Someone I am hoping to help start their aviation career is heading to an expo shortly that will have lots of different flight schools, colleges with aviation programs etc.(Denver area) What are best practices for questions to ask them to both vet them while presenting yourself well? Are they also interviewing you and keeping notes (At one of the big conferences, I noticed WN would record a grade after talking with applicants) and what are they asking?

They recently graduated HS and have been accepted into an 4 year aviation program but are open to pursuing other options if something really wows them. Thanks for the help!

 

Many of folks have taken out 2nd mortgages, home equity loans, what ever, to pay for their children’s dreams only to be taken for a ride. Schools have closed down… dreams turned into nightmares. Lending institutions don’t care where the money comes from the to pay off the loan. You don’t want to come back onto APC and write a story about your tales of woe of being scammed or even worse… forfeiting pledged collateral.

There are reputable “One Stop Shop - “Zero to Hero” training centers out there. However, you have to you need to do your research. Start with a reputable background agency familiar with aviation entities. Engage their services to accomplished a comprehensive background check, of the training facility, including owners and management.

To limit potential losses, insist an addendum to the training agreement… funds, in installments, will be deposited into an escrow account to be disbursed for services, in stages.

Bottom line… Be an educated consumer.

 

• Better Business Bureau
• Reviews online
• Background check on CEO/Managers (pay for this)
• Do not EVER pay large amounts upfront, it’s normal to keep an account in the positive.

 

Yeah unfortunately talking to their reps might answer some questions, but it's not going to provide any vetting value, since those are basically sales people.

For vetting, need to do some google and ideally talk to current students and recent grads if possible. Might have to travel to the location and hit people up in the parking lot. Any access you get through official channels will be tightly controlled.

 

• Every single rep will state their training organization has the inside track to any or the Regionals/Majors/astronaut selection.
• Those are “letters of agreement” that don’t mean anything.
• Flow can mean you’re stuck for 7-8 years or infinity as this is all market dependent with ZERO guarantee