That's very insightful, and part of the reason I was suckered. I wonder if they specifically market to that mentality to some degree.

It is...I think they do market to military types...

-LAFF

Yes and yes. I was living in NY with my PPL and they were recommended to me by a corp pilot flying for what was then Grumman. Called them, was mailed some info and went for it. IFR thru MEI in 10 weeks.(yes, I busted my A$$, but never a checkride, to finish that quick)That was over 10 years ago. I became friends with and still consider Herb and his family a part of mine. His prices are reasonable and he knows his stuff. I wouldn't put the link on here other wise. Contacts I met there provided me with many flying opportunities when I was low time and even my first airline job. It's a smaller, honest, mostly family run operation. It may or may not be for you. I can only say it worked for me and I wouldn't change a thing.

Thanks for your posts...I have to check them out in the future. I'm years away from flying for a living. I still have 8 to go before retirement from the AF...

I see you fly f-16s - where are you stationed. I'm at Langley, AFB - intel officer.

-LAFF

I think the structured environment appeals to lots of people, some folks just like organization (military types fall into this category), and some are just slackers who don't have the initiative to go network at the FBO.

Streucture is a good thing, but in this case it is not worth tens of thousands of extra dollars :mad:

Caveat Emptor certainly applies in this industry, but there decent schools and the internet can help you find them!

I wish APC had been available in my day...

I went to RAA in Phoenix 2 weeks ago and pretty impressed with their program, but I think I'm going to learn at McAir Aviation in Denver.

The thing I found out today is that RAA charges you for your type rating but you can actually get it for free when you get hired at an airline.

The thought of having to live in 112 degree Phoenix doesn't really appeal to me either. Also, you can't fly over 104 degrees, which usually happens around noon.

I have been to McAir. I did my private pilots license out of Jeffco airport, which is where McAir is located. Good school. But let me make you aware of some of the drawbacks:

1. Their airplanes are brand new. Simple translation. They will cost a lot more. Ultimately, airlines will not care if you flew a 2006 C-172, or a 1980 C-172. The only difference is that you will pay about $30 an hour more X 200hrs == $6,000+ dollars. I would recommend Journey's aviation. McAir is all Cessna's. Journeys has an amazing mix or 152, 172, 182, warrior, archer, seminole, katana, diamond star, and a few others. Aircraft are among the cheapest in the area (172's for $75 an hour). There is a sweet 172RG that rents for $80 an hour. PLEASE, take the time to look at this school. I think it might be a better choice.

2. Jeffco airport. I have 900hrs. I have flown to over 60 airports. Everything from giant class B airports, to small uncontrolled fields in the middle of no where, to crazy mountain airports.
And I still hold the opinion that Jeffco (kbjc) is the hardest airport I have ever flown into.
Class D airport, control tower, parallel runways (close together) and a crossing runway. BUSY. Not quite class B busy, but I have had many occassions where I sat in the run-up area for 10+ minutes waiting for a takeoff clearence. So busy they often had 2 different tower frequencies for 2 runways, because the radio was so busy.

Everything from 152's to Gulfstream 5's to helicopters. It is not uncommon to be landing on 29L in a C-172, with a Gulfstream off your right wing for 29R (caution wake turbulence), and a helicopter off your left wing for the delta taxiway. Did I mention these runways are a few hundred feet apart :eek: .
This is also an airport that gets mountain weather. Jeffco airport tends to have its own little "weather system" parked over it. About 75% of the time I flew, the winds were over 20kts. No joke. ALWAYS over 20kts after 11am. It could be 190@3 in Boulder (10 miles away), but it will be 260@23g29 at Jeffco. They will tell you Colorado gets 300+ days of sunshine a year (and it does), but remember that they get more days of hurricane force winds than Miami does.

I was once in a 152, full power, losing 1200 feet per minute, just 900 feet off the ground. Watch out for powerful up and down drafts, and watch for mountain wave. Mountain wave is very poorly understood concept. Imagine a river...water flowing at 50-100mph downstream, and hitting a bunch of rocks ---> RAPIDS! The same is true for air flowing over the rockies. Watch out for standing lenticular clouds, rotors, and any other dangerous mountain weather. The best trick when flying around Jeffco is to stay 7,000ft or below. Above that, expect moderate turbulence.

Don't let me discourage you. Jeffco is an amazing airport. I am so happy I learned to fly there. Once you fly there, you can fly anywhere. You become great at radio communication, situational awareness, and high wind landings. Weather delays will be no more, if not less than most places in the country. Just be very careful with the mountain weather.
Good luck. Let me know if I can help you out with flight school choices, or Jeffco airport in general.
Ryan

Has anyone out there gone to RAA or a similar academy/school? I'd like to hear from someone who has actually been through their program.I appreciate all of the responses to my original post(No,I'm not being ignorant here),but I can't help but feel that I'm getting nothing but responses from people who are against the academies.YES,I know they are more expensive than training at an FBO,but would there really be so many of them out there if there wasn't some kind of benefit?

Thanks for the "heads up".
I kinda figured that out when I took a discovery flight there, it was very bumpy and windy, but the way I look at it, it's better to learn in an environment like that because it will prepare you for anything. Besides, if you get up early in the morning around here, it's really not that windy.