Dallas or Jacksonville?

taz

taz

New Member
So i've been doing some research and visit a few flight schools. I'm leaning toward ATP and would like to found out more about them. I'm comptemplating if i should have my 60 days private done at Dallas or Jacksonville. Any of you guys can give me more info about their Dallas location? Would you pick one over the other and why? thanks
 
Hey there Taz...

Here's a couple of places to start...

Some info. on the Dallas Location...

More Dallas Info...

Hope that helps... I'm sure you'll figure out where my bias lies...
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Bob
 
I started out doing the Private at JAX and Captain Bob saved me and had me doing the 90 day in Dallas. I can't thank him enough for the encouragement!

Unless they open a Denver location, Dallas is the #1 location hands down!
 
Last I heard they had started doing the 60 day private program out of Dallas, so yes, you could do the whole thing there. While I'm not a huge fan of Dallas (that traffic pattern scares the crap out of me) between the two locations you listed I would vote for Texas. Unfortunatly the environment in JAX just doesn't allow for everybody to learn at their full potential. It works fine for some but not everybody. Best of luck.
 
My first post - go easy on me guys...

Im heading to JAX for the private pilot program in 2 weeks, then SUA for the career pilot program. Anyone heard anything good (or bad) about Stuart?
 
[ QUOTE ]
Unfortunatly the environment in JAX just doesn't allow for everybody to learn at their full potential. It works fine for some but not everybody. Best of luck.

[/ QUOTE ]

what's wrong with JAX's environment? too busy over there? not enough instructor's attention?
 
The problem with JAX stems from two very specific things (people namely) and it just gets too intense some times. As far as Stuart goes... rock on. I did my training there and I would wager that EVEN the Dallas guys (who pimp GKY like there is no tomorrow) would say SUA is pretty good.
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For Florida, it has some of the most prettiest flying in the state. The exaimers are pretty good (Dell Bond is awsome) and the beach is only 10 min. from the apartments (which aren't that bad either).
 
[ QUOTE ]
Anyone heard anything good (or bad) about Stuart?

[/ QUOTE ]

The bad: It's in Florida.

See the current metar/taf for that.
KSUA 252250Z 10020G26KT 5SM -RASH SCT015 BKN040 OVC050 27/24 A2979
KFLL 252302Z 09040G54KT 1 1/2SM -RA FEW010 BKN014 27/ A2925 RMK AO2 PK WND 09054/2301 PRESRR P0000 $

KFLL 252210Z 252218 03045G65KT 5SM -RA OVC009
FM0000 09060G75KT 1SM +RA SQ OVC008
FM0300 14040G55KT 2SM +RA SQ SCT008 OVC015
FM0600 18035G45KT 2SM +RA SQ SCT008 OVC015


I say go with Dallas, you will still do your CFI training in Florida (2-3 weeks long) most likely and on your cross countires you will probably see JAX anyway. Why not venture out and see another part of the country. From Dallas you will go east and west.

Phoenix would be the other good option as long as it isn't summer.
 
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The exaimers are pretty good (Dell Bond is awsome) and the beach is only 10 min. from the apartments (which aren't that bad either).


[/ QUOTE ]

He's a fun examiner. I took my CMEL checkride with him in Tennessee and we did the emergency descent over his new house.
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I just thought that was typical weather down there in Florida.
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The day after I took my private checkride in JAX I experienced my first IFR trip from CRG to FTY in the first few bands of Charley. I remember the briefer told me if we went to PNS it would have been a suicide mission. I just remember taking off and turning to the north then before I hit 1000AGL we were in the clouds and about 15 seconds later I was in a 45 degree bank heading back down! Talk about being thrown to the wolves.

Nothing like a good hurricane evac!
 
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I just thought that was typical weather down there in Florida.
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The day after I took my private checkride in JAX I experienced my first IFR trip from CRG to FTY in the first few bands of Charley. I remember the briefer told me if we went to PNS it would have been a suicide mission. I just remember taking off and turning to the north then before I hit 1000AGL we were in the clouds and about 15 seconds later I was in a 45 degree bank heading back down! Talk about being thrown to the wolves.

Nothing like a good hurricane evac!

[/ QUOTE ]

Were they encouraging you to go regardless of the fact that the ceilings were way too low or did it look good when you mad eht G/NG decision?
Of course they need to save the airplanes from the hurricane, but you'd think they could've started the evac earlier... unless the airport was all socked in for several days prior to the hurricane's arrival. I'm just being curious- that's all.

Does anyone has any experience at the Phoenix location?

Also, since you can't use the ILS in the daytaime at LAS does anyone here know why they have a school there?

I'm having second thoughts about SAC since I just discovered that it is #5 in the nation for car theft
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and am thinking about Phoenix or Las Vegas or Dallas... or something. Is the humidity in Dallas really really terrible like I've been told- " You get out of the shower, then walk outside and wonder why you bothered to shower".
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Anyone gone to SAC with a sporty lookin' car (that looks nicer than its really worth) and not had it stolen?
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Are the apartments within walking distance of the airport so that you don't need a car?

Captain Bob, I read the thread you linked to... does Dallas still have all 2000 model Seminoles and no old ones?

That would be reason enough for me to choose Dallas.
Being able to fly east and west all over the country would be a nice feature too!

thanks,


Matt
 
I am probably exagurating "the first few bands of charley" thing. It was about 10-12 hours before the eye went by the JAX area but the stuff we were flying through was definetly associated with the hurricane. I wouldn't say we were ever in any real danger (other than my piloting skills at the time) due to the fact that the "we" consisted of myself and a good instructor.

If I ever felt like we were getting into something I didn't feel comfortable with then I would land immediately and put their half a million dollar airplane on the ground too. I doubt they would have a huge problem with that.

They will push your limits a bit but that is how you learn.
 
Tim, if I recall I was supposed to fly with you on that flight (I was new hire in the office then) but for what ever reason dispatch switched me around at the last min (good thing too I guess
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) For brand new private pilots (or those working towards it) those evacs allowed them to get some actual and some IFR enroute experience. Good stuff all around. We took a bunch of C172s to MGM to get out of the way of Ivan (I think). I flew with a guy who had soloed the day before and he did a great job flying with ATC in his first actual.

Matt, I spent the last year instructing in PHX. It's a great place (much better then Dallas in my opinion) as long as you are going to start sometime after September and be done before May. PM any questions you have.

Ethan
 
[ QUOTE ]
Captain Bob, I read the thread you linked to... does Dallas still have all 2000 model Seminoles and no old ones?

That would be reason enough for me to choose Dallas.
Being able to fly east and west all over the country would be a nice feature too!

[/ QUOTE ] Matt,

Dallas is now a maintenance location, so you will be getting older seminoles as well. In fact... in most locations you are not guaranteed 2000 & up Seminoles... but I would say that 75%+ of the time that is what is there.

On that note... you will fly the older model seminoles at some time in the program no matter where you are based. Cross Countries and CFI School is the most probable chance you will have to fly the older models... so look at it as an opportunity versus a hardship when you fly the older birds... They are still very nice birds!
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Likewise... many of the JC/ATP clan will tell you that the older models just seem to fly better and they prefer them over the newer models.

As far as XC's go from Dallas/GKY... here are a few of my logbook entries from the program. Each day is a new line.

C172 XC Time building:
GKY-SHV-MEI-FTY Shreveport, Meridian, Fulton Co. (Atlanta)
FTY-GTR-ELD-GKY Columbus MS, El Dorado AK

Multi XC:
GKY-CNM-GKY Carlsbad, NM
GKY-SGF-ARR Springfield, Aurora, IL, saw an airshow in progress
ARR-SGF-GKY Ditto
GKY-NQA-GKY Old Navy Memphis, saw the Memphis Belle
GKY-MLU-NQA-GKY
GKY-CNM-IWA The start of a long week... Out to Phoenix
IWA-RAL-SAC Riverside, Sacremento, Flew up V27 a beautiful coastal route, rented a car and stayed the night in San Francisco
SAC-SLE-SAC Woke up at 5am to make our 7am show time back in SAC, then up to Salem, Oregon and back, Salem is georgous!
SAC-RAL-IWA-ELP Riverside, Phoenix, El Paso
ELP-MAF-GKY Midland TX
GKY-AXH-SJT-GKY Houston Southwest, San Angelo
GKY-MEI-CRG Meridian MS, Craig (Jax) for CFI school
CRG-TPF Tampa FL for my CFI Ride
TPF-CRG
CRG-FTY Fulton County (Atlanta)
ATL-CRG Citation
RDU-ATL Citation Raliegh-Durham
FTY-MLU-GKY Monroe, LA

Your mileage may vary...
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Bob
 
thanks again guys for the input. but looks like you guys are mainly talking about the ACCP for dallas. i'm actually wondering the location for the 60day private pilot program.

would you choose one over the other? and which airport in dallas will the 60PPP take place?
 
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