Airman flight school in Norman, experiences?

[Hoghunter]

I'm considering the CFI program, if you've been there and can pass along insight; please do so. What to expect; examiners, aircraft, difficulty, quality of instruction, etc.

 

[taxicabdriver]

Thats where I got my cfi/cfii a few years ago. It was a good/quick way to get them. It took about 2.5 weeks and had them both. The did a good job of teaching you what you needed to know to get through the checkrides. The examiners they used were really cool and laid back. A few of the instructors were very burned out from flying all day every day, don't be surprised if you see that, they were really busy back when I went there. Planes were nothing special, typical flight school planes. Ground school was a little on the boring side, but had some pretty cool guys in class and we did the study group thing, very helpful. Overall I would recommend it if you want to get them quick. You'll learn a lot more out instructing than you will at airman so be ready for that.

 

[Hoghunter]

I'm considering wiping out the CMEL and MEI too, think I'll be too worn out from the other training and rides to do it all?

 

[Hoghunter]

Also, what twin do they fly? Do most get the Multi, then timebuild and get the MEI later? (I forgot about the 15 hours multi PIC)

 

[350DRIVER]

I got my CFI/CFII at Airman and my experience was a very good one. . . . I would go back to them in heart beat if I had to do it all over again. John Lair who is the ground school instructor was one of the best instructors that I have ever come across in this industry, he knows his stuff and is able to convey the the most important information in a manner that will stick with you. Myself and three others were actually offered a position there upon completion so if you do well and impress your instructors/dpe's then you may have this opportunity if they are hiring cfi's at that time. You will do your II first under part 141 then get the I as an add on under part 61 since it takes less time to do it this way, atleast that is how the program was set up four or so years ago.

Stay at the Ramada in Norman, nice hotel, female oil wrastlin' at the bar during the week( a must see), and great BBQ there as well.

good luck,

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[JonJohn82]

Howdy,

I'm in the middle of getting my CFI from OU's flight school there on the same field. Airman flies one Duchess. I always here Duchess 6 4 Mike. I pretty much hear good things about Airman.

Jon

 

[JonJohn82]

Oh, eat at Ozzies in the terminal on OUN for breakfast.

 

[Snakum]

My first IR instructor - now at Shuttle America - went to Airman for his Comm/CFI/CFII/MEI, if I remember correctly. He had nothing but praise for the school, however, he did joke about many students getting actual off-airport landing experience. It appears they REALLY use the hell out of the aircraft there.

Anyone know how much $$$ for the CFI/II at Airman now?

Minh

 

[Hoghunter]

CFi/CFII is $4995, they offered it to me for $4500. Thanks for the advice everyone.

 

[dondk]

Another vote for Airmain.. and John Lair (if he is still there)... I got all three at Airman about 4 1/2 years ago. Took just under 3 weeks. Yes, the aircraft are tired and 1-2 unplanned landings happen every month. The DPE's/check airman are great and real fair. The ground school at the time was by far the best I had ever had.

 

[350DRIVER]

Clint Buhler is one of the DPE's who is pretty sharp as well. (if he is still there) Clint was pretty much responsible for yanking Bob Hoover's medical a few years back and has many stories that are pretty impressive, he spent years at the OKC fsdo. I think you will be quite pleased if you choose to go this route. It isn't the "easiest" program in the world but if you put the time and effort into the program then you should do just fine.


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[millhouse21]

Another vote for Airman. I did all three there a couple years ago. It was all "as advertised" and that seems to be pretty rare for flight schools.

 

[Catbert]

So I've been thinking about doing a CFI/CFII/ME there as well. Seen them around in the literature, online, etc for years. Anyone have any negatives about the place?

 

[350DRIVER]

So I've been thinking about doing a CFI/CFII/ME there as well. Seen them around in the literature, online, etc for years. Anyone have any negatives about the place?

The only negatives that I remembered would be a few boneheads that we had in class who were not up to par and kept holding the majority of us back from getting done quicker. You really need to go there with sharp instrument and flying skills as well as being sharp with regards to the knowledge areas and understanding the fars and aim, not too much to ask of you.... We had a few that were just below "average" and they had one he!! of a time making through with the set schedule, time constraints, etc, due to how this program is set up. They don't waste time nor will they hold your hand, you are either going to be successful or you will go home. They have no patience for people with attitudes and they will surely let you know that as a few in our class found out when they thought this would be a two week vacation ...Two or three ended up leaving after the first week and a few after that since they fell far behind and couldn't catch up. This program and flight school is by no means a "license factory" or "walk in the park", you will earn your tickets if you choose to go this route, nothing will be given to you at any point. I also would suggest not staying in the dorms (which is cheapest way) since the people from our class continued to complain about the noise and loud atmosphere there, a few ended up leaving and getting a hotel room during the second week due to them not being able to study at the dorms. Spend the extra money and get a hotel room which you will be happy that you did. I suggest the Ramada Inn, they will provide you with transportation to and from the airport every day.

The airplanes are older which is pretty much what you are going to find all across the board... The MX seemed quite good and I didn't have any problems with the equipment and didn't hear of anyone else in my group that had problems or concerns. My overall experience was very good and as I have previously stated in recent posts that I would go back there and do it all over again in a second if I had to do it all over again.

In comparison to ALLATP's and American Flyers I would not even think twice about this, go with Airman... I researched them all and there was a major difference and quite frankly I wouldn't even put the other programs on the same level as Airman.

I really cannot think of any other "negatives" with regards to this program other than maybe having the female oil wrastlin' more than one day a week at the bar in the Ramada.

good luck with your choice....

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[minitour]

Kind of a followup question...

Anyone have any feedback on the Instrument/Comm courses there?

Everything as promised?
Seems that 21,000 for Instrument though II is a good price and for only a few months that seems rather quick...thanks!

 

[jasonwb]

it is the poster child of Quickie Schools. did both I and II there in 01. if you know your stuff and are comfortable in the right seat before you go you will be done in no time. and if you really know your stuff you will probably teach the instructors a thing or two.

good luck!

 

[350DRIVER]

jasonwb,

If you are implying that the Airman CFI's are anything less than "good" then I must completely disagree with you... I did not see this nor have I heard anything along those lines with regards to the "quality" of instructors there. A good majority of the Airman instructors were basically hand picked and hired upon recommendations from the DE's/check airman. As previously mentioned, myself and three others (out of 15 or so) were offered a position with them upon completion of the program, so yes they are somewhat selective.... This was quite some time ago however, seems like a past lifetime but I can't imagine such a good/solid program going down hill and changing from what made them so successful in the first place.

it is the poster child of Quickie Schools.

I agree.... This is a successful and proven one and they sure have the CFI/II program down to a science.


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[bobbysamd]

Airman

Airman has been around for many years. I knew of it when I lived in Oklahoma City during the 1980s. The place does the job, and if you draw Bud Bricker as your examiner, you will be treated well and professionally. If you have the chance to fly to Ada, Bob's BBQ, within walking distance of the airport, cannot be beat.

Good luck with your training.

 

[350DRIVER]

Bob's whips up some very good BBQ, they also have one in the Ramada Inn. in Norman as well so that is another reason to stay at this hotel. This is the same as the one that is in Ada.

http://hometown.aol.com/RamadaNorm/restaurant.htm

Reason in itself to choose the Ramada....


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[BankAccount=0$]

Airman

I commented on another thread, but my experience with Airman was a very good one. They deliver as promised. What was posted before is very true though, be sharp on your instrument skills and you will do fine. I had a DE who was not one of the regular guys they use. My CFI add on oral was in excess of 6 hours (the guy actually said we needed a lunch break), but givin my background from where I went to school it wasn't too bad. You might not learn a whole lot of new info at Airman, but you will get what you pay for. It's been 5 years since I was there, but I'm sure things are still the same, you learn enough to get your ratings in school, but you really learn how to teach when you get your first students. Good luck to all who decide to pursue this path in your career, we all aspire to be captains someday, and being a CFI in my opinion is a really good base to build upon..........

 

[rumorhasit]

KNOW YOUR SH!T before you go and take your writtens before you go!!! Same price but worth it no stress about taking test...Our class got our cfii in 4 days (it was before holiday they wanted to go) Get some time in the right seat before you go... Overall pretty decent they live up to their word about guaranteed!!! for sure eat at the restaurant at the airport...Breakfast for $3.50 and dam good the lunch and dinner rock!!! They fly 172s and 172rgs the multi is more. the de's are pretty fair you get your cfii first along with foi crap so the oral is not too bad. my de allowed me to design my own oral exam...pretty interesting but make sure you know everything about the category....

 

[350DRIVER]

my de allowed me to design my own oral exam...pretty interesting but make sure you know everything about the category...

rumorhasit,

Let me guess, you did your "I-add on" with Clint? I had the same opportunity which I accepted... He offered this but mentioned that IF I accepted then there would be no margin for errors and I pretty much had to be well above standards during the oral and ride. He actually allowed two others and myself to design the flight portion of the checkride as well... I thought Clint was absolutely top notch and was pretty fair, first DPE that I ever met that wore a two piece suit for a checkride... You are right about the "know everything" part, one of the others who had the choice ended up busting the oral portion due to things that he did not know.

Earl Nash was the II check airman for our class, unfortunately he is no longer around due to the C421 accident that ended up ending a life. Were you around when this occured at OUN? The accident was about two months after our class had finished up.

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[rumorhasit]

rumorhasit,


Earl Nash was the II check airman for our class, unfortunately he is no longer around due to the C421 accident that ended up ending a life. Were you around when this occured at OUN? The accident was about two months after our class had finished up.

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no I was not there during this...what happened?

 

[350DRIVER]

no I was not there during this...what happened?

He was flying a C421 back into OUN and bit the bullet while on the LOC approach, tried to "sneak" in which didn't work... This C421 flight was in no way associated with Airman flight school. It is a long story...

I will try to find the final NTSB report, thought I had it saved but I do not..


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[100LL... Again!]

"They did a good job of teaching you what you needed to know to get through the checkrides. "

Troubling thought.

I'd rather go somewhere where they teach me what I need to know to be a good instructor. The implication here is that the real 'learning' will be done at the student's expense. How else should I take it?

CFI checkrides need to be toughened up a LOT. ATP too.

 

[TEXAN AVIATOR]

CFI checkrides need to be toughened up a LOT. ATP too.

Come take the initial CFI with the Houston FSDO, they are plenty tough. In general I'd have to agree but we call them the terminators here.

Fly safe,
TA

 

[rumorhasit]

anyone hear if the faa is ever gonna let DE's do the cfi...and not have to go to one of these schools or the fsdo

 

[350DRIVER]

anyone hear if the faa is ever gonna let DE's do the cfi...and not have to go to one of these schools or the fsdo

This practice is currently taking place present day... The FAA has X amount of days to schedule the ride and "IF" they are unable to do so then a DPE selected by the FAA and may do the initial CFI checkride. This occurs more in certain areas and a lot less in others. It basically depends on how busy the FSDO is at the time when you are "ready" to schedule....

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