HELP!!

T

Tuffpants

New Member
Ok, I need everyone's help ASAP. After reading the "Pan Am" section of these forums, I am seriously having second thoughts about attending Pan Am. Right now it's Pan Am or Flight Safety and I can't decide.

Here are my thoughts:

1. I'm cleared for the Key loan so money isn't the issue. I'm prepared to spend the money. Saving a few thousand dollars at this point is really not a factor.
2. After comparing the two programs, I really liked what the Pan Am program looked like. On paper, it looked better. I think the modules are pretty cool.
3. Being around for a while, I feel more confident in the FSI name than Pan Am. I just feel more confident in FSI.
4. I have not visited either school. I know that they both have great facilities and I honestly think that they are both probably pretty impressive.
5. Im really impressed with FSI's letting me handle my own finances. It's nice to know that I have more control over my money.
6. After reading these forums, it's obvious that Pan Am has some disgruntled students. I really hope that they truly have a gripe and not just bashing cause they couldn't handle the pressure. (no offense to anyone, im sure that wasn't the case).
7. My primary concern is the training. Are they instructor's helpful and are they good to fly with? What about the staff? Are you treated like a number or a valued customer?

-Any advice would be appreciated. Also, it turns out that the credit card number that I gave Pan Am for my deposit, (yes I already made my decision before reading these posts), wasn't the right number and so my credit card never got debited.

Interesting....
 
It sounds like you already have an answer to your predicament. It's pretty hard to go wrong with FSI, you can go wrong with PanAm. (Just my observation)
 
Your concerns are very understandable. You need to make sure you feel comfortable w/ your decision, and will not have any regrets. So here is my two cents...

I don't know much about FSI, but I have heard they have a great reputation. So if you choose FSI it won't be a "bad" decision.

My advice is to DEFINITELY visit both schools, and take the time to talk w/ some of the students! Don't make your decision on what you read in these forums. I started with a class of 19 and about 13 are still at Pan Am. I am in Phoenix, by the way. One had to leave for medical reasons, but the rest for the most part just weren't getting it. Two that I can think of, left to find green pastures, only to fail out or get kicked out of the new school. It had nothing to do w/ PanAm, it had everything to do w/ the individual. If you work hard, you study are and are teachable, you can be successful at any school you attend. The question is... What is your level of commitment?

Having Pan Am deal w/ your finances isn't that big of a deal. As your flight account gets low, more money is requested from Key. Pan Am doesn't request the entire amount on day one, just enough to get you through the first few months. You can request a print out of your account that has line items for each deduction. I don't know about you, but I have enough going on that I really don't want to have to moonlight as an accountant.

You asked about the instructors. Personally I have not had any problem w/ my instructors. All have been very competent, and fun to fly with. In the unlikely event that you do have an uresolveable issue w/ your instructor, you can request a new one. You have to understand that people are people. Just because one has a Pan Am name tag, or FSI name tag doesn't change the fact that the pants go on one leg at a time.

So if you can, go visit both schools. You gut will tell you where you should go...

Drop me a line if you have any other questions.

LC
 
Thanks everyone. Im closing in on my final decision. Lima, I hear what you're saying and you definately made some good points. My gut is telling me PAIFA. I think I'm gonna stick to that and go for it. I'll take the rest of the day to think about it, but Im feeling pretty good about my initial decision.

The only thing that I wish that they did differently is the ground school. It would be nice to have the ground school done and out of the way before I started flying. I don't think doing both at the same time is wise. It's alot to take in all at once.
 
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Thanks everyone. Im closing in on my final decision. Lima, I hear what you're saying and you definately made some good points. My gut is telling me PAIFA. I think I'm gonna stick to that and go for it. I'll take the rest of the day to think about it, but Im feeling pretty good about my initial decision.

The only thing that I wish that they did differently is the ground school. It would be nice to have the ground school done and out of the way before I started flying. I don't think doing both at the same time is wise. It's alot to take in all at once.

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Which campus are you planning on attending? When are you planning on starting? If it is Florida, you should PM The Flying Turkey, or at least read his thread on his experience. It was very enlightening. If it is Phoenix, and you plan to visit, let me know, and we can talk in person.

One last piece of advice, make your own decision. Don't let nay-sayers that have no experience sway your decision. YOU need to be happy with your decision. And once that decision is made, then live with it. Do whatever it takes to make your experience a positive one!! Where ever you end up, Work Hard, Study Hard, and be ready to learn, ALOT!!! This isn't a place to party or slack. It can cost you big $$$ if you get off-track from your training...

Oh and about the ground schools. Running them concurrently w/ your flight training actually gives you a chance to put into practice what you are learning in class. Don't sweat it, just come in prepared, and ahead of the learning curve and you will do fine.
 
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I'm with Montana on this one. The two schools shouldn't be even used in the same sentence. GO TO FSI!

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Please elaborate. What has been your experience at FSI, as well as at Pan Am?

MontanaPilot, please do the same. I am very curious what you have to say.

Thanks, LC
 
Neither have attended either school. If people are going to start crap then atleast let mavmb start it, atleast he went to Pan Am like three years ago.
 
This is what is so frustrating. Thanks Lima. Yes, The Turk's posts have been extreamly enlightening and a testament to the training at PAIFA.

"Pan Am and FSI shouldn't be in the same sentence?" - What kind of a ridiculous statement is this? Why don't you tell me why? I appreciate the post, but I can't do anything with it. This isn't a Pan Am bashing thread. Make a point....
 
I attend Air-Ben Aviator here at Fort Pierce, right next to PanAm. I won't offer another opinion, but only fact:
At my school we have a few (at least) former PanAm students who "transferred" to my school to complete their ratings. We don't have ANY FightSafety "transfers", it seems that they're more satisfied with their training.


Just my .02.
 
Thanks so much for all your posts. After talking it over with my family and countless hours of analysis, I have decided to attend FlightSafety. If all goes well, I'll be in the 9/7 class.

Thanks again for all your help!
 
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Neither have attended either school. If people are going to start crap then atleast let mavmb start it, atleast he went to Pan Am like three years ago.

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Ha, cool! At least someone remembered me!
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Thanks so much for all your posts. After talking it over with my family and countless hours of analysis, I have decided to attend FlightSafety. If all goes well, I'll be in the 9/7 class.

Thanks again for all your help!

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No worries... I sincerely hope you enjoy your time w/ FSI. Good luck w/ your training!

LC
 
Tuffpants: Good Luck, you can't go wrong with either school IMHO.

Mavmb: I like my crap from a reputable source.
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while key bank will be owning you for the next 20 years whichever you decide(*koff koff FBO's are cheaper *koff koff). At least if you attend FSI you wont have to make excuses for going there, kinda like how PFTers have to make excuses for their choices.


Plus even for the fact that FlightSafety doesnt peddle the bullsh^t while advertising.

OK Lima Charlie you want my reasons here they are. I will go line for line from their new Flying Ad and disect the real meaning of their statements.

"Select an Academy that will laucne your career faster and with a greater degree of assurance than anywhere else" Last time i checked you still have to be an instructor to get to the airlines if you go Pan Am, you can still get as many hours instucting at an FBO as Pan Am. So it doesnt speed it up any.

"Select an Academy that continually has graduates hired by a wide variety of airlines - a proven track record of sucess" actually they hired your grads cause they reached the magic numbers of 1500TT. Every other academy can claim this anyway.

"Select an Academy that provides training for captains and first officers of over 200 airlines." BULLSH*T, its called SimCom and no the airline captains dont go to FPR or DVT to get their reccurent. Separate organization people!

"Select an Academy that utilizes an all new, well-equiped aircraft fleet to minimize training delays" So what, you think leather seats, new avionics, and a spiffy paint job are gonna teach you to fly any better. And dont give me the "maintence" excuse either I have never flown a plane younger then me and I never had a problem.

"Select an Academy that follows a cirriculum that was developed in cooperation with the airlines and incorporates airline procedures." Last time i checked they were called the F.A.Rs! every flight school in the country uses them. By the way why the hell pay for all this "airline training" when you get if for free in ground school as a new hire. Hell i got a some beachfront property in Scottsdale if you need some!

"Select an Academy whose program is continually reviewed by an Airline Advisory Committe and updated to address the current industry demands" Holy Sh^t! I better drop $80,000 right now cause it sounds like no other school out there has a clue what the ailines are looking for, does 1500TT and 500ME ring a bell?

There are my reasons.


Dude seriously go to FSI!

No I am not a basher either, so dont come back with the response (in a childlike voice)"Oh he's just a disgruntled basher" I am not. All i want to do is help our buddy Tuftpants from makin the wrong decision.
 
Dang well i guess I m a little late. It took me 30 minutes to type that. Oh Well.
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I hope my post helps out any others who are considering pan am then.
 
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kinda like how PFTers have to make excuses for their choices.

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Wow, I guess you don't like PFT. Too bad that's a product FSI sells.

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actually they hired your grads cause they reached the magic numbers of 1500TT. Every other academy can claim this anyway.

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More like 1000TT/100ME. I don't know how this compares to what kind of numbers people from other schools need. However, it is nice when the airline comes to the campus and the sim ride is the CRJ FTD that you already have 30+ hours in.

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BULLSH*T, its called SimCom and no the airline captains dont go to FPR or DVT to get their reccurent. Separate organization people!

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Your knowledge of the organization is a little off. SimCom does do the general aviation stuff. Pan Am Academy, primarily in Miami, has sims for most Boeing and McDonald Douglas products, plus a couple Airbus aircraft. Most of Pan Am's revenue is from operating heavy sims.

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So what, you think leather seats, new avionics, and a spiffy paint job are gonna teach you to fly any better. And dont give me the "maintence" excuse either I have never flown a plane younger then me and I never had a problem.

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Customer choice. Sure there is nothing wrong with training in older aircraft. Given a choice I would take a new, air conditioned, GPS equip aircraft.

Your whole perception of Pan Am is based off of their advertising and what you've read in the forum here. Have you even ever visited the school? Pan Am grads are getting hired, and the one serious issue of waiting to instruct is slowly going away. BTW, FSI has the instructor wait problem also.
 
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Tuffpants: Good Luck, you can't go wrong with either school IMHO.

Mavmb: I like my crap my a reputable source.
smile.gif


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Huh? Don't get it. Good luck TuffPants. Flight training is expensive so keep track of your money closely.
 
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