My experiences at Ari Ben

[Brak]

Sounds like things haven't changed.

It sounds like things haven't changed in the few years since I spent a week there. I was able to avoid paying until I got the multi ticket and bolted, which I ended up paying more for than the advertised price, but I dropped the time building, so that made sense.

I was the guinea pig for a few of my buddies, and needless to say they didn't go after my experience. I was told I'd have an apartment, and spent the night in 4 different hotels over 6 nights, as each day they said I'd have an apartment the next night. I hadn't driven down there, so I was trying to hitch rides from instructors, which resulted in full days spent there.

I realized after my second flight that I wasn't going to be doing the time building. My instructor at the time was good, but everything else wasn't as advertised. I even got a "free" FAA safety seminar during which the FSDO showed pictures of airplanes that weren't "in the best of shape", to put it nicely, and said that the company didn't have any of those.........:erm:.

Most of my experiences were the same. Instruments that didn't work, maintenance and other problems that were recurring and "fixed" or were told not to worry about. Once again, look out for yourself.

It's tough to do, but I highly suggest people attempt to visit these places that have such great "deals". I know I learned, and my buddies did too. Though once again, I did have a good instructor and examiner. Take it for what it's worth.

 

[CA1900]

Day 11

Hello again! Thanks for the replys. Just another update. The bosses at Ari Ben found out about this thread, and I have been kicked out.

I know it's a speed bump in your plans to build hours, but from your description of these events, that action may have saved your life. If they're skimping on "luxuries" like instruments, what are they skimping on under the hood? (Besides alternators... )

Early in my career, I used to work for a small operator who skimped on maintenance, and I'm glad I made it out alive. The wake-up call was when his charter Navajo was performing poorly, and the charter pilot refused to fly it until it was inspected on the field. (Normally all the planes were ferried to another airport, where the boss had a friendly shop that would do an "annual" on anything for $300.) A compression check revealed 4 of the 6 cylinders on each engine were blown. I'm amazed the thing even got in the air! I am pleased to report that the school is no longer operating in Florida.

To Ari-Ben: If you found out about this thread, I'd invite you to sign up here and explain your side of the story. I'd really like to hear your explanation of your maintenance practices.

 

[timeoff]

Falcon Flight in SFB rents out the Duchess for $100/hr dry. Find a buddy and split the costs. Good maint too.

You can get 100 hours PIC for $5k plus half the fuel costs.

 

[Amish RakeFight]

Kudos to you for being honest about how they run their operation. If there were more peer reviews of some of these places maybe they would try to run a better operation.

Ari-Ben has been mentioned on various internet message boards and the experiences are similar. You said nothing disparaging about them that was unfounded.

 

[Amish RakeFight]

To Ari-Ben: If you found out about this thread, I'd invite you to sign up here and explain your side of the story. I'd really like to hear your explanation of your maintenance practices.

I'll have to second that. If there's a representative of Ari-Ben who has perused this thread, would you please clarify some of what has been described as poor maintenance and dishonest advertising. What's your side of the story.

 

[Benu]

Remember dcramer16. Here in the Matrix the virus is watching you Mr. Anderson!!!! Run Run!!!!! Hang up the phone!!! This site is tap!!!!! Run!!! Run!!!!

 

[Metro752]

Remember dcramer16. Here in the Matrix the virus is watching you Mr. Anderson!!!! Run Run!!!!! Hang up the phone!!! This site is tap!!!!! Run!!! Run!!!!

? Do you speak'a any english?

Previous Ari-Ben backroom quickie post.........

http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?p=1145883#post1145883

Flying there gives you real world experience. If you're use to mommie and daddy new 2006 c-182 or uncle's king air then this isn't the place for you. This is a place to LEARN the life of a freight dog. You guys will be puppies in training.
*You will fly 10 plus hours a nite.
*Sometimes the GPS isn't working.
The paint on some of the plane are not as nice as granny reading room, but you will gain experience in all types of weather. I PROMISE YOU!! You will learn to pay attention to you partner and critique him. No time for sleepy flight attendants. If you're a MEI like me it would be all PIC any way. You will get lots of IMC. I PROMISE YOU!!!! This will in fact teach you a lesson after your big test. And for you Regional guys, the airline can't gets enought of us. When the weather is throwing that be-76 around and you're praying to god, you're in fact getting a lesson that the flight school didn't and couldn't prepare you for. Sitting your @$$ for 5.7 hours at a time for 100 hours would infact let you know if this is the type of stuff that i want to do for the next 20 to 30 years. The maintence is great. I PROMISE YOU!!!! The different adventures and airports that you'll visit is better.
This will put you instrument skills to the test. This plane cockpit is almost just like the navajo pa-31. Think POSITIVE and watch the jobs call ya'. As a safety pilot you'll learn things because that new person you're flying with my be sleepy on there instrument skill. You could learn alot from a dummy.

again, do you speak the english, mang?

 

[white knuckle]

Thank you

Thank you for your post. I was seriously considering going there for the MEI and Multi-building in January. I will look around now. If anyone has had positive experiences with a multi time building program, let me know. Thanks.

Also if anyone has used Aviation Atlanta for their MEI and time building would you please send a PM with your experiences.

 

[Benu]

Metro
I was only trying to protect this puppy identity. This place is to vent in secret considering your name isn't Metro 752. Flight schools are in many ways like employers which they can't stand being badmouth about. Myself; I loved the timebuilding program. Maybe I was too dum to realize the cramp that was goin' on while I was on puppy power to Key West in yellow and dark green storms everynite over the swamps around Marco Island. Venting is one thing, getting caught and trying get all your money back; Priceless headache

 

[dcramer16]

Benu, I hope you weren't refering to me. I am assuming you were. I am not trying to hide my identity. My last name is Cramer, same as my id. I'm glad you enjoyed the time building program. As I have said in other posts on other sites, I understand that while I have had a very negative experience there, I'm sure that other people have had positive experiences too. That is why I never said anything like "this school sucks" or "don't go here". As far as getting caught. I said that I think in my first post. I figured I would be found out. In regards to "trying to get all your money back", I never once asked Ari Ben to refund all my money. I didn't speak with them at all about my refund. They said they were going to refund the portion I didn't use. That was fine by me, I never asked for anything, instead, I took what they gave me. Which was by the way, the correct amount, I have to say they were fair with my refund, and didn't try and screw me any.

Like I said, I am assuming you were refering to me in your last post, if not, sorry for the mixup.

 

[Metro752]

Metro
I was only trying to protect this puppy identity. This place is to vent in secret considering your name isn't Metro 752. Flight schools are in many ways like employers which they can't stand being badmouth about. Myself; I loved the timebuilding program. Maybe I was too dum to realize the cramp that was goin' on while I was on puppy power to Key West in yellow and dark green storms everynite over the swamps around Marco Island. Venting is one thing, getting caught and trying get all your money back; Priceless headache

Hey, this is the good ole' USA. You can badmouth anyone you want, whenever you want if it is 100% GENUINE TRUTH. Nobody has the right to steal your money just because it is revealed on the internet that your flying program is sub par and down right dangerous.

When it's clearly obvious who a guy is that is writing a review about your flight school, the AMERICAN way is to rectify the situation with superior service, not to defend your flight school and run him out and then think you have the right not to refund his money. Saying it's ok he's gonna fly lots of broken junk when he gets done here, so who cares if ours is should get your place shut down permanently.

IF ARI BEN HAD RECTIFIED THE SITUATION I am 99% sure he would have come back here and posted that they had, and everything would be Ok!

If AriBeaner gets PO'd about anything, it should be at some goon like yourself for defending a third rate operation like it's ok.


[ for future thread searches ]
aribenaviator.com aribenaviator ari ben ariben ari benaviator aviator inc incorporated FAA part 141 VA approved Aviator, Ft. Pierce, FL Florida Fort information background gouge multi-engine multi engine military conversions JAA FAA time building hour block beechcraft duchess duchesses car leasing housing house room board apartment passport birth certificate

 

[pgcfii2002]

I think I'll pass on this school.....thanks!!

 

[Hobit]

Good Job Cramer!

It's hard to stand up in this environment and be a leader some times.

Every once in a while pilots do help each other out.

 

[dcramer16]

Thanks Hobit. I'm glad to see people are more open minded than the folks at Jetcareers. You would not believe the things I have put up with over there. Ari Ben is an advertisor with Jetcareers.com, and I have had 75% of the people over there try and pick apart my story and accuse me of lying, even moderators were posting replys trying to find holes in my story. By posting this story I took a major hit to my credibility. But I would do it all over again, if it helps some poor broke flight student from making the wrong decision. Luckily I haven't really had anyone over on this site try to tear me apart, but if they want to, feel free. Like Metro said, it's a free country!

 

[Princedietrich]

well then forget jetcareers, just stay here and hang out with us.

:beer:

 

[Hobit]

By posting this story I took a major hit to my credibility.

Just the opposite.

 

[minitour]

[ for future thread searches ]

ROFL

You forgot

MESA
Sucks
PFT

:smash:

(sarcasm heavily intended)

 

[Metro752]

ROFL

You forgot

MESA
Sucks
PFT

:smash:

(sarcasm heavily intended)

I could probably throw in airman norman ok oklahoma in there for good measure! Just to make sure it all sticks together, but that would be asking for trouble! How's life?!

Merry Christmas Mini!

 

[minitour]

I could probably throw in airman norman ok oklahoma in there for good measure! Just to make sure it all sticks together, but that would be asking for trouble! How's life?!

Merry Christmas Mini!

LMAO

Brittany Spears Underwear

...should just about tie it all together now.

Doing well...you?

Merry Christmas to you also.

-mini

 

[flynryan15]

Wait a minute

I AM NOT A EMPLOYEE OF ARIBEN

First off you got booted from jetcareers cause you were posting under multiple screen names and lieing about it even after a moderator and the site owners called you out on it.

Second it won't take you long to figure out who I am by my screen name so lets limit the bull$&*@.

For those of you who want to act as the jury. I flew 11.5 of his 16.9 hours while at Ariben.

So lets cover his issues! First off let me tell you I have spent alot of time in every single Duchess at Ariben and all of them are airworthy and comply with regulations for Day/Night VFR and IFR flight. Every Aircraft also complies with the POH and its required equipment list for known operations of flight. Are some aircraft better then others ofcourse but what school isn't that way.

First off his fuel pressure issue! The fuel pressure gauge on the right engine was at the lower end of the exceptable limits while inflight even with the back up electrical driven fuel pump on. I made note of it early inflight and kept my eye on it. Well after 2.8 flight hours and multiple full stop taxi back landings we decided to call it quits because at static the right engine was only producing 2300 to 2400 rpms. My guess is because Dan landed without putting the props forward! Remember that cause I do? Not only that but he took the runway for take off and ran the engines to full throttle when I looked down and caught it called for the abort and went back to the run up area. On a previous flight we had a debate about putting the props forward while on approach and he informed me that at ATP they didn't do this. Keep in mind this was a approach were he knew our intentions are togo missed.

Second his alternator issue. I was not the other pilot on that flight but my roommate was and the story he tells is a bit different then the one on here. Never once did he say we have another one lets just continue he infact demonstrated by using different power settings, turning on landing lights and turning off opposite alternator switches that both alternators were infact functioning. Anyone who has flown the Duchess or is familar with the electrical system knows that when in cruise flight with a light load being split between both alternators one if not both guages will show little or no load.

I myself coached you through the whole electrical system when you thought we had that problem on one of our flights and we continued on. Why because I demonstrated by turning off the opposite switch the amp meter then showed a load. I myself did have a alternator failure in a Duchess and can tell you that if you turn off the opposite switch without reducing the load almost immediatly you will see the dash lights dim and the screen on the garmin dim aswell. Which I told you! By the way the checklist and poh both state to check for failure by turning off opposite switch.

This ended up in dcramer squaking the airplane for the rt alternator failure and to quote "nose gear strut doesn't look right" After talking to his partner we learned that it was due to a very firm 3 point or possibly nose gear first landing. His partner a CFI/CFII with over 4 times the flight time that dcramer has grabbed the controls in time to save possibly shearing off the nose gear but alittle late to get a main gear first landing. The alternator was found to be working propperly and the shimmy damper had to repaired because the seals were blown out.

Make note to the situation above and refer to our fuel pump problem while doing multiple landings. This was because I had a similar situation with him and we discussed it and determined we needed to get him more landings. So our next flight we did just that with me demonstrating to him different techniques to help him with the different landing picture and characteristics of the Duchess.

Wireless internet!!!!! Who cares you are there to fly airplanes not play online!!! I didn't have a computer but was able to use 1 of the 6 at the school 24hrs aday. When we flew and you made me aware of your concerns I told you not to worry give the system time, live at the airport and you will get done. Like the day we had the gear intransit light you left to eat I stayed another airplane came up and I got a extra 4 hours. Besides hanging at the airport talking to other pilots, instructors and mechanics is how you learn.

Lets address the gear intransit light problem. Not a big deal we returned to base because the poh states the system must be checked before your next flight. So obviously we couldn't continue on land and return. I hope that if you learned anything from that event it was that you don't attempt to troubleshoot a problem while in HARD IFR!!! Unless of course it pertains to saftey of flight or keeping the aircraft airborne.

You got kicked out because you never told anyone to thier face your problems. You went on a internet message board and blasted them!

Anytime I had a problem or delay I went to Mike or Mary and the problem was fixed instantly. When I was there the first time I did have some delays and they did everything in thier power to make it right.

You wanna continue on with this debate I am more then willing. But I promise you that you will not like the outcome!

As for those of you that are thinking about the Aviator I would strongly suggest you do more research then on a message board that seems to harbor negativity. Why don't you check thier saftey record with the NTSB. Or for that matter PM me and I will give you either my email or cell phone and will answer every question you ask me the best I can with honesty.

Just take this into consideration at the Aviator those planes are going 24 hours a day 7 days a week. They spend the day doing training events and the night going time building. You can either go 2.5 hrs oneway and return or spend the time doing what I did which is multiple approaches at different airports allover Florida. I challenge you to find a school that flies thier airplanes more. Take this into consideration the more they fly especially doing training flights the more problems will come up.

Never once did I feel unsafe at the Aviator and never once did something I squaked not get fixed. I left there with a great experience and can honestly tell you I am a much better pilot from my experiences and friendships developed there.