Regional Airline Academy?
#11
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Posts: 408
Originally Posted by rickair7777
I understand that as an ex-military guy you naturally find a structured, apparently organized training process to be more attractive than a small operation, but the costs vs. benefit are just too far out of line.
#12
Originally Posted by Uncle Bose
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
#13
Originally Posted by LAfrequentflyer
It's less than ATP but I haven't heard anything about them...I'm not trying to ruffle your feather - did you go there or know the owners?
#14
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 see you fly f-16s - where are you stationed. I'm at Langley, AFB - intel officer.
-LAFF
#15
Originally Posted by Uncle Bose
That's very insightful, and part of the reason I was suckered. I wonder if they specifically market to that mentality to some degree.
Streucture is a good thing, but in this case it is not worth tens of thousands of extra dollars
#16
Originally Posted by LAfrequentflyer
Rick ,
I agree with your post. However, I've been burned at local FBOs by CFIs and crappy service so many times that I was just glad to be done with my PPL after going thru 3 FBO and 6 CFIs that I refuse to train at another one again. I'll work an extra 10 years so I can front load the training at a place like ATPs before I step foot in an FBO. I hate even driving by one...
-LAFF
I agree with your post. However, I've been burned at local FBOs by CFIs and crappy service so many times that I was just glad to be done with my PPL after going thru 3 FBO and 6 CFIs that I refuse to train at another one again. I'll work an extra 10 years so I can front load the training at a place like ATPs before I step foot in an FBO. I hate even driving by one...
-LAFF
I wish APC had been available in my day...
#17
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.
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.
Last edited by PhantomAir; 06-30-2006 at 05:21 AM.
#18
Originally Posted by PhantomAir
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.
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 .
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
#19
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?
Last edited by GL175; 06-30-2006 at 01:55 AM.
#20
Originally Posted by ryane946
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
Good luck. Let me know if I can help you out with flight school choices, or Jeffco airport in general.
Ryan
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.
Last edited by PhantomAir; 06-30-2006 at 05:24 AM.
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