Anyone Knows American Flyers ??? GOOD/BAD

[Thomas_n]

Im looking a attending American Flyers CFI ACADEMY....
Anyone knows BAD/GOOD about the School.
Hope to hear from people.
Thanks

 

[bobs98tlr]

My private pilot instructor was from American flyers, so was his girlfriend, and her sister. I use to ride motorcycles with him and his old flight instructor that was at flyers, along with SEVERAL other people im good friends with. Its a good place. They went to the one at Palwakee airport in Chicago. They are VERY expensive and want lots of money for their training but you benifit from it to if your a fast learner. If i remember right, my old flight instructor spent alittle over $40k at American Flyers but went PPL-CFI in alittle over 5 months.

 

[Vik]

I've *heard* that they are

1) Expensive
2) Quality of training can vary *greatly* from location to location.

Whatever you decide, don't cough up huge deposits to any school. So if it isn't working out, you move on.

 

[flyer172r]

I looked into doing the CFI academy, decided against it. I did my pvt at Flyers, don't count on your "team" of instructors knowing anything about your progress. I wouldn't recommend them.

The academy was 8 am to 5 pm 7 days a week, so be prepared to eat, sleep, and breathe lesson plans

 

[RSixer]

I recommend it.

I did the CFI Academy back in 2000 at the Pompano Beach location, it took a little longer than they say it will and more than likely more flight time too, but I had a great time and learned alot. Just remember it's definetly not going to be spoon fed to you. You will have to do your part, they are your ratings and if you want them this course will get them for you. Looking back I would do it agian, and I didnt eat, sleep the material, I just studied it and I had no problems. Good Luck.

 

[eddie]

I did the CFI academy in 95 at SMO, I learned alot. I was surprised at the things I didn't know before attending a course like that. I did all my previous training at the local FBO, and the class atmosphere made learning the material much easier than any of my previous ratings.

They are expensive, but I believe I received my money's worth.

 

[Crosswind79]

Taught at Flyers for about 15 minutes.....Save your money and your sanity...The one in Chicago was actually under investigation by the FAA...Why do you think that now every single first time applicant has to take their CFI checkride with an inspector??? Because of the "buy your ratings" program at Flyers....The feds 709'd 20 of their newly certificated CFi's and all 20 busted within 30 minutes of the flight...Even made the front page of the Chicago Tribune

They are the type that try to take intro rides up in solid IFR out of PWK...The Chief actually told me that Chicago approach wouldn't mind....Thats right, the head flight instructor said this.....Need I say more.....?

I won't even mention their interpretation of known icing conditions.....

 

[siucavflight]

Taught at Flyers for about 15 minutes.....Save your money and your sanity...The one in Chicago was actually under investigation by the FAA...Why do you think that now every single first time applicant has to take their CFI checkride with an inspector??? Because of the "buy your ratings" program at Flyers....The feds 709'd 20 of their newly certificated CFi's and all 20 busted within 30 minutes of the flight...Even made the front page of the Chicago Tribune

They are the type that try to take intro rides up in solid IFR out of PWK...The Chief actually told me that Chicago approach wouldn't mind....Thats right, the head flight instructor said this.....Need I say more.....?

I won't even mention their interpretation of known icing conditions.....

Why would Chicago approach mind? The instructor was instrument rated right?

Sounds like someone maybe has a grudge. Maybe got fired?????????? I couldnt imagine why with such wonderful explinations of adverse yaw and all. http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?t=45386

 

[Crosswind79]

Not Fired....I walked out after 15 minutes


Maybe you didn't read it all, or maybe you've never been to ORD in solid IFR....The wanted me to take up someone with no experience and let him fly in solid IFR - Not to mention how close PWK is to ORD there is no way I would get a block of airspace to use unless I flew at least 20 miles away....Did mention this was in November when the Temp on the surface was 02 Celsius and the overcast layer was around 9000 feet thick???

No grudge either, I got all my ratings from a University where you had to learn before you were passed, not just fork over a wad of cash......We even had an instructor that went through the program at the Chicago Flyers teach with me at the University I graduated from - He lasted one week and broke about 20 different regs....Claimed to never know they existed - But who could blame him??? They were those obscure regs like required VFR day equipment and actually signing your student off BEFORE going solo and not after....

It's nothing personal, Flyers is just a plain old S H I T school to go to....At least the one in PWK is.....

 

[siucavflight]

When did you work there?

 

[blacksheep]

Thomas n :

Everyone has their own war stories and experiences. The only way you're going to find out anything about any school is to give them a call/visit and just see if things make sense. There is no one "wise old man" out there who is going to have all of the answers about all flight schools. Do some research and see what turns up. Just my thoughts.

Good Luck!

 

[Thomas_n]

Thanks for all your reply's i am gonna take the CFI/CFII academy and se how it goes. Expencive....maby but to get your CFI/CFII for 3999 is an OK price...incl 20 hours of RG TIME.
Yes i might be able to find it cheaper but OHH WELL.... Life is too short. Again Thanks.

(Crosswind79 vbmenu_register("postmenu_487993", true); )

I dont really know what you are Crying about.... I live in North Dakota, its cold and lots of snow and so on.....YES YES i have only 270 hours but i learned my flying by doing....Whats wrong about going into SOLID IFR With an Instructor....
YOU LEARN BY DOING!!! OK you have to think now and use your brain and look for ice on you wing but you know what.....i think i've been in worse situations the you could think off ( try a pa 38 with high T-TAIL) My instructor found it VERY important to GET into SOLID IFR and see how It would make me think...
Yes i didnt have my IFR but he did and i sure hope that an ifr CFI knows how to handle the Aircraft in IFR...Got ice on the aircraft but he showed me what to do and he showed me to relax and take it easy...
So many students fly in the South, and get the theory about IFR and ICING but NEVER try the REAL DEAL....They get their change when they have to fly to the north one day and for the first time Really get into the real deal....
I am pretty sure you NEVER tried icing and my oh my you will get your work cut out when it happens the first time....YES NEVER DO SOMETHING STUPID, and do not plan a 250 mile Cross/X in to known icing and solid IFR, but flying around the airport and learn is the best way to do it...i can say for my self that i know how to get an aircraft down Safe even with icing on my wings, cos i tried to get to thet point....getting into a cloud aint gonna kill you if you know what you are doing, getting into a cloud NOT knowing what to do may kill you...
Maby You didnt know how to act as an CFII in solid IFR, and that was the problem...
My learning in SOLID IFR was that the Aircraft aint gonna go down in 1 sec if you get ice on your wing... You still got time to think and use your brain...Getting icing on the Aircraft, is BAD but not worse then that you are able to make it out of it.....

 

[Flyin Tony]

Maybe you didn't read it all, or maybe you've never been to ORD in solid IFR....The wanted me to take up someone with no experience and let him fly in solid IFR - Not to mention how close PWK is to ORD there is no way I would get a block of airspace to use unless I flew at least 20 miles away....Did mention this was in November when the Temp on the surface was 02 Celsius and the overcast layer was around 9000 feet thick???

Thomas_n
So if your sayin you would take up a intro in the clouds and most of all a layer thats 9000ft thick and start to pick up ice around 3,000ft in a 172

your a flat a$$ nut case!!

-TONY

 

[Thomas_n]

Thats not what i ment about it....

What i mean is READ your METAR, if there is known icing, dont be DUMB....
But taking up into Solid IFR whats the Problem... you dont have to fly into the middle of a cloud.... but you are able to get solid IFR in the lower layer....And then IF!!!!! you should incounter ICEING you Should as a CFII have the knowledge to get out of it....
So what i ment was NO dont FLY INTO KNOWN icing, but it dosent hurt to fly in SOLID IFR

 

[flyer172r]

I think his point was that while existing students do need real IFR training, it may not be the best thing to take prospective students for an introductory flight into IFR. Most intro flights are generally in good, calm weather so that the prospective student has a nice, relaxing, fun time. Once the student has some experience then yes, showing them actual IFR is a very good thing. But when taking somebody for their first flight, I think it's generally better to do it on a good day.

 

[350DRIVER]

save your money..

If you want a good, solid, and quick program then look into the CFI/II program at Airman Flight School. It is the best one out there in my opinion. You can finish up in about two weeks if you stay on them and put the time and effort in on your end.

http://www.airmanflightschool.com/pricing.htm