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Beating a dead horse... Flight school...?

Old 09-22-2006, 03:51 PM
  #21  
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ATP probably isn't the cheapest, but it will get you headed in the right direction and in a timely manner. The planes are reliable and you really do get what you pay for.
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Old 09-23-2006, 08:38 PM
  #22  
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OK so now I am looking into Flight Saftey........???? Any comments, suggestions, thoughts?
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Old 09-24-2006, 04:57 AM
  #23  
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FS is more expensive than ATP. At the end of the day you'll have the same plastic FAA certifications...

-LAFF
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Old 09-25-2006, 05:24 AM
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Exclamation To everyone....

Originally Posted by LAfrequentflyer View Post
FS is more expensive than ATP. At the end of the day you'll have the same plastic FAA certifications...

-LAFF

OK... If money was not the MAIN issue, but keeping in mind money always can cause a problem. Where would be the BEST place be to go with the most ease, comfort and best instructors, while still teaching you to be safe and be a good pilot? Another thing is the school needs to have good contacts and records with placing pilots into the better regionals. I am about to leave for DCA by Oct 15 if I can't find anything else any better. So PLEASE anyone and EVERYONE please express your opinion and reason why you are picking that school over the others.
Thank you!
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Old 09-25-2006, 08:44 AM
  #25  
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Many smaller schools can do what you need in a safe manner. I'm thinking you're only considering big academies who tout their placement (Especially if you're considering DCA).

Placement is marketing fluff. Anyone can get their ratings, build their experience, get a job, and move up the ladder without placement programs. It's not nearly as big of a deal as you think it is.

How many schools have you actually visited?
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Old 09-25-2006, 12:51 PM
  #26  
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Unless there is some sudden urgency to start your flight training next month, I would recommend waiting for one or two months to research different schools thoughoughly and if possible, visit as many as possible. The time you spend now making a well thought out decision will pay off in devidends down the road. Something this important and expensive should never be rushed into. You should never buy a house or a car rushed for the same reason because it becomes impulsive and prone to error. A good pilot has to take new information in and adjust his/her flying while always thinking ahead of the plane. Right now you have been given a lot of new information and I think you could benifit from thinking over all you options again. Pilots have to make the Go/NoGo decision all the time. Consider this your first of many to come. I looked into Delta in the beginning just like many other pilots have and I'll be the first to tell you they appear quite impressive on paper and on that dvd they ship out to everyone. DCA has one of the most effective marketing teams I've ever seen. Don't get me wrong just now I checked the website and they say that 25 instructors have been hired since June 06. What they don't tell you is how many didn't. If those numbers are accurate then I'll be the first to congratulate them for making it. Every school says they are #1 in airline placement. So who's telling the truth? Delta's slogan is that being owned by "Delta" makes all the difference. I don't think many pilots flying for the airlines would agree with that statement entirely to the extent that would justify taking on a monster loan. Many schools promise an airline interview, this is in no way the same as promising a job. Keep in mind that after getting hired (hopefully) by the regionals you are going to be living pretty tight for a while ($15,000-$30,000) for a couple years. The reason why many pilots stress not going to the most expensive school is because the idea of paying off that loan is a realistic concern weather you land a job or not, you still have to pay it off. There was a guy on this forum who was considering declaring personal bankrupcy because he couldn't afford his student loans. So the question is would you rather pay off $150,000 in debt or $65,000. Both are psychotic amounts to be in debted to by the way but unless you go through the military there are little alternatives to earning your Airline Transport Pilot rating debt free. To put it into perspective, Medical School is about $100,000 for 4 years of school. DCA is $150,000 for a year and a half. And I think that is without health insurance coverage.
Bottom line is this. The F.A.A. has specific qualifications for getting your lisence so each school isn't that far off from one another. Some might have better planes and pay their CFIs better but in the end they all teach from the same book practically and follow Bernoulli's principle.
I would recommend taking one or two months off and not rushing into ANY school without making 100% sure it is the right one for you. Just think of it as your pre-flight check. You are just making sure it is airworthy before you entrust your life with it. I hope you make it kid and see you holding short of the active one day soon.

Remember the the golden rule of flying: Aviate, Navigate, then Communicate...in that order.
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Old 09-25-2006, 01:20 PM
  #27  
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Amen to the above.

I bet those DCA recruiters don't use any pressure in getting to think you gotta make a quick decision...
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Old 09-25-2006, 02:43 PM
  #28  
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Originally Posted by Flyin4Delta View Post
OK... If money was not the MAIN issue, but keeping in mind money always can cause a problem. Where would be the BEST place be to go with the most ease, comfort and best instructors, while still teaching you to be safe and be a good pilot? Another thing is the school needs to have good contacts and records with placing pilots into the better regionals. I am about to leave for DCA by Oct 15 if I can't find anything else any better. So PLEASE anyone and EVERYONE please express your opinion and reason why you are picking that school over the others.
Thank you!
What ever you do - don't go to DCA....ATP should be your 1st choice. Debt is not a good thing to have on your back. It can kill you.

-LAFF
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Old 09-25-2006, 03:56 PM
  #29  
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Smile Thank you...

Originally Posted by JesseSW View Post
Unless there is some sudden urgency to start your flight training next month, I would recommend waiting for one or two months to research different schools thoughoughly and if possible, visit as many as possible. The time you spend now making a well thought out decision will pay off in devidends down the road. Something this important and expensive should never be rushed into. You should never buy a house or a car rushed for the same reason because it becomes impulsive and prone to error. A good pilot has to take new information in and adjust his/her flying while always thinking ahead of the plane. Right now you have been given a lot of new information and I think you could benifit from thinking over all you options again. Pilots have to make the Go/NoGo decision all the time. Consider this your first of many to come. I looked into Delta in the beginning just like many other pilots have and I'll be the first to tell you they appear quite impressive on paper and on that dvd they ship out to everyone. DCA has one of the most effective marketing teams I've ever seen. Don't get me wrong just now I checked the website and they say that 25 instructors have been hired since June 06. What they don't tell you is how many didn't. If those numbers are accurate then I'll be the first to congratulate them for making it. Every school says they are #1 in airline placement. So who's telling the truth? Delta's slogan is that being owned by "Delta" makes all the difference. I don't think many pilots flying for the airlines would agree with that statement entirely to the extent that would justify taking on a monster loan. Many schools promise an airline interview, this is in no way the same as promising a job. Keep in mind that after getting hired (hopefully) by the regionals you are going to be living pretty tight for a while ($15,000-$30,000) for a couple years. The reason why many pilots stress not going to the most expensive school is because the idea of paying off that loan is a realistic concern weather you land a job or not, you still have to pay it off. There was a guy on this forum who was considering declaring personal bankrupcy because he couldn't afford his student loans. So the question is would you rather pay off $150,000 in debt or $65,000. Both are psychotic amounts to be in debted to by the way but unless you go through the military there are little alternatives to earning your Airline Transport Pilot rating debt free. To put it into perspective, Medical School is about $100,000 for 4 years of school. DCA is $150,000 for a year and a half. And I think that is without health insurance coverage.
Bottom line is this. The F.A.A. has specific qualifications for getting your lisence so each school isn't that far off from one another. Some might have better planes and pay their CFIs better but in the end they all teach from the same book practically and follow Bernoulli's principle.
I would recommend taking one or two months off and not rushing into ANY school without making 100% sure it is the right one for you. Just think of it as your pre-flight check. You are just making sure it is airworthy before you entrust your life with it. I hope you make it kid and see you holding short of the active one day soon.

Remember the the golden rule of flying: Aviate, Navigate, then Communicate...in that order.

Thank you for your suggestions and guidance. I am trying to take things slow and look at every angle I can think of. I am leaning away from DCA now, simply because of too much sales pitch, somthing is not right and I am not interested in dropping that kind of a debt for somthing that I can earn somewhere else.
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Old 09-25-2006, 03:58 PM
  #30  
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Originally Posted by LAfrequentflyer View Post
What ever you do - don't go to DCA....ATP should be your 1st choice. Debt is not a good thing to have on your back. It can kill you.

-LAFF

Who do you fly for? If you don't mind me asking....
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