Are there any FlightSafety students or grads?
#13
yes good guys they seem
I did my flight training at Flight Safety back in 1995 and was the same age as you are. I personally know what a tough decision this is.
A little background. I was working full time, bachelor degree in hand and wanting to fly. Got my Private at the local airport. Took me longer than 40 hours due to work, weather and other commitments. After completing my private, I started building hours, after 2 instructor changes and FBO going out of business, I switched to Flight Safety.
I can tell you it was some of the best training I have had. This school has a standard for instruction and their instructor are expected to perform to that level. Sometimes the instructor at the local FBO is not that interested in instructing you as much as he is in building time till he finds his next job. I can tell you I had a student come to me after 40 hours of instruction from another instructor. The student could do flight planning and navigate cross country. He had no idea how to do any of the manuevers, let alone, believe or not, he could not even land an aircraft. (This is an extreme case.) I can definitely say you will not encounter this at FlightSafety.
You will have to weight the pros and cons of getting your ratings at FSI. I can list a few pros for you.
1. good training
2. a good chance to network for future jobs, this really helps when you are trying to get that first regional job.
3. Build time in multiengine airplanes.
4. Great Instructors, overall, both in classroom and aircraft.
5. Clean, reliable, aircraft. Maintenance is not compromised.
6. Will not be going out of business anytime soon (owned by Warren Buffet)
Here are some cons:
1. Expensive, no doubt
2. Darn Uniform is hot in the summer
3. If they are training foreign pilots, they get preferential treatment, drives you crazy.
4. They expect you to go to training full time with no breaks. Thus is you have vacation you have to notify them so they break you schedule at a logical point, like stage check or check ride.
5. If you want to instruct for them, you usually have to do desk work first.
Another note: I still keep in touch with a few class mate from FSI. It is a great place. I have trainied not only at the Academy, but also did 3 type ratings with them and turbo commander training with them.
Good luck with your decision.
A little background. I was working full time, bachelor degree in hand and wanting to fly. Got my Private at the local airport. Took me longer than 40 hours due to work, weather and other commitments. After completing my private, I started building hours, after 2 instructor changes and FBO going out of business, I switched to Flight Safety.
I can tell you it was some of the best training I have had. This school has a standard for instruction and their instructor are expected to perform to that level. Sometimes the instructor at the local FBO is not that interested in instructing you as much as he is in building time till he finds his next job. I can tell you I had a student come to me after 40 hours of instruction from another instructor. The student could do flight planning and navigate cross country. He had no idea how to do any of the manuevers, let alone, believe or not, he could not even land an aircraft. (This is an extreme case.) I can definitely say you will not encounter this at FlightSafety.
You will have to weight the pros and cons of getting your ratings at FSI. I can list a few pros for you.
1. good training
2. a good chance to network for future jobs, this really helps when you are trying to get that first regional job.
3. Build time in multiengine airplanes.
4. Great Instructors, overall, both in classroom and aircraft.
5. Clean, reliable, aircraft. Maintenance is not compromised.
6. Will not be going out of business anytime soon (owned by Warren Buffet)
Here are some cons:
1. Expensive, no doubt
2. Darn Uniform is hot in the summer
3. If they are training foreign pilots, they get preferential treatment, drives you crazy.
4. They expect you to go to training full time with no breaks. Thus is you have vacation you have to notify them so they break you schedule at a logical point, like stage check or check ride.
5. If you want to instruct for them, you usually have to do desk work first.
Another note: I still keep in touch with a few class mate from FSI. It is a great place. I have trainied not only at the Academy, but also did 3 type ratings with them and turbo commander training with them.
Good luck with your decision.
#14
ok getting excited
Well alwaysflying hit the nail on the head. A little background on me, I went to school at Ohio University to learn to fly, got all of my ratings including CFII there. I taught at 5 different schools, including FSI. From my experience FSI has hands down the best training compared to other 141 operations I worked for. They cover details, frankly most 121operators would be impressed with. I was a good pilot before, but I feel they made me a better pilot. You will pay more, but you will appreciate it later down the line. Also the networking possibilities there walked my resume into the current 121 gig I am with now. Best of luck!
then going to rob a bank lol just kidding in general very excited to be close to my dream thank you for your comments
#15
I did my pvt and Inst at a part 61 in San Diego, then did everything else and eventually instructed at FSA back in the late 90's/early 00's. The biggest hit against them is that they have "their" way, partly because of SOP's and partly because most everybody instructing there was a student all the way through. Building the SOP and checklist mentality from day 1 is a real plus, my first sim partner at the airlines had built his time towing gliders and we had to really work at the checklist items (he was much better stick and rudder than I, we were able to correct each other's shortcomings). It was expensive then and I am sure is more so now. I do know from personal experience that the networking is a plus, it got me both the airline job I had and fractional job I have now. I also interviewed at comair (old name?) academy, and it was not going to be a good fit for me (older, on a second career and already about 150 hours), so if it seems right do it. Otherwise, go find somewhere you do feel right about. Good luck!
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