Anybody hear of Cleveland Air Sports Avaition?

[bernie19]

I am considering taking flying lessons around the Cleveland area and I am leaning towards Cleveland Air Sports Avaition http://www.clevelandairsports.com/index.html over American Flyers. I have read the post about American Flyers and there's some unsatisfied people on there. I have meet with all of the people at the school and I really like them. If anyone has gone there I'd appreciate any experiences you have had. Thanks

 

[freightdoggie]

I got my private at Cleveland Airsports, but that was a long time ago. Well about 7 years ago when I was in High School. I would suggest flying with Ray, a.k.a., Captain Taco. I cant remember his last name at the moment.

His office is right down the hall next to the women in aviation hall of fame there at BKL's terminal. He charges a little more, but it is probably worth, for the quality of instruction you will receive. If you go to him and tell him what your looking to do, Im sure he will try and work something out with you.

Let me know how it goes...
CAS is alright, they keep changing hands so much and overcharge out the butt.. Its not really worth it any more in my opinion. Go learn in a 152 at a smaller airport, unless money is no object for you, pay 100 an hour or more for a 172....

Hope that helps..

 

[bernie19]

freightdoggie, did you just get your private with them or did you go on to get your other ratings with them? I'm asking because I am thinking about changing careers and becoming a pilot. I have spoken with CAS and they said I can get my private, instrument, commercial, insrtuctor and then become an instructor to build up hours. I take it by your screen name that you fly for a freight company? How do you like flying as a career? Did it cost a lot for all the training and is it all worth it? I have so many qustion. Thanks

 

[freightdoggie]

I just obtained my private with them. Any flight school will take you through all your ratings. Whats your current career and age? I would prob just stick with what your doing and work on your ratings for fun. Go ahead and get your CFI. Depending on what age you are, maybe further....


I got the rest of my ratings at a state college. It was a lot of fun.. Expensive, but Im slowly paying it off..... slowly...

 

[bernie19]

That's what is making my decision to change careers so difficult. I'm 30 years old and an engineer/designer. But I'm not an official engineer, I don't have an engineering degree. So I'm not making $60,000 year like people think when I tell them what I do. I make $13/hour, that is OK in my book but money is not my main goal. I figure I can quit my fulltime job and work part time at my old job which is also in the engineer field and take lessons full time. I just got married but have no kids and no plans of kids in the near future. If flying doesn't work out I will still have my part time job under my belt.

 

[350DRIVER]

I seem to recall that they are quite expensive but they have all relatively new equipment. They also have (or had) a training school at CAK that was owned by the same person. Charles (Charlie) Wentz is a DPE there with them who is one of the sharpest in the business in my opinion, he is famous for 4 to 6 hour private pilot checkrides from start to finish, he leaves nothing out... If you got the money to burn and want to fly "newer" equipment then you probably cannot go wrong.


good luck,

3 5 0

 

[bernie19]

Yeah 350DRIVER, I really like the school and teh equipment but the problem is I don't have money to burn. I was planning on taking out a Avaition loan from Key Bank but I don't want to go into debt for the rest of my life to be a pilot. I am between Cleveland Air Sports or American Flyers which is cheaper here in Cleveland.

 

[350DRIVER]

understandable....


I do think the quality of American Flyers there at KBKL has been going downhill for quite some time though. I recently heard that they are also dropping the 141 and are going to be strictly just part 61. You also have another school at CAK that is much less expensive that you may want to look into. Skypark and others in the area also have flight schools that are cheaper so make sure you check into all options before making the final choice.


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[freightdoggie]

I would definetly check out Skypark and Wadsworth airports. I think you can do the whole deal much cheaper there then anywhere else.

Its not about how nice of equiptment you fly, as long as it is properly maintained, the FAA and your insurance company will both be satisfied.

 

[Jmmccutc]

I would definetly check out Skypark and Wadsworth airports.

i second the above statement...also about Airsports, PM me for me info, i know a handfull of the Instructor that used to instruct me, or go to school with me...lots of good folks there...equipment is new, but a bit expensive...

 

[Jmmccutc]

Bernie, just checking up to see if you happened to choose a place to fly? and if you got to meet any of the folks i told you about...

 

[bernie19]

Hey Jmmccutc, no I haven't decided yet. I won a free intro flight with Cleveland Air Sports and I was scheduled to go up saturday morning at 9:30 but the instructor canceled because of crappy weather. I haven't got a chance to meet any of the people you told me about but after my intro flight I want togo meet some of the other instructors. I checked out Skypark at Wadsworth on the internet but I have yet to go visit them. That would be about an hour and 15 minutes drive for me. I'd like to take my flying lessons 4 or 5 times a week so that would be alot of driving. But they are so much cheaper than Air Sports which is only 3 miles from me. So I have to decide if it's worth the drive or not.

 

[freightdoggie]

If your right downtown, you should check out Lorain regional, they have a flight school but I am not sure of the costs. Also, Lost Nation has flight school I think. Just down the street on 90.. Stay away from T&G though. Very shoddy operation. (If thats the only one there)

 

[bernie19]

freightdoggie, I'm actaully on the east side of Cleveland, about a 20-25 minute drive to downtown. That's a good idea, I forgot about the Lorain regional, thanks. I'll check them out too. I was looking into the Lost Nation Airport in Willoughby but I haven't been able to find any other flight school there besides T & G. I really didn't like them so I won't go there.

 

[EatSleepFly]

I heard just the other day that Cleveland Air Sports is either giving up or losing their 141 certification...anyone know if this is true?

I can also tell you from dealing with people there that LNN should be avoided. Skypark down in Wadsworth is cheap, but you get what you pay for. There's a school at Kent State Airport called Commercial Aviation. Its expensive, the owner is a cranky old guy, but the airplanes are nice (all hangered) and instructor availibility is good. There's a school at Portage County (29G) that has a couple of nice looking 172's...don't know anything about them though. I think there is a school at Ashtabula (HZY) as well, don't know how far that is from you but might be worth checking into. Also, down at Akron-Fulton (AKR) there is a 141 school called American Winds Flight Academy...its nothing spectacular, but decent (older) planes and better rates than others in the area.

Anyways, I live in the Akron-Cleveland area (not actively instructing right now though). If I can help you out at all, feel free to PM me. I know lots of people at different schools around here, and have even worked at one or two.

 

[Jmmccutc]

There's a school at Portage County (29G) that has a couple of nice looking 172's...don't know anything about them though.

this is where i come in...my buddy here don't know anything about 29G, so i'm gonna fill you in...i recomend you get two things before you fly are Portage Co.

1. power of atterney
2. **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED** good life insurance

there are a few great people there, and the CFI's are awesome, but one person keeps short cutting that place...don't go there...

 

[BankAccount=0$]

Having flown at or visited most of the NE Ohio flight schools, I'll give my opinion on the schools up here.

AirSports= lot's of money but nice aircraft. (Ray Brown Aka Capt. Taco) is as advertised. That guy really knows his stuff.....

T&G, I'm not sure what to say about Larry the owner. Ever since my first flight lesson I've always ben told to stay away, and especially never work for Larry.

NorthCoast Flyers, Owned by a great guy who used to be partners in Cleveland flight training before it closed down. He has some really experienced instructors working for him and his MX is excellent They are in the MillionAir hanger at BKL.

SkyPark, Well I'm not big fan of SkyPark, but they are fanatical about aviation. It's incredibly cheap to learn to fly there, but the A/C are old junk, and the airport leaves little to be desired. As a friend who flies out of there describes it "it's just Hillbillies with money crossed with a trailer park on an airport."

American Winds at AKR, owned by Deniese H. They seem legit and have a 141 program. Nice aircraft and facility and the staff always struck me as genuine.

Medina, I'm not going to say much as my opinion is going to be biased since I used to work there. They are affordable, and there are some good instructors. Bill B is a true professional CFI, he knows his stuff and has been teaching for 20+ years. Good people, and you pay as you go, no need to put a ton of money in an account "for your discounted rate" to build their bank balance.

Falcon Air flying club, This is a small flying club that a AMR Capt started at LNN. I went to check them out and was very surprised at how friendly the owner Chris was. His 172 is like brand new, and it has air conditioning. He intends to keep the club small so there won't be scheduling problems, and he has like 3 CFI's to work with. WWW.Flyfalconair.com is the web address.

That's my take on the schools that I personaly know about, the best thing you can do is go to each school and check them out. Remember that your first impression is usually the right one, and don't let anybody put the hard sell on for you to go to their school. And beware of the Key Bank loan.....they are more than happy to loan you more money then you'll realisticly be able to pay back working as a new Comm/CFI and as a regional FO after. Anything else drop me a PM.......... Good luck in your search,
TJ