Dare I ask - American Flyers?

[Metro752]

Anyone here ever deal with them? They keep calling me.

I asked them what their rates were, $185/hr for a 172 with instructor. $75/ hour for ground.

Why would anyone go to that, seriously, when places are 50-60 $$$$ an hour cheaper!?

 

[Mudworm]

"Dare I ask"


dare dare..............

 

[A1FlyBoy]

Metro,

Too bad your avatar isn't in 'motion'...

Up's and Down's...

 

[mrtoy2]

I have to admit that I am a product of the 'Flyers' machine. At one time, their product was very good (good instructors are the key as well as a well organized training program). I haven't dealt with them in a few years though. I instructed at their Chicago locations as well as Addison, Tx for two weeks. In general, their instructors were excellent but every school has their 10% rule. 'Flyers' ' forte is their instrument training program. It is what the school was founded on way back in the day. A very well organized program that is, not only easy to learn from, but easy to teach as well. The other well organized program that they have and is worth the money is their instructor training academy. At some locations they will let you "practice instruct" real students prior to your checkride. There is a way to minimize your training expenses with them though. During dual instruction, you can provide your own airplane (if you own one) or use theirs and then use a less expensive one for your solo work. (that saved me a TON of money!) We used to try to keep one student down to around 4 instructors meaning that you could get any one of 4 or 5 instructors any time your schedule allows for flight time. If you think about that for a moment, 4 different prospectives on one task might seem excessive but that can help you "get" something when you run into a mental barrier. 4 instructors helps you with scheduling flying time around your schedule, not your instructors. Again, I haven't been there in a while but I would advise you to talk to them. They usually did a good job of "weeding out" bad instructors. But beware, 'Flyers is there as a business first and a school second. That means you need to be careful with your finances (you need to do this no matter where you decide to spend your money on training as all schools and instructors are trying to make money). Not trying to scare you, just use common sense and you should be fine. Good luck and have fun training.

 

[Metro752]

If I were looking to fly there, this guy scared me off with $185/hr flight in a 172, and $75/hr. Yeah sure it's great for them and their instructors. I don't know. He said at least $11,000 for an instrument rating from scratch.

 

[scangadah]

182 per hour?
What is Don's kid racing again?

 

[siucavflight]

Why would anyone go to that, seriously, when places are 50-60 $$$$ an hour cheaper!?

You get what you pay for. While the other places might be 50 an hour cheaper the overall price is more. When you can get the rating done in half the amount of time American flyers actually comes out less expensive in the long run.

 

[millhouse21]

So, how much of that $75/Ground does the instructor get? $10?

 

[Pilot_Ryan]

You get what you pay for. While the other places might be 50 an hour cheaper the overall price is more. When you can get the rating done in half the amount of time American flyers actually comes out less expensive in the long run.

... which, even if that's true (I doubt it), doesn't amount to a hill of beans if the customer's looking to build time to move on to the next level. That money could have been spent building hours instead of AF's bank account.

 

[Metro752]

sweet avatar Ryan

 

[Ill Mitch]

So, how much of that $75/Ground does the instructor get? $10?

Something close to that. I was offered a job at AF many many moons ago (mid 90's) and was offered just over 8 bucks an hour. I declined.

 

[TDTURBO]

You get what you pay for. While the other places might be 50 an hour cheaper the overall price is more. When you can get the rating done in half the amount of time American flyers actually comes out less expensive in the long run.

Wrong, I got my private in 35 hrs flat and my instrument in 40 hood and 10 extra without the hood, it was a local FBO. It all depends on the effort of the student and his ability to find an instructor that moves fast and isn't along for the ride to build time. I ran into a few of those and dumped them immediately. Get into a structured program like 141?. It worked for me for my private and I did the rest of my ratings 61.

I

 

[siucavflight]

Wrong, I got my private in 35 hrs flat and my instrument in 40 hood and 10 extra without the hood, it was a local FBO. It all depends on the effort of the student and his ability to find an instructor that moves fast and isn't along for the ride to build time. I ran into a few of those and dumped them immediately. Get into a structured program like 135. It worked for me for my private and I did the rest of my ratings 141.

So Turbo you got your private in 35 hours at a 61 school?

I cant speak of what Flyers insturctors used to get paid only what they get now. It is a salary position that pays between 2400 a month to 3500 a month depending on how long you have been there.

Some programs work for some people and not for others. Yes the hourly rate is more, but anyone looking to build flight time winds up instructing or flying traffic something like that, the people who come to Flyers want in and out in as little amount of time as possible.

Again you get what you pay.

 

[Metro752]

Just asked a pal of mine if they really charge him $185, sure do, and they also have a 2% CREDIT CARD SERVICE CHARGE!!!!!

 

[TDTURBO]

So Turbo you got your private in 35 hours at a 61 school?

I cant speak of what Flyers insturctors used to get paid only what they get now. It is a salary position that pays between 2400 a month to 3500 a month depending on how long you have been there.

Some programs work for some people and not for others. Yes the hourly rate is more, but anyone looking to build flight time winds up instructing or flying traffic something like that, the people who come to Flyers want in and out in as little amount of time as possible.

Again you get what you pay.

No, I corrected that last post to mean 141, it can be done, at least 22 yrs ago.

 

[sqwkvfr]

182 per hour?
What is Don's kid racing again?

Alright, dammit!! Give it up!!

Where'd you find that avatar???

 

[Flechas]

Don't go there, they want too much money for what they can offer.

 

[Bluecruiser]

Anyone here ever deal with them? They keep calling me.

I asked them what their rates were, $185/hr for a 172 with instructor. $75/ hour for ground.

Why would anyone go to that, seriously, when places are 50-60 $$$$ an hour cheaper!?

Send me a PM if you wish and I will share some experiences with you regarding AF

 

[Bluecruiser]

So, how much of that $75/Ground does the instructor get? $10?

$12/hr

nice way to build moral and keep your experienced employee's around.....

 

[siucavflight]

$12/hr

nice way to build moral and keep your experienced employee's around.....

I believe that their instructors are salaried....

But I guess you know better. When I was getting my training there there were many instructors who had been there three or more years.