airway wrote: ↑Wed Nov 20, 2019 12:56 pm
Like a lot of you, I also thought 126K sounded like it was too much. But after thinking about it a bit I'm not so sure. I'ts been a long time since I have been involved with initial pilot training, so maybe someone can help me out with the numbers.
With the Jazz Approach program for 126K + tax (13%?) you get:
1. Private Pilot Licence
2. Commercial Pilot Licence
3. Multi-Engine Instrument Rating
4. Integrated Airline Transport Pilot License training with ATPL written
5. CRJ200 Type Rating
6. A semi guaranteed job at Jazz as a F/O when you are finished
Montair quotes $90,000 + tax for the first 4 items, based on completing the training with minimum hours. I suspect the 126K also assumes this. Hopefully someone has more realistic numbers for this training. I don't know what a CRJ 200 rating costs and it would be hard to put a number on a semi guaranteed job at Jazz without having to work for minimum wage up north for a couple of years, but i'm thinking 126K total is not bad.
I you want to be an Airline pilot for minimum training cost, you would still have to come up with the funds for the first 3 Items. I'm guessing 75K?
A lot of focus has been on the cost side of the equation and that is perfectly reasonable however one should also consider the benefit side of the equation too.
If the above numbers are correct, then the Jazz/CAE/Seneca program is not too far off of doing items 1 to 4 separately, assuming those can be done at other flying schools at 100% efficiency, i.e. no extra hours, delayed training due to lack of instructors, weather, etc. I would add a fudge factor to the Montair numbers to account for those contingencies.
Now, the benefit side. If one's career aspiration is to fly up north then this is not for you. If one's career aspiration is to fly in a 705 airline environment then this is a good investment because:
a) one's first job is with Jazz flying beautiful aircraft, living in Southern Canada somewhere
b) Jazz has a terrific training program for new hires and one will get amazing training and experience in an airline environment
c) with the Jazz mobility to AC there will be career progression at Jazz
d) with Jazz mobility to AC there will be career progression to AC. AC will be taking a minimum of 60% of their pilots from Jazz with a 90% success rate so getting hired at Jazz is, in essence, getting hired at Air Canada. Getting hired at Air Canada may not be everyone's cup-of-tea but for those where that is their career objective it is the ticket to Air Canada.
e) getting hired at AC outside of Jazz or Sky Regional will take years and years. AC's hiring will slow in the next few years following the FTD and MAX expansion and be closer to 200 pilots per year. If 70% of those come from Jazz/Sky Regional that leaves 60 jobs per year shared among expats with serious jet experience, corporate, military, Westjet, Encore, Porter and other really, really qualified pilots. You would need to spend at least 10 years in the industry to get that kind of experience and probably need a post secondary education too in order to competitive.
On balance, the cost/benefit looks pretty good if flying in a 705 environment is where you want to go. In addition to this, managing the risk of getting hired at Jazz is zero and AC is near zero.