Flight Academies

J

joecp

New Member
Hello Fellow Pilots,

I'm interested in enrolling into an accelerated flight training center. I always hear about ATP being the most well known of the flight academies. I'm looking for the best quality training for my commercial and CFI-II/ MEI add ons. Any good / bad experiences with ATP, Flight Safety Academy (FSA), DCA, Pan-Am? Any one academy that the has highest standards above the rest?? Thoughts & opinions welcome. Thanks. :cool:
 
joecp said:
Hello Fellow Pilots,

I'm interested in enrolling into an accelerated flight training center. I always hear about ATP being the most well known of the flight academies. I'm looking for the best quality training for my commercial and CFI-II/ MEI add ons. Any good / bad experiences with ATP, Flight Safety Academy (FSA), DCA, Pan-Am? Any one academy that the has highest standards above the rest?? Thoughts & opinions welcome. Thanks. :cool:
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What's the rush? Most airlines aren't hiring right now, and even if they were, you wouldn't be qualified until you have a lot more experience than you will get at one of those schools. If you take your training slowly, you can do it without getting into debt, which will be impossible to pay off on a starting pilot salary.
 
heres one more reason not to go....how lame could you be ATP???


DRESSCODE:
Checkrides

A suit, dress shirt, and tie are recommended for check rides. Check with your instructor to find out the most appropriate way to dress for each check ride.
 
I'll stick my neck out and say that due to the new 1500 hr rule, flight academies are a good thing. Sure they are expensive, but that's the name of the game. My whole thing is that you'll need a job as a CFI when you graduate, and you'll have much better luck getting a job in house. FYI I had an excellent experience getting all of my ratings at Flight Safety.
 
Pachong said:
from what i hear, ....
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Thats the problem with your sentence right there... I trained and taught at several different accelerated schools and it was the best for me and we never even knew what DE we would get. I would not be at where Im at now if I went the traditional route. But that was me....

And ignore the guys who say that the airlines are not hiring so dont do this or do this.... There is more to life then the airlines. There are guys hiring out west here all the time, in fact I had three companies call my flight school looking for pilots last week and told I had no available instructors I wanted to give up ;)
 
Fly_Unity said:
And ignore the guys who say that the airlines are not hiring so dont do this or do this.... There is more to life then the airlines. There are guys hiring out west here all the time, in fact I had three companies call my flight school looking for pilots last week and told I had no available instructors I wanted to give up ;)
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Certainly not saying the airlines are the only pilot job or that that's where everyone wants to go....I've just seen that most people do have that as their goal. My real point is that unless it will actually help you get to where you want to be, there's no need to go.
 
I can tell you why I chose to attend a 141 school:

1. They offered financing. Neither I nor my parents had the cash to get me from zero time - CFI. For me it was the only way. (I realize that financing for flight schools is pretty much non existent now.)

2. The pace and environment of attending the school full time kept my eye on the prize and kept me motivated. I blew threw my ratings.

3. The quality of training. The training was tailored towards pilots who want to fly professionally. The ground schools were comprehensive and taught by ex-airline pilots. I got to fly a Zlin, Extra 300, Arrow III, Archer, and Seminole.

If it weren't for the lack of students due to the lack of financing, I would have a job as a CFI. Sadly, it just didn't work out that way. Se la vi. On the other hand, I'm about to start working for a foreign airline.

There are a hundred reasons to not do things a certain way. All you need to ask yourself is is this the best way for me? Best of luck.
 
Pachong said:
heres one more reason not to go....how lame could you be ATP???


DRESSCODE:
Checkrides

A suit, dress shirt, and tie are recommended for check rides. Check with your instructor to find out the most appropriate way to dress for each check ride.
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Wasn't like that when I got my CMEL down in Long Beach...but we also didn't have a chief pilot. :rawk: I made a point of slacks and a collared shirt most days, though.

Long Beach - definitely NOT a Hat Base. Phoenix (IWA) - probably more of a hat base...

If you can do Part 61 and work, it might be better for you. (This works for me. Your mileage may vary, void where prohibited or taxed.)
 
Pachong said:
from what i hear, they teach you how to take theiirrrr DPE's check ride and that's about it.
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ATP, as do most places you do training, teach you to fly at or beyond the level required by the PTS. A CFI will usually know what the examiner likes to test on most, and may adjust the training to be sure the student is prepared for the checkride.

Pachong said:
heres one more reason not to go....how lame could you be ATP???

DRESSCODE:
Checkrides

A suit, dress shirt, and tie are recommended for check rides. Check with your instructor to find out the most appropriate way to dress for each check ride.
Click to expand...

I didn't wear a suit when I took my checkride at ATP. It wasn't appropriate for the checkride. It's better to dress professional than to dress like a complete slob.
 
If your located in Riverside there are tons of flight schools in your area. I'd strongly recommend checking around your area first and trying to find a flight school/CFI that would be willing to do an accelerated course. Do make sure that the person/school has experience with this training style and not just making empty claims.

A few years ago ATP was farming out their private pilot training to the operation I was working at and I ended up doing a lot of their primary training for them. Just make sure you know what your getting. ATP is down the street from us and I don't have any direct knowledge but they seem to have it together and I use the same examiner as they do. Seems like all is well with them.

I also don't want to beat a dead horse but I'd read a lot about pay up front and pay as you go training and decide what is best for you.
 
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