Ari Ben Aviator compared to ATP
01-28-2009, 08:39 AM
#21
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Spartan
Posts: 3,652
Originally Posted by atpwannabe
I'm just about to start.
I had been researching flight schools, academies and FBO's since 2003. It has been a long and arduous process/task. However, I believe that I exhausted all my options and when it came down to what's offered and delivered for the price...AB won hands down.
Besides, the school is only located 60 miles north of West Palm Beach where I live.
atp
I had been researching flight schools, academies and FBO's since 2003. It has been a long and arduous process/task. However, I believe that I exhausted all my options and when it came down to what's offered and delivered for the price...AB won hands down.
Besides, the school is only located 60 miles north of West Palm Beach where I live.
atp
01-28-2009, 10:30 AM
#22
Kept down by the man
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Position: 767 CA
Posts: 657
If you decide to go with ATP save yourself the stress and do NOT go to Jacksonville. It is very uptight there compared to other places like Daytona Beach, Richmond VA, or some of the other smaller locations. It was a good experience but you have to be VERY self motivated as the instructors will not teach you much in the way of book knowledge. I was fortunate to have very good instructors who could teach very well. No matter where you go the quality of your instruction will depend on the instructor. Wherever you decide to go, make sure you go visit it before you spend a ton of money only to be unhappy/unsatisfied later.
01-28-2009, 11:41 AM
#23
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Math Teacher
Posts: 2,274
Originally Posted by Slice
I hope this place lives up to your expectations...sounds like they're pretty high going in.
Slice:
What's up man? Long time no talk to.
I'm pretty excited about getting started. I've had so many false starts dealing with FAA in terms of my medical, but I just sent off the last bit of info (Jan 7th) to Washington and according to my contact, she said that it'd be within 30-60 days. I more inclined to believe 60 days but that's ok.
Yeah, I have high expections on AB. I've visited the school twice and have toured their housing facilities. Everything seems above board. There was some talk about dealing with the owner, however, I found him to be easy to talk to. Others that are on the staff can be a little heady but, I don't have time to get wrapped up in their personal bull****. Some encounters won't be able to be avoided. I'll just have cross that bridge when I get to it.
My focus when I get there is to study and learn how to fly and become the best pilot I can be.
atp
01-29-2009, 01:59 AM
#24
New Hire
Joined APC: Jan 2009
Posts: 5
Originally Posted by atpwannabe
Slice:
What's up man? Long time no talk to.
I'm pretty excited about getting started. I've had so many false starts dealing with FAA in terms of my medical, but I just sent off the last bit of info (Jan 7th) to Washington and according to my contact, she said that it'd be within 30-60 days. I more inclined to believe 60 days but that's ok.
Yeah, I have high expections on AB. I've visited the school twice and have toured their housing facilities. Everything seems above board. There was some talk about dealing with the owner, however, I found him to be easy to talk to. Others that are on the staff can be a little heady but, I don't have time to get wrapped up in their personal bull****. Some encounters won't be able to be avoided. I'll just have cross that bridge when I get to it.
My focus when I get there is to study and learn how to fly and become the best pilot I can be.
atp
What's up man? Long time no talk to.
I'm pretty excited about getting started. I've had so many false starts dealing with FAA in terms of my medical, but I just sent off the last bit of info (Jan 7th) to Washington and according to my contact, she said that it'd be within 30-60 days. I more inclined to believe 60 days but that's ok.
Yeah, I have high expections on AB. I've visited the school twice and have toured their housing facilities. Everything seems above board. There was some talk about dealing with the owner, however, I found him to be easy to talk to. Others that are on the staff can be a little heady but, I don't have time to get wrapped up in their personal bull****. Some encounters won't be able to be avoided. I'll just have cross that bridge when I get to it.
My focus when I get there is to study and learn how to fly and become the best pilot I can be.
atp
i have fouund AB quite impressive too.....i didnt get to visit them cause i live half way accross the world....but spoke to a few indians who studied there,they said they liked the place and were pleased with the outcome.....,good instructors however crappy mgt. with whom we dont have much to do.....
the main reason i wanna go there is the multi engine flyin they provide which no other school is providing....thats like a monopoly
anyway hope to fly there soon and maybe bump into u atp
....cheers....
01-29-2009, 06:19 AM
#25
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Math Teacher
Posts: 2,274
Originally Posted by manjer00
hey atp...any idea about the instructors....?
i have fouund AB quite impressive too.....i didnt get to visit them cause i live half way accross the world....but spoke to a few indians who studied there,they said they liked the place and were pleased with the outcome.....,good instructors however crappy mgt. with whom we dont have much to do.....
the main reason i wanna go there is the multi engine flyin they provide which no other school is providing....thats like a monopoly
anyway hope to fly there soon and maybe bump into u atp....cheers....
i have fouund AB quite impressive too.....i didnt get to visit them cause i live half way accross the world....but spoke to a few indians who studied there,they said they liked the place and were pleased with the outcome.....,good instructors however crappy mgt. with whom we dont have much to do.....
the main reason i wanna go there is the multi engine flyin they provide which no other school is providing....thats like a monopoly
anyway hope to fly there soon and maybe bump into u atp
....cheers....manjer00:
On my first visit, I was given a ride in the courtesy van that transports all students from housing to the airport and back. I had the pleasure of meeting a few of the Indian students and the majority that I met were there for the Commercial Pilot Program. In other words most were leaving after attaining their CPL w/ME rating. They offered varied reasons why however the underlying theme was that pilots are needed in India and are in big demand. I was told also that there is some additional training upon returning to India.
All in all, everyone appears to be friendly and get along. There was one Indian student that was returning home to India and I could tell that although he knew he had to go home, that it wasn't as easy as maybe he anticipated. I'm sure he misses some of the folk that were there and they in turn miss him.
atp
01-29-2009, 06:31 AM
#26
New Hire
Joined APC: Jan 2009
Posts: 5
Originally Posted by atpwannabe
manjer00:
On my first visit, I was given a ride in the courtesy van that transports all students from housing to the airport and back. I had the pleasure of meeting a few of the Indian students and the majority that I met were there for the Commercial Pilot Program. In other words most were leaving after attaining their CPL w/ME rating. They offered varied reasons why however the underlying theme was that pilots are needed in India and are in big demand. I was told also that there is some additional training upon returning to India.
All in all, everyone appears to be friendly and get along. There was one Indian student that was returning home to India and I could tell that although he knew he had to go home, that it wasn't as easy as maybe he anticipated. I'm sure he misses some of the folk that were there and they in turn miss him.
atp
On my first visit, I was given a ride in the courtesy van that transports all students from housing to the airport and back. I had the pleasure of meeting a few of the Indian students and the majority that I met were there for the Commercial Pilot Program. In other words most were leaving after attaining their CPL w/ME rating. They offered varied reasons why however the underlying theme was that pilots are needed in India and are in big demand. I was told also that there is some additional training upon returning to India.
All in all, everyone appears to be friendly and get along. There was one Indian student that was returning home to India and I could tell that although he knew he had to go home, that it wasn't as easy as maybe he anticipated. I'm sure he misses some of the folk that were there and they in turn miss him.
atp
when do u start ur training with them??
iam glad i asked about the school....cause the last post was in 2007...and they didnt really have a nice story to tell......
anyways thanks atp.....u have been of great help....
01-29-2009, 11:39 AM
#27
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Math Teacher
Posts: 2,274
Originally Posted by manjer00
thats really nice....
when do u start ur training with them??
iam glad i asked about the school....cause the last post was in 2007...and they didnt really have a nice story to tell......
anyways thanks atp.....u have been of great help....
when do u start ur training with them??
iam glad i asked about the school....cause the last post was in 2007...and they didnt really have a nice story to tell......
anyways thanks atp.....u have been of great help....
Well, I overnighted (FedEx'd) the requested info to Dr.Chesanow @ the FAA in Washington on January 7th. My contact, Kathy Lincoln, said that it would be between 30-60 days before I get a final answer. So, I'm looking at some time between now and March 15th. I'll give myself so wiggle room on the start date but I figure somewhere around that time.
Hope to see there as well. Btw, what city do you live in? Mumbai?
atp
02-17-2009, 01:54 PM
#29
I'm a man of my word.
Joined APC: Jul 2008
Position: Devil's Advocate
Posts: 2,883
Huh... Interesting how a few of these people on this thread have nothing but good things to say about Scary Ben... Oops 
Did I say Scary Ben? Must be because of all that "real life emergency training" they do.
I visited those guys one time just to see what bull**** they were trying to feed people. Turns out you get paired up with another guy who pays his $10,000 and you build time together while one of you is "under the hood" and the other one is acting as a "safety pilot." And that promise of "all aircraft equipped with GPS and weather radar" is a bunch of crap as well. One aircraft has a storm scope and a few have GPS with expired databases.
Also, my dad knew the owner before he was the owner and didn't have anything good to say about his personality.
But hey, go out there, declare your emergency, and pray you survive. Good luck!
Did I say Scary Ben? Must be because of all that "real life emergency training" they do.I visited those guys one time just to see what bull**** they were trying to feed people. Turns out you get paired up with another guy who pays his $10,000 and you build time together while one of you is "under the hood" and the other one is acting as a "safety pilot." And that promise of "all aircraft equipped with GPS and weather radar" is a bunch of crap as well. One aircraft has a storm scope and a few have GPS with expired databases.
Also, my dad knew the owner before he was the owner and didn't have anything good to say about his personality.
But hey, go out there, declare your emergency, and pray you survive. Good luck!
02-17-2009, 03:06 PM
#30
Stethoscope
Joined APC: Feb 2006
Posts: 308
Man I’ve always wondered how “big” flight schools like ATP and Ari Ben are faring these days due to the tight credit crunch and the whole economy as well. I mean I’m sure not everyone who qualified for a 65-70k loan 2 years ago would qualify for the same amount today. Also the industry has come to an almost complete stop, how are they getting students to even agree to such a huge loan knowing that it will be years before they get a regional job?
To the guys applying, there already, and those planning to apply, has there been a sharp drop in students/applications?
Also, on a side note, seeing how the current state of the industry is in the toilet right now, why not take that 65k that you are going to spend on getting your ratings at these big flight schools and go get your ratings at a small, local FBO? I mean one of the main reasons people go to these big flight schools is because you are able to get your ratings in a much faster time than you would at your local FBO. It would make sense if it was 2 years ago when jobs were practically being handed out to anyone with a commercial, but now that there are thousands of pilots with turbine PIC walking the streets and with age 65 not “expiring” until December 2012, what’s the hurry? I say take your time (SAVE A BUTT LOAD OF MONEY by going to your local FBO), get all your ratings, flight instruct until things pick back up, which they will eventually; I mean seriously what’s the hurry?
To the guys applying, there already, and those planning to apply, has there been a sharp drop in students/applications?
Also, on a side note, seeing how the current state of the industry is in the toilet right now, why not take that 65k that you are going to spend on getting your ratings at these big flight schools and go get your ratings at a small, local FBO? I mean one of the main reasons people go to these big flight schools is because you are able to get your ratings in a much faster time than you would at your local FBO. It would make sense if it was 2 years ago when jobs were practically being handed out to anyone with a commercial, but now that there are thousands of pilots with turbine PIC walking the streets and with age 65 not “expiring” until December 2012, what’s the hurry? I say take your time (SAVE A BUTT LOAD OF MONEY by going to your local FBO), get all your ratings, flight instruct until things pick back up, which they will eventually; I mean seriously what’s the hurry?
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