iDonkyPunch

Just curious if anyone has been through the flight program. The program looks great on paper but lacking reviews online. Their fleet of aircraft looks second to none in my eyes. Based out of KYIP.

Looking for any insight as what to watch out for and the positives. Thanks ahead of time!

sourdough44

No, have just heard a lot more about Western in KAZO.

iDonkyPunch

yeah, thats a fact. I was shocked by their medial time for PPL at around 80 hours. Seems lengthy from what I have been told by others at other schools. Just don't want to be milked for more money...

r0cknry

I went there. Also instructed there. Loved it. Message me and I'll tell you anything you want to know

iDonkyPunch

I got burned hard over there. I am now at a small FBO along with a few others that went elsewhere after being blatantly lied to about them having the restricted ATP.

There are a few of us looking at legal options right now. Lost a-lot of money over this.

TheWeatherman

Are you talking about Eastern Michigan? You just posted the question less than two months ago. Are you saying you already went there and got burnt? More details please.

iDonkyPunch

Yep, burnt. Signed up for summer semester at the university. Took classes there. I had several meetings with the flight school dating back to early march. I asked them on SEVERAL occasions about them having the restricted (1000 hour rule) Was told by the same recruiter twice and another guy that they did have it as of last fall. Well I started shelling out money to the flight school and the university. May comes, I started class at the university but had an issue with loans, so luckily i waited to start flying. Talking to a few of the guys in class one of them told us that they were blowing smoke about the 1000hr rule. So a few of us started digging and in fact, they were denied last fall. I actually have a copy of the actually denial letter from the FAA. I went back to the flight school to figure out why they told me this stuff and they blatantly lied to my face about ever saying that. Well I wasn't the only one, the other guys followed suit and they pulled the same stuff on them as well.

So needless to say, I spent alot of money for nothing there.

So unless they mange to somehow get it in the near future, I am now at a small FBO getting training for $100 an hour less with instructor.

Its a shame it went down like this, I really did well in my first semester at the university (ended wed)

From what we all could figure out from the denial letters from the FAA, they will never get it until they are wholly owned by EMU.

So yes, there are a few of us really unhappy right now.

TheWeatherman

Yeah, flight schools attached to universities are in big trouble right now. The issue is finding qualified people to run the program. Those that were running things a few years ago are being plucked away with better paying jobs being a corporate pilot. It is almost impossible these days to find someone with the required flight hours to lead an FAA Approved Part 141 program who can also teach well in a classroom setting and administer a program.

That's the issue going on at my school right now. The head guy is leaving because the university is low balling him on the money. So he said **** it and left for corporate job he was offered. Now there isn't anybody competent to take his place. The program is falling apart. Luckily I am finishing up my last part, CFI, and will be done in a few weeks. The other people in the program are in for some rough times ahead.

r0cknry

Sorry to hear you guys didn't have a good experience at EMU as I did. Just a FYI, I heard they just recently got the 1000 thing

TheWeatherman

lol, that was the whole point of his post. Everybody "heard" that they got the 1000 hour RATP, but when he investigated further he found this not to be true. In fact, he found the actual rejection letter. Now, they may get it in the future if they make the corrections the FAA had directed in that rejection letter, but the point is that if they already knowing lied to their students, how can you ever trust the integrity of the program again???