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- - Ari Ben? (https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/flight-schools-training/7525-ari-ben.html)

I go there now, and I absolutely love it here. Mike is a wonderful guy. Mary, Judy, TJ...all great gals. It's been a fabulous experience...and I'm very thankful I came here. Your not just a student number, and everyone will go out of their way to help. The experience goes outside of the flightline as well. Right now my fiance is deployed, and it's been a rough struggle balancing him being away...and handling all the training. They've really kept my spirits up, and helped to get me through this. The other students here, great. We form little study groups, and it's good. Some of the examiners here are pretty hard, so be ready to stuuuudy. A lot of instructors here are getting hired with airlines, so if your looking to build multi time as an instructor there's a great chance to do so here.

The rate for the BE-76 during your time building phase is $89/hr. The white with gray/red is kind of an ugly color...but the fleet is being updated paint wise. Quite a few of the planes have Garmin 430, some do...some don't. Doesn't bother me. I'm not pressed on GPS.

Ground school, you don't have to take any formal class until you get to your instructor stage. However, Pierre offers classes for the instrument and such...and although not required - I hiiiighly recommend them. This man is absolutely fantastic. He was a french fighter pilot, and did quite a bit with the US navy. He handles all the stagechecks here...and is one smart cookie.

As for maintenance, these planes are flown a ton. They go through the 100/hr on average every 10 days...a lot of times, less. We have two planes now that are set aside just for time building. It makes it easier to keep the planes here for the students, as that's where most of the schools money is made. A lot of time builders do their flying at night. The airspace is a lot less congested, and you can get things done.

As for the time building itself...it's what you make of it. You can go anywhere and do "lame" time building...if all you do if fly from point A to point B. If you use your time to learn, try new things, and really focus on your flight skills...you'll take a lot away from it. If you fly GPS direct everywhere, rather than home in your IFR skills through victor airways and such...that's your choice. It's what you make of it. FL has a lot to offer in the way of destinations. There are great places to get your seaplane rating if that's what you want, however keep in mind most of the people going into these kinds of programs have their hearts set on airline and corporate jobs. So when you weigh out multi's for 89/hr, v. a seaplane...it's obvious why people pick the multi. But I do agree, that seaplanes will definitely teach you more about the "stick and rudder" aspect of flying...and I surely wouldn't pass up an offer. I come from an uncontrolled field, flying 152's out of grassstrips...so to make the transition to a multi at a controlled field was huge...and the type of flying is much different - and both have many good opportunities for learning. I'd highly recommend getting experience in both areas. My heart is set on missionary flying, not the airlines...so my reasons for coming here are a bit different than most. We have guys from allllll over the world here.

I'm surprised they denied you the plane. I've never heard of this happening. The Bahamas now require a passport, so if your thinking about coming here...get a passport. It'll open you up to a lot.

If you want to visit they'll arrange for a tour...have someone pick you up...and you can backseat a training flight. I'll pick you up personally, and you can backseat one of my flights. I love this place. I wouldn't say it's for everyone, because everyone has different learning styles...but it's definitely right up my alley.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Cat

Hey Cat, I too am interested in attending once I graduate from college this May. I looked at their web site and have a few questions. I know that people learn at different pace and at different levels, but what is the actual time it takes the “regular student” to complete their pro pilot program? After wards, are you guaranteed a flight instructor position? If you get the position, how long do the instructors hired by the school stay before leaving for a regional job?
Any more information you wish to add on, please do so.

CH.

Cargo,

Your absolutely right...everyone learns at different paces, and that is totally fine. We have people here who fly just several times a week, and others like me who fly at least twice a day seven days a week. I'm trying to finish the course in 3 months, because I have to go somewhere with the military next year. But because I was here over Christmas and New Years, that set me back a week or so with instructors being gone...so it may be closer to 3.5. Either way. You'll finish at the pace you want to finish in. If you want to do it in 90 days, you can...it's hard, wont lie, but it's possible. That's about the quickest...however I'd say on average it'd take most about 5-6 months or so. If your really willing to bust your butt studying, and want to get it done quickly...go for it.

If you want to say here and instructor afterwards, you can. Right now, we are hurting for instructors bad...and they fly a lot per month is about the norm right now. They are getting burnt out. I'm not staying here to instruct when I finish. I'll be outta here next month.

Regional wise, really depends on what you want from the course. Me personally, I have zero intentions on going into the airlines. But if your looking to get on with any airline - colgan hires with 500TT here. There's a few others, but I really can't help you with the times there. Sorry, like I said the airlines aren't my thing.

Have you talked to Mary or Mike yet? Mary is an absolute sweetheart...shes the student coordinator and would be the best person to contact right now.

Cat

I contacted them for more info, I looked at the site and looks great, gonna Non Rev down to check out the school, thanks for the insight....

Quote:

Originally Posted by planecrazyjenn (Post 102272)

How long have you been there? If you've been there less than 5 months, come back and post then.

I steer all that I can away from this place. When I was there, if you were to get onto a forum like this and say stuff like "I don't like it here, there are problems" they kicked you out and sent their lawyers after you.

Mike is shady, you're still young, you'll see yet.

Hey, Demarc could you please talk briefly about your experience there and why you hated it so much. When did you attend, and did you finish or quit midway for another place, and what do you do now? I’m just trying to get all the info I can about the place, whether the info is good or bad, I don’t care, I still want to hear it.

Cargo, the best advice I can give you is to come down here and tour the place for yourself. While I love it here, others may hate it (such as DME) and obviously we have two extremely different views of the same school...that wont do you much good. You have to decide for yourself if the school is right for you, because not all schools are right for all students...and that's fine. This place may not be the right school for you, and that's completely cool. If you can get down here, talk to current students and instructors. You'll get to backseat and blah blah blah. But talking to students and instructors is the best way to learn. Don't base a school off of two peoples accounts, especially when they are complete 180's.

DME - sorry you had such a negative experience. I have nothing negative to say about the school, I love it here...and have been here long enough to have my own opinion - including likes and dislikes. Maybe things have changed since you left, but no one I've been around has had any major issues. No school is perfect, and there are a few things I'd like to see change but I still love this place. Mike is a great guy to work with, and I have zero regrets about coming here.

Just wondering Jenn, what do you plan on doing with flying in the military? Oh, and don't worry, befor i even sign anything, i plan on taking a thorough tour of Ari ben before i make up my own mind. Its just that i really want to know what people think also, both the good and the bad.
Thanks for all the info by the way.

I'm a loadmaster with the military...I'm not sure if I'm putting in a UPT package for the next hiring board with my unit. I love what I do now, and we are hurting for people in that area...so I don't know if I want to up and leave. Either way, I still fly...just not up front.

And I understand...it's always good to hear the stories - both good and bad. Let me know when you come down here.

You should put in a UPT package...Do the most you can in your military career.

-LAFF