what school is good in sf bay area

[needwings]

i have zero time in the air just graduated college and was looking for a school to start with.....looked into american flyers but now im scared because of what i have heard about online, how about sierra academy??please help on a buget and I feel like i need to get rid of this itch
thanks joseph

 

[ShyFlyGuy]

i have zero time in the air just graduated college and was looking for a school to start with.....looked into american flyers but now im scared because of what i have heard about online, how about sierra academy??please help on a buget and I feel like i need to get rid of this itch
thanks joseph

Flying in the bay area is always expensive. You wanna go career or just get your private? I would suggest getting your private at a flying club (Palo Alto Flying Club, WVFC, whatever) and then going to a 141 school if you're still interested. Definately stay away from 141 schools in the CA area. They're expensive as he!! and so on...

Holla.

Shy

 

[funky]

I did my instrument at bel-air in SQL. I don't have much to compare, but I had a great instructor and passed my checkride at the minimum hours...good luck!

 

[Immelman]

I agree on WVFC. I did my CPL there a few years ago.

They are a bit snooty in terms of phase checks -- they made me do a phase check to solo a C172RG, after I had maybe 30 hours of complex PIC time in other aircraft, which was annoying -- but overall I regard them highly. If you're just starting out structure may be a good thing. The selection of equiptment is excellent, but pricey (although what isn't these days). If you are considering being a CFI in the area, you may have the opportunity to make good $$$ there instructing too. I was told at one time they like to 'hire from within' on their CFIs.

 

[TrafficInSight]

Stay the hell away from ASA is about the only advice I can give you

I don't recommend any of the 141 schools as they all seem to be out to squeeze as much money out of the student as possible, I would find a flying club near you where you like the surroundings and meet with a few of the instructors and find one that you like.

 

[needwings]

thank you ill look into flying clubs so that i can see how good the instructors are... maybe the best thing is to go to bel-air in san carlos because it is near my home...I just do not want to be ripped off..Thanks for the advice I was just about to go to sierra academy and blow a wad of cash...Sometimes you just need a second opinion..

 

[funky]

oh, one other thing...flying in the bay area is the best thing you could do. i got my PPL in KBCT (Boca Raton, FL) which was uncontrolled, and the entire area in general was pretty easy to get around...

...but the instrument training i did in KSQL was great in the fact that the area is just a complete mess as far as airspace goes. you have KSFO traffic just outside the traffic pattern, and routinely have to get routed through the 28 approaches. KOAK is there as well, and then you have KSJC south of you. To top that off, you have a decent obstacle clearance to your west (hills) and VFR traffic scud running along 101. insane really. imho, no other way to learn to fly!

...then the weather. the bay area, you know by now, has about 100+ microclimates. flying anywhere will no doubt expose you to numerous weather conditions, and IMC is ALWAYS there in the winter and summer. good practice IMC too, very low lying clouds throughout the valleys. also, KSQL is known for its crosswinds, since it has no east-west runway. AND the final is right along that VFR corridor on 101.

...fly north to red bluff and you have serious winds off the cascades; fly to tahoe and you have mountain obscuration, winds, and density altitude to deal with; fly to santa rosa and you have fog; just about anywhere has its own unique lessons.

i did my cross country flight in total IMC for 3 hours straight from KSQL to KACV to KRBG through the oregon mountains (procedure turns below mountain tops in IMC are not fun). came back flying at 11k in IMC over mountains for an hour. experienced early signs of hypoxia (everything seemed to turn orange on the instrument panel) which was quite interesting. staring at instruments over mountains for an hour at 11k in a C172 will do that.

my point is, you have TONS of crap in that area -- once you have mastered the bay area, you will have little trouble anywhere else.

 

[needwings]

thanks for the info FUNKY having people that already have flown really helps a lot...Ill tell you all how scared and excited my first dinky cessna flight will be

 

[funky]

thanks for the info FUNKY having people that already have flown really helps a lot...Ill tell you all how scared and excited my first dinky cessna flight will be

Can't wait to hear about it. I think you will be surprised how much fun it is.

Good luck!

 

[VNugget]

Someone else asked, and I'm curious.... career or fun?