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Old 06-29-2006 | 11:39 PM
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ryane946
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From: FO, looking left
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Originally Posted by PhantomAir
I went to RAA in Phoenix 2 weeks ago and pretty impressed with their program, but I think I'm going to learn at McAir Aviation in Denver.
I have been to McAir. I did my private pilots license out of Jeffco airport, which is where McAir is located. Good school. But let me make you aware of some of the drawbacks:

1. Their airplanes are brand new. Simple translation. They will cost a lot more. Ultimately, airlines will not care if you flew a 2006 C-172, or a 1980 C-172. The only difference is that you will pay about $30 an hour more X 200hrs == $6,000+ dollars. I would recommend Journey's aviation. McAir is all Cessna's. Journeys has an amazing mix or 152, 172, 182, warrior, archer, seminole, katana, diamond star, and a few others. Aircraft are among the cheapest in the area (172's for $75 an hour). There is a sweet 172RG that rents for $80 an hour. PLEASE, take the time to look at this school. I think it might be a better choice.

2. Jeffco airport. I have 900hrs. I have flown to over 60 airports. Everything from giant class B airports, to small uncontrolled fields in the middle of no where, to crazy mountain airports.
And I still hold the opinion that Jeffco (kbjc) is the hardest airport I have ever flown into.
Class D airport, control tower, parallel runways (close together) and a crossing runway. BUSY. Not quite class B busy, but I have had many occassions where I sat in the run-up area for 10+ minutes waiting for a takeoff clearence. So busy they often had 2 different tower frequencies for 2 runways, because the radio was so busy.

Everything from 152's to Gulfstream 5's to helicopters. It is not uncommon to be landing on 29L in a C-172, with a Gulfstream off your right wing for 29R (caution wake turbulence), and a helicopter off your left wing for the delta taxiway. Did I mention these runways are a few hundred feet apart .
This is also an airport that gets mountain weather. Jeffco airport tends to have its own little "weather system" parked over it. About 75% of the time I flew, the winds were over 20kts. No joke. ALWAYS over 20kts after 11am. It could be 190@3 in Boulder (10 miles away), but it will be 260@23g29 at Jeffco. They will tell you Colorado gets 300+ days of sunshine a year (and it does), but remember that they get more days of hurricane force winds than Miami does.

I was once in a 152, full power, losing 1200 feet per minute, just 900 feet off the ground. Watch out for powerful up and down drafts, and watch for mountain wave. Mountain wave is very poorly understood concept. Imagine a river...water flowing at 50-100mph downstream, and hitting a bunch of rocks ---> RAPIDS! The same is true for air flowing over the rockies. Watch out for standing lenticular clouds, rotors, and any other dangerous mountain weather. The best trick when flying around Jeffco is to stay 7,000ft or below. Above that, expect moderate turbulence.

Don't let me discourage you. Jeffco is an amazing airport. I am so happy I learned to fly there. Once you fly there, you can fly anywhere. You become great at radio communication, situational awareness, and high wind landings. Weather delays will be no more, if not less than most places in the country. Just be very careful with the mountain weather.
Good luck. Let me know if I can help you out with flight school choices, or Jeffco airport in general.
Ryan
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