Javichu

Well. this will be the second post this morning, but my doubts keep growing.

I kinda hate those pilot factories, but I understand that eventually, those are the schools where you have more opportunities of being hired after graduation.

I'm looking for a school where I can get my CFI ratings. And as you can imagine, my initial intention is to stay in that scholl, that would be ideal obviously. In case is not possible, I want to be as employable as possible, meaning I want a good formation during the CFI training.

I live in Vegas, but the schools here don't look that good. I'm willing to relocate wherever I can find a good school.

I visited Transpac, and I was "delighted" with the infrastructure, but when I had to deal with one of the CFI after the visit, so I could get a quote for my training, etc.....they were completely dickheads, they didn't answer until weeks later, and when I wrote them with a few technical questions, they didn't answer at all.

Then I checked US Aviation Academy, and to be honest the program looks pretty good, and it looks like it's easier to be hired after graduation. But again, I don't know what's wrong with the person in charge of answering doubts and enquiries. They just keep sending me the same info package, like a catalogue, and the famous "let me know if I can help you with anything else", but when I send them my doubts, they just send me the automatic email (more or less). And it's a bit frustrating.

I would really appreciate if you could point me in the right direction here. Any advise about a good school, in any state. I will just pack my stuff, load my truck, and move anywhere.

Sorry about my bad calligraphy but english is my second language and I'm writing in a short break at the office.

Please help me choose, as I need to decide where to go before Christmas, in order to start the training after the holidays, when I'm back from Spain.


THANKS everyone

Toonces

I would go with the best combination of low cost of living and good reputation. Seriously look at cost of living. There is absolutely no flight school that is worth relocating for if you can't afford it, and trust me, you probably can't afford it. Also, don't diss the pilot mills too much. Most of them have a good system in place that works for good reasons. You may not become a well-rounded pilot, but you will certainly become a quality pilot for the focus of their operations.

kingsnake2

I'm sorry you had trouble with US Aviation Academy.

If you are still interested in hearing more I will make sure that your question gets answered. If you wouldn't mine PM'ing me your name I will look you up in our system.

We do have an automatic reply system as well as a series of reminders/info packets that go out to all interested students but you certainly should have received replies to your specific questions as well.

Again, very sorry about that and I'd be glad to help any way I can.

Scott

JETUPANDGO

Vegas is a great spot to learn, lots of flyable days. Stop emailing for answers. It is also tough to walk in and get great info on a nice days when everyone is flying. show up on a rainy day and you will be able to get lots of info from a bored instructors. Try to get a few instructors involved in your questions, the peanut gallery can be helpful in determining if there is a real future after you get your license. I would suggest part 141 based on 13 years experience in my Families former school.
Good luck.

Javichu

I took 1 week off and I visited several schools in California, Arizona and Nevada. I also had a flight with a CFI, wich the chief CFI in his school in Vegas. What we offer is somehow cheap, but it doesn't well structured at all. It wages like.....yeah, you can get the ratings here, we'll figure out how.....??. He designed some random cfi package, all flown with complex, no idea about the ground school, he said sure!, when you finish you can stay here working......It sounded too unprofessional for me. Maybe is how it works, but I expect some let's say discipline, defined programs, and flexibility at the same time but in a rational way.
The best option for me would be to stay in Vegas, I'm a Nevada resident, over a year in the city, I already know everything, and it's cheap, but the only option is a flight school that merged with a San Diego scholl, Coastflight Academy is the name. But they offer a CFI program called 25k, and for 23k I could go to Flight Safety, wich looks like a terrific place to work!.
I keep searching, but damn, there's a ton of places hahaha. Tough decision

Seminole00

Do you want CFI only or MEI, II as well?

Javichu

Some people tell me to get the 3 together and some tell me to start with cfi and cfii. It sounds logical to me. I won't fly multi from the beggining anyways. And money matters a lot right now...

Aviator89

I went to ATP for my II/MEI add on. All my other training was at a local FBO where I also got hired immediately after earning my CFI. Same day actually. Not as much flying as the ATP however, once I had my student base built up and had my II i was flying 4-5 hours a day 5-7 days a week (weather permitting). But that took a few months of aerial tours and intro flights.
I did enjoy my time at ATP. However, my instructor was a complete a-hole. First off, he would just yell at me when i was off. And by off i mean 10 or 20 feet on the altimeter and he was truly yelling. Not exactly a good teacher. He would drive into the parking lot as i was waiting in the plane, hop in, fly then leave. He was clearly just there for the ME time and hated his job. The chief pilot was a cool guy and all the other instructors were nice when i flew with them after I asked for someone else for a few flights. I guess i just got the guy who was having a bad week or something i dont know...it could happen anywhere. But in the end I had my rides done quick, and learned alot. Since I was already a CFI i was given NO ground instruction what so ever. i think thats just how it goes there since they only get paid for flight or FTD time. But many of them go the extra mile(as they should) and give some ground instruction for each flight. But they still rely heavily on your home study, more so then you average FBO just because they dont get paid for ground time. Very good networking access from them though, meet alot of people. Also, they only hire out of their fast track programs right now. (120/90day) So if you just do the add on instructor ratings or self paced they wont hire you...