Got All Confused Again (flight school) TO BE OR NOT TO BE

[ADF_Fixed]

Hi folks. After reading all the messages posted regarding some of the flight school and the symphony promise likes direct track intern , Right Seat Direct....
in "AOPA flight training magazine of June 2004"
I am back to square one again; wondering if it too good to be true.
I am 33 y/o with PSEL. AS degree. Love/dream of flight just like every kids on the block look up the sky very time jet sound wave appraching....
What should I do , the four listed below way over pricing....
FlightSafety 55K-75K
Gulfstream approx.
Pan Am, 64K
Delta 55k-80k
"AOPA flight training magazine of June 2004"
Or
Sierra Academy is around 60k (near where I live)
WestWing is 44k ( have anyone heard anything about this two school )
MESA (no housing big problem for me)
ALL ATPS
Thanks all folks Please feedback

 

[350DRIVER]

Do some research on the Mesa Airlines Pilot Development Program (MAPD).

MESA (no housing big problem for me)

This should be the least of your problems and concerns. Most who are in the program share a apartment with 2 or 3 other people. Sharing the apartment in Farmington is pretty inexpensive and as the students come and go every semester it usually always will leave quite a few vacant rooms in the different apts. Call the program and get the information from them, they usually have people always looking for roommates and they can steer you in the right direction. They can set this up for you.

I think you "low balled" the above numbers with regards to the other flight schools, most likely you will go well above that $$$ figure when all is said and done.

I would surely stay away from Gulfstream (do a search) and Delta (also do a search here). This is a pretty BIG choice you will have to make.

be smart..

3 5 0

 

[wheelsup]

Take it from someone on the inside of MAPD (and so may be slightly biased ) - I am extremely jealous of these 19 and 20 year old "kids" who go to the airline with less than 250 TT (hiring rate is about 85-90% of those who complete the program, 100% in the last few months).

This is really the only program in the US like this...it's not one of those "it's to good to be true" type of things. We solo people in a BE-36 Bonanza, a 6 seat 300 hp airplane. Twin training is done in the Baron. And all at rates that are below most aviation school rates for old 172's. Heck, the seminole I did my training in was $225/hr, the Baron in Farmington is only $216/hr ($275 @ ASU). Instruction is $25/hr, which is the LOWEST instruction rate I've seen EVER. It's a steal!

Mesa just hired another round of ab-initio students and their ages come from all over. There are lots of older "career-changer" type students here as well as younger lads.

And yes, unless you come in with the Commercial/Inst and do PACE, you must complete all courses here...even if you have a private. Please don't think they're trying to milk you...come and visit, talk to the students. You'll find out that this school isn't about that.

Housing isn't a problem. I'll leave it at that. You can always find a descent place to live.

All ATP's is a great place to go as well, IF you can make it on as an instructor. I had a student of mine get his private with me back in december of last year, he did his Instrument, commercial, CFI/CFII/MEI in 90 days. He just got called for the job as a CFI there. He'll have expressjet mins in less than 4 months most likely. I'm jealous...

~wheelsup

 

[bobbysamd]

M A P D

Take it from someone on the inside of MAPD (and so may be slightly biased ) - I am extremely jealous of these 19 and 20 year old "kids" who go to the airline with less than 250 TT (hiring rate is about 85-90% of those who complete the program, 100% in the last few months).

This is really the only program in the US like this...it's not one of those "it's to good to be true" type of things . . . .

I agree. I worked there in 1993. The only caveat about getting "the interview" is don't be a bad actor. No promises are made, but "the interview" is really yours to lose. I had one such bad actor. He had misbehaved with his prior instructors and he misbehaved with me. He was denied "the interview" - the opportunity for which many of us work hard and never get.

Housing isn't a problem. I'll leave it at that. You can always find a descent place to live.

. . . but you have to look hard for it. Decent housing was scarce in Farmington back in 1993. There are some real fleabags in Farmington. And, one realtor/slumlord whom you should avoid.

At age thirty-three, you better get a move on. You need to join the "club," i.e., get scheduled-operator and/or corporate experience, ASAP. Getting hired without this experience is tougher as you approach forty. Flight instructing experience alone at that age won't get you hired at the regionals.

Finally, don't swallow that direct-hire malarkey you have read in AOPA Flight Training or Flying. The articles about these schools are sorry excuses for journalism because these same schools are also advertisers.

Good luck with your plans.

 

[halfmoon]

or

joe blows flying school <25K, work out some sort of deal to become a cfi there after you complete your ratings.

 

[avbug]

True story. Why would you go pay seventy five thousand dollars to get your basic pilot certificates and ratings, when you won't make that figure back by adding your first four or five years of gross income? That makes no sense at all, and paying seventy five grand for training doesn't get you any closer to a career than if you get your training at your local FBO/flight school. Not a whit.

Train somewhere you can go to work instructing...get your basic certification in and get a job. That's the name of the game...getting hired. You don't need a brand name on your training, and nobody is going to care that you trained at embry riddle or any other expensive place...just that you meet the basic qualifications and ratings.

Forget looking in the pages of flying magazine for all the hollow promises. Visit your local airport, and see what's there. Chances are that everything you need is in your back yard for a whole lot less money.

When you're starting out, trying to live on top ramen and keep your cardboard box dry...having tens of thousands of dollars in loans isn't any great accolade. Do yourself a favor and train locally for less; you'll get ahead farther, faster. Get yourself in debt, and you'll find there are a lot of entry level jobs you can't afford to take, and that only limits how far you can go. Don't do that.