American Flyers KMMU

nix_hex said:
They do just not in Morristown NJ. You'd have to call them to find out which locations offer Multi training. I bet it's through the roof though
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Don't you need 15 hours of PIC though in the cat/class anyways? I'd need 14 more hours of multi time just to even take an MEI xride?

But yeah if a 172 RG cost that much then I don't wanna know how much multi time is. Unless I had an employee discount. Those rates were about the same as my colleges Bonanza E33C were, which was our complex plane. And our Baron rates were still about that as well.
 
Yes AF at PMP. The 310 is $500/hr total. Yeah you can do MEI. Yeah you need 15 PIC cat/class (airplane/multi-land) for the MEI ride.
 
$500 an hour?! Holy Crap, no thanks. I'll rent something cheaper and just get my 13 extra multi hours that way...

That is if I stay to instruct at AF.
 
I am in my second day of class. Pretty nice structure so far. Two campuses at ADS and they've got lots of aircraft down here for flying. Few G1000's as well for the students who use them. I typically am here so far from 8am to 7pm either with our instructor that is teaching or doing the workshop to make lesson plans and teach eachother. Students here are very willing to learn and help eachother out. Seems like staying after for 6+ hours to use the sim (which is absolutely free and they have plenty of them) or teach eachother in the classroom will be a habit over the next 28 days.

Sim time is free. Rates are all the same as listed--- except the academy isn't $250 an hour. It's $190 an hour for the first 30 days and checkride. Multi rates are the same as said above so you can do MEI later if you want on your own. Very nice people that want to see you pass and actually learn on your own and understand the material. Definitely not just a pass your checkride class.

Debating of if I should do my CFII as my initial or CFI. They are all suggesting CFII as your initial because of the way they structure the class.

Anywho, back to studying. Send me any questions but I'll give a more detailed update when I'm all done with my x-rides.
 
tcco94 said:
I am in my second day of class. Pretty nice structure so far. Two campuses at ADS and they've got lots of aircraft down here for flying. Few G1000's as well for the students who use them. I typically am here so far from 8am to 7pm either with our instructor that is teaching or doing the workshop to make lesson plans and teach eachother. Students here are very willing to learn and help eachother out. Seems like staying after for 6+ hours to use the sim (which is absolutely free and they have plenty of them) or teach eachother in the classroom will be a habit over the next 28 days.

Sim time is free. Rates are all the same as listed--- except the academy isn't $250 an hour. It's $190 an hour for the first 30 days and checkride. Multi rates are the same as said above so you can do MEI later if you want on your own. Very nice people that want to see you pass and actually learn on your own and understand the material. Definitely not just a pass your checkride class.

Debating of if I should do my CFII as my initial or CFI. They are all suggesting CFII as your initial because of the way they structure the class.

Anywho, back to studying. Send me any questions but I'll give a more detailed update when I'm all done with my x-rides.
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Hey bud how are things going down there? Give us another update. You got fans out here, you know! lol
 
The CFI acdemy seems like a good deal for what it is. Everything else about AF, seems like too much in my opinion. I decided to just stick local and self study as much as I can.
 
crticalaoa said:
Hey bud how are things going down there? Give us another update. You got fans out here, you know! lol
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Hey guys,

Haven't spent much time online to help you out with how things are. I am now halfway through the academy (2 weeks left) and we just finished all the CFI-I stuff today. Tomorrow we are dipping into CFI-A. Let me say this now, that all this is from the ADS field. I have heard that the academy runs different at different airports (like the PMP supposedly is more strict). Pretty much what I do every day is have the academy day scheduled. I have only had 3 days so far that were "off". Pretty much we didn't have class scheduled.

"Class" pretty much teaches you everything you need to know for an oral exam with extra information. AF isn't teaching you to pass a checkride by any means. It over teaches you, so when you get to the examiner you give the concrete basic answers and let them ask you, rather than you just dig yourself a whole for information you don't want to go over with an examiner. Class can be anywhere from 4-6 hours. It can be anytime, you HAVE to be available all day, everyday to make this work. For instance today, we did hot seat (practice oral) as a class. Involved FOI and CFII questions and we did it for 5 hours today and 5 hours yesterday. We also at the end of each day will have a student or three students teach a lesson. Today I taught ILS Navigation (not the approach but what is an ILS). Class and instructor critiqued and complemented accordingly on what I should change. It also helps out a lot if you aren't good at public speaking. Class was scheduled today from 1-6. I was scheduled to fly today from 8-11pm. I can answer anymore questions as far as an average day but I got to the academy around 10am (late start day for me so I got some rest) and just studied FOI's until 1 and then after studied FOI's until my flight. I just went to a classroom upstairs and a buddy from the academy joined and we quizzed eachother as an examiner - CFI setting. The biggest part of paying your money here is getting to utilize your classmates and fly the sim for FREE. There's about 13 actually in my academy and about 4 of us stay everyday from 9am ish to 7pm.... EVERYDAY. Make your life revolved around the academy and studying. I feel so much more relaxed then before and you kind of become a family. We critique eachother and talk about what we said right or wrong and how to fix it. We go out to lunch or dinner to relax then go back and work on more. It's how this academy is meant to be. They don't baby feed you. The class is just scheduled pretty much to give you a complex example of GPS or ILS or the FAR's so you know to a better level then you imagined, then you pretty much are given the rest of the day to do whatever you want. I'm surprised how many just show up to class, pack up and leave. I am not sure if they study at home or utilize teaching someone else but that's key to being a CFI.

For my last portion, the flight scheduling is pretty good (compared to my 141 college scene). They pretty much just schedule you and tell you the night before. They do all scheduling the day before (which I find extremely more stressful for CFI's there lol). I did 2 CFII flights (I'm doing CFII as my initial) and then got signed off for a 2 year (to get my endorsement for xride). Today, I got my CFII 2 year flight completed and it went great! I got my CFI-I endorsement to do my xride! I have also done 1 CFI-A flight. Hopefully, the next one goes good and I just get my add-on endorsement sign off. I haven't done my spin but I will this weekend. For 4 flights, I've got 8.3 hours logged or something. Your first 10 hours are included in your entry fee but you pretty much can expect to go over it unless you get sign offs immediately on your first flight. They estimate for 15 hours (5 over) as an average. I'm currently at 8ish and have 1 sign off and close to the next so they are pretty accurate on that, as long as you can explain/teach while flying. My college emphasized that so much in commercial and multi engine that when I got here I was so comfortable just talking and teaching and flying because I have already done it for half my training. If you're rusty, hit the sim. I fly the sim almost every other day for an hour. Just to shoot approaches and break out at minimums. When I went flying today I pegged my altitude and heading about 95% of the flight. I was even surprised but the instructor said it's probably from all the sim time. It'll save you money here for sure!

Lastly, the feel here is awesome. They are very structured...but not so much for the CFI academy here. They have an outline but they won't spoon feed you. If you have questions, it's typically look it up and then come back to me and we can talk. You have to utilize the guys in your class. As far as age goes here, theres a wide variety in my class. I'm only 21 years old, someone else is 20 but most of the kids are mid-late 20's. We have a mid 30's (few guys) and one guy that's 70+ ....

They treat you amazing here. I have honestly never felt so at home, they almost treat you like an employee. They even tell you that you're pretty much part of the family and will spend most your time here. I, at least, do just so they know who I am everyday and know I'm here. I don't know if I can afford to live here but I'd at least like to be offered the opportunity and also, I quit my job and studied my ass off this summer to get here and pass xrides. Not waste time doing something else. Typically when I get home at 7pm I studied for an hour or so then just decompress for an hour or two and go to bed. It's a long day everyday but they FLY BY!

ALSO, GET YOUR WRITTENS DONE!!!! I have mine done but SO MANY KIDS come in and don't get them done and then don't get xrides!!! Also, the wait out here for DPE's suck. It's about 2 weeks. So plan for that or some people go home. I'm planning for it so I'm not too worried. Hope this was pretty in depth. I'm gonna fill out my IACRA now. Shoot any questions you have after reading and I'll answer. I'll update towards the end and hope and pray I get both xrides passed in Sept!
 
crticalaoa said:
Hey bud how are things going down there? Give us another update. You got fans out here, you know! lol
Click to expand...
Hey guys,

Haven't spent much time online to help you out with how things are. I am now halfway through the academy (2 weeks left) and we just finished all the CFI-I stuff today. Tomorrow we are dipping into CFI-A. Let me say this now, that all this is from the ADS field. I have heard that the academy runs different at different airports (like the PMP supposedly is more strict). Pretty much what I do every day is have the academy day scheduled. I have only had 3 days so far that were "off". Pretty much we didn't have class scheduled.

"Class" pretty much teaches you everything you need to know for an oral exam with extra information. AF isn't teaching you to pass a checkride by any means. It over teaches you, so when you get to the examiner you give the concrete basic answers and let them ask you, rather than you just dig yourself a whole for information you don't want to go over with an examiner. Class can be anywhere from 4-6 hours. It can be anytime, you HAVE to be available all day, everyday to make this work. For instance today, we did hot seat (practice oral) as a class. Involved FOI and CFII questions and we did it for 5 hours today and 5 hours yesterday. We also at the end of each day will have a student or three students teach a lesson. Today I taught ILS Navigation (not the approach but what is an ILS). Class and instructor critiqued and complemented accordingly on what I should change. It also helps out a lot if you aren't good at public speaking. Class was scheduled today from 1-6. I was scheduled to fly today from 8-11pm. I can answer anymore questions as far as an average day but I got to the academy around 10am (late start day for me so I got some rest) and just studied FOI's until 1 and then after studied FOI's until my flight. I just went to a classroom upstairs and a buddy from the academy joined and we quizzed eachother as an examiner - CFI setting. The biggest part of paying your money here is getting to utilize your classmates and fly the sim for FREE. There's about 13 actually in my academy and about 4 of us stay everyday from 9am ish to 7pm.... EVERYDAY. Make your life revolved around the academy and studying. I feel so much more relaxed then before and you kind of become a family. We critique eachother and talk about what we said right or wrong and how to fix it. We go out to lunch or dinner to relax then go back and work on more. It's how this academy is meant to be. They don't baby feed you. The class is just scheduled pretty much to give you a complex example of GPS or ILS or the FAR's so you know to a better level then you imagined, then you pretty much are given the rest of the day to do whatever you want. I'm surprised how many just show up to class, pack up and leave. I am not sure if they study at home or utilize teaching someone else but that's key to being a CFI.

For my last portion, the flight scheduling is pretty good (compared to my 141 college scene). They pretty much just schedule you and tell you the night before. They do all scheduling the day before (which I find extremely more stressful for CFI's there lol). I did 2 CFII flights (I'm doing CFII as my initial) and then got signed off for a 2 year (to get my endorsement for xride). Today, I got my CFII 2 year flight completed and it went great! I got my CFI-I endorsement to do my xride! I have also done 1 CFI-A flight. Hopefully, the next one goes good and I just get my add-on endorsement sign off. I haven't done my spin but I will this weekend. For 4 flights, I've got 8.3 hours logged or something. Your first 10 hours are included in your entry fee but you pretty much can expect to go over it unless you get sign offs immediately on your first flight. They estimate for 15 hours (5 over) as an average. I'm currently at 8ish and have 1 sign off and close to the next so they are pretty accurate on that, as long as you can explain/teach while flying. My college emphasized that so much in commercial and multi engine that when I got here I was so comfortable just talking and teaching and flying because I have already done it for half my training. If you're rusty, hit the sim. I fly the sim almost every other day for an hour. Just to shoot approaches and break out at minimums. When I went flying today I pegged my altitude and heading about 95% of the flight. I was even surprised but the instructor said it's probably from all the sim time. It'll save you money here for sure!

Lastly, the feel here is awesome. They are very structured...but not so much for the CFI academy here. They have an outline but they won't spoon feed you. If you have questions, it's typically look it up and then come back to me and we can talk. You have to utilize the guys in your class. As far as age goes here, theres a wide variety in my class. I'm only 21 years old, someone else is 20 but most of the kids are mid-late 20's. We have a mid 30's (few guys) and one guy that's 70+ ....

They treat you amazing here. I have honestly never felt so at home, they almost treat you like an employee. They even tell you that you're pretty much part of the family and will spend most your time here. I, at least, do just so they know who I am everyday and know I'm here. I don't know if I can afford to live here but I'd at least like to be offered the opportunity and also, I quit my job and studied my ass off this summer to get here and pass xrides. Not waste time doing something else. Typically when I get home at 7pm I studied for an hour or so then just decompress for an hour or two and go to bed. It's a long day everyday but they FLY BY!

ALSO, GET YOUR WRITTENS DONE!!!! I have mine done but SO MANY KIDS come in and don't get them done and then don't get xrides!!! Also, the wait out here for DPE's suck. It's about 2 weeks. So plan for that or some people go home. I'm planning for it so I'm not too worried. Hope this was pretty in depth. I'm gonna fill out my IACRA now. Shoot any questions you have after reading and I'll answer. I'll update towards the end and hope and pray I get both xrides passed in Sept!
 
tcco94 said:
Hey guys,

Haven't spent much time online to help you out with how things are. I am now halfway through the academy (2 weeks left) and we just finished all the CFI-I stuff today. Tomorrow we are dipping into CFI-A. Let me say this now, that all this is from the ADS field. I have heard that the academy runs different at different airports (like the PMP supposedly is more strict). Pretty much what I do every day is have the academy day scheduled. I have only had 3 days so far that were "off". Pretty much we didn't have class scheduled.

"Class" pretty much teaches you everything you need to know for an oral exam with extra information. AF isn't teaching you to pass a checkride by any means. It over teaches you, so when you get to the examiner you give the concrete basic answers and let them ask you, rather than you just dig yourself a whole for information you don't want to go over with an examiner. Class can be anywhere from 4-6 hours. It can be anytime, you HAVE to be available all day, everyday to make this work. For instance today, we did hot seat (practice oral) as a class. Involved FOI and CFII questions and we did it for 5 hours today and 5 hours yesterday. We also at the end of each day will have a student or three students teach a lesson. Today I taught ILS Navigation (not the approach but what is an ILS). Class and instructor critiqued and complemented accordingly on what I should change. It also helps out a lot if you aren't good at public speaking. Class was scheduled today from 1-6. I was scheduled to fly today from 8-11pm. I can answer anymore questions as far as an average day but I got to the academy around 10am (late start day for me so I got some rest) and just studied FOI's until 1 and then after studied FOI's until my flight. I just went to a classroom upstairs and a buddy from the academy joined and we quizzed eachother as an examiner - CFI setting. The biggest part of paying your money here is getting to utilize your classmates and fly the sim for FREE. There's about 13 actually in my academy and about 4 of us stay everyday from 9am ish to 7pm.... EVERYDAY. Make your life revolved around the academy and studying. I feel so much more relaxed then before and you kind of become a family. We critique eachother and talk about what we said right or wrong and how to fix it. We go out to lunch or dinner to relax then go back and work on more. It's how this academy is meant to be. They don't baby feed you. The class is just scheduled pretty much to give you a complex example of GPS or ILS or the FAR's so you know to a better level then you imagined, then you pretty much are given the rest of the day to do whatever you want. I'm surprised how many just show up to class, pack up and leave. I am not sure if they study at home or utilize teaching someone else but that's key to being a CFI.

For my last portion, the flight scheduling is pretty good (compared to my 141 college scene). They pretty much just schedule you and tell you the night before. They do all scheduling the day before (which I find extremely more stressful for CFI's there lol). I did 2 CFII flights (I'm doing CFII as my initial) and then got signed off for a 2 year (to get my endorsement for xride). Today, I got my CFII 2 year flight completed and it went great! I got my CFI-I endorsement to do my xride! I have also done 1 CFI-A flight. Hopefully, the next one goes good and I just get my add-on endorsement sign off. I haven't done my spin but I will this weekend. For 4 flights, I've got 8.3 hours logged or something. Your first 10 hours are included in your entry fee but you pretty much can expect to go over it unless you get sign offs immediately on your first flight. They estimate for 15 hours (5 over) as an average. I'm currently at 8ish and have 1 sign off and close to the next so they are pretty accurate on that, as long as you can explain/teach while flying. My college emphasized that so much in commercial and multi engine that when I got here I was so comfortable just talking and teaching and flying because I have already done it for half my training. If you're rusty, hit the sim. I fly the sim almost every other day for an hour. Just to shoot approaches and break out at minimums. When I went flying today I pegged my altitude and heading about 95% of the flight. I was even surprised but the instructor said it's probably from all the sim time. It'll save you money here for sure!

Lastly, the feel here is awesome. They are very structured...but not so much for the CFI academy here. They have an outline but they won't spoon feed you. If you have questions, it's typically look it up and then come back to me and we can talk. You have to utilize the guys in your class. As far as age goes here, theres a wide variety in my class. I'm only 21 years old, someone else is 20 but most of the kids are mid-late 20's. We have a mid 30's (few guys) and one guy that's 70+ ....

They treat you amazing here. I have honestly never felt so at home, they almost treat you like an employee. They even tell you that you're pretty much part of the family and will spend most your time here. I, at least, do just so they know who I am everyday and know I'm here. I don't know if I can afford to live here but I'd at least like to be offered the opportunity and also, I quit my job and studied my ass off this summer to get here and pass xrides. Not waste time doing something else. Typically when I get home at 7pm I studied for an hour or so then just decompress for an hour or two and go to bed. It's a long day everyday but they FLY BY!

ALSO, GET YOUR WRITTENS DONE!!!! I have mine done but SO MANY KIDS come in and don't get them done and then don't get xrides!!! Also, the wait out here for DPE's suck. It's about 2 weeks. So plan for that or some people go home. I'm planning for it so I'm not too worried. Hope this was pretty in depth. I'm gonna fill out my IACRA now. Shoot any questions you have after reading and I'll answer. I'll update towards the end and hope and pray I get both xrides passed in Sept!
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I am very happy to hear to its going good. I backed away from ATP and will be attending the academy in Addison next month. I have a few questions for you. Hows is lodging? any place you recommend? also how did you prepared for the academy before getting there? how are the sim? I already have my writtens knocked out so that should help I think. Well definitely be praying for you so you can get your check rides done coming up here soon.
 
crticalaoa said:
I am very happy to hear to its going good. I backed away from ATP and will be attending the academy in Addison next month. I have a few questions for you. Hows is lodging? any place you recommend? also how did you prepared for the academy before getting there? how are the sim? I already have my writtens knocked out so that should help I think. Well definitely be praying for you so you can get your check rides done coming up here soon.
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I may run into you if you'll be here for September class. I think you'll enjoy it just make sure that you utilize everything they offer. Stay there until they close and come in the morning even if class is at 1. On off weekends or days, still come in. I always put in at least 8 hours. They will guide you for making lesson plans and etc but I already had all mine. I'd just study the FOIs early maybe. I didn't as much as I should have. Make note cards or however you study.

Lodging...most guys stay at the extended stay. Call and talk to Mike or Jessica. They'll tell you how to get the AF rate but it's like $30 a night. I got VERY lucky with family in Dallas. That's why I came here and not Florida. But the extended stay is cheapest. You want to come in planning to spend a little extra because examiner fees as well. I won't go into to much specifics because you'll see when you get here but bring all the books you have and ipad or laptop or etc. You'll want paper charts and stuff as well but I do EFB.

I wouldn't worry as much about CFI-I / CFI-A stuff as much because they'll teach your brains out here. What's toughest I've gathered so far is the FOIs and study the 172R/172RG systems. I didn't. I am a little behind on it because I flew archers, bonanzas, and barons...not Cessna 172s. If you have it geared down really good though, you'll be ahead of the class. Also, print out 61-65E change 1...at least the appendix 1 of endorsements. No questions. Just print it.

Any other questions I can help with maybe? Weather is nice out here and airspace is BUSY!!!!! I had no idea how much money and private jets ADS has. Supposedly, most jet traffic in the country for airports with 1 runway. First day taxiing I almost couldn't pay attention when I saw 2 private 737s (one brand new) and a private MD-80 followed by about 14 hangars back to back with Gulfstreams and Citations. I mean yesterday they held a Ferrari convention at the jet center?! Lol. I did my ILS tonight at 10pm at max fwd speed due to a citation and King air following behind. Don't worry though, flying is fun and easy. Instructors here are awesome and will help you out. You'll enjoy it here man.
 
AF is a great set-up if you go for the CFI academy, that is what it is designed for, and as TCCO says, be prepared and the costs will be reasonable.

MEI is only an option if you have Comm Multi done already, so the training brings you over the 15 hours PIC. I did it, it was a blast!
 
Does anyone have current/recent information about AF at MMU? I'm thinking about going in the next couple of weeks to finally finish up my CFI.

I have no 172RG time -- about 20 hours in an Arrow -- and only have flown a couple times this year, so I know that going to a place like AF would be a pricey way to get current and checkride ready. But trying to find a local school to do it hasn't worked terribly well.
 
I'm starting the 30 day class at Addison on September 21. Ask me to tell you about where I was when JFK was assassinated.
 
Pretty much everything tcco94 said about AF KADS is spot on. As a small business owner myself, I've always been disgusted at the zero customer service attitude that charterises just about every General Aviation training outfit I've ever been to.

AF was the first place where I wasn't invisible when I walked in the door. The staff was very friendly and helpful. I stayed at the Extended Stay, which is kind of basic, but you can't beat the price.

My October class had kind of a disaster. A big reason I spent a month in Dallas was because every flight school here in Austin has one and only one complex airplane. They told me that they always have plenty of airplanes there. Which they did. For the first week. Supposedly they had an engine 'blow up' on takeoff roll with a FSDO guy giving a checkride. They grounded all the C172RGs except the one that had a new engine. So we're down to one airplane for both the CFI Academy and the big foreign school. So I only flew twice during the official 30 days, and a third flight by staying an extra day.

I wasn't ready for the checkride, and my business took me away until recently. I flew a couple of times up there last week (plenty of airplanes this time), and I'm going to try to finish off flying a C177RG to which I have access here in Austin.

Most of the young guys (I get my first social security check next week) who just finished their commercial were signed of in 3 rides, or four if they needed spins.

Even though I didn't get signed off up there, it was still a great experience.
 
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