FBO Research Mania! AArrgghh!!!!

rayray311

rayray311

New Member
So I just spent 3 hours calling every FBO in the Chicago area to do research. I talked to the owner of Aviation Professionals Inc. He was very open to tell me about their program. He said they do PPL and Commercial training but with no multi-engine certificate. HE said I can go at my own pace and train with them out of Midway Airport in Chicago and leave with about 10-15 hours of flight time and my commercial license with 250 hours total. . He said I would then go over to ATP in Aurora Illinois and pay about 2k to get my multi-engine certificate. Then go back and be a CFI with him if I was good. HE seemed really ccol and been in the business for 40 years and owned this school for the last 34. But I know every one of these guys is a salesman once u get them on the phone. He said his total cost for the school is 39k. And that they just got on Sallie Mae's lender list last week.

Does this sound right to you? I dont know because Im just researching options.

Plus this guy said he doesn't suggest anyone do any multi engine training untill they have about 380-400 hours single engine time in to have the experience.

HE seemd old skool and said the academies that rush people thru aren't really teaching pilots, they are just getting them to pass tests.

PLEASE give me your opinions!

Their website is www.apischool.com
 
I used to fly over at API about 8 years ago. All I can tell you is they have a great program there for the private. Thereally drill attitude flying, and yes he is old school. He has a ton of knowledge, and he passes it to his instructors so they can pass it to you. They were not cheap as I remember, but their training will make you every bit as good as ATP if not better. You will love flying out of Midway also.
 
I don't live in your area of the country, but I work at a flight school in Chandler Arizona that is an old school style of flight school..... There is a major difference between what we are teaching and how we teach versus alot of the large certificate mills......

Sure you can go to a very large school with a large advertising budget for the magazines and learn to push buttons (but not how to fly), or you can go somewhere old school and really learn what both you and the aircraft are capable of.

For one, take your time in this career and see the whole picture. Every person out there getting into this game want and feel they have to get into the right seat of an RJ in 1 year.... Give me a break.......

Go the FBO route, teach for a few years (where the real learning begins), learn from the old guys (who may not be flashy.... but they have been there and done that millions of times over)..... Fly all sorts of aircraft, teach aerobatics..... and fall in love with aviation..... Then when the time is right.... and you have the knowledge and experience.... move on into the next phase of your flying career..... It frightens the crap out of me that we are putting people with about 300 TT into the cockpit (yeah, yeah... old argument)... but it does... of an airline of any type....

Go old school.........
YOu will thank yourself later..... Trust me.....
 
I'm in the same boat. My current plan is FBO for PPL to get some "old school" training and then shotgun myself through the rest at ATP or flight safety. I can't really comment on API but it sounds like a good place, maybe a little pricey. The only other thing I would say is that CFIing there might not be the best idea because you apparently won't get any multi time. I'm sure a CFI there would learn an incredible amount, but in the end, we still need multi hours to make it to the regionals.
 
You don't have to go to the regionals.......... There are many other paths to the airlines.... Granted that is the most popular... But, making half of what I make now to move to some other state and live on food stamps.... Yeah, No.......

Plus, I can tell you that we get alot of people from schools like the one you mention, whom were taken..... for a ton of money.... Many of these schools have very shady practices and the students are being taught by instructors whom really don't want to teach and are only padding their log books on their students backs.... Seriously, learn from professional instructors, not someone just "doing time" as an instructor..... There is a major difference. Like quality of education.... Not just promising a regional interview.... Good God, anyone with 300 TT and 25 Multi can get an interview these days....

Honestly, I think most of these programs were started with the right ideas. But through time, the quality and control of them went down the tubes......

Think I am wrong, find out why ATP is now doing all of their checkrides in Las Vegas now instead of in Arizona (the Arizona campus is located at Williams Gateway Airport in Mesa, Arizona)?
 
"find out why ATP is now doing all of their checkrides in Las Vegas now instead of in Arizona"

Why?
 
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