Michieru

I currently am 17 year's and still attending High School. I live close the MIA airport and ever since I was a child I wanted to be a pilot. Now during the year's I heard of many ways on how to become a pilot but never really put any effort until now to see what it will require to become a commercial pilot.

I been interested in attending Delta Connection Academy and going for a Bachelors instead of an associates degree. For that I will be required to go to FSU (Florida State University). But I know there just have to be other options and alternatives out there that I do not know. Also a nice introduction to what I will be expecting as becoming a pilot, and some technical information on what I will need to know from a beginners stand point on flight schools and regulations.

ryane946

I looked into Delta Connection Academy (DCA) very thoroughly. I also looked into the other good flight academies, and local FBO's. Delta Connection was the worst.

My recommendation would be to do your licenses and ratings at an FBO. It will save you at least $20,000 for the same training. At DCA, you will pay $55 an hour for instruction. At an FBO you will pay about $35 an hour for instruction. The flip side, when you want to instruct to timebuild, DCA will only pay you $14 an hour. The FBO will pay you $25-35 an hour. BIG DIFFERENCE! At DCA, you will pay $105 for an old cessna, while at an FBO you will pay $80-90 for an old cessna. At DCA you will pay over $200 an hour for a multi, while those cost about $150 at an FBO. As crazy as these prices are, the place where these academies make their money is ground school. If you take the hours of ground school divided by the total cost, it works out to like $20 an hour for a class of 10-20 people. That's too much!

That is why I recommend an FBO over an airline academy. It is much cheaper, you will make more money, and the training can be accomplished in the SAME amount of time.

If you want to go to an airline academy, Delta Connection is the worst. The major academies cost almost the same. But at DCA, you fly old cessna-172's instead of new cessna's or pipers at Pan Am or Flight Safety. At DCA, the only multi time you get is for your multi engine rating, and your MEI. So you get hardly any multi time. At flight safety, you do your instrument in a multi. At PanAm, you do a multi engine routes course, where you get 40hrs PIC ontop of your other ratings. Either way (Flight Safety or PanAm) you will be closer to your 100 Multi that you will NEED to go to an airline. You can't get that at DCA!

That is my advice from my research of all the options. Hope you can apply this somehow. Good luck.

atpwannabe

Michieru:

ryan946 is absolutely correct when it comes to DCA. I, too, considered DCA, however I have decided on ATP. You will receive 75-100% of your training in a multi-engine a/c. It just depends what program you start with. Also, their prices are very reasonable. JMO.

Check out ATP. There website is www.atpflightschool.com.

Best wishes & blue skies.



atpwannabe

LAfrequentflyer

I researched flight school and have not found a better deal (at a fast-track / academy type school) than ATP (www.allatps.com). I'm sure small FBOs also offer quality flight training and such. But, I have not found a better overall package than ATP. What really got me was that if don't act the jerk they will hire you as a CFI and you can build good ME time for that next step.


Good luck to all...

-LAFF

Michieru

ryane946, In regards to FBO this would stand for Fixed base Operator which is a service center at an airport correct?

If so I used this site to find local FBO's at KMIA (Miami International Airport)

http://www.airnav.com/airport/KMIA

I tried looking at nearby airports but I only come up with similar results. The only two airport that does provide some training would be ATP which is KFLL (Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport). The other would be KOPF (Opa Locka Airport) called Wayman which indicate they do provide flight training but I do not see anything related to that on there website http://www.waymanpilotsupplies.com/

While there is another called "Miami Flight Training" I cannot pick anything up on them.

I would most likely would like to train in a location that is close to me since I currently do not own a car so KFLL or KMIA will have to be. I am sure if I call both airport's they can give me some more accurate information on what they offer.

Thanks for the information everyone I greatly appreciate it. If there is anything else I should know simply let me know.

JesseSW

I would also agree in regards to DCA in the order of professional training programs. ATP I've heard very good things from as well. Other programs I've looked into and have not heard remarks on either positive or negative are Regional Airline Academy RAA, Orlando Flight Training ( http://www.flyoft.com/index.html ) , and American Flyers.

Something I found unique about FlyOFT is an opinional internship they sell with Continental flying Beechcraft 1900 to build up your hours instead of the traditional CFI way. Something to think about.
Feel free to comment on any of the forementioned schools and programs.

POPA

I've heard of unpaid internships, but PAYING for an internship? You've got to be kidding me.

JesseSW

Yes to the best of my knowledge FlyOFT offers this program.

http://www.flyoft.com/first_officer_progam.php

" Gulfstream Academy Advanced Training Upon completion of this program pilots will continue directly to Gulfstream Academy in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida for advanced Airline First Officer training. After approximately 8-10 weeks of ground, simulator and airliner training you will begin a 250 hour paid internship as a First Officer with Gulfstream International Airlines (Continental Connection).

Based in either Ft. Lauderdale, Miami or Key West you will fly passengers to destinations all over Florida, the Caribbean and even Havana, Cuba! After completion of this internship program you will have the option to apply for a full-time position with Gulfstream or interview with one of several airlines currently hiring Gulfstream graduates. (Gulfstream has hiring agreements with several regional airlines including (Northwest Airlink and Express Jet.) Price $29,684" Of which this is the second part of the program. Total price for both programs from 0 flight hours to FO..looks like $61,569.

Has anyone heard of this being reputable? I have met pilots from almost every flight school and academy out there except from Orlando Flight Training via ACA. So I can't directly or indirectly recommend it. (met a lot of pilots on myspace)

Also checked into Air National Gaurd for those who are interested. There is an age limit of 30. You must begin your flight training prior to turning 30 and have a bachelor's degree. The rep from ANG said they take most of their pilots from their enlisted members who send resumes to posted open slots for pilots. For what it is worth.

Please get back to me about Orlando Flight Training via ACA (airline career associates) if anyone has info: pro/con.

jes

Slice

The last 8 peeps to go to UPT (1997 - present)including myself from my squadron were not enlisted in the unit FWIW. 6 had no mil experience at all.

rickair7777

Many in the industry take a dim view of someone who is willing to PAY money for the "privilege" of flying passengers. That is what the rest of us are trying to GET paid to do out here...

If it carries pax in 121 operations, it requires two pilots, BOTH of whom need to be getting paid. I would almost certainly not hire someone with that background (if it were up to me).

Almost all of the "alternatives" to CFI experience are really shortcuts...which usually deprive you of some very valuable experience. Do the CFI gig...there's a good reason that it is the "traditional" path into the airlines...it works!