Aerosim
 

Does anyone have an opinion on Aerosim Flight Academy? Anyone know their reputation?

I'm currently attending a University flight program and not paying anything because the GI Bill is paying for it. While this is great and the program is well respected, the weather is constantly an issue and it is taking much longer to get my PPL mostly because of the weather. I already have a B.S. and am only attending the University so the GI BIll will pay for it. So I'm trying to determine if spending the money to get the remaining licenses at a flight school and just want to know what it's like at Aerosim. Any opinions will be appreciated.

Aerosim is a very good program, the program in Jacksonville is under the Jacksonville University aviation program. The flight training is given by Aerosim at Craig Airport. They use C172P and Cirrus SR20's and multi is in Piper Seminoles. I was a CFI there for 1 year and left, reasons not to be posted. That's their only 4 year program they are aligned with now,the main campus in Sanford is a airline pipeline type program. That campus is great as I did my standardization class there for 4 weeks.

Jeff

Aerosim is an amazing program. They are very reputable with airlines. Quite a few such as American Eagle, GoJet, ExpressJet, Silver go to Aerosim and hold on site interviews. Many of them used to reduce minimums to hire instructors from Aerosim until the new passed. I myself attended the entire programs at Aerosim from Private to MEI at the Sanford, Florida base. I now work at a regional.

Did you instruct there? How long did it take you to get hired?

I started as a student in the winter of '08. By the time I became an instructor and was hired in '09, the economy had it's down turn and suddenly there were no more students and too many instructors. I instructed for about 4 years before i got on with a regional, of the 4 years i instructed at Aerosim for about a year and a half. Now there is plenty of work at Aerosim for an instructor. It was from Aerosim that the regional airline i currently work for picked me up.

I've heard great things about that school. it is airline oriented like everyone said before; i flew with a guy that went there when it was Delta Academy and he raved aout it.

I never attended Aerosim as a student but I do currently work there as one of the check instructors. It's a great place to be and if you're willing to work hard as a student you will definitely make good progress through your ratings.

Tinman, how do you like working for Aerosim? I am a current CFI with about 920 total time, and about 500 of dual given. I am thinking about applying to come worth at Aerosim. How is the standardization process? and how long does it usually take to complete?

It's a good gig. Pay is great and there are ample students (thanks, China). The interview process is straight forward. Written test (Gleim instrument, COMM, and CFI), simulator portion (SR20 FTD- basics like steep turns, engine failure memory items, teach an HR person who knows nothing about flying to do a traffic pattern, etc), and an HR interview. If you get hired there is a week long class room portion (just like Indoc) and then 7 or 8 flights/sims where you learn the maneuvers and the SR20. The school is good for students as long as you are prepared to study and devote your life to flying (which is why you'd even consider going to a school like that in the first place, right?). A lot of students wash out because they are lazy and don't treat it like a full time job. The chinese students can get through the program because they are forced to fly everyday, study when they're not flying, and basically live at the airport. Before I left I was making BANK.

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!