FBO or Academy

BiH

BiH

Well-Known Member
Hi,everyone my name is Jay I'm originally from Bosnia but leave in IOWA now.
I have few questions about becoming professional pilot.
1. Do I have to go to big Academies to become a professional pilot, or I can just find local small school and do my from zero hours to my commercial?
2. What is the difference between big Academies like DCA and small schools?
3. Is there a lot of self study in small schools or you get a lot of help from Instructor witch is better for me I think..
Hope to read different opinions BTW website ROCKS
 
"Do I have to go to big Academies to become a professional pilot"

No. Not at all. Some smaller schools can get you were you need to be at less cost. Sometimes the larger academy might be best for you due to loan programs or your personal preference. To each his own. Just don't believe everything you read at the big academy websites and flight training magazine ads. Most of the my civillian trained airline pilot friends came up through small flight schools and personal aircraft ownership.

"What is the difference between big Academies like DCA and small schools"

About 50K. A DCA and FSA put a lot of time into ground school classes that may not be necessary. If you have good self motivation and study habits, like I did, you can do most of your ground type study via reading books or CDrom courses. Some people need the structure of a formal ground school. I've never understood it, but to each his own. Those sorts of schools will cost you.
 
Yeah, its pretty much personal preference.

I was too young when I started at an FBO, which caused my study habits to be somewhat weak and my private to be drawn out over the course of a number of years.

I went to an academy after a few years and after college to finish up all the ratings and if I could redo it, I would probably have waited until after college and then do my Private through Commercial at an FBO then do my CFI at the place I currently work.

One good thing about an academy that never seems to be touched on, at least where I went (FSA) is the fact that we worked together as a class, and I worked with previous and post classes to enhance my aviation knowledge and study for lessons and checkrides. It is nice because there are a ton of us all doing the same or similar things so it makes studying for a rating all the easier.
That is one thing I enjoyed about the academy and greatly helped me advance through my ratings.
The groundschools were ok, but I would say about 1/3 of them were a little drawn out and not really necessary.

Like I said, it boils down to personal preference and study habits. If you can really work well on your own, by all means don't pay the academy price.
But there are good things to academys as well. Just not the price :)
 
Thank you guys for fast reply, it really means a lot to me.
On Monday I'm going too this small school to see what they can offer me,
what I have heard they have only 4 instructors witch 2 of them are retired Captains and like to teach very much.
I will let you know guys what I decided THANK YOU AGAIN:)
 
I am using an FBO myself. I just started two weeks ago and have 20 hours right now. But i fly 5 days a week.

I am a retired Marine, and I am using the Veterans Administrations Vocational Rehab Program, they are paying for everything.

I chose an FBO because I like the one on one instruction compared to big class rooms. I also chose an FBO due to prices. It will cost me about 6800 for my PPL. I can use this FBO for a CPL and CFI rating. They teach it all.

Right now I am in a 172R. When i transition into twins engines they have the Cessna T310.

They use the Cessna Citation when i get that far along.
 
I have been researching this for about 1 1/2 years. I was set on academies for a long time untill i really started checkin out local FBO's at some airports near me. I have made the switch and I am going to go the FBO route now.

I havnt started yet because I am getting my financials in order before I try to get the loan. But I am excited because I can go at my own pace at an FBO and have a little more personal touch with some old timers that instruct there.

I want to become a great pilot and i dont want to be rushed thru a program within a time frame. but also, at a small FBO I have learned that I could finish everything in just about the same amount of time as in an academy, but I can go slower if I need more time to study or learn something that might be hard.

well this has been my experience so far. hope it helps
 
Thank you again guys

I decided to go with FBO I found one in Des Moines,IA
like twenty min..drive and I can stay with my parents plus keep my part time
job it might take little bit longer till I get all my ratings and stuff but I'm not worried about time at all.
Instructor told me that there is a lot of self study but I can always get help
from him witch is great just in case...I will let you know guys how all went and
thank you again guys for all the help:):)
 
Over the last two years I have been preparing to move to Florida to get my degree and Flight training from Jacksonville state university (DCA does the flight training) and over the past few weeks I have changed my mind about it. Come to think of it I found this message board a few weeks ago:D. I already attend a great FBO and have a job that pays well. I can get a good BS in Aviation with an option in Operations at a local college. All for less then half of what Florida and DCA would have cost me! And I will even get my MEI which I would not have gotten in Florida. I think the FBO route is the way to go. In my case at least!
 
The only thing I am worried about FBO is that I have to self study a lot
I don't mind self study if I can get help from instructor sometimes just to make sure that I know what I'm doing
 
BiH said:
The only thing I am worried about FBO is that I have to self study a lot
I don't mind self study if I can get help from instructor sometimes just to make sure that I know what I'm doing
Click to expand...

im sure you will find lots of people at the airport and school to help you out. plus with this website you will always have people to ask questions to
 
I'm pretty close to DSM. I was going through the same thing a few months ago.

I would love to take you up sometime and show you around.

PM me and we could chat.
 
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