Ari Ben Aviator

ShoreFly said:
Yes, I have a comment...

I was a VA student (then instructor) at the Aviator in 2004, and reading brentg350 and FloridaFlyer's comments was like stepping back in time. It appears that nothing has changed at the old Aviator, just as awful now as it was then.

I've said it before on this board, quality ground training was non-existent, even though I had to pay for it. This school likes to use the term 'spoon-feeding' to define an instructor-led discussion, and they are doing pilots wrong by not creating a strong foundation before taking to the skies.

SF
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I understand your perspective. As a vet, you know the easiest way to address these types of issues is by simply taking the time to report those issues to VA. If it's as systemic as is being express, a look by VA and their due diligence research/investigation will ensure vets are treated as they should when attending Part 141 schools. If it's NOT quality instruction in line with VA standards, the VA endorsement should be removed.

A simple letter to VA. . .yours and others will help to ensure that's the case here and elsewhere.

Still no response from the school? Disconcerting.

I've PM'd CommPilot76. Let's see if there's a response from the school.
 
ShoreFly said:
Yes, I have a comment...

I was a VA student (then instructor) at the Aviator in 2004, and reading brentg350 and FloridaFlyer's comments was like stepping back in time. It appears that nothing has changed at the old Aviator, just as awful now as it was then.

I've said it before on this board, quality ground training was non-existent, even though I had to pay for it. This school likes to use the term 'spoon-feeding' to define an instructor-led discussion, and they are doing pilots wrong by not creating a strong foundation before taking to the skies.

SF
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ZERO ground training equals more time in the plane which equals more money because you end up paying for additional flight hours.

Somebody that has never been to a flight school would take that "spoon-feeding comment" to heart as if they were lazy.

It's a good chance that guys attending the pro course have time to work out issues with ground and flight training, but for me my course was 30 days there was no way in hell it was going to work out in that time frame.

Around the same time I was leaving two other students bolted; one va guy, and another guy who paid for a 100 hour block. Why? Because they were being told whatever was necessary to keep them training there - YOU ARE NOT GOING TO FINISH IN THE TIME THAT THEY STATE.
 
First of all I would like to thank you brentg350 for your service.

Today, unfortunately, the integrity of civilian side aviation differs greatly from the military. Your experience whether in flight training, or in this biz, will not be the last one.

Good Luck.
 
A lot of the previous posts are correct - Not a bad place, but you better be prepared to throw in some effort to get done. I got done in 4.5 months, and I was about the fastest around that I know of. Pierre is a saint, overworked and underpaid. If you ever have problems, go talk to him and he won't ######## you. If you have problems with money, try to go to Mike or Josh and not TJ. she doesn't even know how to wear a bra! The way the industry is now, I'm guessing it won't be as hard to keep instructors around. I was there last July through first week of Dec. and everyone was being hired by the regionals without even flight instructing. If your a proactive person, you can finish in 4 to 6 months realistically. But most aren't and take a lot longer. I wrote down every day I couldn't fly due to weather and/or maintenance, and I got a free months rent out of Mike. The planes are old and break a lot, but only for little ####. I fly the Q for colgan and our planes break just as much for little electrical ####. Have patience and you will be alright. If your thinking about going there, ask for Brian Bell for your instructor. He keeps it real. Special thanks to Cunningham, Sara. Nixon, Nik. Faust, Justin. Tullis, Jerad. Campbell, Alan. Moore, Steve. Yero, Todd. and Colletti, Chance.
​
 
L-16B said:
A lot of the previous posts are correct - Not a bad place, but you better be prepared to throw in some effort to get done. I got done in 4.5 months, and I was about the fastest around that I know of. Pierre is a saint, overworked and underpaid. If you ever have problems, go talk to him and he won't ######## you. If you have problems with money, try to go to Mike or Josh and not TJ. she doesn't even know how to wear a bra! The way the industry is now, I'm guessing it won't be as hard to keep instructors around. I was there last July through first week of Dec. and everyone was being hired by the regionals without even flight instructing. If your a proactive person, you can finish in 4 to 6 months realistically. But most aren't and take a lot longer. I wrote down every day I couldn't fly due to weather and/or maintenance, and I got a free months rent out of Mike. The planes are old and break a lot, but only for little ####. I fly the Q for colgan and our planes break just as much for little electrical ####. Have patience and you will be alright. If your thinking about going there, ask for Brian Bell for your instructor. He keeps it real. Special thanks to Cunningham, Sara. Nixon, Nik. Faust, Justin. Tullis, Jerad. Campbell, Alan. Moore, Steve. Yero, Todd. and Colletti, Chance.
​
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Good perspective. Thanks. You're in Houston? Where? Hey, anytime you wish for a NASA visit, give me a buzz. As you know, places for Happy Hours are plentiful around here as well.
 
greaper007 said:
Well someone tell Brian to get on the forum, I haven't talked to him for almost 2 years.
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he gets on, he called me all mad that i put his name on here. he said he had enough indians to instruct as it is....



BRIAN BELL BRIAN BELL BRIAN BELL BRIAN BELL BRIAN BELL BRIAN BELL BRIAN BELL BRIAN BELL BRIAN BELL BRIAN BELL BRIAN BELL BRIAN BELL BRIAN BELL BRIAN BELL BRIAN BELL BRIAN BELL BRIAN BELL BRIAN BELL BRIAN BELL BRIAN BELL BRIAN BELL BRIAN BELL
 
L-16B said:
he gets on, he called me all mad that i put his name on here. he said he had enough indians to instruct as it is....



BRIAN BELL BRIAN BELL BRIAN BELL BRIAN BELL BRIAN BELL BRIAN BELL BRIAN BELL BRIAN BELL BRIAN BELL BRIAN BELL BRIAN BELL BRIAN BELL BRIAN BELL BRIAN BELL BRIAN BELL BRIAN BELL BRIAN BELL BRIAN BELL BRIAN BELL BRIAN BELL BRIAN BELL BRIAN BELL
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Probably going down in August, I'll ask for him, and if it makes him feel better, I'll talk with an Indian accent :D
 
Cactus_Cutter said:
I thought the Q was Colgan's premier flagship aircraft?
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The Saab is Mr. Colgan's pride and joy. 10 q's, about 50 Saab's. I was hired on the Saab, and got switched over to my dislike. Not a bad plane, but it makes you feel like a computer programmer, not a pilot.
 
hey man, i'm currently flying for my instructor ratings at the school and have some comments. i'm not here to bash the other gentlemen who have given their input, nor am i here to bash the school. i'm a guy who has been to 2 other flight schools in addition to ari and would like to give you my two cents. any flight school you go to is going to have "challenges" and people are going to give the school up the road. i went to flight safety and could give you many stories. guess what, if i had enough money to finish, then i would have finished there. the school still had a "bring in the masses and fire their asses" take on things. i then went to pari air to finish my instrument and commercial ratings. guess what, paris is a great school and would endorse them, but they aren't perfect either. now i'm at ari, and you wouldn't believe what i have found, it's not perfect. i feel as though i was very fortunate to have some great ground school from the chief pilot and learned tons. as a matter of fact, it's pretty cool to be hanging around the school and talk to a couple of key people to get answers from regarding "how to fly an airplane". the airplanes are old, and they aren't even in production anymore. does that mean that you can't learn to fly a multi engine airplane? no. dude, the maintanance, i feel, is great and don't have a problem flying the airplane anytime. do i have anyone spoon feeding me with ground schools and book knowledge? no. i am a proactive person. i'm not in the military, and please anyone who is reading this and in the military don't take this the wrong way, and don't have someone telling me what to do from the time i wake up till the time i go to bed. dude, it's not a perfect school, but nor was the other two schools i went to. if you are looking for a reason not to go there, then don't go. i'm don't to be harsh, but we don't need someone with a negative attitude down there. if everything was easy, then everybody would be going there. if you think i'm full of crap, go over to r.a.a. next door. they charge more money, and people don't even come to the front desk when you are there for a school tour. there was a guy in his office looking at me and never asked what i wanted. i love the school, i love the airplanes, and i love the training. i can't wait to instruct there cause i'm going to have a lot of multi engine time.
 
gtnbzy said:
hey man, i'm currently flying for my instructor ratings at the school and have some comments. i'm not here to bash the other gentlemen who have given their input, nor am i here to bash the school. i'm a guy who has been to 2 other flight schools in addition to ari and would like to give you my two cents. any flight school you go to is going to have "challenges" and people are going to give the school up the road. i went to flight safety and could give you many stories. guess what, if i had enough money to finish, then i would have finished there. the school still had a "bring in the masses and fire their asses" take on things. i then went to pari air to finish my instrument and commercial ratings. guess what, paris is a great school and would endorse them, but they aren't perfect either. now i'm at ari, and you wouldn't believe what i have found, it's not perfect. i feel as though i was very fortunate to have some great ground school from the chief pilot and learned tons. as a matter of fact, it's pretty cool to be hanging around the school and talk to a couple of key people to get answers from regarding "how to fly an airplane". the airplanes are old, and they aren't even in production anymore. does that mean that you can't learn to fly a multi engine airplane? no. dude, the maintanance, i feel, is great and don't have a problem flying the airplane anytime. do i have anyone spoon feeding me with ground schools and book knowledge? no. i am a proactive person. i'm not in the military, and please anyone who is reading this and in the military don't take this the wrong way, and don't have someone telling me what to do from the time i wake up till the time i go to bed. dude, it's not a perfect school, but nor was the other two schools i went to. if you are looking for a reason not to go there, then don't go. i'm don't to be harsh, but we don't need someone with a negative attitude down there. if everything was easy, then everybody would be going there. if you think i'm full of crap, go over to r.a.a. next door. they charge more money, and people don't even come to the front desk when you are there for a school tour. there was a guy in his office looking at me and never asked what i wanted. i love the school, i love the airplanes, and i love the training. i can't wait to instruct there cause i'm going to have a lot of multi engine time.
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I must have missed it when they were handing out cool-aid. ;)
 
gtnbzy said:
...spoon feeding me with ground schools and book knowledge...
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I see that the school still incorporates the term "SPOON FEEDING" into their training program. Quite the terrible misnomer, because it is thrown around every day to describe "TRAINING WHILE ON THE GROUND".
In my experience at this school, there was almost zero ground training, which is perpetuated by way the CFIs are paid, for flight time only. Sorry, but this school is already known for the lack of instructor involvement while the HOBBS is not running.

SPOON FEEDING = QUALITY GROUND TRAINING
 
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