Changing Companies

[Compass Mitch]

Hello all-

I wanted to give you an update on my career thus far. I've spent about a year and a half as a first officer with ExpressJet Airlines. Due to recent spikes in oil prices coupled with a weaker economy, I am sure you have all read about airline cutbacks. As a result, ExpressJet has parked approximately 30 aircraft and as a result I have been furloughed along with about 325 other junior first officers as of the end of the month (I was notified a while ago).

For those of you not familiar with furloughs- it is basically a layoff that allows recall rights to return to your job when the airline needs you. The company recalls pilots in order of seniority.

The good news is- I have been hired at another airline and start there at the beginning of October. I will be working at Compass Airlines which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Northwest Airlines (soon to be Delta). They operate Embraer 175 aircraft. If you are curious about the company you can check out their website.

I wanted to keep you all in the loop- my user name should be changing to Compass Mitch in the near future.

If you have any questions about the furlough process and/or the state of the industry, let me know!

[RobertS-NJ-108]

Best of luck to ya, I hear those E-Jets are a lot of fun to fly. Hopefully the industry will start turning around soon so those of us that just started training will have jobs.

Another interesting fact, turns out my instructor out here in Hawaii is an Alum of the the Sacramento ATP. He's had nothing but great things to say about the program, so I'm really looking forward to starting my training at ATP in 8-9 months or so.

[Compass Mitch]

Very cool. Glad to hear you are enjoying your training. Persevere. When the hiring starts again you'll want to have your training nearing completion.

I think the industry will turn around soon. Depends on the election, oil speculation, etc.

Fly safe!

[RobertS-NJ-108]

So my instructor has advised that it would be best if I also get my instrument rating before starting at ATP. What do you think?

[Compass Mitch]

Originally Posted by RobertS-NJ-108

So my instructor has advised that it would be best if I also get my instrument rating before starting at ATP. What do you think?

Talk to the folks at ATP directly to get the best answer on that one.

As you will see here, the instrument isn't required to start the career pilot program at ATP.

[ExpressJet Bob]

Originally Posted by RobertS-NJ-108

What do you think?

Originally Posted by Compass Mitch

Talk to the folks at ATP directly to get the best answer on that one.

Hmmmm... Mitch,

Methinks he was asking you what you thought...



Bob

[RobertS-NJ-108]

Mitch,

I guess I should have been a little more specific. My instructor in Hawaii, who formerly was an instructor at the Sacramento ATP, suggested that I get my instrument rating before going to ATP. He said he sees a lot of students struggle with the fast pace of the ATP instrument program. He said that instrument flying is the backbone of the ATP program, as most of the cross countries are flown with an IFR flight plan. He recommended that instrument training sometimes is better taken at a slower pace where you can take your time and really understand the material. I was asking if you felt that this is an accurate statement.

[Compass Mitch]

Originally Posted by RobertS-NJ-108

Mitch,

I guess I should have been a little more specific. My instructor in Hawaii, who formerly was an instructor at the Sacramento ATP, suggested that I get my instrument rating before going to ATP. He said he sees a lot of students struggle with the fast pace of the ATP instrument program. He said that instrument flying is the backbone of the ATP program, as most of the cross countries are flown with an IFR flight plan. He recommended that instrument training sometimes is better taken at a slower pace where you can take your time and really understand the material. I was asking if you felt that this is an accurate statement.

Ok all that helps to give you a more direct answer.

To me, I wouldn't want to pay for IFR training twice. That's a lot of money. However, in the hours between your private (40) and entering the ATP program (85) I would spend all that with an instructor under the hood doing practice IFR cross countries, etc. If in that time you start doing approaches and holds, you might even be ready for the checkride, I don't know.

It depends on your total time right now- what is it?

Also, I wouldn't say that ATP's instrument training is too fast of a pace. It's built for people that don't have their rating of course. Everyone is different. Where one guy might excel through it, another might struggle. For instance, my IFR training went really smooth, but I had a really hard time with doing partial panel, timed holds. Yet just because I struggled in that area a bit doesn't mean that I wished I did all my instrument training twice. I did a few extra lessons on holds, and passed my checkride fine.

Your instructor is right about it being the backbone of flying- it will be for the rest of your career. I haven't flown VFR in what seems like years, once you are instrument rated you will never want to go back, it's much better!!

It comes down to money and your learning style, it's your decision, but if it was me, I wouldn't do it twice. I would just start reading the instrument books, fly some under the hood and get started at ATP!

[Compass Mitch]

PS- I wanted to make sure my post doesn't lean towards telling you what to do. I don't know you or your CFI or your learning style that much, I am just telling you what I would do. Hope that helps.