N6724G

I never understood why people have to lolk for schools that have "accelerated" programs. You can make your own accelerated program. Whats stopping you from from going to the local FBO and signing up for the airplane five days a week. Its the same concept and you save money. Why pay high prices for an accelerated flight school when you can just schdule a regular plane everyday if you want to.

redbaron

That is an interesting point. I live in the Baltimore area. We have just three flight schools around here. At least three close enough to where I live. I am currently using one of the three, which has just two 172s and other three really old planes. Schedule is so busy that I had to restart my instrument program twice despite I booked plane and instructor two months in advance. Every time it seems to me that they purposely delay lessons. I must say, I am with them now cos Iam part 141 and I neeed to finish with them (check ride probabily this weekend). The other flight school is for amatours, mam and pap kind of school. Even older planes.
At BWI the last option I have, It is a kind of snobby. A lot of delays cos the school is on one of the busyest airports. I am actually considering them as next step anyway. To answer to your question, why accelarated program? well I am 33 and as you know at 33 it is about the last chance I have to get THERE before my granchild get there . The job I am doing to pay the flight school, really began to make me sick. that is why fast track program. I want to change job, become instructor and from there ...well whatever can make me fly.

N6724G

Wait a minute. I dont understand something. What is the difference between a mom and pop flight school and any other. Airlines dont care "wher e" you got your licenses from. I trained for my PPL, IR, and CPL at a flying club owned by a man thats been flight instructing for 37 years. He has a small club with three airplanes (a 150, 152 and an old 172) Many of his former students are curently airline pilots. He taught his son to fly. His son is now an FO for a major airline.

So, I dont think it maters if you went to Flight Safety Academy or Bil's flying service to get your licenses. The difference is "YOU" wheather or not you learn and pick up the information and apply it.

So, there is no such thing as a school for amatuers. ALl schools should teach the same information straight out of the PTS. If you dont fly often its on you. Not the school. If you are serious about being a pilot you have to make adjustments in your life's schedule.

planecrazyjenn

A lot of local FBO's don't have CFI's who can fly with you every single day, 5-7 days a week because it's not their only job. I used to live in the southern MD area, and there was really only one flight school thanks to the ADIZ. I know the school redbaron is talking about. It's hard to get a plane often up there...such as 7 days a week.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with learning through a local small FBO, there's many advantages...but depending on your area, it is hard to get in every single day.

redbaron

hey I ddnt mean to get anybody upset here. First of all planecrazy, you are right about local schools. Local schools offer the same quality of instruction, since they all have to obey to the PTS. But all of us, at the begining of our training, had to choose a flight school. The criteria in choosing a flight school is usually the cost, the vicinity to our home, aircrafts, and, IMPORTANT, the feeling we had about the school itself and the instructors. It is purely a personal feeling. I felt more comfortable to enter in the school's office with instructors wearing a nice shirt, a front desk, and professional attitude, instead of entering a launge-office with instructors playing poker or seating on the sofa watching TV. As I said it is just subjective. Out of the three choices I had, where I am training now it is the best for the above reasons. I would stay where I am now, if it wasn't for the lack of planes (and instructors). Therefore if I had to change school, I would rather go somewhere where at least they have more planes. Large schools usually have more planes available, and most of all, multi engines. I am quitting my job in june, just to get my licenses. But I cant afford to throw away my time and money in delays. It seems to me, from what your were saying, that you were in the same situation when you where at FLYAVIATOR. Get it done as quick as you can.
So as you see, it is up to ME to dedicate time to flying, but up to a certain point.
I am doing the best I can with the resource I have.

PeterCR23

I am 44 years old - is too late to get in the game?

PeterCR23

Red Baron - I wish you all the best and understand how difficult this can be. I am seriously considering ATP. I think the one thing you can't get at an FBO easily is the multi time. Some FBO's don't have a lot of Multi planes and they are typically in high demand for recreational weekend cross countries, etc.

redbaron

Hi PeterCR23. Thank you very much. I wish you all the best too.
For same people, ALL ATP is considered a bit like cheating. The fast track program that they offer, it could take you up to CFI, CFII, MEI in 90 days (so they say); that is usually what you get in years at the local FBO. Not to mention that ATP is 200hrs multi. But as we were discussing in the previous postings, it is mainly up to you. Those 90 days are not that easy. It means that for 90 day, three months of complite dedication to study and flying (which is nothing compared to the satisfaction of achieving a dream) My instructor dd that course, but with the self-paced option. It took him 10 months to finish it. If I was a US citizen I would have done that a year ago.. I should nt complain, I am blessed enough to be here, with all the opportunity that US offers.
To answer to your question, when I took my PPL checkride, I asked the examiner if he thought that 32 years was too late to begin a pilot's career. He answered me that airlines rather hire older pilots then younger, because above all they have more life experience, which helps good judgement. Now I am still sceptic about that answer, but at least I have something that reassures me.

ladder1423

It kills me how some people put their opinions on here with nothing to back it up. I went to Aviator and obtained my fixed wing instrument, MEL, and my commercial fixed wing. I talked to Mike Cohen before I came there because I was at Delta Connection Academy. He said if you come here you will be out of here in 2 months. I thought he was feeding me a line of bull because Delta told me if I hustled I could be out of there in 2 years. Well I was at Aviator for less than two months. Now granted I had my commercial rotorcraft license because I flew Blackhawks in the military so it went quicker for me but Mike never lied to me. One day my plane was down for maintenance and I walked over to Mike's office and told him my plane was down. He walked me over to the maintenance hangar, asked the guys when some planes were going to be up and then said "I'll have you a plane in a half an hour." And he was right. Mike was all about customer service. The people you see complaining are the same people that probably busted a regulation somewhere and Mike got a call on it. Mike had a temper and you KNEW who was in charge, but how can you not respect a guy like that. He has a business to run and he runs on the principal where if you scratch his back, he will scrath yours. In other words if you attend his school and stay out of trouble he will help you find a job, bottom line. I now have a job, something I thought wouldn't be possible for another two years.

planecrazyjenn

I agree ladder...Mike was great...loved Karen. v1_rotate...you PMed me with a bunch of questions on the school. I tried to reply and it said user not known...PM me with an email address and I'll try to send it there...if your still interested. Sorry man, I tried.