Best flight training route

[kkholidaze]

Hello. I just wanted to know the best (and cheapest) route to get to the airlines. FBO? Part 61 or 141 (do they care in the interview?) From what I read, it's not DCA. Maybe Flight Safety? Please advise.

 

[Slice121]

Hello. I just wanted to know the best (and cheapest) route to get to the airlines. FBO? Part 61 or 141 (do they care in the interview?) From what I read, it's not DCA. Maybe Flight Safety? Please advise.

www.prairieairservice.com

 

[RockbrigadePC1]

Research the schools and FBOs you are thinking of. Look at the maintenance and personnel, then the costs. Try them out and see which one is best for you. Best is such a relative term because what someone likes, someone else is going to hate.

 

[Amish RakeFight]

www.prairieairservice.com

Heard lots of good things about this place. Was considering them at one point but decided to stay locally.

Judging from their website they are a pretty organized flight school and you will most definately get individualized and proper instruction. Sounds like a good place to earn at least one of your ratings.

Check them out.

Aside from money issues, which some 141's may be cheaper for what you get, I prefered the part 61 route as it allows a more diverse environment. Getting your ratings piecemeal can be more advantageous in terms of experience. You'll meet new pilots new people, fly all sorts of different planes and fly in different environments.

My advice is to get your ratings at differnt places and in different aircraft all while part 61.

Remember, a lot of 141's just want to "guarantee" you a rating for a set price, they dont necessarily care if you learn anything. A lot of their instructors are time builders quickly moving on and the volume of students make it difficult for them to give individualized instruction and to care too much. You might get a rating, but don't count on learning a whole lot.

Don't be swayed by guaranteed offers of interviews at regionals either. A lot ofthese places cost a lot and there are not gurantees.

 

[nosehair]

Whaddayawanna go to the airlines for? Anyway, it doesn't matter at this point where your dreams are...UNLESS you don't really want to learn to fly, you just wannabe an airline pilot.

No, it doesn't matter at the interview where you went to school. Learn a little more about flying, ie. get a private. While working on your instrument and such, you will become a little more familiar with the working world of aviation and may decide airlines are not for you.

The point is...you can't make that decision now.

Big schools make their dirty money on mis-informed newbies like you with their big hollywood ads. They are appealing to the dream - not the reality.

 

[schoolio]

I just got hired here, so I gotta make the obligatory plug...

www.tailwindflight.com

 

[siegelaviation]

First, buy a plane. Something like an AA1C for 25k-35k would be nice. It will be a good trainer and will get you places faster than a 152. Next, find an area with cheap fuel, cheap mtx, and a cheap tie down. It also helps if you can find a job somewhere in that city. Speed through your aviation education. When you are done building hours, sell the plane and hopefully it has held value or typically, increased in value. If you do it this way, here is a breakdown of costs assuming you could accomplish everything (Private, Instrument, Commercial, CFI, CFII)in one year:

$3500 Down payment for plane
$3600 ($300 per month loan payment)
$1200 for insurance
$6105 for fuel (my home field is $3.70 per gallon for Avgas)
$540 for one year's tie down
$2000 for mtx issues (that is a liberal amount for this type of plane)
--------
$16945

The only additional costs are instruction, aviation supplies, and checkride fees. Oh, and you sell your airplane when you are done with it and get you money back! Beats paying 65k-80k and only getting some pieces of paper at the end. Oh, and here is a dirty little secret: You have just a good a chance getting hired by the airlines going this route as you do going to one of those big academies! And you won't be totally in debt when you do get hired!

I have had many clients do this exact plan and it ALWAYS works out. PM me or email me at [email protected] if you are interested.

Michael

 

[Rogue5]

If I had to do it all over again, I go through the military.

On of those deals where you interview for a slot and after college go in the Guard or Reserves.

Seems like its the best deal around.

 

[Flyguy6]

First, buy a plane. Something like an AA1C for 25k-35k would be nice.

You make it sound like paying $25-35K is no big deal. Thats a major investment

 

[siegelaviation]

And 85k to go from 0 time to jet right seat isn't? At least you have a plane to sell at the end instead of just a few pieces of meaningless paper and an 25k a year F/O job. And compare what you pay per month owning rather than renting. You save money owning. It's the same as renting an apt vs. owning a house. It is all about equity. And the majority of people with good credit and a downpayment can get a loan for a 25-35k dollar airplane. Try getting a Sallie Mae loan for 85k!