Another Panamer here!

T

Tuffpants

New Member
I I made my decision about Pan Am before I discovered this forum but I still feel good about it. IMHO, I don't think there is too much of a difference between flight academies. Each one is accelerated and demands 120% from each of the students. All the insructors are b*** busters so be prepared to get reemed if you don't know your s***. If your used to flying at Joe Shmoe's FBO, get ready for a change. I attended ERAU for a semester before I decieded against a degree in Flying. I felt Information Systems was much more useful in the event I lose an arm or a leg. Of course working on computers would be next to impossible without both arms, but that's for a different forum.

Each one is expensive. My theory is that if I'm prepared to spend 50,000 on a school, why not spend 62,000 on a program that gives me more options and is better for my career. I'm already indebt up to my eyeballs so what's an extra 11 dollars a month.

My class date is 8/25 and I will start posting my progress ala FlyingTurkey. Turk, I read your posts and I must say that I am truly impressed. I'm coming in with ~60 hours TT and I'll be lucky to get through the program as quickly as you. NICE WORK!!

-Couple of questions: How's living at the Fl campus. I'll be in Vero Beach.
-Turk, how does the selection process for instructor work? How long did you have to wait?
 
Based on recent hiring throughout the industry your wait time for CFI should not be a none issue. I believe that worst has passed.
 
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Based on recent hiring throughout the industry your wait time for CFI should not be a none issue. I believe that worst has passed.

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Things seem to be on a slow upswing that appears to be gaining momentum. Good sign for all.
 
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I I made my decision about Pan Am before I discovered this forum but I still feel good about it. IMHO, I don't think there is too much of a difference between flight academies. Each one is accelerated and demands 120% from each of the students. All the insructors are b*** busters so be prepared to get reemed if you don't know your s***. If your used to flying at Joe Shmoe's FBO, get ready for a change. I attended ERAU for a semester before I decieded against a degree in Flying. I felt Information Systems was much more useful in the event I lose an arm or a leg. Of course working on computers would be next to impossible without both arms, but that's for a different forum.

Each one is expensive. My theory is that if I'm prepared to spend 50,000 on a school, why not spend 62,000 on a program that gives me more options and is better for my career. I'm already indebt up to my eyeballs so what's an extra 11 dollars a month.

My class date is 8/25 and I will start posting my progress ala FlyingTurkey. Turk, I read your posts and I must say that I am truly impressed. I'm coming in with ~60 hours TT and I'll be lucky to get through the program as quickly as you. NICE WORK!!

-Couple of questions: How's living at the Fl campus. I'll be in Vero Beach.
-Turk, how does the selection process for instructor work? How long did you have to wait?

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I flew and learned more at a Joe Smhoe's FBO then I ever did at Pan Am. And most of the instructors at Pan Am had done there training somewhere else too.
 
First don't listen to Mavmb. He left Pan Am before I ever got there and things have apparently changed since I have never observed or experinced the things Mavmb claims happened.

As far as living in FL... I love it as I am a Florida (Miami) native. Vero is 110% nicer than Fort Pierce so you will like it there.

The hiring process for CFI's changed right after I was hired. Here's how it goes:
1. Complete the entire program including CFI CFII MEI & ACE.
2. Your performance, attitude & skills are evaluated during your training.
3. Interview. this is the new part, and where step 2 above comes into play.
4. Pass the interview and you are givin a new instructor indoc. class date. The class is 5 days long all day with a test each day.
5. Pass the ground portion and you will do 2 flights. 1 VFR maneuvers and landings..(teach them). The other flight will be IFR..usually a couple of approaches and a hold. The flights can be with either the Chief CFI or one of his assistants. If they dont like a flight (say you are rusty) you have the opprtunity to do another flight.
6. Pass the flights and your name goes on the wait list (if there is one) I passed my last flight on October 1, 2003, and was officially hired. I waited until March 10, 2004 when I flew with my first student. So just under 6 months. But now CFI's are getting hired at regionals and the list is short and moving faster. I doubt you will even have to wait, especially with another 60 Chinese students here by the end of the year, and I heard we will have over 70 Korean students here also.

I hope this helps...
 
*lets out a big sigh*

oh jeez here we go again.


I dont know anything about Pan Am except they are expensive.

Whatever you do just check out all your options, from Joe Schmoes FBO to Flight Safety to ATPS to Pan Am just check em out then make your decision. Just rembember there are no shortcuts and no one will give you any "fast track advantage" over anybody else no matter what the advertising says.

plus dont forget about the bachelors degree you gotta have too
 
Thanks for the advice!

No offense to the whole Joe Shmoe FBO thing. I just know that flying at my home airport at my own pace was a hell of a lot easier than flying 5-6 days a week at ERAU. It's not so much the level of instruction as it was the pace.
 
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Thanks for the advice!

No offense to the whole Joe Shmoe FBO thing. I just know that flying at my home airport at my own pace was a hell of a lot easier than flying 5-6 days a week at ERAU. It's not so much the level of instruction as it was the pace.

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I'm a former Pan Am student myself, and I strongly advise you to make very sure that Pan Am is the right place for you. They asked me to leave after a few months because I wasn't progressing to their standards... they even had the audacity to tell me that aviation was not the right profession for me- and flying on weekends would probably be all that I could do. I left PanAm and have continued my training at a small FBO. Since leaving, I completed my commercial single (i was struggling with my commercial at PanAm), and my CFI... and did so at my own pace and actually have completed them faster than if I was at Pan Am... and saved a lot of money. What I'm saying is... if your goal is to train at a fast pace... you don't need a large flight school to do it- I learned that.

I am in no way trying to talk you out of Pan Am. If Pan Am is the right fit for you, that's wonderful! I am saying, however, that a school like Pan Am, if it doesn't work for you... and it doesn't fit your mentality (I'm quite independent... and didn't like being told what to do every day)... it's quite difficult to just up and leave. A lot of people love it there... and a lot of people don't... just make sure you're going to be the person that 'fits' the Pan Am mentality and will love it there before you put $45,000 in their account and start signing contracts.

PS I was at DVT... I'm not sure if there's a large difference between DVT and Ft. Pierce, but thought I should note it
 
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