What to do?

[RFC1873]

I am interested in becoming a pilot and I am trying to decide the best way to go out doing so. I live in Houston Texas and I am currently trying to find a good flight school in Houston. I have been looking at Anson Air, does anyone know anything about Anson Air or know any good flight schools in Houston? I have also been looking at atpflightschools.com and I was wondering if anyone has any information about it. Thanks

 

[mcjohn]

In a city like that you should be able to get through a CFI rating for less than 25-30 thousand dollars.......hit the outskirts of town if the ratings seem too expensive in the city. Don't know much about your area. In big cities like Atlanta they sell $14,000 private pilot certificates. Should only cost about $5000...and does in the satellite suburb towns. Find $50-60 per hour C152s. Find $25-40 per hour instructors.

 

[Cessna172heavy]

Atp

Unless they've changed their policy, I do believe ATP requires that you attend private pilot training at their Jacksonville, FL location. They may have added another location in CA, or something. If you're just going after your private, I don't think thats on option with them. I believe they only offer private training to their career track students. They call it their "90-day fast track program". Once you're done with the private training, you can relocate to any of their locations around the country for your "fast-track" program. The entire process is supposed to take about 5 months. In my experience, ATP doesn't have the best private training. They are focussed mainly on the career (ie multi-engine) program. Unfortunately the private students take a back seat to everyone else there who has been there longer. It's very fast paced and the quality might take a back seat as well to their schedule, and I've also heard from several different people that they have a tendency to move up checkrides on you. I don't like 'em compared to a local FBO, but if thats your thing, go do it. Best of luck in your pursuits! Take care

P.S. This time last year I was enrolled in ATP's fast track program and was in JAX for a week and pulled out because I felt that I wasn't getting what I paid for! Been there, done that, and have not regretted leaving!

 

[mcjohn]

ATP is not a place to begin....only to finish.