Not the first time by any means....Airline Training Academy in Orlando, and other smaller operations.

DO NOT, EVER, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES deposit large sums of money with any flight training organization. Pay as you go, maximum of one week up front.

Large flight training organizations are often run like ponzi schemes...the money from the newest customer is used to pay for the training of those further along. As soon as hard times hit and the new customers stop coming in the whole thing falls apart.