Hortman Aviation

[QueensPilot]

Hello Folks:
Currently I am ready to begin CFI training. Issue is, there are not many instructor's or schools that seem to specialize in this rating. Since I am concerned about the responsibility of teaching people how to fly, I wanted to become a good instructor and therefore wanted to seek out an experienced instructor/school who could do a good job teaching me how to teach people how to fly. After putting in 'CFI training' in Google, Hortman Aviation(Philadelphia) came up and seems to be decent. Of course, it is really the instructor that matters. Any comments about this school would be helpful if anyone has anything to offer. If anyone has anything to offer 'outside the box' that would be great as well. I live in NYC and am looking to pack it up for a few weeks and get this done. Thanks!

 

[EastCoastLR35]

check out gateway aviation in allentown pa www.gateway-aviation.com

 

[QueensPilot]

Thanks East Coast:
Seems like a neat place, but they don't say much about CFI training. Do they have housing?

 

[rubicon789]

Have you taken your writtens yet? If not get them done and then pm me and maybe I can help. I live in central Jersey

 

[EastCoastLR35]

Thanks East Coast:
Seems like a neat place, but they don't say much about CFI training. Do they have housing?

The owner of the company is the only one there who does the CFI training, and for housing not sure there are a bunch of college guys that fly there and not sure what their living arangements are so who knows??

 

[rubicon789]

PM'd Ya

 

[Dodge4SRT]

Stay away from Hortman Aviation. Hortman will drag out the process to get you to spend as much money as you will let them. Your best bet is ALLATPS. They will get you done right the first time, plus you will get Multi time. If you do there whole program, you walk away with your CFI, CFII, MEI. I did there program back in April 04 in ATL and would highly recommend them. Any questions, feel free to ask.

 

[QueensPilot]

Hey

Hey Dodge:
Thanks for the reply. Only thing I am concerned about is that the school you mentioned is good for airline training. I'm not sure I would be qualified to teach in GA airplanes. The program seems a little quick, I wonder if quality is sacrificed?

Louie

 

[Dodge4SRT]

Quality is not sacificed at all. If you do the training at ATP you will be fine. I didn't instruct for them at all. I went to a local FBO and instructed, I didn't have any problems adapting at all.

 

[LAFrequentflyer]

All Atps

Dodge,

I'm interestred in going to ALLATPs for my ratings - i'm a PPL right now...I do wish to CFI for them to build time and have heard they like to hire their former students. Could you please veryfy this if possible? Will they send you where needed -i'm flexible and willing to relocate to CFI.. Also how was the groundschools and pairings for the 90 day programs?

Feel free to PM if you wish...

V/r,
LA

 

[Dodge4SRT]

It is very so possible to instruct for them. You will get put up on answering phones until you take an opening at one of there schools that you wish to teach out of. But, if you willing to go anywhere, then you will get a CFI job real fast with no problems. Talk to you later.

 

[Rtpilot]

Wow Hortman Aviation.. Got my Commercial Instrument rating with them in the 70's, when they were in Morrisville, PA. Felt my Instrument training was a little lacking at the time. I was restoring a Cub at the time and Capt. Hortman told me to only fly the Cub locally...so when I finished the project, I flew it to Los Angeles and back. So much fun. Glad I didn't listen to him.

 

[LAFrequentflyer]

dodge,

thanks for the info on ALL ATPS...

-LA

 

[LearLove]

I don't want to bash anyone or company here but I've known the operation at PNE for many years. I don't rent from Hortman, I've limited my bizz with them/him to just taking my COMM/CFI and FE written there. After I got my CFI (1997) I inquired about part time instructing there and they wanted me to pay for my checkouts plus be around while I didn't have students sked. At the time I was instructing in a club and had a full-time 135 job and also flew traffic part time from PNE so I didn't look any further into instructing with them.

I have a very good friend that instructed there then went on to 123/121 with other companies. He is now out of aviation but still flies and instructs but he would not go back there if you know what I mean. He is not the only one in the area that feels that way if you know what I mean, However outside of the time they wanted me to pay for my checkouts to work for them personally I have never had a beef with them or the owner.

I would recommend ALL ATP's in TTN as I used them in 99 to do my ATP. The program was good but as with any school alot depends on your instructor. I had a great instructor but know guys that had used the TTN ATP branch and had a diff instructor that wasn't as good as the one I had and have a diff opinion. In the future I plan on doing my CFII and will use the ATP TTN branch if I'm still in the area.

Hope it helps, PM me if you need specific info. Also one guy mentioned the ABE outfit, I've herd good things about them up there from other people.