Higher Power Aviation
I frequently add my thoughts on this issue so pardon if I sound reptitive to those who have heard this before. The schools mentioned are all certified and all have had graduates get hired by SWA, AirTran & other major carriers. If dollars are your number one concern, then the choice becomes easy....look at the bottom line & make the call.
If you are considering other factors, then I'll offer my perspective. I received my type from one of the schools mentioned. Great folks, good instruction, but the day I fiinished was the last day I heard from them....nothing wrong with that, it was a business transaction only. They were under no obligation to provide me with any other services. I didn't pursue anything with them....I didn't sense they desired that & the concept of "networking" was foreign to me. Nor were they in a position to help me very much in terms of reaching my goal of getting with Southwest.
Having gotten to know Joe & Mark at HPA over the last 4.5 years I will say the following:
1. They are interested in you before, during and after you attend the course. they & their entire staff.
2. They provide continued support through newsletters, repeat visits to HPA, counseling from their staff on choices/options, job fairs, they put on around the country in conjunction with other carriers (I'm not saying other type schools don't do this, I'm just not aware of it if they are)
3. The culture I experienced at my type school was professional & direct. Capable instructors but at the end of the day, that was all I received. The culture at HPA is truly unique, somewhat "southwest like" in my opinion. Describing it much more difficult to someone who hasn't attended there; for those who have attended there, everyone is nodding their head right now saying "yea, it is unique".
4. Use of the latest technology and learning tools to make the process efficient and insuring successful (yes one still has to do homestudy but I think it would be much easier than under the system I went through).
5. As an instructor myself some years back at HPA, I know how challenging a job it is to be a platform instructor. The individuals highlighted already on here at the other schools I'm sure re aof that same quality as found at HPA...I will simply say you won't be disappointed at HPA....no question about it, they're among the finest in the business anywhere.
6. Lastly....flying to me is as much about relationships as it is about the thrill of flying. While some maybe turned off with a class size of 10-15 (I had 3 in my class & having seen both, I would've preferred now to have been a larger class), HPA has small & large classes but the "relationships" you develop with your classmates regardless of class size & the ones developed with the HPA staff will last for as long as you desire them too. They are a class act. But the relationship you develop with Mark,Joe & the staff is even more important & significant in my opinion.
7. As said earlier, SWA hires from all type schools but having the opportunity that comes quite frequently with having folks from SWA visit HPA periodically (they do at K&S quite often, don't know about the others) always helps you to understand what SWA is all about. If they are your final destination, having as much exposure to them as possible can't be a bad thing in my opinion.
8. Lunch at the "ball park" on Thursday, "floats" on Wed, pizza on Monday & return invite anytime you're in town to visit....not bad.
Again if price is the major concern, disregard all of the above. However, if you want more than just a type, in my mind I'd recommend talking to Sandy at HPA & find out for yourself. Good luck regardless of which school is your choice....again the others are great schools & will get you the type, they are run by honest & fair folks from what I know of them....these are just the thoughts of an FO with SWA....