Westwind And Phoenix East Aviation

[737pilot]

Dear Friends,

Back in 1997 I started flight training in Phonix East Aviation.I was an international student from Europe and in the e-mails and advertisements they seemed like a serious and OK flight school.After spending 2 months in that place I understood that the place is more like a "circus".If you ever pay in advance you'll all get buttf..d.Since its impossible to find an airplane to fly since they are all down for maint.sometimes you find that you're named crossed from schedule,it takes weeks to find an check instructor to make a stage chack for part 141 and you stuck for weeks without flying during stage check times and all your money is non refunable if you pay in advance.

I was clever and lucky to pay only few money in advance to start the course as soon as my down payment finished I moved to Embry Riddle.I strongly recomend ERAU for serious flight training.Now I am a 737-800 FO for an European charter ailine.

The owner Mr Nino was a nice guy actually but had no idea what those Saudi chief pilot and his gang are up to.I'd say don't even consider that crappy place as a flight school.Avoid it at all costs.



TMRoss when were you flying at PEA?

 

[TMRoss]

Round 2k

I think I was there around 2k. Would have to check my log book. Been to different places ya know but I would have to think it was around that time. Got out of there by Feb 2001. Is that when you were there? Congrats on your position now. Wish I could be up there!

 

[737pilot]

TMRoss,
I was there around 1997-98.I saw the adverts on internet like the kingair and the 727 simulator.During my training(almost 2 months) I have never seen the kingair and 727 sim was a dump.

They still owe me 5 sorties of multi engine flight but I didn't even get that.I know people spent all their money on PPL which would be enough to go through CPL ME.

We in Europe are luckier in some ways and unlucky some ways also compared to you guys.You can be hired and trained as as FO with relatively low flt hours but its harder to find jobs here too.I guess I was lucky to have contacts around the airlines because my father and grandfather(rip) are pilots with thousands of flt hours under their belts.

I hope you'll make your way up front as quick as possible.Good Luck.
737pilot

 

[bobbysamd]

FlightSafety

I second the suggestion about FlightSafety Academy in Vero. I was a flight instructor at FSI from 1991-92. I since have had contact with officials who were there when I was there, and have heard from recent students. FSI is expensive, but a great program overall. The aircraft are impeccably maintained and plentiful, so maintenance and aircraft availability won't be worries. The school has been receiving new Seminoles. The flight training is excellent, especially because unusual attitudes and spins are part of the course. Perhaps the only shortcoming is ground school. I felt that students did not receive enough information and still feel that way, but maybe that was because I was hired at FSI after being an ERAU flight instructor. Don't get me wrong; FSI's ground school is certainly adequate.

Run a board search on FSI for other comments.

Finally, I recall that Phoenix East was sort of the anti-Riddle. A number of ERAU students who did not care for it would fly there. We had a similar situation in Prescott, where many disgruntled Riddlers continued with college at ERAU but flew at the other schools on the field.

Hope that helps. Good luck with your choice.