I am planning on going to BFC for there commerical program, I have been searching the boards for reviews and such on flight schools.
My conclusion was; it appears that tranning is what you make of it, if you find a good instructor and put your heart into it it's all the same...am I right on this?


My question is does it really matter what school I go to, or is 99.9% of it just what I bring to the table and what I take from my time???

Thanks,
-SuperchargedRS

In my opinion, graduating from a reputable flight school benefits you mainly in terms of making a good first impression, at least from your resume. It might at least help you to get an interview, just because a certain school is well recognized and talked about.

Then again, there are good reasons why some schools have developed excellent reputations. They obviously have proven their ability to produce good pilots (and every good school has its bad apples). Of course, there are some great flight schools that nobody has heard of simply because of their lack of marketing.

I'd say that it generally doesn't matter... with an exception. There are some schools which defenitely have a "BAD" reputation. However if you avoid the few bad ones, the rest should be on a reletively level footing.

Of course despite everyones best intentions - you can never entirely escape the "old boys club" concept ... i.e. If the person doing the hiring happens to have gone to the same school as you - that can help!

p.s. That's the reason schools (colleges, universities etc.) each had their own pattern of tie. So if you had business dealings with an alumni of your own school - you would have a way of recognizing them at a glance, and therefore have an "in'.

School have nothing to do with flying skill, School are a great place to meet people and make contacts. First you have to get a first job on who ya are, but the advantage you have if you attended a larger school is down the road. If you have kept in contact with other's it amazing how they pay off. "dude is your company hireing?" "Ya I can take it to the CP for ya buddy, no worries" but if you went to a small school you do meet people aswell along the road. And this indsutry is all about who you know!

nthin...is there not a "secret" handshake? I know guys who have been a success/failure no matter where they went to school, or learned to fly!

Alumni really helps, a past grad got me my job. I in turn got a fellow class mate hired.

Not really, no.

No; not at all….. there is way more to the dynamic of success in this industry than a name… They may have a reputation and they may tell you differentially at the door, but they ARE there to make $$…
Someone is ALLWAYS trying to steal your lunch, your happiness, or your time. -Murray’s Law (my pop)

Might even be a detriment, if you go to a mom and pops school you’re a lot more likely to get a job with them than if you graduate with 30 other kids… if you can make your school your first job you’ll be light-years ahead.

. wrote:School have nothing to do with flying skill, School are a great place to meet people and make contacts. First you have to get a first job on who ya are, but the advantage you have if you attended a larger school is down the road. If you have kept in contact with other's it amazing how they pay off. "dude is your company hireing?" "Ya I can take it to the CP for ya buddy, no worries" but if you went to a small school you do meet people aswell along the road. And this indsutry is all about who you know!

ALSO....A lot of schools prefer to hire their own students...some refuse to hire anyone else BUT their own students (IV4 instructors) So...for your first flight instructor job...it would be easyer to get a job at where you just trained. One thing to consider when doing your Instructor rating is, will there be a possibility of me working here?...if no, go down the road (just make sure that the school down the road that will probably need instructors soon, is one with a good rep....or atleast without a bad rep

What if I invest in a Seneca jacket to show I have the "Right Stuff", clunky?

-istp

clunckdriver wrote: Send me your CV on pink paper as soon you qualify.

So they stopped the practice with the Clouds on the paper?

cyyz wrote:So they stopped the practice with the Clouds on the paper?

..... I've actually received a few resumes on that "cloud paper" before
Believe it or not!

neilblythin wrote:

cyyz wrote:So they stopped the practice with the Clouds on the paper?

..... I've actually received a few resumes on that "cloud paper" before
Believe it or not!

I believe it, now the real question is, do you want the clouds or the pink paper?

Roger clunk, I'm off to Staples. Over and out.

-istp

. wrote:School have nothing to do with flying skill, School are a great place to meet people and make contacts. First you have to get a first job on who ya are, but the advantage you have if you attended a larger school is down the road. If you have kept in contact with other's it amazing how they pay off. "dude is your company hireing?" "Ya I can take it to the CP for ya buddy, no worries" but if you went to a small school you do meet people aswell along the road. And this indsutry is all about who you know!

Spoken like a true idiot who obviously didn't go to school. Not to mention that your sentences wreak of illiteracy.

Pachanga wrote:

. wrote:School have nothing to do with flying skill, School are a great place to meet people and make contacts. First you have to get a first job on who ya are, but the advantage you have if you attended a larger school is down the road. If you have kept in contact with other's it amazing how they pay off. "dude is your company hireing?" "Ya I can take it to the CP for ya buddy, no worries" but if you went to a small school you do meet people aswell along the road. And this indsutry is all about who you know!

Spoken like a true idiot who obviously didn't go to school. Not to mention that your sentences WREAK of illiteracy.

That little play on words was intended right?

It's much easier to attack the spelling than the idea. My $0.02.

-istp

istp, you still owe me 2 cents! (but i'll settle for a drink )

As for schools, it does matter... if you come from the wrong one...


Just don't buy into the "we're the best school in Canada, our grads all work for AC" crap and you'll be fine where ever you end up going.

What if I invest in a Seneca jacket to show I have the "Right Stuff", clunky?

-istp

Hey Istp,

Didn't you also go to the other 's' school....only in a colder place? I'm sure I've seen Jackets up there too.


And to answer the first question, going to a college has done nothing more than given me a good education. But it was a great few years were I've met some of my best friends.

ptp

PTP wrote:

What if I invest in a Seneca jacket to show I have the "Right Stuff", clunky?

-istp

Hey Istp,

Didn't you also go to the other 's' school....only in a colder place? I'm sure I've seen Jackets up there too.


And to answer the first question, going to a college has done nothing more than given me a good education. But it was a great few years were I've met some of my best friends.

ptp

Yeah, I went to the Soo, and had the option of buying a jacket. I thought the jackets were a bad idea, as in employers' eyes, wearers might be associated with the Seneca attitude. But lotsa guys that were proud of the school and/or program bought them. Some with cocky attitudes, some with great attitudes.

Me, I'll show up to my job interview with a Kenora Dinner Jacket, Leatherman, steel toed boots, and a nicely groomed ponytail or mullet (haven't decided which yet), then I'll say, "Hey Air Canada, gimme a job! I'll work on your dock the first season if you have one."



-istp

Just trying to picture you with the poney tail ISTP.

Nope can't do it. Though you could certainly show us all if we ever have a reunion.

. wrote:
School have nothing to do with flying skill, School are a great place to meet people and make contacts. First you have to get a first job on who ya are, but the advantage you have if you attended a larger school is down the road. If you have kept in contact with other's it amazing how they pay off. "dude is your company hireing?" "Ya I can take it to the CP for ya buddy, no worries" but if you went to a small school you do meet people aswell along the road. And this indsutry is all about who you know!

Pachangay wrote:

Spoken like a true idiot who obviously didn't go to school. Not to mention that your sentences wreak of illiteracy

NERD ALERT! NERD ALERT!