Fulltime schools
- Thread starter PilotPete
- Start date
kellwolf
Piece of Trash
If you mean Orlando Flight Training, I'd kinda shy away from them. Last time I checked their equipment wasn't in the greatest shape, and neither were their financials. Phoenix East has older equipment, but they general take good care of it. If you're looking for newer equipment, you can try Air Orlando in Florida. Although, since they lost both 172Ns to the hurricane, they might be a bit more pricey unless you want to train in the Diamonds.
moxiepilot
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
I have been looking into fulltime flight schools. Mainly in FL.
I am kinda leaning towards Pheonix East or Orlando Flight school.
Does anyone have any experience with these or can anyone recommend a school that they went to??
Thanks,
Pete
[/ QUOTE ]
A few questions I would ask would be:
since it doesn't seem that you're limiting yourself geographically, (from CT/RI to Florida), what about other schools across the country? ie: Oklahoma, Texas, AZ, CA etc.
I would recommend the strings in the forums on flight schools to get advise on what's good and what to watch out for.
I would solicit information from the places you choose, read them, then ask others here further questions because all the school is going to do is try to sell you, first & foremost, then train you.
I would also look into using cost and averages as a basis for determining the "honesty of the sale" from the companies you research. Some places base their pricing grid on minimums and not student averages.
For example, the minimum for obtaining the Private Pilot Certificate is 35 hours. Many schools will then quote, let's say $3,500 for the private pilot certificate with a clause stating that additional traing will cost you extra.
What they fail to mention is that the national average for obtaining the PPL is around 50-60 hours (which in the above example would equate to about $5,000-$6,000 insead.)
Good luck, and keep asking questions until you feel comfortable about the decision you're about to make
-mox
I have been looking into fulltime flight schools. Mainly in FL.
I am kinda leaning towards Pheonix East or Orlando Flight school.
Does anyone have any experience with these or can anyone recommend a school that they went to??
Thanks,
Pete
[/ QUOTE ]
A few questions I would ask would be:
since it doesn't seem that you're limiting yourself geographically, (from CT/RI to Florida), what about other schools across the country? ie: Oklahoma, Texas, AZ, CA etc.
I would recommend the strings in the forums on flight schools to get advise on what's good and what to watch out for.
I would solicit information from the places you choose, read them, then ask others here further questions because all the school is going to do is try to sell you, first & foremost, then train you.
I would also look into using cost and averages as a basis for determining the "honesty of the sale" from the companies you research. Some places base their pricing grid on minimums and not student averages.
For example, the minimum for obtaining the Private Pilot Certificate is 35 hours. Many schools will then quote, let's say $3,500 for the private pilot certificate with a clause stating that additional traing will cost you extra.
What they fail to mention is that the national average for obtaining the PPL is around 50-60 hours (which in the above example would equate to about $5,000-$6,000 insead.)
Good luck, and keep asking questions until you feel comfortable about the decision you're about to make
-mox
Well, I am rather restricted to the East coast in that I have a 13 yr old son that lives with me. To add to it all,I also home school him. I have been doing this for over a year at work, and it is not as hard as one would think. I also have (2) sons 22. One of them is fresh back from Iraq and wants to go with us and use his VA benifits to be a pilot. Should make for one hell of an adventure.
I want to stay on the East coast if possible. He (the 13 yr old)has a somewhat trying relationship with his Mom and I have budgeted in sending him home (1) a mo. To be on the West coast would severly cut into the budget.
Thanks on the advice on the schools. I am going to start requesting info packages. I have also seen the sales pitch based on MIN hrs. Didn't really catch it before. Thanks for the heads up.
Pete
I want to stay on the East coast if possible. He (the 13 yr old)has a somewhat trying relationship with his Mom and I have budgeted in sending him home (1) a mo. To be on the West coast would severly cut into the budget.
Thanks on the advice on the schools. I am going to start requesting info packages. I have also seen the sales pitch based on MIN hrs. Didn't really catch it before. Thanks for the heads up.
Pete