My experiences at Ari Ben

[The_Russian]

The Russian,
I'm confused too...my former employer was a 121 carrier, and their maintenance was pretty good. It was at least 10x better than the maintenance I experienced at Ariben Aviator.
My current job is 135 and has crappy maintenance, but I'm not paying them for the privilege of flying their airplanes. I am not giving my employer $5000 out of my own pocket.
I would still say that my current job has better maintenance than Ariben did.

What I am trying to say is that pilots have to deal with maintenance issues everywhere you go. And, pilots need to be professional about it.

When I refer to "maintenence sucking", I meant that the frequency of write-ups is greater in 121 flying than 61. But, this is a generalized statement and my personal experience is with older aircraft such as the E-120. Some of ours have 30,000 plus hours on the airframe. I should have been more clear in my post.

 

[Daytonaflyer]

Damn, now I confused myself. Yes, I mean the oil temp gauge is required. Those gauges were continually not working at Ariben even though they are required.

 

[IFollowRoads]

Aren't you a little old to still be flying props?
I guess a Beech 1900 would be a step up from anything on your list. JK. I KEED too.

How'd you know how old I am?? STALKER!!

 

[dogismycopilot]

Really? Because the maintenance at my last 121 job was fantastic. Don't tell me Gulfstream is cutting corners! Surely with all that seat-rental revenue from the FOs, they can afford to maintain the equipment.

Tom Cooper makes John Sullivan look like a saint.

 

[minitour]

dang, now I confused myself. Yes, I mean the oil temp gauge is required. Those gauges were continually not working at Ariben even though they are required.

Yeah that changes things.

While a temperature gauge is not requiredan oil temperature guage most certainly is and better be working. (in the Duchess anywho)

-mini

 

[avmaviator]

I'm sure their airplanes are safe and legally maintained or they'd be out of business.

There are so many places that operate with unairworthy planes and are still in business, and that is a big problem in this industry. A perfect example is Palwaukee Flyers (Refer to the thread "Beware of this flight school").
Its a shame that people have to cut corners, just got to look out after yourself.

AM

 

[38tango]

I suppose you guys never picked up on the real issue Flyn was bringin up in the first place which was....

the jack@ss that was on here ripping on Ari Ben is the type of moron we come across on a regular basis in this industry that has little more than a rote understanding of how aviation work, but tries to make everyone else look bad so nobody notices how bad he sucks. The scary thing about that is morons like him usually end up gettin ahead faster than the rest of us in this industry somehow. I just hope for anyone that has to fly with him's sake he doesn't kill anyone...including himself. Ignorance is the most dangerous thing in an airplane.

As far as maintenance. Becky (the russian) was misunderstood. What she meant was in 121 there are more frequent maintenance issues, not that it's worse. Is it really surprising? Look at the abuse our planes take on a daily basis. It's amazing they keep em flying everyday as well as they do if you ask me. Flame away.

 

[IFollowRoads]

So "The Russian" isn't really Russian?

Screwed by the internet once again...

 

[SAAB Driver]

Former Aviator Instructor

I Instructed at the Aviator for about a year and a half and was a student there as well, by my screen name you can tell who I work for.

Overall the posts here have largely been honest and fair. Mike tries to run a good show, but the planes are old and flown alot. There are people like the guy who started this thread who had a bad expeirence. In my time there, every issue that was brought up on this thread happened. But for others the school worked out, and Aviator instructors were hired by regionals and made Captain, just like guys who spent $20,000 more for the same ratings at more expensive schools.

The bottom line is this, aviator runs a spartan operation, but a safe one. The housing is good, the qualtiy of the students is good, the instructors care, and the airplanes are old. If you want lots of good approaches, lots of great night flying expeirence, and the type of flying that will make you think, then the aviator is for you.

I hope that sums it up, and brings about a fair and realistic description of what you can expect at Ari-Ben Aviator.

 

[FrozenPilot]

Show me where the OP ripped Ari Ben? Its a negative experience, yes. I dont see any libelous statements. The OP could have done more to make his experience better, even positive. I don't believe from these posts that Ari Ben operates unsafe aircraft. Things that would fall under unsafe would be things you'd NEVER see on a preflight inspection. Only hanging out in mx, talking to mechanics, observing annual/100hr inspections would you tell for sure. If you're flying part 91, as PIC you have a lot of responsibility for determining airworthiness, for example- mx log entries, AD compliance, required equipment, deactivating/placarding inop equipment, etc. A broken plane does not equal poor maintenance. Many low time pilots are spoiled with newer, well maintained equipment. They rarely get challenged with mx problems to determine corrective action and go/no go.