WhyFlare

Im hoping to fly for SWA. Where is the best place to go to get a 737 type? Has anyone had any experience with Bond Av in Orlando? I live in Tampa and they are the closest.

I dont care much about price. There all between 6000 and 7400. Just want quality and a foot in the door.

Thanks.

Slice

Higher Power in Dallas or K&S in Phoenix.

9999

I would recommend Higher Power as well. They were GREAT. No regrets whatsoever.

gradywhite

i am planning K and S in phoenix. have you heard good or bad

C17MooseDriver

Definitely can't go wrong with Higher Power. Great instructors.

quimby

FTI.......check it out.

Bob_Sacamano

I won my 737 type rating at one of the Air Inc. seminars. It was offered by Aeroservices in Miami. I've heard a lot of bad reviews about them that I don't think are quite fair, so I'll give a brief recap of my experience.

First off, the guy running the place (not the owner) reminded me of every sleazy FBO operator you've ever run into. He was cordial, but VERY hard to get in touch with to schedule my course. He promised me 3 or 4 times my course materials were in the mail, and that he'd email me the tracking number right away, etc. Finally, I non-reved down to Miami in the morning, took a cab over, got my books, and non-reved home. After winning the course, it took about 2 and a half months to get scheduled for a class.

After arriving for class, things changed drastically for the better. My classroom instructor was a furloughed United pilot named Lisa. I thought she was an excellent instructor, and I really liked her. She knew her stuff, and relayed it effectively. (A quick aside...there were 5 of us in class. Truthfully, 3 of the students had NO business being in the class, but Lisa managed to get everyone through. If you think I'm just being an arrogant jerk, pm me and I'll give you the details...)

My sim instructor Joe was a great guy, and a good instructor. The DE Ray was also a really nice guy who graded us fairly.

All in all, counter to a lot of reviews I've read, the instruction at Aeroservices was pretty good, but very fast-paced. It's basically just like every other 737 "diploma mill" out there. The customer service and office efficiency were another matter entirely. In the most honest way I can put this is this: If you have strong instrument skills, and actually study before you show up to class, you'll do just fine at Aeroservices. If you're not a good instrument pilot, and are too busy to study, you're either going to bust your checkride, or have to buy extra training for a LOT of extra money (as 3 of the students in class did). If customer service is important to you, I'd recommend Higher Power.

All in all, I had a great time down in Miami. I made a couple of friends and walked with a free 737 type rating. Pretty awesome deal for me. Just don't go down there unprepared. Having said all that, I'd go wherever it's the cheapest.

Good Luck,
BS

Polarfr8dog

I used Higher Power in Dallas a few years back. You can't go wrong with them. Just don't drink all of the Kool Aid as they really pumped SWA and everyone thought that they would get an interview there. Well, I'm here to tell you that not everyone does - even with internal reccomendations. I had just been furloughed from American so maybe that had something to do with it. They're an excellent company, however.

HuronIP

Crew Pilot Training in Houston.

Pilot41

Higher Power in Dallas or K&S in Phoenix get all the good press becuase of thier preceived connection to SWA. However, not really sure how big of a deal that really is. Aside from that, a type rating is a type rating regardless of where you got it.