Las Vegas

[RFC1873]

Anyone train at West Air Aviation in Vegas? If so, what do you think about it? (training, aircraft, instructors, etc.)

 

[Gryphon]

Interesting question... i'm moving out there in august or sept, and i'll want to finish my ppl, and then on to bigger and better things.. anybody out there with a recommendation? Heard Shebles is a big name out there, but don't know anything about them. West Air Aviation, that name rang a bell, i went through my wallet and i still have one of thier cards ! tff.. Unfortunately, it was over 5 yrs ago i was last there, so i don't remember anything about them...

 

[Gryphon]

C'mon guys, no one from or around vegas?

 

[agpilot]

From what I have heard about West Air Aviation I would stay clear. I would recomend Shebles over them

 

[wt219200]

West Air

As an instructor for West Air for the past nine months I might be a little biased, but I would recommend coming here. We have a great group of CFI's and the MX is very reliable. Shebley's is not in Las Vegas it is in Kingman Arizona. We are a very busy school and have many happy students. We also just got our Day VFR 135, so the FAA seems to think we are pretty safe. VGT is a very busy airport so if you want to learn at a busy airport and get very proficient on radios its a great airport. It is also under LAS Class B so you will get a lot of class B practice. Many of our students take there first solo X-C through Class B. I would be interested to hear any complaints anyone has had. It seems to me we are very fairly priced with a good fleet of planes. Check out our website. www.westairaviation.com. This is my third flight school I have worked at and this is by far the best. Good luck and hope this helped.

 

[JediNein]

Take a look at the NTSB reports for Nevada for aircraft operated by West Air Aviation.

The same owners are still there. Things could have changed.

Fly SAFE!
Jedi Nein

 

[Gryphon]

I remember going into one of the flight schools at vgt to ask about training ,and the place had a very cold feel to it, no one was very friendly, my questions were answered abruptly, like they had better things to do, and no one asked if i wanted a discovery flight... I'll remember when i go back and see the place.. sad how much the negative things stand out even after a few years. Do the instructors at West Air walk around in uniforms, epaulets on the shoulder things? If so, i think that was where i was, and unless the attitude has changed, i won't be training there anytime soon.

 

[Gryphon]

I remember that Shebles had 2 locations, the one in AZ, and one in vegas, possibly at Henderson Exec ? I did go to the website and they only list the Kingman site, but it says in the " About us" that there are 2 locations. Doesn't give the second location.

 

[wt219200]

Take a look at the NTSB reports for Nevada for aircraft operated by West Air Aviation.

The same owners are still there. Things could have changed.

Fly SAFE!
Jedi Nein
What are you referencing? West Air has no fatals. If that is what you are implying.

I remember that Shebles had 2 locations, the one in AZ, and one in vegas, possibly at Henderson Exec ? I did go to the website and they only list the Kingman site, but it says in the " About us" that there are 2 locations. Doesn't give the second location.
There are no flight schools in HND. They are going through some changes down there and all the schools have been slowly closing over the past year.

I remember going into one of the flight schools at vgt to ask about training ,and the place had a very cold feel to it, no one was very friendly, my questions were answered abruptly, like they had better things to do, and no one asked if i wanted a discovery flight... I'll remember when i go back and see the place.. sad how much the negative things stand out even after a few years. Do the instructors at West Air walk around in uniforms, epaulets on the shoulder things? If so, i think that was where i was, and unless the attitude has changed, i won't be training there anytime soon.
Does not sound like us, we do wear uniforms though. We are always more than happy to help people and give as much info as possible. We give many discovery flights and they are recommended. If you give us a call our scheduler would be happy to set anyone up on a flight.

 

[Gryphon]

wt219200, thank you for the replies, i'll be looking into them when i'm out there. Here's a question you may be able to answer... what's the "average" amount of time for a student to solo at West Air? Take into account the person in question has been doing the bookwork as well as the flying, and is intent on suceeding? Might seen like a dumb question, but im curious, as i'm at an impasse right now with my current instructor. I ranted elsewhere on the board about it, but i'd like your opinion from your viewpoint. Just a ballpark firgure, and how many students there pass the checkride the first time? Thanks.