I just made the arrangements to do a 50-hour block with Aviator starting next Wednesday. Anybody else going to be there at the same time?

I'm hoping I can burn through those hours in less than a week. I'm just itching to get those applications out...

Ken

You down there yet? I may be coming down in a few weeks, paperwork willing. My email is [email protected]

Hey guys! I am thinking about doing my CFI/CFII/MEI in May - does anyone know how quickly these can be completed I am looking at about two weeks hopefully... looks like a great school... would love to know more!

Hey Guys,

I went down there last week and did my five hour checkout. Had a good time with the instructor, but there were a few things I didn't like about the place and will be doing some flying around here (Orlando area) instead over the next couple of weeks.

One thing they didn't tell me on the phone was that their professional pilot program students (the ones who forked over ~$40K) get scheduling priority, so time builders mostly fly at night. All night. When I got back from my checkout around 11PM, there were guys just going out. I don't know about you, but that schedule would be unsustainable for me, even for a week or two.

Also, the couple of planes I examined closely were barely airworthy (and that's being generous). I've been flying since 1990 and have been around a lot of flight school planes that were in, shall we say, well-used condition and these planes were thrashed to within an inch of their lives. The idea of flying night IFR in those planes didn't fill me with warm feelings.

All of that said, the people were nice enough and, if the middle of the night hours and questionable airworthiness don't bother you, have at it. For myself, I'll be doing some local flying (and paying a bit more for it) to get the time I need.

Ken

Specifically, what do you mean by "barely airworthy?" I mean a lot of people get caught up with cosmetics, I would define airworthyness issues as mechanical issues which arent easy to find with the naked eye. What about instrumentation? I wanted to do a lot of night flying anyway because the skies are too clear as it is during the day in Fla.

Right so which aircraft in their fleet did you fly?

and if thats your RV-8 then im a big fan. I have seen it at Sun N Fun the past few years....very very impressive.

Hmm... that might be why photo of their fleet is not on their web.

Their Beechcraft Dutchess looked nice... weird...

Flying at night is great........

One:Night-MEL-PIC looks better than anything on a resume
Two:Night is best for getting approaches into many airports
Three:You can see the other guy 10 X's easier @ night
Four:Get to have interesting chat on 123.45 with all the freight guys!
Five:24hr FBO's with microwaved food in the vending machines, yum yum!
Six:Engine-out practice at night is well, freaky, but don't do it if you can't handle it in daylight, otherwise a great proficiency builder
Seven:Typically, the weather at night is much nicer, smoother, and clearer, just because the lack of convective action. Always the exception, but more likely than not. Then again, when weather strikes, you can see the lightning better at night
Eight:You pretty much rule the night, any request you make, will most likely be granted. Great time to get training done of any sorts.

Ok, obviously I'm a freight dog, but I love what I do, and definately feel at home from dusk til dawn, even though sometimes I'm at both ends of that spectrum. Have fun, get your time, and stay safe!