Getting my ratings

[left seat]

He said ft. Lauderdale Area.....Florida that is....Hey dude...Try Airline Transport Professionals..(ATP) they have a flight school at Ft. lauderdale and
from what I hear, ATP has the least complaints from students to Instructors...check em out. I live in florida myself and I'm due for my private checkride at the end of this month....I want things to go a bit faster myself...currently I''m in Tampa and I have to duke it out at local FBOs...I found an excellent instructor who used to teach type rating for American Airlines....I lucked out I guess because he could tell em everything the Airlines are looking for....As for Delta Connection the quality of instruction from what I heard is of high quality.

The price as you already know is higher than flight level 350.....
there are others you should avoid also that are near the ft. lauderdale area...
simply for your safety. I know what you're going through...I have the same problem...no help only a perfect credit score and the income does not support it.....(they were like, how did you do that?) anyway if you cannot go to a flight academy, do not waist too much time trying to decide what to do...get to a local ft. lauderdale FBO and just go for it.

Thanks for the info all. I was thinking of ATP, but it did not get the "great flight school vibe" when I talked to the instructors. Congrats on the almost private pilot certificate. Are you financing or paying flight by flight. If you obtained a loan, who did you get it with?....Will you continue your training there? Thanks.

 

[fried chickens]

First of all I don't recommend this career for anyone anymore. With that out of the way, how fast do you want to get to the airlines? All ATPs and Shebly's are pretty fast and you could go to one the carriers that hiring people with just a comm amel by the end of the year. Fly with them till you get enough time to go to skywest, republic, xjet or eagle then jump ship and you're young enough that the lateral move won't hurt.

If you take the quick route you'll be stuck at the regionals for a long time since you won't have your degree. Sounds like you want your education so look into the programs at colleges where get your cfi and instruct before you graduate. I think at ERAU you graduate with just a comm.

Isn't there a program at Jacksonville State? Checkout Arizona State mesa pilot program. I think you instruct your senior year there and no you won't have to go to mesa. Since you're paying it yourself, location shouldn't matter and go to place that meets your needs.

Basically, get your education, live the college life and get get real world experience. That'll mean more to you and be more helpful than being at a 141 school.

 

[VW Pilot]

Thanks for the info all. I was thinking of ATP, but it did not get the "great flight school vibe" when I talked to the instructors. Congrats on the almost private pilot certificate. Are you financing or paying flight by flight. If you obtained a loan, who did you get it with?....Will you continue your training there? Thanks.

Well at KVDF, (Vandenberg) they have Leading aviation...61 school. They have a Pilot finanace program but like all unsecured loan programs, they still
look at you income levels. My credit score was great...I'm working two jobs still..at KTPA as a ramp agent full time and part time as a BMW Service tech at my old job...I used my credit score to get credit cards with healthy spending limits. I was able to get three without hurting my score. So I charged them for aircraft rental and instructor fees. And just pay off the balances with the money I get from two jobs. Believe me it is very hard to find time to study...but if you really want it, you'll get there...I have no other choice. I simply didn't have enough income to score a loan. Now that I think of it, I''m glad I didn't get a loan because you have to pay it back(of course) with ugly interest rates. So I pay flight by flight with plastic. One downside is that if I max out, I have to wait until I can pay again.....Also check out Professional flight training ...it's somewhere in Ft. Lauderdale. I had been to all the sanford flight schools. no luck....including DCA. So far this is working for me. not going as fast, but I'm not sitting still. The fact that you are looking for a great flight school is ok....but if I were you this is what I'd look for.....A knowlegeable flight instructor,(establish a friendship or make sure you two can sit in the plane without giving each other right hooks) aircraft in great condition and enough of em, great aircraft maintantence, structured program, fair pricing.....if you think that is worth the price you are paying then pay....don't look for the cheapest of the cheaps or you'll get just that but don't let anyone "Milk" you. Sheble from what I hear is great but not in Ft Lauderdale...... feel free to IM me. If I can, I'll try and give you more ideas....