hockey27

I recently got out of the Air Force and I was aircrew. Im now looking into becoming a pilot and need some advice on which school to go to. Does anyone have any experience with ATP flight school in Chicago or in Naples Florida? Or any experience with illinois aviation academy? I want to get all my ratings in 9-12 months. I live in Chicago but I have family in Florida and could move down there. Would you guys recommend doing flight school in Florida because of the snowy Chicago winters? Do you guys know any good flight schools in the Ft Myers and Naples area in Florida? Thanks for any advice

Liquidsky

Hockey27 i can only pass on what i would do. Im currently living in Indiana looking at schools myself. Avoid the snow if you can..make sure your post 9/11 etc is gonna cover what you need. You and I are only given so much money for school. Compare the costs of each program. Ive seen programs from 65k up to 120k. FL sounds good if you have family down there. If you have no rent to pay youll be able to float on BAH for a good time if you dont get too wild. Try to pick a school that's gonna get you what you want with as little debt as possible. If money is no issue pick a school and just go. Ive heard ATP is great..but if you can find a school that will do the same thing for less? The choice is kind of obvious. For me personally im leaning towards WMU up in Kalamazoo. Ill get snow and wind but the cost seems on target in my case. Ill double down on saying watch your G.I. Bill money. Some of these schools try to sell me on anything just to try and get it from me.

Research schools online in the areas youre lookin at...like Naples

Liquidsky

Hockey27 i can only pass on what i would do. Im currently living in Indiana looking at schools myself. Avoid the snow if you can..make sure your post 9/11 etc is gonna cover what you need. You and I are only given so much money for school. Compare the costs of each program. Ive seen programs from 65k up to 120k. FL sounds good if you have family down there. If you have no rent to pay youll be able to float on BAH for a good time if you dont get too wild. Try to pick a school that's gonna get you what you want with as little debt as possible. If money is no issue pick a school and just go. Ive heard ATP is great..but if you can find a school that will do the same thing for less? The choice is kind of obvious. For me personally im leaning towards WMU up in Kalamazoo. Ill get snow and wind but the cost seems on target in my case. Ill double down on saying watch your G.I. Bill money. Some of these schools try to sell me on anything just to try and get it from me.

hockey27

Thanks for the replay. Yeah I’m trying to be careful picking a school because I know they are after my GI Bill and I don’t want them to slow roll me.

Stoked27

Maybe look into this:
Flight Training Affiliate Program | School of Aeronautics | Liberty University

Can't vouch for any particular school, but I don't believe ATP branded schools will accept your GI bill. The link above has a list of companies that do accept GI bill if you go through Liberty (and have yellow ribbon added on, so it'll provide an added financial buffer for GI bill abuse). If you don't want or don't need the degree from Liberty, you could probably just sign up for the flight courses and get your ratings.

bklynbacon

I am currently attending Liberty and am doing my flight training at a local designated flight training affiliate. I like it. I already have a B.A. so I transferred in 90% of my previous degree. I'm just doing my ratings through them, and I think I gotta take a physics class...but the program doesn't ask much of you. Just make your journal entries, submit them on time, and they cut the checks. Very friendly staff, and you get a discount, because you're military. Oh, and the new thing this semester..your books are covered. No more purchasing books for courses (minus ground school).