university training vs. local
#1
New Hire
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Joined APC: Mar 2007
Posts: 1
university training vs. local
i am a freshman at western michigan university currently and i began the school year majoring in aviation flight science where my ratings counted towards acutal credit. I already have around 100 hours and got my private in high school at my local FBO. when i got here at WMU, i hated it. all the instructors could care less about the students, they were all time builders and i didn't really learn anything. Because i had my private, i had to do what they call a short course. i had to take several lessons and pass another checkride. I ended up spending more money doing the MINIMUM amount of lessons required for the short course than i did for my entire entire PPL training. it was rediculously expensive. They had a whole new fleet of luxury cirrus aircraft which were really nice but WAY too unessasry for private training, and that is much of why it was so expensive. I completed the short course and just started my insturment. It was at this point when i decided that this flight program was enough. Westerns aviation school is over 30 miles from their main campus so i have been spending rediculous amounts of money driving back and forth 5 times a week. Also the instructors who could care less about anything other than theirselves was getting to me. That's when i found this site and heard rumors about aviation degrees being pointless, and i have perfessional confirmation on that fact and that's when i said, im done with wmu's program. So i switched majors and now majoring in criminal justice which will give me a B.S. I plan on continuing my trainging at the same FBO where i did my private and i can save tons of $$$. I plan on doing training during summers or all at once with some saved money once i graduate. I chose criminal justice because it interests me and i am also interested in law enforcement aviation. I still plan on becomming a profession pilot. What i guess I am asking is whether or not this path is any better than going through Westerns bad instruction and over priced training. Is this type of training sought to be equal to a major flight training university? Because i feel the FBO was much more personal and the instructors actually cared so i learned WAY more. I am wondering whether or not in all of your professional opinions was this a good move for me? your feedback will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
#2
I think it's a great move. Glad you figured it out as quick as you did. There may be some things that you can't get at some FBO's. Multi? CFI? But you can work around that by doing it somewhere else.
Nobody cares where you train. It's about hours, ratings, and experience levels.
Nobody cares where you train. It's about hours, ratings, and experience levels.
#6
I ended up spending more money doing the MINIMUM amount of lessons required for the short course than i did for my entire entire PPL training. it was rediculously expensive. They had a whole new fleet of luxury cirrus aircraft which were really nice but WAY too unessasry for private training, and that is much of why it was so expensive.
I heard rumors about aviation degrees being pointless, and i have perfessional confirmation on that fact and that's when i said, im done with wmu's program. So i switched majors and now majoring in criminal justice which will give me a B.S.
What i guess I am asking is whether or not this path is any better than going through Westerns bad instruction and over priced training. Is this type of training sought to be equal to a major flight training university?
You are on a good path!
#7
just make sure the fbo you are going to is part 141 certified or you may just end up spending more money getting 250 hours for a commercial license under part 61 when you can be done way before that with a part 141 program
#8
Sometimes a less expensive 61 will cost no more than a 141 academy. 61 is less structured and that can have advantages. Also, you can credit 50 hours in an inexpensive ground trainer towards the 250 total under 61.
There are advantages and disadvantages to going either route. Like I said, I've seen 141 programs at 190 that don't save you much over a less costly 61 school at 250.
There are advantages and disadvantages to going either route. Like I said, I've seen 141 programs at 190 that don't save you much over a less costly 61 school at 250.
#9
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Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Sitting down and facing front. Why would you want to know that?
Posts: 536
You are on a great track. You will save money, have a more useful degree, and you will get the same ratings that you would any other place. Like Ryane said, there is no reason to learn in a Cirrus (unless someone else is paying). I learned in a $56 hour C-152 and then moved to an $68 C-172. Then taught in Cessnas. An FBO can get you through training just as fast, the training is just as good, and a lot less money.
The 91 vs 141 debate will go on and on, but just be careful with either type. They can both be cheap and they can both be expensive. If you don't have the 250 hours for your commercial, start your multi or CFI. No one says that you have to waste that time flying circles in a rented airplane. Just start the next step. I started multi training and getting used to flying from the right seat (CFI prep) while building toward my 250 hours, once I got there, I was ready for two checkrides and not so far from a CFI.
The 91 vs 141 debate will go on and on, but just be careful with either type. They can both be cheap and they can both be expensive. If you don't have the 250 hours for your commercial, start your multi or CFI. No one says that you have to waste that time flying circles in a rented airplane. Just start the next step. I started multi training and getting used to flying from the right seat (CFI prep) while building toward my 250 hours, once I got there, I was ready for two checkrides and not so far from a CFI.
#10
some of the most fun flying time I had was building the 100 or so after the ifr for the commercial (250). This is your chance to load up and go where ever you want just because you can. Also keep the expensive airplanes and excessive amount of dual down to a minimum and you can keep costs low. In the logbook as cirrus is no better than a 150. Glass cockpit means nothing. The only times that are all that special are actual, multi, turbine all followed by cross country pic.
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