Originally Posted by
rickair7777
Dude, I trained at both, and the small FBO is DEFINATELY the way to go, but you have to do your homework!
By contrast the vast majority of the big schools charge WAY to much for the same product you get at your home town patch.
Despite all of the advertising and hype (who do you think PAYS for the full page ads in Flying magazine?) the big schools are limited by the same common denominator as the small school or FBO: The 23 year-old CFI who has apps in at 9 regionals! In fact you are more likely to find an older career CFI (or retired airline/military pilot) at the small school/FBO.
If you can't find a decent CFI at your home airport, then I would consider ATP as a last resort. ATP seems more reasonably priced than the other big schools.
I tried getting a price from one of the fbo's in my area. They were shady about how much it would cost. They told me that everyone is different...yada yada yada. I asked if it would be around 100 dollars an hour and they said it would cost $300.00 an hour. I'm almost tempted to go to prairie or ATP for my private then my fbo for all my other ratings.