what flight schools are good? PLEASE HELP
09-26-2009 | 07:02 AM
#11
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Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Engines Turn or People Swim
While I usually agree with Rick, we have a difference here. Expect to pay between $40k and $50k for flight training PPL - CFI. Anything less than $40k is very suspect in my mind and anything more than $50kish is unnecessary. I have just gone through this conversation and research with someone else, so I think these numbers are pretty fresh.
I am not promoting this school, but here is a very complete, fair, and I think reasonable cost expectation http://www.ahart.com/newWeb/flightCo...l_Programs.pdf. This is a 250 hour course that I think, based on three years of managing a large flight school, 85% of students can complete. Here is a fair cost for CFI/CFII/MEI http://www.ahart.com/newWeb/flightCo...ITrng07.07.pdf. These costs would be a good benchmark for a small FBO/Academy type school. You will find this school Wright Flyers will show similar costs.
No matter where you go, keep your money in your pocket. If the school insists on the whole check up front, run. They should be willing to accept a situation where you fund the account with $3000 or $4000 and keep a minimum balance of $1000.
I am not promoting this school, but here is a very complete, fair, and I think reasonable cost expectation http://www.ahart.com/newWeb/flightCo...l_Programs.pdf. This is a 250 hour course that I think, based on three years of managing a large flight school, 85% of students can complete. Here is a fair cost for CFI/CFII/MEI http://www.ahart.com/newWeb/flightCo...ITrng07.07.pdf. These costs would be a good benchmark for a small FBO/Academy type school. You will find this school Wright Flyers will show similar costs.
No matter where you go, keep your money in your pocket. If the school insists on the whole check up front, run. They should be willing to accept a situation where you fund the account with $3000 or $4000 and keep a minimum balance of $1000.
09-27-2009 | 10:51 AM
#13
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Joined: Sep 2008
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From: CRJ200, CRJ700, CRJ900, Left Seat
Your local FBO should always be looked at first and is almost always your best bet for your Private, Commercial and Instrument Rating. Do not get caught up in marketing!
As for you Multi-engine, you may have to get go somewhere.
AriBenAviator.com is my recommendation but there are lots of schools. They have a very competitively priced training package. Check nearby schools first.
CFI, CFI-I, and MEI. Recommend your CFI and CFI-I be done at your local FBO. MEI you will probably have to go somewhere but again look close to home.
As for the most important aspect of a flight school: Your CFI! If you don't bond and enjoy, respect their training technique, you are wasting time and money!
The airlines DO NOT care where you got your training or hours! You are only as good as how hard you trained. Work hard! Learn! Be versatile!
As for you Multi-engine, you may have to get go somewhere.
AriBenAviator.com is my recommendation but there are lots of schools. They have a very competitively priced training package. Check nearby schools first.
CFI, CFI-I, and MEI. Recommend your CFI and CFI-I be done at your local FBO. MEI you will probably have to go somewhere but again look close to home.
As for the most important aspect of a flight school: Your CFI! If you don't bond and enjoy, respect their training technique, you are wasting time and money!
The airlines DO NOT care where you got your training or hours! You are only as good as how hard you trained. Work hard! Learn! Be versatile!
09-28-2009 | 05:21 AM
#17
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From: Left seat in a Seminole
I went to FlightSafety Academy and was really happy with my training. Good instructors, they have about 80 planes so I never really had a problem getting out on time. It is a bit more pricey but, on the other hand, if you compare them to other larger schools, they are usually less.
I do disagree with the statement that "comnpanies don't care where you did your training" though. I went to speak with a chief pilot about a CFI job who told me that they weren't hiring, but, knowing that I came from FlightSafety, he said he knew I would be a good addition to the staff and would hire me. Just an isolated situation take from it what you want.
I do disagree with the statement that "comnpanies don't care where you did your training" though. I went to speak with a chief pilot about a CFI job who told me that they weren't hiring, but, knowing that I came from FlightSafety, he said he knew I would be a good addition to the staff and would hire me. Just an isolated situation take from it what you want.
09-30-2009 | 07:40 AM
#18
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Joined: Sep 2009
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True what they're saying about the big "corporate" schools but be wary of the small outfits that only have one or two planes and one or two instructors. I started out that way and found that a bunch of my lessons were being cancelled because the plane was down for maintainance, or my instructor had to go do a charter flight. So I switched to a place with a sizeable fleet and a more significant number of instructors.
Also, part 141 schools have an advantage here because their syllabi are so regimented that even if your instructor has to bail on you some days, another one can step in and pick right up where the former left off, so the student has a more-or-less seamless transition. And in the long run, if you're going all the way through commercial, you may see a reduction in the number of hours it takes to get there.
Also, part 141 schools have an advantage here because their syllabi are so regimented that even if your instructor has to bail on you some days, another one can step in and pick right up where the former left off, so the student has a more-or-less seamless transition. And in the long run, if you're going all the way through commercial, you may see a reduction in the number of hours it takes to get there.
10-06-2009 | 04:48 AM
#19
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Joined: Dec 2008
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From: Left seat in a Seminole
True what they're saying about the big "corporate" schools but be wary of the small outfits that only have one or two planes and one or two instructors. I started out that way and found that a bunch of my lessons were being cancelled because the plane was down for maintainance, or my instructor had to go do a charter flight. So I switched to a place with a sizeable fleet and a more significant number of instructors.
Also, part 141 schools have an advantage here because their syllabi are so regimented that even if your instructor has to bail on you some days, another one can step in and pick right up where the former left off, so the student has a more-or-less seamless transition. And in the long run, if you're going all the way through commercial, you may see a reduction in the number of hours it takes to get there.
Also, part 141 schools have an advantage here because their syllabi are so regimented that even if your instructor has to bail on you some days, another one can step in and pick right up where the former left off, so the student has a more-or-less seamless transition. And in the long run, if you're going all the way through commercial, you may see a reduction in the number of hours it takes to get there.
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