PSUPilot
Well-Known Member
Has anyone heard anything, good or bad, about the flight school American Flyers? I currently have my private pilot certificate and about 88 hours total time, all through a small flight school in central Pennsylvania. WIth the way the weather has been lately though, its been tough to get any cross-country PIC time in, let alone any flight time towards my instrument rating.
So I have considered going to American Flyers, where they say I can get my IR in 14 days (which includes a few days for ground. Total, they say I'll get 40 hours of classroom and pre- and post- flight briefings, 20 hours in a Frasca 141 dual simulator, 21 hours dual in Cessna 172 Skyhawk, 10 hours solo simulator lab. It's an expensive program (around $10,000, but I figure its worth it if I can at least get my IR in a structured, fast-paced environment).
Total, this is supposed to take 14 days, and they will work aroudn my work schedule. Fortunately, I work part-time at US Airways Express on Fri, Sat, and Sun, and can non-rev to whatever location I choose to attend, and stay near that location. So I estimate three to four weeks of time.
I figure this way, I can get my instrument rating fairly quickly, and start on my commercial without having to wait for the weather to cooperate enough to get my IR in central PA. After my IR at American Flyers, I'd go back and get my commercial at the Part 61 school I got my PPL at. I just graduated from Penn State in May, and have decided to stay in the area for the time being to work on my ratings while I work part time and keep my flying benefits and make some cash(all while still getting to see my girlfriend who remains at PSU).
My question is...does anyone here know anything about American Flyers? A few pilots I know at work have recommended going there for at least my IR, but I wanted some other opinions from this board. Any suggestions?
So I have considered going to American Flyers, where they say I can get my IR in 14 days (which includes a few days for ground. Total, they say I'll get 40 hours of classroom and pre- and post- flight briefings, 20 hours in a Frasca 141 dual simulator, 21 hours dual in Cessna 172 Skyhawk, 10 hours solo simulator lab. It's an expensive program (around $10,000, but I figure its worth it if I can at least get my IR in a structured, fast-paced environment).
Total, this is supposed to take 14 days, and they will work aroudn my work schedule. Fortunately, I work part-time at US Airways Express on Fri, Sat, and Sun, and can non-rev to whatever location I choose to attend, and stay near that location. So I estimate three to four weeks of time.
I figure this way, I can get my instrument rating fairly quickly, and start on my commercial without having to wait for the weather to cooperate enough to get my IR in central PA. After my IR at American Flyers, I'd go back and get my commercial at the Part 61 school I got my PPL at. I just graduated from Penn State in May, and have decided to stay in the area for the time being to work on my ratings while I work part time and keep my flying benefits and make some cash(all while still getting to see my girlfriend who remains at PSU).
My question is...does anyone here know anything about American Flyers? A few pilots I know at work have recommended going there for at least my IR, but I wanted some other opinions from this board. Any suggestions?