Flying lessons in SoCAL

Timbuff10 said:
You get a better product. Some schools offer the cheapest thing out there, others offer more goodies and cater to other clients. Southwest caters to one type of crowd, and United First caters to another, both exist, and both can do well.

It all depends on the person though.

So far in my instructing experiences about 80% of my clients have been the businessman types who have their own career going and want to learn to fly and money is no obstacle. Others prefer to do it the cheapest way possible.
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I would not be so sure about the better product. I am well acquainted with Cableair, and I would say that they do an excellent job -- and I am pretty harsh on general aviation instruction. In my experience, the instructors there are top notch. Now, I would agree they are not catering to the rich clients that your school is selling to, just as I would highly discourage an aspiring professional pilot to learn in a glass cockpit.
 
I think it really doesn't matter if AFI or the Cable people are better....this guy's drivin' from Burbank...that's a hell of a drive for a lesson....especially if he has to fight traffic.........I'd say check out VNY, CMA, BUR, WHP and SMO...they're all closer and I'm sure there's a decent flight school at one of 'em...
 
launchpad said:
I think it really doesn't matter if AFI or the Cable people are better....this guy's drivin' from Burbank...that's a hell of a drive for a lesson....especially if he has to fight traffic.........I'd say check out VNY, CMA, BUR, WHP and SMO...they're all closer and I'm sure there's a decent flight school at one of 'em...
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she ;) thanks.
 
Ah, yeah coming from all the way up there, Fullerton would probably be an annoying trip each time. I am sure there are plenty of places up in that area that would have you flying and getting your ratings in no time. Good luck and have fun with it!
 
seagull said:
I would not be so sure about the better product. I am well acquainted with Cableair, and I would say that they do an excellent job -- and I am pretty harsh on general aviation instruction. In my experience, the instructors there are top notch. Now, I would agree they are not catering to the rich clients that your school is selling to, just as I would highly discourage an aspiring professional pilot to learn in a glass cockpit.
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Not commenting at all on their instructors, I am sure they do an excellent job.

As for the learning in a glass cockpit, for the most part, I disagree. Again though, it depends on the particular student. You can't fight technology. It is just like saying "I prefer to use typewriters over a computer".
 
Timbuff10 said:
Not commenting at all on their instructors, I am sure they do an excellent job.

As for the learning in a glass cockpit, for the most part, I disagree. Again though, it depends on the particular student. You can't fight technology. It is just like saying "I prefer to use typewriters over a computer".
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Sorry, from my position in this industry, I would say your are completely wrong. It is much easier to go from round dials to glass than the reverse, even if you have flown round dials before. Round dials are going to be around for quite some time. There is NO benefit to "glass" time if you can't also fly round dials at this point in time, and that won't be changing for several years. There has been another thread on this topic as well.

If someone is learning to own their own and not planning on flying professionally, that's fine, but someone aspiring for an aviation career had better be proficient in round dials.
 
Any suggestions on affordable/qualified instruction at Long Beach airport?

Note: LB flying club isnt an option due to poor maintenance.
 
I'm the person you're looking for ;) PM me if you want more info on schools around the area... I work out of WHP (only during the weekends though), but I've been flying/working out of SoCal for over 3 years now
 
launchpad said:
I think it really doesn't matter if AFI or the Cable people are better....this guy's drivin' from Burbank...that's a hell of a drive for a lesson....especially if he has to fight traffic.........I'd say check out VNY, CMA, BUR, WHP and SMO...they're all closer and I'm sure there's a decent flight school at one of 'em...
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Depends on the rate differential. I know a guy that drove from SMO to CCB due to the huge rate difference. Just times on how much your time is worth, vs. the cost.
 
seagull said:
Depends on the rate differential. I know a guy that drove from SMO to CCB due to the huge rate difference. Just times on how much your time is worth, vs. the cost.
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Ya, I'm more of a convenience over cost kinda guy...to each his own though....


I'd check out Rainbow Air at Long Beach...last time I was there, they seemed to have their crap together.....
 
seagull said:
Must be nice to have that luxury.
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It's not that I have all kinds of money to spend, but If the rate difference is between 109 and 135, the drive may cost me more than the difference. Not to mention the time I spend driving those long distances. It wears on the body, the car, the wallet. You spend less time with your family if you have one. You spend less time at work, etc. etc. etc. Now if the difference was between 45 and 145 then the drive might be worth it.

Burbank to cable is a drive I wouldn't put on my worst enemy....the 5 and the 10 at the wrong times can be extremely brutal.

Like I said, I'm sure there are plenty of reasonable places near him that would be a good tradeoff between distance, quality, and cost..
 
launchpad said:
It's not that I have all kinds of money to spend, but If the rate difference is between 109 and 135, the drive may cost me more than the difference. Not to mention the time I spend driving those long distances. It wears on the body, the car, the wallet. You spend less time with your family if you have one. You spend less time at work, etc. etc. etc. Now if the difference was between 45 and 145 then the drive might be worth it.

Burbank to cable is a drive I wouldn't put on my worst enemy....the 5 and the 10 at the wrong times can be extremely brutal.

Like I said, I'm sure there are plenty of reasonable places near him that would be a good tradeoff between distance, quality, and cost..
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Actually, the rate at CCB was $98 for a 172, which, I assume, you are quoting above? The time factor depends on when you drive, as you know. You schedule the lessons, so you can work around it. Certainly on longer flights the difference would be worth it, but, for most people, it would be hard to justify what is really about a 35 minute drive (timed around traffic) for that kind of rate difference. With the 210, the drive isn't as bad as you make it out to be. I agree the 5 and 10 can be brutal.
 
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