Ecstatic about a Type Rating!
 

Today is the day, after 4 long years, where I have earned a Type Rating. Took a long time to get here.
The Type Rating involved 2 weeks Ground School (CBT), 2 weeks Simulator and 2 days circuit training. Now I have a Type Rating on a Fokker 50.

It's such a great feeling that I feel the need to shout it out to everyone. Sorry!

Hi there
Pat yourself on the back and then,maybe you could telling the unknowing exactly what is involved in a Type Rating.
regards
TDD

well done ,,I was quite happy about a type rating on a be76...have you got yr rating through klm or did you pay for it yourself..?

Turbsy: Listen to Autofly's good advice. Don't waste your money. Most airlines will look at a self bought type rating unfavorably especially if you don't have stick time in the aircraft after the rating.

With the very minimum requirements I wouldn't bet the farm on getting hired with 500 hours and a 737 type with no time behind the wheel. There's just too much competition around. Unless you happen to be the boss's son or something.

Chip away at it one step at a time. Good Luck.

I agree. Be very wary about paying for a jet type rating; when Ryanair ask for type-rated pilots, they're after people who've done useful work on an aircraft type after an airline's comprehensive line training. For instance, Ryanair are very happy to take Easyjet/BA/bmi/Virgin Express pilots with only a few hours (relatively) because they have that training and have had another airline's training system take the risk of failure - something which Ryanair doesn't want to do. A paid-for type rating will give you the ground school, ARB exam, and simulator time, and a base training trip, all for an exorbitant amount of money, yet the airlines you approach with this piece of paper will laugh in your face. Harsh, but true. Sorry.

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Scroggs
Wannabes Forum Moderator
[email protected]

I think Scroggs' view is a little over the top. A type rating does indicate to the airline that you at least have the intellect/capability to get through a course that they are going to have to bet £30K that you can do. I think the more important consideration is Autofly's point that as soon as you get your 737 rating, you will get picked up by someone flying 320s or Emb 145s. Is it wasted money? Its your call.

Thanks to all of you for your opinions and advice, very helpful indeed.

I think the best thing to do is to probably forget about a particular kind of rating (at least for the moment anyway) and focus more so on building those hrs up and seeking some sort of employment in the industry. Hopefully then the right job will come along at some stage.

Thanks to all of you again for your replys,
All the best,

Turbsy

Don`t do it mate,Say for instance you did a type rating on a 737 for instance.First you will still have no useful experience on type.Then you start sending out CV`s.What if your prospective employer operates Turbo Props?What is that telling them.If you end up with any money left at the end of your training,use it to keep current or buy some twin time.

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GET THE BLOODY NOSE DOWN!

Great news Jetheat! Do let us know what it's like on the line!

A7E makes a valid point, but I stand by what I say, even if it come over a little over-dramatically. Airlines like to minimise their training risks, and someone who has experience of a particular type with another line presents the lowest risk. If you do one of these type rating courses you've not established sufficient credibility to be regarded as a low risk, but you have spent a lot of money! And, as others have said, your first job may be on something else entirely! I'd avoid them for now. Later in your career, when you have a couple thousand hours on the line, a paid-for type rating may well increase your employability, but I'd suggest not before your first job.

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Scroggs
Wannabes Forum Moderator
[email protected]

No argument from me on that sage advice Scroggs.

Thats great news Jetheat, Congratulations!

Is this with KLM Cityhopper? They fly their Fokker 50's over to here, so i might see you some day :)

Unfortunetely they are replaced next year with Fokker 70's http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/frown.gif

Regards, Dan

Turbsy, most of the airlines arent interested in 250 hr cpl's yet, instead of spending £13,000 on a type rating spend £5000 on an instructors rating and spend a year building experience (and getting the sh?t scared out of you by students trying to pull the mixture to ICO instead of carb heat cold on short finals)once you've got 800 -1000 hrs then start sending your cv's to airlines, the chances are that you'll get a job soon after.

Most of you guys are correct. A low timer with a type rating and no hours in the air stands no chance in getting a credible jet job. However, there are places (Yugoslavia, Czech Republic etc) where you can do a type rating for a reasonable amount of money and walk away with a considerable portion of hours on type.
I am going to do my 737-300 type rating with Yugoslav Airlines for about USD16,000. The training would include 190 hours of ground school, 18 hours in a FBS, 18 hours in a FFS, 2 hours of base training and 50 hours of line training as a first officer on their RPT routes. More hours of line training can be purchased at USD45 per hour.
Therefore if you are prepared to spend USD20,500 you can end up with an internationaly accepted type rating and 100+ hours on RPT as a first officer.

Apart from agreeing with everything Autofly and Scroggs says, another worrying aspect about individuals paying for type rating is the potential trend in the industry that it could lead to. An ATPL is very expensive, just imagine if all airlines required ATPL plus self funded type rating!!!! It is already potentially financially crippling.

Also re Yuglosav Airlines, this might be me getting it totally wrong, but paying to work for an airline seems like one massive con. Ok u might get a type rating relatively cheaply and with hours on type, but why should ATPL qualified pilots pay to work??? And at the end of the day after paying to work for such airlines it doesn't necessarily mean that you will get a wage paying job afterwards.

Sagey

[This message has been edited by Sagey (edited 17 June 2001).]

Sagey,
I may have to clarify the facts from my previous post. The Yugoslav Air law stipulates that in order to get a valid type rating a candidate must complete at least 50 hours of line training on RPT routes in the aircraft for which the rating is sought. For example they do not accept an American type rating with zero time on it.
Furthermore, another rule says that if you are not a company employee and the line training is conducted the company must make sure that their F/O is present on board ie. in the jump seat.
So the USD45 you pay only serves to cover the cost of the company's F/O, who is on duty even though not logging any hours. I think that this is a very cheap option of time building. Put it this way, people do the same in the USA when hiring a twin in order to gain the hours.

Didnt think that it would be allowed under JAR-OPS anymore.

Anyway it doesnt really say anything about your abilities, as the institution that you have paid, most likely would let you pass.

I did the Type Rating with KLM uk and so I will be based in Leeds. Moving there soon. Just awaiting my first Line Training flight - may take a couple of weeks.

I think the Type rating is not hard, its just a lot of info to take in within 4 weeks. It's a steep learning curve. From knowing nothing to knowing all the systems and all the SOPs within a month seems daunting but is manageable.

Anyhow, I'm looking forward to flying the Line!

Thanks to all of you again for your advice.
I see now it really is best to build the hrs up first before even considering it.

I hope to get a job in Ireland as a Flight Instructor and wouldn't mind taking another part-time job as well to be able to make a living.

I keep on hearing about getting a job as flying with a small air taxi service, etc, but where are such jobs advertised?

I've never seen anything like that published in the newspapers here in Ireland. Would it be down to who you know and the talk from within your local flying club as to when such jobs are available.

My biggest concern is without doubt how to build the hrs up once I finally get my ATPL and IR.

Cheers,
Turbsy

Stealth.

Email me at [email protected]

JJ