avanti

Yeah I liked the bit about the massage too. I could use that right now. So, anyone know anything about a place in Fresno called Mazzei? POPA, I realize I can go to any FBO that has a PA44... but there are just so many places, so I am looking for a solid referral from someone who has trained at one --hopefully somewhere with 5000 ft ceilings in December-- and would recommend it.

usmc-sgt

I think going on what popa said:
If you just find ANY FBO that operates a seminole such as http://www.pinnacleacademy.com/multiengine.html (I have been there and they are a very well run and professional establishment) In the west you should be able to complete your training regardless of the situation in under 2 days if you just buckle down and do it. If you fly 2 hours in the morning, 2 in the afternoon and study in between there should be no reason why any FBO wont be able to get it done for you in no time flat and finding 1-2 days with good weather shouldnt be too much of an issue for most anywhere in the country.

Check out Pinnacle though and look at their fleet and click on their seminole, it is a very well maintained and nicely equipped twin, pricey, but nice.

Laxrox43

ATP...4 day course and you're done. Even if you have to drive a far distance and stay in a hotel...do it!

Git'r'done...

Lax

AVIVIII

my question is where did you go that they milked you for 20 hours for a multi-private in a seminole? I did mine in 6.7 hours. As of recently, I have been giving Multi-Instruction in an Aztec and a Beech TravelAir and have been seeing people go through in about 10-12 hours for planes that are much less student-friendly.

avanti

Well I don't think the blame lies only with the school- the lack of 5000 foot ceilings necessary to practice engine out maneuvers, and the fact that I live outside of the US and can only train on my vacation time from work are factors that haven't helped the process. Still, I wonder what is wrong with me as I am still not done yet. I don't want to bad mouth my FBO as they helped me get through private in a timely manner, but since then my (excellent) instructor left and I have been passed off between four other CFIs.

LAfrequentflyer

You're being used. Get out of there before you waste anymore money. Give ATP a call - they'll get you done ASAP.

-LAFF

AVIVIII

Someone is definitely using you for multi- time. And the whole thing with the ceilings is that there isn't that much that you have to do with the engine actually shut down and feathered. If you can follow a checklist to shut down and secure an engine and then restart it, then you are good to go. The rest of the maneuvers and procedures with the engine in sim-feather or prop windmilling can be done at any safe altitude.

LAfrequentflyer

This young man/women's story is yet another reason why people should avoid FBOs and head to a training academy. You know exactly what you'll get and how much you'll have to spend.

Its frustrating when you as the student commit time / money / effort and in return are taken for a ride...

I've been there as a student - taken for a ride by a CFI. I've seen other students (AF gals that wanted to do more than push paper) get abused by CFIs / FBOs. I know of two 1st Lts that didn't complete their PPL - they decided aviation wasn't for them because of the way they were treated. I tried to get them to try another school in KSAC , but they were not interested in anything to do with flying. Unfortunate, both were outstanding ladies and good pilots they would have made.

Fortunately, one is at AFIT working on her Aeronautical Engineering degree at MIT. The other is at medical school @ UC Davis. The appitude / motivation was there.

If you want to fly for a living - spend the extra coin (try not to take a loan , save you $$$ if you have to , work two jobs , live at home, etc...) ad go thru a flight training academy.

If you're a student at a FBO - protect yourself...

Sincerely,
LAFF

AVIVIII

yes and no.....

Know your instructor and the company. You come to me, working at an FBO, I will not hose you. Neither will the other instructors that work there. The same goes for other places that I have worked at and learned at. If your instructor doesn't have the respect for you, your new rating and your finances, then move on. It sounds like you don't have a lot of available time, so my job as an instructor is not just to sit in the right seat and bark, it is to plan and execute a training syllabus efficiently while still ensuring that the student knows what they need to know and then some. Unfortunately, it doesn't sound like you have an instructor that cares about you.

usmc-sgt

Out of curiosity, something that I have had to do many times in SoCal with the marine layer is climb to vfr on top.

Depending on the bases of the clouds and the tops I dont see why you cant just file IFR to VFR conditions and get over the layer and do what you need to do.