Cheap A320 Type rating
 

Anybody know where I can find a cheap A320 type rating? I know Pan Am just dropped theirs down to $9,500......I thought that there was one around for 8K? Thanks guys.....

Why do you want one? I am curious because without PIC time in type a Type is worthless.....

Please share with the group your thoughts?

p.s. I am 320 typed!

I know that there is greater demand for A320 guys out there. I have yet to venture into the international scene, but will do so in a year or so. Just doing some ferry work now. Family issues are keeping me nailed down for a while.

I have around 11,500 hours and around 2-3K on the NG. I know that Korean, or someone out that direction will take guys with 0 time in type, type them, and let them go fly. It is just a matter of time before the pilot pool shallows, and I think the A320 will be the next airplane that will reflect supply and demand problems for airlines.

I think I could fly the rest of my career on the NG, but I just think having another card up my sleeve might be wise.

Wow !!!
 

Wow $9,500 for a TR on the A320 ??!!that's news to me, not that I doubt you..... SimCenter in Miami quoted me in 2007 a price of 13,000 then I heard it went up to 15. but now 9.5??? hmmm.... looks like competition is heating up for your dollars boys and girls.

8k for an A320 is already too low but, with your hours, there's a chance that you might be able to negotiate it down to this or lower depending I guess on how much time you need for training. I know of a place that ask for 25k USD but they give a low hour trainee the full 30 left-30 right and SimCenter charges 13k for 16left-16right. for someone with more than 1,000 hrs total.



cheers

I have been reading these posts with interest since I have done a self sponsored A320 TR in 2005 here in the UK. Take my advice for what its worth in your country, but the price you pay for the TR is not whats important, whats important is the after care provided by the TRTO and their contacts with the airlines if any.

For comparison: I went for the more expensive (but still competitively priced) TR with a proper TRTO (GECAT,UK) who mainly work with airlines rather than with individuals. Part of the deal was a minimum of three interviews with their client airlines. I had three firm job offers within three weeks! I am flying since 3.5 years now here in the UK and never looked back at any costs. My friend went for a cheap JAR TR in the States, they waved him out the door upon completion and his logbook still shows 0 hours on Type after 2 years!

I appreciate that things might work slightly different in the USA but its something to consider..

By the way, I have understood that many F/Os in the USA fly around with a TR limited to SIC flying only? Here in EU you either have a command TR or not, interesting difference..

Good luck with the TR, the Airbus is a wise choice!

Thanks guys. I was in search of an FAA type, so they might be the choice. I heard that Pan Am does a pretty professional job down there. Airline types as instructors....some schools use graduates..???Don't know.....I think that there is going to be a lot of demand for 320 guys....that's why the shift from Boeing....

Agreed somewhat on the shift from Boeing to AB.

Now to the Type Rating question... I just left the largest Airbus operator in the world and while looking for a job, me and several acquaintances found it out the hard way... No PIC=Worthless TR!!! Mark my words, and maybe spend the money wisely!

Best of luck!

Using in Australia
 

Not that i would want to now. But Does anyone know if you can put an A320 type rating on an Australian Licence?? Just looking ahead.

4931tom
You are about 10 years behind the times. The 320 type is the one to have but there are plenty of qualified and experienced people.The pilot pool is becoming an abyss.
Think about it , if you had to travel overseas to get a TR, it would cost you $1500 in airfares let alone accom.
Get in your Chevy, put the pedal to the metal and go to the $9500 place which is about half of what is the the going rate going by current rates and what training bonds are.
By the way only airline/airline equip command time ( jet basically) is counted when looking at international work .Frankly, "Ferry work" is dubious.
To the guy who suggested negotiating the price down because of your experience ( I presume less hours of training , therefore less money), if any organisation even contemplates that, I would look else where and report them to the authorities . There is a minimum hour course designed by the manufacturer and approved by the authority.This is a minimum not an estimate and the price would only go up from there.
This is not like getting an estimate form a new bathroom renovation,it's a required standard and it's safety!
I hope that this isn't the way that training is done in the US. If it is so, it would go some way towards answering some questions that have come up throughout the years. I have encountered several with "tens of thousands of hours" , even CIA time that they claim they couldn't log , and they could fly to save themselves.
Best of luck.

I don't like panam, and you have to be very careful.

why? cuz panam use northwest syllabus, and the northwest syllabus is not the same as the airbus syllabus.

they changed many things, like checklist, procedures,...

you have to be sure you go for the airbus standard syllabus( and in english).

air france use a different syllabus, same thing for lufthansa,...

easyjet, and low cost use the airbus syllabus.

Not sure what you are on about Dartagnan.

Most airlines use their own SOPs or syllabus as you call it. In case they are not exactly the same as the original Airbus ones, they are still derived from them. The changes might have been made due to incidents from the airline or to facilitate mixed type flying etc.

Once you join an airline you will get some sim sessions showing any differences anyway. I did the TR with original Airbus SOPs and joined a major airline which uses their own side writings / differences. At the end of the day SOPs are nothing more than mouth music, the TR is all about learning to fly the aircraft!

MIC310 - yes it can be. Just send CASA all your training records, coordinate with them, pay the $20 or $25 they require to update your license. If you want it quickly, go to the Canberra office and sit there till they've done it. It will only take one day.

MIC310

Before you spend the money, make sure the school is CASA approved, not all are. It is far easier to get A320 onto your Aussie licence from another licence than it is from training records.

If you are going to the States for a rating you may as well do the FAA ATP as well. The modest extra expense gives you another licence and an easier time when it comes to converting.

However if you want to work for Jetstar or Tiger you would be better off going to Alteon in Brisbane.

Makes what Jetstar charge for their A320 endorsement appear outrageous.:eek:

FAA TRTOs
 

Can anyone recomend a TRTO in the U.S.

Even with European TRTOs dropping their prices, it still is a lot cheaper to get a FAA A320 rating.

Thanks
Derz

Guys,
I am just curious whether the Airbus type rating obtained in the States is acceptable by JAA. For Asia I presume you can use the American TRTO. Because if it was acceptable in Europe, each European operator would go to the USA,where is is a lot cheaper than in Toulouse,London,Francfurt....

cskafan

4931tom check your pm's If your in need of an FAA Partner for the A320 Course begins mid May.

Uni

Don't spend your $$$$. We have about 10 guys that finished their training and got their 500 hrs in with our airline and they can't get a job at the moment.

LC

Lostcomm

You wrote do you mean they paid for those 500 hours ?

Uni

Might want to check with AeroStar Training Services in Orlando, FL. I don't think their price is quite as low as Pan Am but they offer intial type ratings on the A320 in only 10 days because of their distance learning software and online classes. This could be a significant time and money saver for you. Visit their website for more information at AeroStar Training Services - Boeing 737 Type Ratings, Airbus A320 Type Ratings, Flight Attendant Training.