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- - Aerosim (https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/flight-schools-training/74956-aerosim.html)

I worked for Aerosim before they bought it out, when it was DCA. A couple of things;
1. It's better to be a CFI in Florida than Texas. Weather wise... most schools in Fl will fly more days than TX.
2. Aerosim has a constant flux of international (Chinese) students, this is great for CFIs. Tons of students and none of them will become a CFI, means lots of steady work.
3. The area around there is kinda rough, stay away from the city and just drive to/from work.
4. Take the job seriously. You know in 5 years you'll start meeting people at the airlines who you treated well... or badly. Just remember that cause it's a small world and a serious job.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tinman1 (Post 1423207)

I'm quite content working at the Academy. There's always plenty of work and the only time I am not busy is when the weather sucks. Standardization is one of the most difficult in the industry. If you don't hit the minimum acceptable score on the writtens (80 or 90% depending on the test) you get sent home. That being said, they want quality people and hard workers. Standz took me just shy of a month and I was the first to finish in my class. It can be done in 3 weeks but I had to take nearly a week off for Christmas break. That was when they still closed around Christmas (now they are just closed xmas day).

The place has its quirks just like everywhere else but overall it is a great place to instruct and build time. Aside from the first month which was a little slow, I have always had work. The pay is great and our pay scale increases with dual given. I make somewhere around third year FO pay or better and I get to sleep with my hot girlfriend every night.

The only two negatives to working here are the long days and flight cancellation policy. I have routinely worked 12-16 hour days which starts to wear on you after awhile. But on the other hand the goal is to get the hours and move on so I guess it works out in the end. The other negative is you HAVE to be present to cancel a flight for weather. Even a day like today with a tropical storm blowing through the state and no chance whatsoever of flying. That's really the only thing that ****es me off since I'm paid hourly anyway.

There are other little things that IMO could be changed but the bottom line is this: it's a flight school. Get your time by providing quality instruction and move on. If you are willing to work hard and have a good attitude you will fit in just fine!

Thanks a lot Tinman, that's some good information. I just emailed my resume in yesterday, we'll see what happens next.......

A few more questions if you don't mind...........
What makes Aerosim's standardization the most difficult in your opinion? and is there anything you would recommend to study or do to prepare before showing up? What is the washout rate?

Also, how difficult is it to instruct the foreign students (language barrier)?

Rough estimate, how many CFIs are working there at any given time?

Thanks a lot again for the info.

Thanks for all the inputs. Are there any language issues with the Chinese students? I've heard some bad stories from other locations. For example landing at airports/military bases they weren't supposed to. Also I've heard some of them on the radio and cannot understand a word they're saying. Obviously communicating is huge in aviation and I don't understand how they can be pilots if this basic requirement isn't met.

I recently made an impromptu visit to Aerosim in Sanford. I was actually pretty impressed - more than I thought.

Shiny stuff doesn't impress me so haterz stop right there. I did my ppl and ifr at several mom/pop, small and medium sized 61 and 141 places. I love the atomosphere and was led to believe pilot factories are awful.

BUT I always, always have had instructor/plane/wxr availbiility issues. Sometimes it can't be helped, but Aerosim was bustling. I wanna say something like 100 cfis and 80 planes. (Don't quote me) I have a hard time believing I'd have as many scheduling issues there.

Furthermore, using the MGIB at my smaller school has been a goat rope to say the least, and being out of work and unable to fly frequently takes its toll. I'm willing to shell a lil extra dough to be done sooner. Plus I believe their cfi base pay is around $2500/mo with raises after certain amount of dual is given.

I don't esp enjoy the uniforms and silliness but there is something to be said for knocking out ratings and then instructing you balls off (Chinese students). Just my $.02

Birdman,

I left Tinker not too long ago - we may know some of the same folks.

AirOne flight academy at KPWA is a great place to train also. No 141/gi bill when I left but good folks there.

Looks like Aerosim is a great place to work at. I'm thinking of applying there too towards the end of this year once I finishing up with my CFI ratings. They also have the pipeline agreement with American Eagle (although I think at that point it's AE that pays you directly) and I think I rather instruct in Cirrus SR20's than old 152's and 172's like most other academies (i.e US Aviation in Texas).

OP, please let us know how it goes and if you get hired, I'd be really interested in a first hand account on the process. Good luck!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Da40Pilot (Post 1429028)

Same here! Sanford is not too far out from where I live on the Space Coast so I'd be able to commute daily and be home every night ;)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrsx99 (Post 1424657)

Also, how difficult is it to instruct the foreign students (language barrier)?

Nope not at all.

Tower: "Cessna 123 charlie alpha, say intentions"

Student: "uhhhh intentions, Cessna 123 chawlee arphuh"

The language barrier is hardly an issue. If it does, speak up, and right away they are in remedial English.

How long would it take for a full time instructor at Aerosim to get from 300 or so hours to ATP mins?

I'm getting my four-year degree in ATC from a lesser known 141 university next May and I have my private. I wanted to fly but I got sucked in to the ATC program when I applied (guaranteed job, six figures in a few years etc.) but currently thats a bunch of BS and now it could be years to get in the FAA. Also any other schools similar to Aerosim anyone would recommend for knocking out ratings and building time at? Getting to the airlines would be my goal.