HockeyFan

I am considering options for pursuing flight training and am looking for recommendations for flight schools in the DFW area in Texas. Ideally, I would like a school with a good track record that offers flexible training plans and financing. If possible, I would like to work part-time, max 20 hours a week, but would still like to finish training in as fast a time frame as possible.

Any suggestions would be appreciated, thanks!

53WireWizard

Thrust Flight in Addison flies Pipers with AC which is great for the summer time, not sure how they work with flexibility though.

US Aviation Academy in Denton, TX offers both Part 141 and Part 61 training, they have a ton of planes and a ton of instructors they also have a satellite location at Alliance .

Aviator Air in Grand Prairie seems to be a pretty good school, pretty packed schedule wise though.

I have also heard good things about Fort Worth Flight School at Spinks and In the Pattern at Denton.

Good luck, and go somewhere close by to where you live, traffic in the whole metroplex is terrible.

HockeyFan

Thanks for the recommendations, I appreciate it. You make a good point about choosing a flight school that's close by, the traffic here is not for the faint of heart!

I am about 16 miles from Alliance, which would be the closest to me of the schools you mentioned, and at the right time of day it's around a 20 min drive, so US Aviation might be a good option.

HockeyFan

Has anyone here been to US Aviation Academy or know someone who has that can share their experience?

SilverHawk

I moved from the PNW to attend US Aviation in Denton KDTO, it was the best option for me. They have self-check authority, which saved me countless months waiting for a DPE. I did Instrument, Commercial, CFI, CFII, Multi and MEI all in 18 months while doing online college with Liberty University full time. It's a flight school, they all have problems, but they have lots of pilot students, Flight Instructors and airplanes. There is a huge A&P school student body now, so parking is limited. The school has relationships with several airlines and is constantly working towards more. COVID ended the Chinese pilot mill program, now most of the students are Domestic US locals and out-of-state transplants, like myself. They have a couple of loan options through Meritize and another place I believe. It is not the fastest place to get ratings, but it's because it is a Part 141 school primarily, they do Part 61 as well. It's not a rating mill. All flight schools have similar problems. This one is dong a lot right, there is nothing they can do about the weather, but the cross-wind limitations cancel lots of flights. I had a productive summer, over 300 hours in the last 90 days. So you have to decide what matter the most to you and go figure out how to get there, everyones path is different. The Other locations the school has are contracted to local colleges. KCXO Conroe, TX - Lone Star College, KAFW Alliance, TX - Tarrant County College, KERV Kerrville, TX - Schreiner University, KPOU Poughkeepsie, NY - Duchess Community College, and KCGI Cape Girardo, MO - Southeast Missouri State University

HockeyFan

Thanks for this info! What would you say the average non-college program completion time is at US Aviation? Is their Part 61 training faster than Part 141? When I requested info about their program the brochure didn't give any specifics regarding price or completion time between Parts 141 and 61 training. For me, I would like to find a good balance of accelerated training and sub $80k cost, I don't know if that is possible or not though.

SilverHawk

Less than a year through Commercial multi. Both parts can be very fast, but 61 can be fastest. Cost wise, they are expensive, on the Part 141 side, but for that cost you get: No waiting for DPEs because of self-check authority, dozens of instructors, airplanes, and 6 three hours slots per day you can fly. On the Part 61 side, you can fly as much as you need to in the evening and night, daytime slots are always overbooked. The school is very dynamic, the policies can be waived for certain situations. Pricing is higher than most smaller schools, this school is among the largest in the country. The EASA and Destination 225 students keep it hopping, the rest of us Domestic students work around them. They do a great job on maintenance, there are some older planes, but they are constantly upgrading them and replacing engines. So it's a great school overall. The the Good/cheap/fast equation applies here as much as anywhere. they are good and fast, if your flexible, not cheap.

aviationseminar

We offer weekend seminars, online, and Zoom courses throughout the year in Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. You can visit aviationseminars.com for more information or email me at [email protected].

firstflight85

Great School absolutely. I cannot speak for everyone, but I had attended a PArt 141 School in Oregon myself and I did not have a good experience, especially as a Veteran using my benefits there. I obtained my COMM and ME ratings there. I think the best thing about the school at US Aviation Academy is Self Testing Authority through the FAA. It saves so much time not having to wait for a DPE. Highly recommend!