Is college somewhere in your plan? Not trying to flame, but I just don't see dropping 60-90K on this profession anymore without getting a degree out of it. There is a good chance at some point you will be furloughed. Ask yourself: "If I lost my job flying airplanes what will I do?". Having FAA certificates doesn't mean much if no one is hiring.

I'm curious: Doesn't anybody just go down to their local airport and take flying lessons at their local flight school anymore? Seems like you'd save a ton of money by doing that, as opposed to going to one of the "big" flight training outfits, the ones with "housing and uniforms".

Great observation. Local FBO's have some of the best instructors because many times they aren't there to advance their careers. The opposite can also be said, but it really depends on who you fly with. Check out the local school. It will probably be cheaper and in the end may offer better training than you would find at the bigger schools. Having said that, you need a better avatar.

You should check out ari ben aviator, or aviator college (kinda the same thing, but they now offer a 2yr. degree). I just finished the pro course there, it seemed like the best deal for the money.
The 2 year degree offers a paid internship for flight instructing.
I'm not really trying to sell it, I just had other friends that went to ATP, flight safety, ect. and I think I got the best deal.
I also bring it up because you say you want to be there for 2 years, well it doesn't take 2 years to get your ratings so you might as well get a 2yr degree if you're going to be there that long.

Phoniex east? Isn't that the flight school in Daytona that trained some of the 911 terorists? I hear they teach takeoff and cruise flight real well but not so much on the landings.

My two cents:

Since the industry is in the toilet and there won't be hiring for a year or two, I'd go fly at the local airport and save the money. It's not like you're missing 80 senority numbers a month by waiting. It's a whole lot easier living on new hire commuter wages if you're debt free.

At this time, I would recommend Ariben Aviator outta Ft.Pierce, FL. They offer PPL - MEI, including housing for about 46K.......not to mention the 200+hrs of ME time you'll have. However, when it's all said and done my friend, the choice is yours.

All the best.




atp

I would pay attention to the possibility of an ATP being an new requirement for any airline pilot job. If you want to go to school to become a pilot, make sure you pick a school that has the AABI accreditation. The new law will most likely lower the hour requirements for graduates from approved schools. Just something to think about. If you want to get to the airlines the quickest way possible, make sure you pick the right school.

Flight training is really going to change if these new rules come to pass. Hopefully the new laws will cripple the zero to hero programs. Long gone are the 253 hr comm multi pilot sitting right seat in CRJ/ERJ.

Good luck on your search. If you live in the PNW or want to, shoot me a PM and I'd be more than happy to discuss potential options.

BEWARE OF ARIBEN AVIATOR


Do not go to this school. Im glad these guys had good experiances there but i know far more who had terrible ones...including myself.


When i went there a year ago...

You were lucky to get a checkride within a month of requesting it

You were lucky to have a plane that WORKED

They charged me 30k for a multi private, instrument, and commercial license. I got done with my instrument and was asked for more money. 2 Weeks earlier i asked Mike Cohen the owner of the school if i was going to have to pay ANY MORE MONEY AT ALL to finish my program because a friend of mine at the school had been screwed over... He looked at me like i was stupid and said unless fuel goes up nope not at all. When i look back through my log book i had 98 hours there... a far cry short of the 150 they promised. They also charged 3k to my credit card WITHOUT ASKING. So i reveresed the charge got the rest of my money and left and im now seeking legal action against them due to the mis information and the false advertising and have reported them to the Better Business Burea in Ft Peirce, Was then informed i was not the first one to do so. And before the critics say they prolly warned of "these prices are to finish within FAA minimums" they did not warn me of that infact the only place on anything at Ari Ben that is written was on the fine print of their website on about 2 different pages.

While iw as there i had so many maitanence problems its rediculous. Instructors whos job it was to keep you moving even if you werent ready or it was THEIR ass and examiners driving $80k BMWs and failing people left and right.

Go to this school at your own risk... What i have told you is 100% true and not hersey it happened to me personally.


I would go to a small school near you for your first few raitings. Privare, Instrument and Commercial. Then i would go to a school like ATP for your multi stuff.. They offer alot of it and cheap so get your multi addons there... Then i would go back to a small school for your CFI CFII and MEI raitings... cant beat the mom and pop schools.. Nice people and usually older instructors who just like to hang at the airport all day and they know EVERYTHING you need to know... You dont need the fancy diamond aircraft or glass cockpits you will be a better pilot learning on the older equipment anyway. Best trainging around imo... and ive done the big school thing so im speaking from experiance but whatever you decide STAY AWAY FROM ARI BEN AVIATOR.

Yeah, I've gotten that reaction from others that can't complete the training in the specified hours.
That is not one of those flight schools that will drag you in every day and hold your hand.
And I think I know which examiner you're talking about, he's not my favorite either.
I finished the pro course within a few thousand of their budget, there are a few items that are not included in the price though.... I might have had a little better experience because I knew what I was expecting going into it and had done a bit of research to build those expectations.