Got quick question...

[VW Pilot]

My question is....

Are most of these flight schools like DCA, ATP, ERAU, Flight safety, PEA, etc...are their programs
intended for person with zero time?? I wanted to go to one of these flight schools but I wanted to go with some experience...My plan was to go in to one of these schools with at least my instument ASEL.....Then maybe get in a professional program but it doesn't look like it's going to work...Seem like they all want you with 0 time....I figured things would be easier this way...so I would go in knowing some knowledge and having some experience...Basically..I'm trying not to get "Milked"....Either way it happens. but it's much easier to "Milk"someone that knows nothing rather than someone who knows something.....If I go...I think I might wind up doing individual programs....slower. I want to try talking to Falcon in Sanford, Sunstate, or ATP at KFLL or RAA to see what they can do. There is nothing wrong with my local FBO....except that it's uncontrolled, my flight instructor may be leaving(I don't like the others) and training is taking too long.... Anyone done this??? Any suggestions??? Any welcome..Thanx

 

[ParrotheadGTI]

lots of them are designed for zero timers, but you should be able to jump right in and pick up.. I'd recommend atleast going in with a PPL, you'll save a TON of money.

btw.. what sort of VW?

 

[nosehair]

Then maybe get in a professional program

Why do you think a "professional program" at a "big school" is better?

If you think it is better, then why are you afraid of getting "milked"?

My best advice is to research the school by talking to actual students who have been there awhile to dtermine the quality.

One of the reasons the professional programs want to start you at zero time is to assure quality. Getting your Private and maybe instrument first may mean that you show up with the "paper license" but still short on knowledge and skill. Passing the checkride doesn't mean taht you at the same level of knowledge and skill as the student who learns at that school, if they are a quality school.

Another reason some schools want you at zero time is to milk all they can from you with minimum skill training, so do your homework.

But find a schooll that the students tell you they get good training and go there for all of it.

 

[VW Pilot]

RE: Parrothead....92 Jetta slammed to the ground...wide arches, 17inch zenders...the works..was a project but now daily driver because I ditched the car scene for Airplanes....major change...

Yeah I would like quality training but that is not the question...
There seems to be no way out of paying the price....And I'm not looking for the cheapest of the cheaps...I read the post about...Well you know...

I just would like to get things going a bit faster. Right now, I can afford to go
to the local FBO 5 days a week..but only for 1.5hrs of flight time a day....Takin too long. I cannot argue with the quality of instruction I'm getting from my intructor. He is a (unfortunately) furloughed American Airlines Pilot with lots of experience...He is very knowlegeable. He seems to never miss anything. I just wanted to go a bit faster. preferably 141...I guess i'll just have to talk to some of the flight schools and see if they can work somethin out...Also is there anyone else who does like gulfstream?? I know you basically pay for a job but I don't want to fly Ardvarks...(Beech 1900D)

Anyone know of another airline that does this but flies EMB-135-145 etc.???
Thanks.

 

[Amish RakeFight]

Sometimes more experienced or "accomplished" pilots who fly the line can be less thorough and out of the loop when it comes to part 91 training, the PTS and the maneuvers.

 

[great cornholio]

I just would like to get things going a bit faster. Right now, I can afford to go
to the local FBO 5 days a week..but only for 1.5hrs of flight time a day....Takin too long. I cannot argue with the quality of instruction I'm getting from my intructor. He is a (unfortunately) furloughed American Airlines Pilot with lots of experience...He is very knowlegeable. He seems to never miss anything. I just wanted to go a bit faster. preferably 141...I guess i'll just have to talk to some of the flight schools and see if they can work somethin out...Also is there anyone else who does like gulfstream?? I know you basically pay for a job but I don't want to fly Ardvarks...(Beech 1900D)

If you go to one of those schools chances are things will not go much faster. I know at Riddle most of the student were only flying a few times a week (much less than 5, and you had to deal with the "Riddle Run-around") when I was there. Also the flight training seemed to be about the same as most local FBO's. In fact because of the way Riddle treats its students I tell everyone that asks to steer clear of the flight department there. The university aviation courses however were pretty in depth..way more in depth than an FBO would ever go (which is why they are college classes). As far as the 1.5 hours each lesson thats gonna be the norm wherever you go. After about 1.0 to 1.5 hours most students have had enough and stop absorbing the lesson and you start wasting their time and money. At 5 days a week you should be able to get your ratings in no time. I instructed at a FBO and got some guy his instrument in 12 days (mulitiple lessons a day. usually one in the morning then a break and one in the afternoon).

Well I guess now I have some questions....Whats the rush? What part of the country are you in now, and how many flight schools are in the area? Talking to other local flight schools may make things easier so you don't have to relocate.

I have no expericence with them personally, but I hear that if you want ratings fast and don't want to get dicked over then ATP is a good place to go. It seems like have facilities pretty much all over the US. I don't really know anything about ATP except they seem to get bashed a lot less on here than any other program. Oh yeah I think I saw you mention RAA...is that the same RAA out of Deland, FL??? If so scratch that off your list now its pretty much a scam and I think they dicked lots of people out of serious cash a few years ago.

 

[epic!]

i believe ATP wants you to have your instrument as well as 300TT before you begin their professional pilot program.

 

[stearnst]

I reccomend to any student coming into ERAU that if you can come in with your ASEL instrument, you'll be about a year and a half ahead of student coming in with zero time. I don't know how Daytona runs it, but from my experience at the Prescott campus, the longest course time is spent in the instrument course, so if you come in with the rating already, you'll be a world ahead of most of the students that come in. Shoot me a PM if you have any other questions about ERAU-Prescott.

 

[unreal]

I reccomend to any student coming into ERAU that if you can come in with your ASEL instrument, you'll be about a year and a half ahead of student coming in with zero time. I don't know how Daytona runs it, but from my experience at the Prescott campus, the longest course time is spent in the instrument course, so if you come in with the rating already, you'll be a world ahead of most of the students that come in. Shoot me a PM if you have any other questions about ERAU-Prescott.

^ What he said.

ERAU-Prescott's instrument course is an absolute monster. It's broken up into two sections: single and multi. In the single portion, you start with BAI, then end up with basic holding, intercepting, and tracking. It's a big course in and of itself, so even the sharper students tend to take 5-6 months on just that. After you pass that, it's off to the multi for another 5-6 months. Only after you get through the multi do you get your instrument rating.

I like where I work, but I have to tell you that the instrument program, while pretty decent, is WAY more pricey than it needs to be. Not only will you save money by going and getting your rating elsewhere, you'll be ahead of the power curve like stearnst said. Do it that way and save yourself some headaches.

By the way:

<-- 2006 MkV Jetta here.

 

[VW Pilot]

RE:CornHolio: I'm in Florida right now...looks like Im stuck here. for a while anyways. I had narrowed my school search down to three schools...I had been up to sanford and deland. I visited RAA...I liked the school, I really liked the aircraft(PIPERS!! ME LIKES) but as always I was fed lots of B/S sales pitches and all kinds of other crap...The students there say it is more layed back as far as program completion. I went up with one the instructors...he had ran away from DCA...He was knowlegeable...but was gross because he chews and spits during intruction...Anyway he gave me some pointers and things to watch out for...he warned me that there had been some rip offs here and there....So I left and went to DCA....I ran away from there as well.
Maiure is full of it...nuff said....

So I narrowed my choices down to three.....
ATP
Ari Ben
Falcon......Guess which one has "ben"crossed out?????

SO what's the rush you say?? Well I'm 23...I wish I had started when I was 17 or so, (at the time, trying to decide on Airforce, Aircraft Mechanic, Pilot, took too long to decide=beating myself up about it) wanna get ratings and build time....a bit faster...

RE: UNREAL: I don't know what it is with Volkswagens and Pilots....
I see it all the time though it's usually bugs.....