Flight Training Options

[bobbysamd]

Flight Schools

You don't necessarily have to go to an airline-sponsered school to make it big in aviation. What you want is a school which will give you good training, name recognition, and perhaps provide some connections. Training considerations should be paramount.

I'll suggest, again, FlightSafety Academy in Vero Beach, Florida. I worked there ten years ago. I had some issues with management, but no issues at all with the training. The place carries great name recognition in the business and has connections. It also carries a big price tag, but I feel that you get what you pay for.

I instructed at ERAU, where Riddle Momma went to school. ERAU offers a great academic education for pilots, but going through the flight training program can be a struggle. FIT, where I believe Ali goes to school, is also a good program, on a par with Riddle.

I also instructed at Mesa Airlines' school, which is one of the referenced airline-sponsered flight schools. It has a good program, too, and, of course, the possibility of interviewing with Mesa Airlines with only 300 hours of flight time. However, it could be a long time between interview and class when you should be out flying and maintaining your proficiency. Also, there might be some labor issues at Mesa that could impact new MAPD grads.

Now's a good time for you to train, so you can be ready for when pilot hiring improves, which it will. Good luck with your plans.

 

[172driver]

Bobby,

I think it's great that you represent your alma mater well but do you notice there are no current FSI people singing the praises? Last I heard there was about a 1.2/1 student/CFI ratio, CFI's flying 10 hrs a month, 10 month wait for employment, etc. Just putting it out there. Maybe some FSI guys/gals can comment?

 

[bobbysamd]

Clarification

I didn't take my training at FSI. I was hired from outside. Looking back, I wish I had trained at a place like FSI or something like Riddle instead of at my local airport with private instructors. There was quite a bit of learning that I didn't receive at the time. I should have received that learning.

I indeed realize that there's a major backlog of FSI-trained CFIs waiting for their chance. But, that's probably true at the moment at most every commercial flight school that hires from within. Maybe Comair is an exception. Just the same, the time will come when all that will change because it always does.

A couple things I'd mention that I liked about all three schools I mentioned were their emphasis on SOPs. Each had a slightly different philosophy about standardization, but all had the same goal. ERAU in Prescott emphasized flows. I never heard of "flows" until I started working there. FSI emphasized checklists and profiles. The spin training and unusual attitudes training were big plusses. Mesa emphasized the line-oriented flight training philosophy based on its procedures. I know that Comair has the same emphasis. Acquiring a thorough indoctrination in SOPs will only benefit you when you take the major leap from instructing in simple airplanes to being part of a crew in more complicated equipment.

Once again, good luck with your choice.

 

[Chunk]

FSI

Okay...as a FSI student, I'll 'sing' some praise....

It's a great school and I couldn't be happier. The industry sucks all over, but the training is second to none.

Chunk

 

[cryodon]

hey dbone

I would recommend going to an FBO for your private.
There are many qualified instructors to help you get this done in a cost effective and timely manner.

See if you like flying first before hooking in with anyone for large sums of money.

I checked out AF a few years ago and they wanted twice the amount of money for my commercial over what I paid my local FBO.


Monty

 

[aldassy]

I am biased towards local FBO's because that how I went through my training. I put in a lot of effort and I think I got my moneys worth at the end. I am a CFI at the school now and things are great.
I have known some instructors from the local AF chapter that have either quit or were laid off when it shut down. None have anything really positive to say about the school. (Although they are probably biased too!)
One of the students here went to Comair after his private training. He wrote to us recently and expressed his extreme regret. The school has all his money now and he does not feel like he can back out. He felt like they did a great job recruiting and advertising, but when he got there he was treated like a number. The faster he gets through his ratings the more money the school makes, so there is no real interest in quality just speed. He has been disappointed by the whole experience so much that he does not really care to work for Comair once he graduates so any advantage he had by training there is now meaningless to him. Again just another .02 but I though I'd throw it out there.
The bottom line is that you will get out exactly what you put in. An excellent attitude and a good work ethic can make up for most shortcomings in your school. Good luck with your training!