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!

 

[Lead Sled]

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.

Believe it or not, this is essentially the way I did it as well. If you do some creative thinking (and have a bit of luck on your side) there are still ways to end up with good training without getting hosed in the process. The problem is that too many students don't really take a hard look at what their options really are.

When it comes to obtaining quality instruction you've got to understand that it's the instructor not the school that matters - PERIOD. The best training facilities and the newest training aircraft will never make up for a medocre or inexperienced CFI. Good CFIs are where you find them. They are not the exclusive property of the major schools. You can find them at local FBOs and freelancing. It's your career (and life) that you are talking about - find a good instructor then pay what it costs.

'Sled

 

[mpflies2]

I did the Part 61 FBO deal and I never had the money to pay per flight. So after 40 hours in 2 years (while in HS)...I decided to go to a 141 college, Averett University....not to expensive for the aviation part, but it was a private school so I spent like 65K after grants and such on a 4 year degree and all my ratings. Now I'm at Flight Safety in FL. doing my CFI because of its CFI program reputation and they'll pay for you CFII and MEI if you get hired and work for them for 800 hours.

I would absolutly not recommend Flight Safety for all your initial training...just the CFI. Yes you'll get done very quickly (roomie got his private in a little over 2 months...you'll get all ratings in about a year except a CFI) , but its gonna cost you anyhere from 70-100K....I spent that but also got a 4 year degree.

Whatever you do, if you get a bad instructor who isnt getting stuff done...switch...it will save you time and money in the long run. Don't forget. Your his boss, you pay him. (or her)

 

[pilotmyf]

Go to local FBO, get line job, recieve discount on flying, get CFI, work as CFI at FBO.........................save a ton of $.
You get a lot of knowledge just hanging out at an FBO!!!

 

[aviator1978]

First, be born to a rich family. This is the best flight training route. Doors will swing wide open for you. With this crucial prerequisite out of the way, any number of options are available to you.

You can go to college and fly. Poor trash has to work just to eat and pay tuition. Your part time job as a gopher at your daddy's friend's legal firm will pay for your training. Then you can say you worked your way through college and paid for training. Imagine!

You can secure an aircraft loan, and buy a plane to build time. All the other sorry loafers couldn't secure a car loan in HS, but no problem for you!

Go to an academy and be at the airlines in 6 months. All it takes is $70,000. No problem!

Go to the regionals, and make $20,000 / year. Don't worry, daddy will help on the first house payment.

The world is your oyster, just get out there and get it! don't forget the trust fund

Oh, if you can't meet the prerequisite, just go into another line of work. It will save your life.

 

[frog_flyer]

First, be born to a rich family. This is the best flight training route. Doors will swing wide open for you. With this crucial prerequisite out of the way, any number of options are available to you.

You can go to college and fly. Poor trash has to work just to eat and pay tuition. Your part time job as a gopher at your daddy's friend's legal firm will pay for your training. Then you can say you worked your way through college and paid for training. Imagine!

You can secure an aircraft loan, and buy a plane to build time. All the other sorry loafers couldn't secure a car loan in HS, but no problem for you!

Go to an academy and be at the airlines in 6 months. All it takes is $70,000. No problem!

Go to the regionals, and make $20,000 / year. Don't worry, daddy will help on the first house payment.

The world is your oyster, just get out there and get it! don't forget the trust fund

Oh, if you can't meet the prerequisite, just go into another line of work. It will save your life.

love it!