Got academy/ab-initio program experience

[Av8trxx]

I'd like to get some personal responses from those who have attended 'big name' schools like Comair Academy, Pan Am, Sierra Academy, Flight Safety, Gulfstream Academy, Mesa Pilot Develpoment, Westwind ect on a "fast track to the regional airlines" type of program.

What was the approx. cost of your program? More than expected?

What were you promised? Did you get it?

If you got hired, with what carrier? Did all your classmates get jobs too or just interviews?

Would you do it all over again or take a different route?

What would you say about your school to an aspiring pilot?

Since these places cost about twice what you would pay to train at a local flight school, what was the real advantage to you? When I talk about flight training with would-be-aviators, academy type programs are a common subject. I am looking for some real world experiences I can relay to help them decide what might be best for them.

 

[RedheadCFI]

AV8- Pan Am

Hey there,

I attended Pan Am Intl. in Ft. Pierce, FL. The school was great because I got a lot of real time flying, graduating my instrument with 11 hours of actual, however, it is an expensive program. I was planning on going to a university so I did not complete the "ab-initio" program that consists of the ACE pilot prep segment, therefore I was not offered any employment help/bridging. It did cost a lot more money but the training I recieved was very good, and I ended up doing most of it in a multi which you will find later is crucial. After completing the course I applied at the University I am attending now as a CFI part time and they picked me up without ever doing any training here which is very rare for this university. Overall, I'd say it put me a few steps ahead getting the extra multi time, flying brand new airplanes with GPS, and going through their extensive ground schools. -Nick

 

[FlyingToIST]

Av8trxx,
I am not trying to sound like mean or anything, but what is a "real world experience"? I got my ratings in local flight schools while I was working full time. I also attended a fast track CFI program of a well known school with that market segment, and even though I got my ratings well, I didn't like the flying in that place..

These places get you paying a lot of money with phrases like "ab initio training" or "real world experience" , "we will interview everyone" .. Well, whoopdeedoo, I will interview everyone too, but how about hiring?

The "ab initio" programs are joke, because they are not ab initio programs. The real ab initio program is what LH does out in Arizona, or what CrossAir academy used to do when Swiss was needing pilots..

Looking at the things that are going these days, get your real world flying experience by going through a local flight school, making a living on something other than aviation, and flying in real world with real students.. Try to teach a 40 year old company VP who has always been right hoe to fly; or a 20 year old Lexus driving kid who wants to fly "just to get laid" .. (oh I got nice students besides all these though).. Try getting on with a cargo carrier hauling boxes at night.. None of these money suckers are offerring that.. Is their world real, or is it just me living in a virtual flying environment?

All the best to ya!!

 

[Av8trxx]

"Looking at the things that are going these days, get your real world flying experience by going through a local flight school"

I am not talking about flying experience (per se), but about 'real world academy student experiences'. And I agree about going local, but prefer clubs over schools personally.

"These places get you paying a lot of money with phrases like "ab initio training" or "real world experience" , "we will interview everyone" .. Well, whoopdeedoo, I will interview everyone too, but how about hiring?

EXACTLY! I want to hear from people who have paid their good money to attend an academy and what they actually thought of it when they were done.

Were their promises kept? Was it worth the money? Would you recommend the experience?

"The "ab initio" programs are joke, because they are not ab initio programs. The real ab initio program is what LH does out in Arizona, or what CrossAir academy used to do when Swiss was needing pilots.. "

They may very well be a "joke" to many of us, but how many are still running to sign up for them based on all the ads in Private Pilot, Flying or AOPA every month???

Personally, I have never been one to recommend any program like those for $50+K. I simply want to know from people who have been there and done that what it was really like for them and if they feel it was worth the money in retrospect.

The reason I ask is I have a website on the "Cost of Getting Your PPL" (a work in progress) and want to include some factual experiences on the academy route, which I have not addressed at all as I have only flying club experience.

If someone would rather not post, send a PM. Thanks!

 

[bobbysamd]

Mesa and FSI

I answered your query on the General board. Here's a link to my post.