Monarch Air, Dallas, TX???

[nufft]

Does anyone have anything to say about these folks, good or bad? I understand that they run about 3 schools in the Dallas area.

Thanx Much,
Nufft.

 

[NTXPilot]

I flew out of Henley's at Addison but visited Monarch a few times. I think they had 20+ instructors and quite a large fleet. When I last heard, several months ago, they were losing some instructors to the regionals; I don't know if that still holds true. Check there website, www.monarchair.com, I think they are accepting resumes for flight instructors. They do operate out of three airports...Dallas Redbird, Addison, and McKinney. I would say try looking them up out of Mckinney or Redbird, at least there you shouldn't have to wait 30+ minutes for takeoff....


LT

 

[rcsimpson]

I too started at Henley's at Addison, but finished up with Monarch Air at McKinney and Addison. I went part 61 for my PPSEL and flew with Steve Freeland in McKinney. It was more convenient and way less waiting for sure at McKinney.

I am now in the 141 Instrument program at Addison(CFI is Spencer Stack). They are the same company, but the Addison school holds the 141 certification. McKinney is Part 61 and I'm not sure about Redbird location.

I have had nothing but a good experience with them. There are plenty of well maintained trainers to choose from and even on busy days you can usually squeeze into the more expensive 172SP if you just want to train(if it's not gone a real cross country somewhere). I have flown with most of their instructors on various checkouts, stage checks etc. and they are all decent/safe instructors. Make no mistake, most of them are younger and are building hours for the next stage, but I've never been treated like a "number" or as just a few more hours in the CFI logbook. Regardless of your choice of school your training will only be as good as your choice of instructor.

They have a 182 (1981) and are getting a new glass panel 182 soon. They just picked up a Seminole if you are into the ME training. They have a 172RG for your commercial training as well. There are a few Warriors and one Archer II if you like low wings, although I would expect them to not get anymore airplanes other than Cessnas since they are a Cessna Pilot Training Center.

 

["TheBigPicture"]

If you're looking for a CFI job at Monarch, keep in mind that it starts as a desk job unless that's changed. Basically you work the front desk and solicit incoming students. So it requires more than just showing up to meet your students and teach.

I also agree that they are a good outfit, I worked at AF's in ADS. The advantage that Monarch has over AF's is 1. Multi-engine aircraft and 2. I believe (don't quote me on this one) starting pay is higher.

AF's was paying around 7.50/hr for Part time and I think 12/hr for full time (if I remember correctly) about 3yrs ago. I don't have exact #'s for Monarch.

I knew a lot of people who built their time with Monarch and never really heard a bad thing about them, or their a/c, other than the whole working the front desk when you're not flying thing. Good Luck.

 

[Sol Rosenberg]

Back in the 90's, Monarch was owned by the Sawtell (sp?) family. The son was a pilot for ASA if I remember correctly and that's where I knew him from. Pretty nice guy. Anyway, I've flown some of their planes over the years and they are pretty nice.
BTW, Addison is a handful. the one day I drove over there from Ft. Worth to go flying with a friend, we sat waiting to takeoff for over 20 minutes.

 

[nufft]

Thank you all for the great info. It really helped.

Nufft.

 

[Whirlwind]

Back in the 90's, Monarch was owned by the Sawtell (sp?) family.

It still is...

The son was a pilot for ASA if I remember correctly and that's where I knew him from.

He flies for American Airlines now, but he is on leave working full time in the business.

BTW, Addison is a handful. the one day I drove over there from Ft. Worth to go flying with a friend, we sat waiting to takeoff for over 20 minutes.

We had a saying at Monarch, "if you can learn to fly out of Addison, you can fly anywhere".

Having since flown to bigger airports, I wouldn't have wanted anything less...

 

[Whirlwind]

If you're looking for a CFI job at Monarch, keep in mind that it starts as a desk job unless that's changed. Basically you work the front desk and solicit incoming students. So it requires more than just showing up to meet your students and teach.

Nope, that hasn't changed... The pay is a bit better than others, $16/hr. You do have to buy your own shirts and business cards however...

I also agree that they are a good outfit, I worked at AF's in ADS. The advantage that Monarch has over AF's is 1. Multi-engine aircraft and 2. I believe (don't quote me on this one) starting pay is higher.

I never worked at American Fliers, but I did spend 8 months at Monarch before moving on to corporate flying. Good place to build a lot of flight time, but you do have to sell yourself since no one will just hand you students. You need to sign them up yourself.

There are a ton of walk-ins however, so if you can sell, you'll do just fine.