500 hours, with a minimum of 1000 hours on the 757 type, you will not be of any use to DHL", oh dear.

I see what you are saying is trying to be helpful, but I wonder if it may not be a little misleading? After all, DHL don't even fly turboprops! Not in UK anyway.... and I believe EAT have ordered 757's too..... in fact I think the only DHL affiliate airlines in the network are Swiftair with Convairs.... or the others may be contractors.

I still would not advise anyone to pay for type ratings without a guaranteed job offer in writing...

I have flown the 208, nice plane but cost 1.5 million $.Insurance will ask for at least 1500h for the Pilot in command and 500h for the second in command if company want 2 pilots.Depend of the number of pilot available on the market.(that is my opinion)
My question is: do you know when single turbine will be authorized in europe in commercial op.?with pax or no pax?
this law will be very good for us (low time pilots) and for the industry.:)