Ari Ben Vs FSA ? Help !

[thebot]

I have some questions in general.. I was told (that sometimes people (employees) from other schools will come here and post negative stuff about their competitors in hopes that it will sway people / customers away) - I'm sure the reverse could be said too where people can / could post wonderful things about their own school - some of which may or may not be true)

So i'm hoping that i'll get some honest answers here from students / graduates of such institutions... I just don't want any corporate / company fluff but rather honest answers and opinions.

So i have some questions:

Basically, if my goal is to get to the regional's what is the best school to get there between Flight Saftey and Ari-ben?

Have graduates from Ari Ben had sucess getting onto the regional airlines? On average how many people that you know personally got hired on by the regional's from Ari Ben? If so how many hours did you/they need?

If you did get hired, were you wll prepared for the interview? From what i've been told FSA grads typically are well prepped from the day they graduate for regional interviews. I want to know if the same applies to Ari Ben?

Does Ari Ben have any alliances, or contacts with the regional's? If so which? If not, does this make a big difference in the hiring process?

Does the school matter? Are flight schools "graded" like Ivy league college verses state schools etc? (Basically, do well known schools look better on a resume?) - I'm sure that all depends on the interviewer, but in general I'd like to know that when i'm applying to a regional carrier if going to (blank school) verses (blank) school makes a difference?

Ari Ben is considerably less expensive when compared to FSA so I would like to know what things do you feel were missing form this school? (Training, # of airplanes, simulators, instruction, etc...)

I know many people on here dislike the regional carriers for their pay etc.. and while I agree.. i'm going into it with the mind set that it is a means to an end (getting to a major).

I have a few family members that are pilots at the majors, but unfortunately they don't have much advise for me on this because they were trained in a different generation (where all schools were FOB's) , and but they are advising me to attend more of an academy like school. (I already have a degree, and i'm almost done with my masters) So, i'm used to structured learning and thus, the part 141 school is more appealing to me. That said, cost is a factor. I have some savings, so i'm in a position where saving as much of that savings is a factor, but I still want quality training, and have the best chances for a regional job when I graduate.

Cost does make Ari ben more attractive. But I want to see proof from the students that they are achieving their career goals within a reasonable time after graduation.

My relatives are very concerned that given my age (late 20's) that going to a smaller unknown school might not get me my first job as quickly as someone who did attend one of the more well known schools.

Thanks in advance for all of your help...

 

[siegelaviation]

It has nothing to do with the school you go to. If you want to make it to the regionals, just get the requisite amount of hours, apply, and get hired. No airline really cares if you went to FSA, Ari-Ben Aviator, ATPs, Embry Riddle, or Joe and Pappy's Flight School. The whole "connection" and "interview" with airlines when you complete the large schools program is just a marketing ploy. Spend less money and go with a local school.

Shoot me an email at [email protected] and I can point you in the right direction.

Michael

 

[Kream926]

i work with a guy that went to sCari ben and he had nothing good to say

 

[TRpilot]

check out my online journal. its about my flight training and experiances at FSA. http://trpilot.tripod.com/flightsafety/

send me a message if you want any specific info on flightsafety. I dont really know anything about ari-ben though, sorry.

 

[mcjohn]

Ari Ben has an alliance with Colgan. Great way to dive head first in the regionals. After completing thier program you will instruct for them. If not accepted you may be screwed if you can't find an instruction opportunity elsewhere. They have their issues with the planes and all but ultimately that's what saves YOU money. FS is EXPENSIVE and may ruin you financially so be careful. Going to an expensive place is far from neccesary and tends to make the transitions easier for the trust fund kids. You will NOT be able to afford paying your loan payments and rent etc. going into an entry level regional for the first couple of years. You will not make it to the regionals for at least 2.5 to 3 years from the start of your training at best.

Don't fly exclusively to make it to the majors. Fly to fly and prepare for poverty. After doing that for A WHILE you may get lucky and live your dream (if you make the right friends.)

Also, don't trust anyone's accounts of their experience at any training program. Their is NO generalization. It's all about the individual.

AND FOR THE LOVE OF GOD! Try to figure out a way to stay out of debt doing it. Seriously.

 

[Visceral]

It seems you've narrowed your choice to these two. If I were you, I'd go visit both schools. Talk to the students and CFIs currently there. If your decision is based entirely on saving money, your local FBO will beat BOTH ARI BEN and FSA.

 

[thebot]

Thanks everyone for your help.

I'm still considering all of my options. I've seen FSA, RAA, and DCA. And overall given the price between the 3 along with the campus, aircraft, and professionalism, FSA wins.

I still would like to see Ari-Ben, and possibly a few other schools but i'm hoping to make my choice in the next few weeks.

 

[Metro752]

ATP http://www.atpflightschool.com/index.html

Ari Ben's costs are not fixed, the website price is just the very basic minimum requirements. From what I was told, it will be nearly 10,000 or more.

 

[rtmcfi]

It seems you've narrowed your choice to these two. If I were you, I'd go visit both schools. Talk to the students and CFIs currently there. If your decision is based entirely on saving money, your local FBO will beat BOTH ARI BEN and FSA.

I have a tough time believing the local FBO can sniff Ari Ben when it comes o twin time. Ari Ben and ATP are tough to beat when it comes to multi time.

I would recommend that the thread starter do a couple of things. First off, when you get your medical, have an EKG done. You would hate to spend a whole bunch of money, only to lose your medical at 35. Next, I would recommend you get your private at the local FBO. Before you put yourself on the hook for a bunch of money, see if flying is really your thing.

Once you have your private in hand, call up Ari Ben, or ATP and finish off your ratings. They will get you done quickly, and for a great price. You will want a bunch of muli-time to get hired anywhere. Once you are done with all of your ratings, go instruct for a while. Instructing will make you a better pilot, and more importantly, it will teach you a great deal about getting along well with others in the cockpit. Getting your private at one location, and finishing up elsewhere will show you there is more than 1 way to skin a cat in aviation. Nothing is more irritating, than a pilot fresh out of any academy that has had that academy's philosophy drilled into them from day 1. There are lots of ways to get the job done!

These days, you should be able to accomplish the above in around a year. Good luck, and feel free to PM me.....

 

[Visceral]

Ari Bens "Professional Pilot Program" gives you 200 hours for $34,000. Very oversimplified, but if my FBO charges $100/hr X 200 hours = $20,000. I think I might be able to find quite a few FBOs that don't charge near that much. Use the money remaining to get twin time on the side while instructing full time. You need multi, but you need total time as well.