HectorD

I have not taught at Epic aviation but I have flown to and had a break at their FBO. Their website seems like an academy but let me assure you, it is not. The staff there where very nice and the equipment is very good from what I could tell, not allot of old planes, most seem to be new. The reason why they look like an academy is probably because most of their business is done with international students from what I could tell, mostly from India.

wrxpilot

Stealth,

I can strongly recommend the following school:

Palm Beach Flight Training
PBflight.com

I did my PPL there, and came back a couple of years later to work as a CFI. I still do some very part time stuff there, just for fun. The boss (Marian) is a great person to work for, and she's definitely a "customer first" type of person. They're out of the KLNA (Lantana) airport, which is a great place to train. It's non-towered, so you don't waste time taxiing around and waiting for ATC. It's close enough to PBI, BCT, PMP, and FXE that you still get ample experience with ATC. It's the best bang for your buck in south FL, no doubt. Great fleet of planes too.

If you call, ask for Marian and tell her Sam sent you. She'll take care of you. Good luck and let me know if you have any questions!

stealth114

Wrxpilot, thank you for that recommendation too.. Will surely look into that one... Will PBFLight also take on overseas students like myself?

Also Hector, thats great to know that Epic isnt really a flight academy per se..

Keep them rolling in guys.. Im taking my notes...

HectorD

Another school you could consider is Crystal Aero Group.
Another member of this forum decided to attend and there is a CFI that teaches there on this forum. It seems like a nice place.

Crystal Aero Group - Full Service Aviation Company Offering Pilot Training, Charter Flights, Air Tours and Maintenance Services

The location of the school is to the west along the gulf coast of Florida. More or less in the central region.

Here is another school, Orlando Flight Training. Don't know much about them but they accept international students so you should give them a call.

learn to fly, helicopter training, private and commercial pilot training with OFT

wrxpilot

Yes they do! They were approved for overseas students a few months ago. They are also a part 141 school...

bryris

The list of schools in Florida is nearly endless. This is one of the premier flying states (mainly due to good weather nearly year round). In the end, it is going to come down to checking some out in person and interviewing some instructors, etc. Most instructors can get the job done. Just be weary of the experience level of who you choose. As a general rule of thumb, the larger the school, the less experience the instructors have. Not true everywhere, but I've been in the business long enough to see that this is basically the case.

Also, it is human nature that the larger the establishment, the more rules and regulations go into it and the more spoon fed you'll be regarding everything down to syllabus', rental schedules, stage checks, etc - which often translates into less fun. Whereas if you go to a smaller (part 61 likely) school, you'll find more experienced instructors (in general) and less strings attached - more customized syllabus', scheduling, etc. This typically translates into having a more enjoyable experience.

I look back on my flight training as one of the best times (in terms of fun) that I've ever had, due in no small measure to the laid back atmosphere that comes with a smaller establishment. In fact my private pilot instructor back when was a freelancer. I flew his airplane, paid him directly, etc. We'd do ground school at his house. Freakin' loved it!! And he had well over 4,000 hours of time as well and a lot of experience to draw from. Got my rating in 61 hours and kept going....

But, there are many ways to reach the goal. It comes down to what you are comfortable with. I don't know much about Epic except that they do promote a bunch. Somehow I ended up on their mailing list and I get an e-mail a day from them it seems.

Also, remember what I said in my e-mail to you.

Best of luck!

stealth114

Bryris,

How are you today man? I sure saved your emails and took them to heart ... Yes, I can get all the recommendations from you guys but at the end I need to dessiminate the info and choose what is best for me... All things in life take time and im in no huge rush to get this done in the shortest time possible.. Im in it for the long run and enjoying it along the way..

stealth114

Again, Im realising how much the quality of flying experience u gain in laying the foundation is so crucial in contrast to the NAME and hype behind a fancy sounding flight academy.... Its not like going to college or an IVY league university... That doesnt matter in this game of learning to fly.. Very interesting to say the least...

HectorD

You make an interesting point. For example, say if you where to attend an Ivy League school versus a regular university. What are you really paying for? the education? you learn the same thing in both places, albeit one place might be more strict than the other and make you do more work, but its essentially the same material. You are actually paying for the name of the university and the benefits that would give you after graduation. The only problem with that, when it comes to the aviation industry, is that airlines could care less where you learned to be a pilot. Its very different compared to being a lawyer or a businessman because its a job based upon experience, not textbook knowledge. I know I am repeating what you said but it is a good point every wannabe airline pilot should know.

stealth114

Well said Hector D