Quality Flight Schools in or near Los Angeles.
01-29-2007, 04:03 AM
#1
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Joined APC: Jan 2007
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Quality Flight Schools in or near Los Angeles.
Hello everyone! I'm sort of new here. I've been lurking around these forums for a while now and after reading the threads on this forum my passion for flight has been reignited
.
Of course like most here I fell in love with aviation at a very young age (6-7 by my parents calculations). I began flying at the age of 16 with civil air patrol right after graduating high school. I logged several hours and then attended university at UCSB were I "postponed" my pursuit of a PPL due to the high cost of admission and books. After 2 years of college and without a degree I married my highschool sweetheart and decided that I needed to start making a living (as a opposed to the generous monthly allowances that my parents provided).
After much drunken thought I entered the United States Air Force as a SP. After boot camp and to my delight I was shipped off to england. After a couple of years of *****ing and complaining to my wife about how much "I missed flying and that I wasn't living my dream blah blah blah" we finally decided that it would be in our best interest if I went back to flight school.
After researching flight schools around my base I opted for a local school at cambridge airport. Needless to say the bill quickly surpassed my humble earnings and I ended up taking classes weeks apart and you know how that is. It seemed asthough everyweek we revisited the past lesson and spent more and more time wasting time due to the fact that I didn't have enough money to hammer out the lessons. After realizing that this would not work and was just a waste of money I "postponed" my dream yet again.
Now here I am 25 yrs. old currently a police officer in los angeles, the wife realized her dream of becoming a child psychologist and two weeks ago she said "It's your turn." So now I pose this question to you does anyone know of a quality flight training school (that will help prepare me for a career aviation) in or near the los angeles area? My plan is to attend school while I work and to eventually make a living (and most importantly to me) live my dream flying. Thanks for enduring this long winded letter and I appreciate your advice in advance. And before you ask yes I read the sticky: So you want to become an airline pilot.
. Of course like most here I fell in love with aviation at a very young age (6-7 by my parents calculations). I began flying at the age of 16 with civil air patrol right after graduating high school. I logged several hours and then attended university at UCSB were I "postponed" my pursuit of a PPL due to the high cost of admission and books. After 2 years of college and without a degree I married my highschool sweetheart and decided that I needed to start making a living (as a opposed to the generous monthly allowances that my parents provided).
After much drunken thought I entered the United States Air Force as a SP. After boot camp and to my delight I was shipped off to england. After a couple of years of *****ing and complaining to my wife about how much "I missed flying and that I wasn't living my dream blah blah blah" we finally decided that it would be in our best interest if I went back to flight school.
After researching flight schools around my base I opted for a local school at cambridge airport. Needless to say the bill quickly surpassed my humble earnings and I ended up taking classes weeks apart and you know how that is. It seemed asthough everyweek we revisited the past lesson and spent more and more time wasting time due to the fact that I didn't have enough money to hammer out the lessons. After realizing that this would not work and was just a waste of money I "postponed" my dream yet again.
Now here I am 25 yrs. old currently a police officer in los angeles, the wife realized her dream of becoming a child psychologist and two weeks ago she said "It's your turn." So now I pose this question to you does anyone know of a quality flight training school (that will help prepare me for a career aviation) in or near the los angeles area? My plan is to attend school while I work and to eventually make a living (and most importantly to me) live my dream flying. Thanks for enduring this long winded letter and I appreciate your advice in advance. And before you ask yes I read the sticky: So you want to become an airline pilot.
Last edited by GovernmentIssue; 01-29-2007 at 04:45 AM.
01-29-2007, 06:39 AM
#2
Super Moderator
Joined APC: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,945
#1 choice for no BS with quick get in and get out ratings that will probably be the least stressful on you and your spouse
800-ALL-ATPS / Airline Transport Professionals, Inc. Los Angeles (Riverside), CA
also try
Aviation West Flight School, Inc. Long Beach, CA
Flight Pros Long Beach, CA
Long Beach Flying Club & Flight Academy Long Beach, CA, CA
These are just a few of the MANY but I would probably recommend ATP's. I have been doing mine through an FBO in Carlsbad and it has been working out great but it would probably be a little bit more simplified at ATP since they have it down to a science
800-ALL-ATPS / Airline Transport Professionals, Inc. Los Angeles (Riverside), CA
also try
Aviation West Flight School, Inc. Long Beach, CA
Flight Pros Long Beach, CA
Long Beach Flying Club & Flight Academy Long Beach, CA, CA
These are just a few of the MANY but I would probably recommend ATP's. I have been doing mine through an FBO in Carlsbad and it has been working out great but it would probably be a little bit more simplified at ATP since they have it down to a science
01-29-2007, 07:37 AM
#4
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,242
Originally Posted by usmc-sgt
#1 choice for no BS with quick get in and get out ratings that will probably be the least stressful on you and your spouse
800-ALL-ATPS / Airline Transport Professionals, Inc. Los Angeles (Riverside), CA
also try
Aviation West Flight School, Inc. Long Beach, CA
Flight Pros Long Beach, CA
Long Beach Flying Club & Flight Academy Long Beach, CA, CA
These are just a few of the MANY but I would probably recommend ATP's. I have been doing mine through an FBO in Carlsbad and it has been working out great but it would probably be a little bit more simplified at ATP since they have it down to a science
800-ALL-ATPS / Airline Transport Professionals, Inc. Los Angeles (Riverside), CA
also try
Aviation West Flight School, Inc. Long Beach, CA
Flight Pros Long Beach, CA
Long Beach Flying Club & Flight Academy Long Beach, CA, CA
These are just a few of the MANY but I would probably recommend ATP's. I have been doing mine through an FBO in Carlsbad and it has been working out great but it would probably be a little bit more simplified at ATP since they have it down to a science
Why even put the other two schools down - we all know the only solution to flight training in North America (outside the military) is ATP.
-LAFF
www.allatps.com
01-29-2007, 07:39 AM
#5
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,242
Originally Posted by GovernmentIssue
Hello everyone! I'm sort of new here. I've been lurking around these forums for a while now and after reading the threads on this forum my passion for flight has been reignited .
Of course like most here I fell in love with aviation at a very young age (6-7 by my parents calculations). I began flying at the age of 16 with civil air patrol right after graduating high school. I logged several hours and then attended university at UCSB were I "postponed" my pursuit of a PPL due to the high cost of admission and books. After 2 years of college and without a degree I married my highschool sweetheart and decided that I needed to start making a living (as a opposed to the generous monthly allowances that my parents provided).
After much drunken thought I entered the United States Air Force as a SP. After boot camp and to my delight I was shipped off to england. After a couple of years of *****ing and complaining to my wife about how much "I missed flying and that I wasn't living my dream blah blah blah" we finally decided that it would be in our best interest if I went back to flight school.
After researching flight schools around my base I opted for a local school at cambridge airport. Needless to say the bill quickly surpassed my humble earnings and I ended up taking classes weeks apart and you know how that is. It seemed asthough everyweek we revisited the past lesson and spent more and more time wasting time due to the fact that I didn't have enough money to hammer out the lessons. After realizing that this would not work and was just a waste of money I "postponed" my dream yet again.
Now here I am 25 yrs. old currently a police officer in los angeles, the wife realized her dream of becoming a child psychologist and two weeks ago she said "It's your turn." So now I pose this question to you does anyone know of a quality flight training school (that will help prepare me for a career aviation) in or near the los angeles area? My plan is to attend school while I work and to eventually make a living (and most importantly to me) live my dream flying. Thanks for enduring this long winded letter and I appreciate your advice in advance. And before you ask yes I read the sticky: So you want to become an airline pilot.
. Of course like most here I fell in love with aviation at a very young age (6-7 by my parents calculations). I began flying at the age of 16 with civil air patrol right after graduating high school. I logged several hours and then attended university at UCSB were I "postponed" my pursuit of a PPL due to the high cost of admission and books. After 2 years of college and without a degree I married my highschool sweetheart and decided that I needed to start making a living (as a opposed to the generous monthly allowances that my parents provided).
After much drunken thought I entered the United States Air Force as a SP. After boot camp and to my delight I was shipped off to england. After a couple of years of *****ing and complaining to my wife about how much "I missed flying and that I wasn't living my dream blah blah blah" we finally decided that it would be in our best interest if I went back to flight school.
After researching flight schools around my base I opted for a local school at cambridge airport. Needless to say the bill quickly surpassed my humble earnings and I ended up taking classes weeks apart and you know how that is. It seemed asthough everyweek we revisited the past lesson and spent more and more time wasting time due to the fact that I didn't have enough money to hammer out the lessons. After realizing that this would not work and was just a waste of money I "postponed" my dream yet again.
Now here I am 25 yrs. old currently a police officer in los angeles, the wife realized her dream of becoming a child psychologist and two weeks ago she said "It's your turn." So now I pose this question to you does anyone know of a quality flight training school (that will help prepare me for a career aviation) in or near the los angeles area? My plan is to attend school while I work and to eventually make a living (and most importantly to me) live my dream flying. Thanks for enduring this long winded letter and I appreciate your advice in advance. And before you ask yes I read the sticky: So you want to become an airline pilot.
-LAFF
www.allatps.com
01-29-2007, 09:21 AM
#6
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2005
Position: UPS 757/767 Capt ONT
Posts: 4,357
LAFF 1/29/07 "we all know the only solution to flight training in North America (outside the military) is ATP". "You did everything right...You were just another victim of the FBO CFI scam...You'll be much better off at ATP"
LAFF 1/19/07 "I've never said ATP has no bad CFIs. I don't drink their kool-aid. I've never set foot in an ATP location"
LAFF, The guy flew at a flight school in England. Not exactly a fair comparison. You understand why, right? There are many good FBO's out there that have equipment equal to ATP and have more experienced CFI's. You only need to shop around.
GI, have you ever considered buying a Cessna 150? If you're gonna do a lot of flying and you're just starting out, it could be a great investment. 20K can still get you a decent one if you shop around. You could get your PPL, do some of the commercial and IFR in it (maybe), and build a lot of time.
LAFF 1/19/07 "I've never said ATP has no bad CFIs. I don't drink their kool-aid. I've never set foot in an ATP location"
LAFF, The guy flew at a flight school in England. Not exactly a fair comparison. You understand why, right? There are many good FBO's out there that have equipment equal to ATP and have more experienced CFI's. You only need to shop around.
GI, have you ever considered buying a Cessna 150? If you're gonna do a lot of flying and you're just starting out, it could be a great investment. 20K can still get you a decent one if you shop around. You could get your PPL, do some of the commercial and IFR in it (maybe), and build a lot of time.
01-29-2007, 09:49 AM
#7
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,242
Originally Posted by de727ups
LAFF 1/29/07 "we all know the only solution to flight training in North America (outside the military) is ATP". "You did everything right...You were just another victim of the FBO CFI scam...You'll be much better off at ATP"
LAFF 1/19/07 "I've never said ATP has no bad CFIs. I don't drink their kool-aid. I've never set foot in an ATP location"
LAFF, The guy flew at a flight school in England. Not exactly a fair comparison. You understand why, right? There are many good FBO's out there that have equipment equal to ATP and have more experienced CFI's. You only need to shop around.
GI, have you ever considered buying a Cessna 150? If you're gonna do a lot of flying and you're just starting out, it could be a great investment. 20K can still get you a decent one if you shop around. You could get your PPL, do some of the commercial and IFR in it (maybe), and build a lot of time.
LAFF 1/19/07 "I've never said ATP has no bad CFIs. I don't drink their kool-aid. I've never set foot in an ATP location"
LAFF, The guy flew at a flight school in England. Not exactly a fair comparison. You understand why, right? There are many good FBO's out there that have equipment equal to ATP and have more experienced CFI's. You only need to shop around.
GI, have you ever considered buying a Cessna 150? If you're gonna do a lot of flying and you're just starting out, it could be a great investment. 20K can still get you a decent one if you shop around. You could get your PPL, do some of the commercial and IFR in it (maybe), and build a lot of time.
FBO CFIs are the same the world over...Just as I suspected.
-LAFF
01-29-2007, 10:32 AM
#9
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 39,230
Originally Posted by LAfrequentflyer
FBO CFIs are the same the world over...Just as I suspected.
-LAFF
-LAFF
The most crooked and systematically corrupt flight training operations I have seen were all mid-to-large national schools. They have the ability to get your money up front and then hold it hostage...
Of course there scumbags at FBO's and small schools too, but you have a decent chance of finding a good one if you go in with some knowledge and do your recon. I did my PVT at an FBO, it took three years and 80 hours, but that was because of my scheduling priorities...well also I kind of lost my motivation once I soloed, I just kept getting my solo endorsement renewed every 90 days so I could buz around the local area at will
FWIT, I think ATP is one of the better big schools.
02-01-2007, 04:39 AM
#10
New Hire
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jan 2007
Position: A work in progress.
Posts: 5
Originally Posted by de727ups
GI, have you ever considered buying a Cessna 150? If you're gonna do a lot of flying and you're just starting out, it could be a great investment. 20K can still get you a decent one if you shop around. You could get your PPL, do some of the commercial and IFR in it (maybe), and build a lot of time.
Originally Posted by Puppyz
hey LAFF he took lessons WEEKS apart. That is why he was not progressing. That's not some FBO / CFI scam.
Originally Posted by rickair7777
Dude, the flight instruction industry is full of con-artists...it lends itself to that really well since the customers are usually clueless about aviation.
The most crooked and systematically corrupt flight training operations I have seen were all mid-to-large national schools. They have the ability to get your money up front and then hold it hostage...
Of course there scumbags at FBO's and small schools too, but you have a decent chance of finding a good one if you go in with some knowledge and do your recon. I did my PVT at an FBO, it took three years and 80 hours, but that was because of my scheduling priorities...well also I kind of lost my motivation once I soloed, I just kept getting my solo endorsement renewed every 90 days so I could buz around the local area at will
FWIT, I think ATP is one of the better big schools.
The most crooked and systematically corrupt flight training operations I have seen were all mid-to-large national schools. They have the ability to get your money up front and then hold it hostage...
Of course there scumbags at FBO's and small schools too, but you have a decent chance of finding a good one if you go in with some knowledge and do your recon. I did my PVT at an FBO, it took three years and 80 hours, but that was because of my scheduling priorities...well also I kind of lost my motivation once I soloed, I just kept getting my solo endorsement renewed every 90 days so I could buz around the local area at will
FWIT, I think ATP is one of the better big schools.
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