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Sierra Academy of Aeronautics

Old 07-03-2016, 01:20 PM
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Default Sierra Academy of Aeronautics

Anyone has any inside information on Sierra Academy. I see that they offer free food and housing which is really helpful for a new college graduate. They even offer program where someone could get CFI CFII and MEI for free by either given 1000 dual or 1 year instructing time. Seems like a good deal to me.
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Old 07-03-2016, 02:24 PM
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If you have to give something to get something, then it is not free. What if you did take them up on the offer, and then a month into instructing you turned out to be a crappy instructor, or something else happened to get you canned? Are you going to tell them sorry, you gave me free instruction? According to your post, there are no conditions on the free food and housing though. I might stop by sometime for a shower and some grub! What times dinner?
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Old 07-04-2016, 07:42 AM
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LMFAO Too Funny
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Old 07-06-2016, 06:05 AM
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Originally Posted by Yoda2 View Post
If you have to give something to get something, then it is not free. What if you did take them up on the offer, and then a month into instructing you turned out to be a crappy instructor, or something else happened to get you canned? Are you going to tell them sorry, you gave me free instruction? According to your post, there are no conditions on the free food and housing though. I might stop by sometime for a shower and some grub! What times dinner?
Jeez, the guy just asked a question, not sure why people are so negative on here sometimes. He seems well aware that there's a requisite commitment. And if he gets canned, I'm sure he's aware he'd owe it back -- thus why he's asking if this is a reputable/reasonable place. And we wonder why some people steer clear of our industry after kicking the tires; they get pounced on for a simple question.

OP, there are several places offering a "free" CFII/MEI in exchange for a commitment of some sort. A few are offering initial. I've heard generally bad things about SAA, but I have no first-hand knowledge. I know their fleet is a bit...used. If you can spare it, I'd recommend getting the initial on your own and then having your pick of employers. And please, in addition to pay and perks, consider the fleet/MX/tech aspect -- too many avoidable incidents/accidents out there at some of these schools.

I've worked at a couple of places, good and bad experiences, feel free to PM.
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Old 07-07-2016, 03:44 PM
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thanks for your help. Yea i also thought getting my instrument and taking my options is a better choice, was just considering this other option.
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Old 07-11-2016, 10:08 AM
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thanks man
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Old 07-11-2016, 04:34 PM
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Originally Posted by frankensteinlby View Post
thanks man
Hey there,
I worked at SAA for 10 months leaving in April of last year. I still follow the goings on at the business. You probably don't want to work there. The guy who runs the business on a day to day basis, Mr. Yoon, is up on charges of forgery of financial documents. Just type it in to google to learn all you want. Now....

That being said, I liked my time there. God knows it was hard with some very long work days, but it made me a better pilot. Tired equipment? Check, but safe, I'll guarantee it. Do they take Commercial pilots and get them their CFI? Yes, but you have to be patient as you'll be a low priority. Is there free housing and cheap food? Yep, but you get what you pay for. In this case your own room with a shared shower. Dining is the building over and they serve 3 squares of the most boring food a day. And lastly management. Although the owner is indeed up on charges its not like he's the only person involved in the business. There are others who can step up to replace him if need be.

One other thing. There are flight instructors working there. Find one and ask them their personal opinion. Thats what I would do. Good luck wherever you go.
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Old 07-11-2016, 06:34 PM
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Thank you most insightful.
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Old 07-20-2016, 09:18 PM
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You want to hear more?

I was excited about the CFI benefits and pay online. I visited the Academy and was very turned off. I arrived in my airplane and parked in what I thought was transient parking under the tower by a few airplanes, turns out I was in the Sierra flight line! They had about 4 airplanes out there, I saw on ADSB and heard on the radio three airplanes out doing maneuvers. They have something like 7 airworthy airplanes right now. They have what looked to be 40+ planes grounded behind the maintenance hanger. Turns out when the IRS came out to raid for tax issues, they also had the FAA which acted on the many reports from instructors about questionably-airworthy aircraft that were not getting fixed. I saw about 6 students and 4 instructors in the dispatch office. I didn't even take the tour of the dorms because I had seen enough to know what was going on (and someone filled me in on the federal raids).

The Chinese students haven't been around for a while from what I hear, just a few Taiwanese and other nationals. The good (most profitable) contracts were with the Chinese from what I was told... if that is true watch out. I'm just not sure they are meeting their contract commitments. The dorms might be full of students waiting to fly buy they are going to head home without the ratings they need if they only have 7 airplanes that can fly. I was told they are working on acquiring new ones.

I personally don't want to start my flying career with a sinking ship. They had Gucci @$$ Chinese contracts and they couldn't buy a few more $50,000 pipers, then they had to forge a few more $ out of it all. Super slimy, I don't like that feel.

And there are other things... they turn off the AC at night. It is a giant central air system for an old SAC barracks, if it is on it is costing a lot of money. If there aren't many students there then they can't pay for that. Remember this is central valley CA, a very hot place in the summer. I stayed the night a friends place in Modesto near by and it was uncomfortably hot until midnight in the summer. At least we had a swimming pool! The poor students walk to get food because the cafeteria food is just barely passable as human food.
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Old 08-06-2016, 03:10 PM
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Originally Posted by firebat9er View Post
You want to hear more?

I was excited about the CFI benefits and pay online. I visited the Academy and was very turned off. I arrived in my airplane and parked in what I thought was transient parking under the tower by a few airplanes, turns out I was in the Sierra flight line! They had about 4 airplanes out there, I saw on ADSB and heard on the radio three airplanes out doing maneuvers. They have something like 7 airworthy airplanes right now. They have what looked to be 40+ planes grounded behind the maintenance hanger. Turns out when the IRS came out to raid for tax issues, they also had the FAA which acted on the many reports from instructors about questionably-airworthy aircraft that were not getting fixed. I saw about 6 students and 4 instructors in the dispatch office. I didn't even take the tour of the dorms because I had seen enough to know what was going on (and someone filled me in on the federal raids).

The Chinese students haven't been around for a while from what I hear, just a few Taiwanese and other nationals. The good (most profitable) contracts were with the Chinese from what I was told... if that is true watch out. I'm just not sure they are meeting their contract commitments. The dorms might be full of students waiting to fly buy they are going to head home without the ratings they need if they only have 7 airplanes that can fly. I was told they are working on acquiring new ones.

I personally don't want to start my flying career with a sinking ship. They had Gucci @$$ Chinese contracts and they couldn't buy a few more $50,000 pipers, then they had to forge a few more $ out of it all. Super slimy, I don't like that feel.

And there are other things... they turn off the AC at night. It is a giant central air system for an old SAC barracks, if it is on it is costing a lot of money. If there aren't many students there then they can't pay for that. Remember this is central valley CA, a very hot place in the summer. I stayed the night a friends place in Modesto near by and it was uncomfortably hot until midnight in the summer. At least we had a swimming pool! The poor students walk to get food because the cafeteria food is just barely passable as human food.

I wrote them off after reading this. Will still take a quick pass to check the place out but i mostly believe what you said.
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