Looking for a recommendation in Phoenix, AZ

[AZ_Ron]

Hi All... After decades of wanting to get a pilots license, I'm pursuing my dream... I'm only looking to get a PPL, but may at some point go for an Instrument rating as well. No aspirations for commercial.
I'm in Tempe, AZ, and am looking for an instructor/FBO in either Chandler or Mesa... Anyone have any experience with any in either of these areas?? I saw a caveat about Chandler Flying Service. Sunbird doesn't seem to have a website.
Any thumbs up or thumbs down and reasons for either???
Any help is greatly appreciated!!!

Thanks!

Ron

 

[User546]

Hi All... After decades of wanting to get a pilots license, I'm pursuing my dream... I'm only looking to get a PPL, but may at some point go for an Instrument rating as well. No aspirations for commercial.
I'm in Tempe, AZ, and am looking for an instructor/FBO in either Chandler or Mesa... Anyone have any experience with any in either of these areas?? I saw a caveat about Chandler Flying Service. Sunbird doesn't seem to have a website.
Any thumbs up or thumbs down and reasons for either???
Any help is greatly appreciated!!!

Hey Ron! You're at one of the best places in the country to learn to fly. There's a wide variety of well-qualified flight schools in the area, and the weather is always nice (as I'm sure you know!).

STAY AWAY from Chandler Aviation. I had a good friend who instructed there for a couple years, and I also have rented their airplanes on several occasion. They're a great place to go if you want to become an aerobatic pilot, but I'd defintely stay away from them if your just looking to get your PPL.

My highest recommendation would go to Falcon Aviation at Falcon Field in Mesa. They are a first-class, well organized, and run organization, with reliable aircraft and well-qualified instructors. I use to live in Scottsdale and they were the only FBO I'd use for renting aircraft for personal flying. I've flown about 75 hours in their Arrow and about 10 in their Warrior. Their aircraft certainly aren't the newest and shiniest, but they're all well equipped, and the maintenance is second to none. That should be one of the most important things you need to look at while picking a place to train. When I last flew there about 2 years ago, the prices were still some of the cheapest you'll find in the Valley.

You can check out their website below if your interested. Do yourself a favor, and go in and check them out and tell them your interested
http://www.falconaviation.com/

Good luck on your decision, and feel free to ask as many questions as you like. Maybe we can make your decision making a little easier and more informed!

 

[AZ_Ron]

Thanks!! I had seen a few people recommend them, and have checked out their site... I'm definitely leaning towards Falcon at this point. They offer a 'ground instruction' course for $300...what are the advantages of taking a ground course first?? I'm considering it, but aren't sure what the pros/cons are.

Thanks again!

Ron

 

[BushwickBill]

Take the ground school and while your enrolled go ahead and sign up for the intro flight at least.

Most likely you'll meet an instructor you like while your in the groundschool.

Dont just take the groundschool course or fly do both and try to immerse yourself into aviaion. That will help you achieve your goal and may save you a bit of cash...

 

[AZ_Ron]

Thanks Bill... I pretty much tackle ANYTHING I do head on, obsessively! I'm VERY anxious to do this... I've wanted to fly longer than I can remember!

Ron

 

[AZ_Ron]

By the way User997, WHO is the gal in your avatar??? She's gorgeous!

 

[User546]

By the way User997, WHO is the gal in your avatar??? She's gorgeous!

She's your ex-girlfriend... you didn't recognize her?? Since your a Valley resident, I had to live in Mesa for about 8 months, so you can probably appreciate where I'm coming from with that avatar! haha

I agree with the other poster, if your up for it then I say tackle both ground and flying head on. I wouldn't recommend getting too far along into ground studies without flying. If your out there in the "real world" flying, it'll help you correlate (or tie-in) a lot of what your reading about and how it actually applies. It'll give you a different dimension to think/learn in.

For instance, you can sit there and read about proper radio communications, or the different airport markings and lights, but if your actually out there talking on the radio, observing your instructor, and taxiing around the aircraft in the real world enviorment, then it helps it all make a little more sense to you. You have actual experiences to relate to, and might make learning future subjects easier for you.

Now if you sit in ground school and don't fly for a month, then you'll probably only retain so much anyways, and when it comes time to really get out in the real world, you'll have to re-study and re-learn the stuff anyways.

 

[User546]

Oh, and one more thing...

Do yourself a favor as well, and even before you get started, buy yourself a copy of ASA's Private Pilot Oral Exam Guide.
http://www.sportys.com/acb/showdetl.cfm?DID=19&Product_ID=7203&CATID=180

It's a cut and dry, question and answer format book of all the subject areas, and questions you'll need to know for your PPL checkride. If you have a wife or girlfriend, it makes a nice study tool because they can ask you questions while your in the car (I know how that Phoenix traffic is!), at home, or anywhere. If it's not in that book, you probably don't need to know it!

Most books can take a simple subject and turn into 3 or 4 pages of mind numbing details. This book is good at taking those 3 or 4 pages, and condensing down into a simple, 2 to 3 sentence answer and explanation. That might help you get a better grasp on things later when you actually start your ground studies.

Just my .02