Moonwolf

Hey I'm a newly certified CFI and looking for a job that will pay fairly well. I haven't really heard much about Air safety flight academy, was wondering if anybody had any experiences there? good or bad?
thanks

sqwkvfr

Never worked there....let me first say that.

I do, however, know several people that have worked with the owner while he was in another capacity. I've heard that his integrity is about as questionable as it can get. I've not heard one single good thing about the guy.

We have one employee who came from there...she said that it was a joke and that they were always on the very edge of going out of business. They did manage to get a contract to train pilots from China and I think that breathed a little new life into the place.

The conduct of their instructors in the practice area leads me to wonder exactly what kind of instructors they are hiring. I have to say that I have been terribly unimpressed.

The equipment is garbage. Old 152s.

Like I've said, I've never worker there, but you should approach this situation with caution.

Moonwolf

Does anybody or sqwkvfr recommend any place that is reputable and pays fairly well for a new cfi? with 300 hours.

averettpilot

Moonwolf, i will echo what sqwkvfr said about the owner from personal experience having worked at air safety for 7 months. i would not recommend it. i haven't been in contact with them for a couple of months now but it is run very poorly and it is true that it is always on the brink of going out of business. if you go by their website (which hasn't been updated) you would be very misled, as i was. they have a fleet of POS 152's, a few 172's (some are nice), maybe 3 SR20's (which are hardly used when I was there and were horrible for student pilot's to learn in), and a fleet of multi's (not sure how many anymore) of BE76's and PA-44's. While i was there the company lacked any resemblence of organization (which probably still holds true with the chinese contract cause they got themselves in way over their head and were completely unprepared). If you want to work a long schedule and deal with students who can hardly speak english in a work area with no classroom space and organization in 110 degree heat in a suitcase with wings then this is the place for you. You're really not guaranteed anything you're promised (i.e. the owner will tell you or potential customers anything to make a buck). They offered 40k a year at the start when i was hired in sept. of '07 and didn't get it until december because they weren't ready for their contract. they are pushing the minimums because the chinese were promised to be done with every rating at the bare minimum flight time required and last i heard they still don't have or are working on the instrument syllabus (chinese are behind but nearing their instrument phase). it is an airline pilot factory and not a school where flying is taught through no fault of the instructors there. just my humble opinion, but i wouldn't recommend working there to anyone. to follow this with a suggestion, i would say Westwind Aviation is a good school and where most of the students who got screwed over by Air Safety went and no complaints as of yet. hope this helps and good luck.

Moonwolf

It sort of sad of the way some bigger fast-paced schools are headed. I've heard a lot of the same stories.
Yes, the website is very misleading. They make it seem like they have a huge fleet of SR-20's but if they only have c-152's thats a pretty big scam.
I just sent a resume to Air Safety Flight Academy, and I haven't heard anything yet, but I guess from what people say about it I should look for a response.

Thank for the information.

pagey

who did you send your resume to? Never found any employment section on their website.

rsliman

I started my training at westwind in june 04, and left because I felt I was getting the shaft, I went to airsafety in dec 04. Back then it was awesome, they had just started up, I was 1 of about 6 students there. Awesome instructors, new sr20's and new 172s. It was cheaper at airsafety in a sr20 then at westwind for a 172. It had a small fbo feel. By the time I left 2 years later they were up to 7 sr20 2 sr22 2 172 1 pa44 and 1 be76. this was right when they started talking of a chinese contract. since then Ive heard its gone down hill, but I cant speak from personal experience. Its a shame cause that little place had alot of potential.

Moonwolf

I sent my resume to Pace Collins, I found out the email from climbto350.com yeah there is nothing on their website saying they are hiring.

averettpilot

hey alot of the flight schools are on a hiring freeze, at least around phoenix...airlines aren't hiring much anymore and furloughing and the flight schools realize there's not a lot of outs for their cfi's anymore so they're gonna keep 'em. you might see them start lowering their pay back down to "normal" cfi rates. tricky business these days...if you have a job keep it for now even if it sucks cause there's not alot out there at the moment, at least from what i've seen...good luck all

rickdb

I am currently an instructor at AirSafety. It is a pretty good flight school, and they are continuing to grow. As of right now, we are fully staffed. However, in the fall, we will be getting more students and will need more instructors. AirSafety wants a 2 to 1 student to instructor ration, currently it is about 4 to 1. The direction they are moving is very positive.