Flight training delimma

[xshuttlefa]

Looking for some input here. I am going to go for my CFI and more then likely CFII. I was going to do the training at the local school here (Pittsburgh Flight Training at KAGC) in Pittsburgh, where I have gotten all my ratings over the past ten years. The problem is that airplanes are hard to get, since the fleet of aircraft they have are shrinking (they are retiring the 152's). Supposedly, new planes are on the way, but I've been hearing that for two years.

So I was considering going to American Flyers or ATP to do CFI:

AmFlyers: Lowest cost and they have a school in Cleveland and I have a brother who lives in Akron, so it could save me some in lodging. But I just re-read the email they sent me. They don't offer a CFI "Academy" style environment in Cleveland. They can offer me a "custom designed course", which to me sounds like one on one Part 141 training. Which I could do here, but it would take longer.

ATP: More expensive, but shorter in duration. Also, no locations really close by, so it would involve travel and a hotel, adding to the true cost.

Runner-up: Pan Am Flight Academy. They have a location at Beaver Falls (KBVI) which is about 45 minutes from me. Not keen on making that drive ( I did it for a year) but if it will save me money and time, I'm not against it.

I have finally made up my mind to attempt to make a living at flying, I'm just trying to get a flying job the quickest WITHOUT going to any PFT or PFJ. I could do that if it came down to it, but there's a stigma attached to that, besides the cost and the further "Wal-marting" of our world. And around here, there's really only the CFI to build time.


Thanks for any advice!

 

[Tonala2k]

I think both ATP and American Flyers are great schools. I had a $50k lesson in Florida some years back at a school called ATA. Burned me real good for about a year and a half before I started training again. ATP and American Flyers both treated me real well. When I spoke to Pan Am the only thought through my head was "Run Forrest. Run!"

Here's what happened. They asked for the money upfront (many schools do). Same thing ATA did. I Said I wasn't comfortable putting that much money up (the minute they have your money, you lose control). The person on the other end was flabbergasted that I was asking about installments. My mentality. It's my money. I'll give it to you when you give me a service worthy of it. The reps attitude wasn't one of "I understand... let me see what I can do to help" Rather dead silence on the phone. That was akward. ATP has a writen refund policy and assets to back it up. AmFlyers were real down to earth excited

Further more. Don't loook twice at a school if you're talking to someone other than the school's CFI's. If a school needs to hire outside marketing/sales reps, somethings wrong.

I hope this helps.

 

[rickair7777]

The AF CFI academy can be a great deal, but expect to pay for more aircraft time than what is included in the package.

One-on-one instruction at AF is some of the most expensive in the country...and their CFI's have only 500 hours and make $8 like everybody else.