My Ari Ben Aviator Experience

maverick2

maverick2

Well-Known Member
Ok guys, here we go. I'm writing a blog about my experience at AriBen. I will try to make this blog daily but dont be suprised if it winds up a monthly post by me. Just to tell you a little bit of myself before I start. I am 27 yrs old going on 28 in September. I grew in South Jersey and then moved to New York City for five years before I joined the Army. I have a bachelor degree from an online school. I served in the Army (active duty) for 5 yrs which 14 months was spent in Iraq, and I just got out of the Army less than a week ago. I've been married for 2yrs, but the wife lives in New York because she has a better job up there than what they offer down here on the Treasure Coast. I have zero hours and I have not received any flight instruction prior coming to Ari except for one discovery flight. I am taking the VA Pro Course which I will only be picking 40% of the tuition, while the other is paid by the US government in form of a GI Bill who I so dearly slaved five years for. I picked Ari Ben because I looked thru everything that I can get my hands on like the internet, magazines, phone calls, emails, PMs, other FBOs, Jetcareers, Flightinfo, and the guy upstairs and it all led me to AriBen. Main reasons for choosing Ari is for their excellent reputation here on JC, quality training vs cost effectiveness, CFI they trained and kept as instructors, their rate of CFIs being hired by 121s, 135s, 91s, location, VA benefits, and the straight up no bs guy that owns the place, Michael Cohen. Well, ok.....


July 25th, 2005.

I arrived yesterday at Vero Beach at around 9pm after 20 hours of straight driving from Texas. I checked in to the first motel I saw and slept about ten hours straight. I checked out at 1130 and decided to drive around the surrounding areas before I show up at Ari. Vero Beach is nice especially out by those islands off the coast, Port St. Lucie and Jensen are also nice and it seems more to do over there than Vero. I drove by Flight Safety and their parking lot was full with new and/or expensive cars. As I drove closer to the main building I see a whole bunch of guys that dont look like a day over 21 that were smoking and looked like they were about to rip off their uniforms because it was so hot and humid out. I can't give FSI a full assesment, but from what I have seen today Im glad I'm not going to FSI because I dont want to learn in a structured environment with a bunch of rich kids, no uniforms, and dont want to pay $70k. Anyways, I arrived at Ari Ben and Jim (Mike's right hand man) gave me and this other guy (forgot his name, but lets call him Joe) who was doing the 100hr timebuilding the tour. Joe and I was really impressed at the maintenance of the Duchesses. There were like only two planes in the MX hangar and they were there for the 100hr check. Jim also said that the GPS will be put in about eight of the BE-76s of the thirteen, and I think there are about the same amount of 172s. Then, Joe and I went to talk to Mike Cohen. Mike talked to Joe first, and one thing led to another, Mike told Joe to bring his resume in on Wednesday, because Mike is hooking him up with an interview with Chuck Colgan who is coming down to the school that day. I almost cried because that is the most coolest thing I have ever heard or seen in my life. Mike talked to me about the school, the course, the instructors, what he expect, and why he named it Ari Ben. After that, talked to a few instructors and students. Then, I talked to Mary (the receptionist), and she hooked me up a room at the Holiday Inn at Ft. Pierce. Now, I understand why she always seems like in a frantic rush when I talk to her on the phone. She works so hard to help everyone from the phone calls to instructors to Mike and Jim right on the spot. I got to the hotel, took a nap until I got a phone call from Jim. We went out to Red Lobster to have an introduction dinner on Mike. Now, I'm back. Overall, I'm really impressed at the school. All the instructors looked busy with their students. Everyone seem happy and friendly. It didnt look so gloomy as some of those faces I saw at FSI earlier in the day. I just can't wait til I get up in the air and start flying and learning. Ok, going to sleep now.
 
July 26th, 2005

Today, I met my instructor, received my ID card and books. Also, I moved into the Ari's housing in Vero. Not bad of a place. Good size bedroom, own bathroom, furnished with bed, desk, tv, and nice size closet. Nice quiet neighborhood surrounded by instructors and students, all shops and food are about five minutes away, and the airport is about fifteen minutes away. Not much of a day today, but tomorrow is the day I finally get to start learning and start flying. I set myself a goal to finish my private in three weeks. Wish me luck. Ok, Im gonna start reading now and be somewhat prepared tomorrow.

I like to make a correction to yesterdays post. Mike's right hand man is James not Jim. I'm starting on the wrong foot already. I apologize if I offended anyone.
 
Maverick....thanks for the posts. I will definitely add this thread to my favorites and check it on a daily basis. I am hoping to come to Ari within the next few months....pending the sale of my home. It's driving me CRAZY going to work and going through the motions drooling for the moment I can be where you are right now!!

Anyway, best of luck to you and safe flying!!!
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Mav,

sounds like you moved in to the 2br on 13th st sw with karsten. is that so?

hope you like the place.... and the desk. i bought that and left it there for whoever moved in cause there was one in the master br. not all of the rooms in the houses have a desk. you got lucky.

tell karsten I said hi. and let me know if you are definitely living with him. I have some information I would like to end him via email if you can print it out.

later,
j
 
July 27th, 2005

Woke up a little late today because I didnt have to be at the school until 1630. I finally got off the ground at 1800 after some ground instruction with my instructor. Flew along the coast while learning the use of the trim on descent and climb, could have done more but the visibility was kinda bad due to the African sandstorm coming over here. Flew about 1.5 hrs but much more tomorrow.

JM, yeah I know how you feel. I was like you for about the last six months trying to outprocess out of the Army and then now I'm finally here. Im loving every minute of it. Everybody down here at Ari is nice and helpful. Let me know when you know the date you'll be down here. Good luck to you to.

JohnT, check your PMs.
 
Looking forward to this thread. But you gotta update more than once a month for us guys that are training vicariously through you.
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Looking forward to this thread. But you gotta update more than once a month for us guys that are training vicariously through you.
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I set myself a goal to finish my private in three weeks. Wish me luck.

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I wish you luck...I flew everyday and it took me a month and a half....oh yea...and I came in with almost 20 hours.
 
July 31, 2005

Since the last time I posted, I've been going up and learning new maneuvers like power on and off stalling, steep turns, spiral descents and climbs, slow flight, ground referencing, approaches, and night flying. On top of that, I studied six hours today, two yesterday, and six the other day. Yesterday, I had a day off. Spent most of the day looking at apartments for rent since my wife might be moving down in a couple of months. This coming week I'm gonna be flying twice a day so I might not post 'til the end of the week. Sorry, Brian.

A question for all you private pilots out there. Which one is better to study for the writtens, Jeppensen or Gleim's?

Smittey, I dont know why it took you a month and a half when you already had twenty hours. Where are you in terms of your training? I might be able to get it in three weeks, but if not oh well. All I know is I'm having a lot of fun, and enjoying every second of it down here. It beats being in Iraq and getting shot at. Peace y'all.

Anthony
 
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July 31, 2005
A question for all you private pilots out there. Which one is better to study for the writtens, Jeppensen or Gleim's?


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I used the Gleim CD for my private, instrument, and commercial written. I went through and answered every question. I also used the King CD's. I went through the King course for private, instrument, and commercial (although I have not gotten my commercial ticket yet) and then went through the Gleim CD and answered all the questions after doing the same thing with the King course. So I used the Gleim CD in conjuction with the King courses.
 
I used the King CD-ROM course, the Gleim and the ASA Oral Exam Guide. I was pretty happy with all three.
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Thanks for the blog dude...I am debating between Ari (closer to home) and Skymates, so I am interested to see how it goes. Maybe I'll drop down there sometime.
 
[ QUOTE ]
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I set myself a goal to finish my private in three weeks. Wish me luck.

[/ QUOTE ]

I wish you luck...I flew everyday and it took me a month and a half....oh yea...and I came in with almost 20 hours.

[/ QUOTE ]

There is absolutely no reason you can't finish the private in no more than 4 weeks. Unless you lack the motivation to study, of course.
So Maverick......I would say your goal of finishing in three weeks is very realistic....provided you continue to study at your current pace. The flying isn't the hard part.....it's the studying!!!!!! Most anyone can learn to fly an airplane.......however, most people may not have the dedication or intelligence to finish a fast pace program like the 200 hr/ six month program here at the Aviator.
When I began flight training, I had 0 time and was able to finish my private in just under 30 days.....it can be done!
 
My Ari Ben Aviator Experience

August 6th, 2005

After 11 days of psel training, 6 days of 56 touch and go's, 16 hrs, endless amounts of chair flying, and much frustration, I finally soloed today. I worked on landings since Tuesday this week and flying twice a day for three days. The other days I just flew once. The biggest problem I had at the beginning was getting that stabilized approach while fighting that turbulence from the Florida heat, and some crosswind factors, and then later in the week I was having problems rounding out and flaring. I nailed the landings pretty good yesterday, but my instructor wanted to make sure I had it today too before he let me soloed. I had about four hours worth of formal sit down ground instruction, and a pre-solo written test to finish to get my knowledge endorsement per FAR 61.87(b). All in all, I am one proud happy dude and I'll be taking a day off tomorrow catching up on some sleep. This coming week I'll be soloing for a few hours, practicing ground reference maneuvers, steep turns, slow flight, power on and off approach, fine tune my landings and then start working on my cross country with my instructor. I'm going to start studying on weather, FARs, navigation and other subjects relating to cross country this week. After the cross country, I still have some night flights, night landings, solo cross country, and then start studying for my written and checkride. Ok, maybe three weeks might be much, but I know I'll get it by the end of the month, but I'll still push for three though.
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I bought the Gleim knowledge test book, and its some pretty good stuff plus some my neighbors hooked me up with a copy of knowledge test software. So I'm pretty squared away for the writtens. I'll let you guys know how I'm doing in the middle of the week.
Happy birthday, Cruise!
 
Sounds like you're getting there! Keep up the good spirit and remember....every single obstacle that you are encountering now will just be a notch in the belt!!

Be happy and fly safe!!
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August 11th, 2005

Since my last post, I have only logged 3.0 hrs solo due to weather and mechanical issues with the plane. Been practicing some maneuvers and touch and go's. In the meantime, I've been studying for a bit. I had a few hours of ground instruction also. I just need to rack up a few more hours solo and then I can go on to the cross country requirements with my instructor and then eventually do my first cross country solo.

anthony
 
September 16th, 2005

Wow! Its been a while since I've posted. Since the last post, I was delayed a few days from the beginnings of Hurricane Katrina and Ophelia, being a little lazy by only flying four to five times a week, and a little discouraged because after soloing because my instructor noticed I had a bad habit of pulling back the yoke a little too much on final resulting in a short field landing instead of a normal landing. I had a hard time adjusting to it. It took me a while to finally get it right, and sometimes I will still screw it up. I was just overthinking it. Anyway, I did a few cross countries with my instructor and then did one on my own. The first time I tried my long cross country flight to La Belle via Pahokee, I couldn't land at PHK because the clouds were about 500ft above the airfield, so I continued on to La Belle, and as soon as hit the southeast side of Lake Okeechobee, all I could see was low clouds all the way to the west horizon, so I turned around an landed at OBE on the north side of the lake and went back to FPR, so I burned up three hours thinking that I could log it as a cross country requirement. Later, I found out that I couldnt because OBE was only about 35nm away and as a student pilot you can fulfill your solo x-country hour requirement if the the airport you stop at is at least 50nm away. I finally fulfilled the x-country requirment four days later. After that, did some night flying, flying under the hood, unusual attitudes with my instructor, and then my wife came down to visit me for Labor Day weekend. I started to feel tired of working on my private and I wanted to hurry up and get it over with because I see all my fellow peers including my roommate flying the Duchesses and I saw my goal of finishing in three weeks zip right by me. I finally took the written a week ago, and I scored a 92% after three days of intense studying. After that, I started practicing flying the required maneuvers for the checkride with the instructor and we notice I wasn't good at soft field landings and spent over 3 hours working on those. My instructor scheduled a checkride for me three days ago for this morning. My instructor thought I was ready, I personally didnt think I knew enough for the oral, my soft field landings still sucked, and I wanted to work on my steep turn a bit more, but my instructor keeps on insisting that I'm ready. And you know what, he was right. Since 1630Z today and 55 hrs total time, I am officially a pilot!!! The oral was ok except the DE tried to confuse me about maneuvering speed and stall speed, and the magnetos and ignition system. I thought the flight portion of the exam I did horrible especially on the my left steep turn (the altitude kept on going up and down within the 200ft), my first short field landing (I thought I was gonna overshoot where I wanted to land and I was coming in high, I wanted to go around but DE said no and land, later on he said he didnt understand why I wanted to go around since the approach was good and I landed within 200ft), and my first power-on stall (I didnt put in enough right rudder and almost got into a spin, but he let me do it again and the second I thought I put too much right rudder, but it was much better than first). After our final land the left brake went inop and I thought I definitely failed then. So Mary asked the DE if I passed, and he said I did, I still didnt believe him cuz I thought he was joking until he whipped out his typewriter and started typing my temp certificate. I guess I passed, I guess I overstressed, I guess I overstudied, I guess I underestimated myself, I guess I need to relax and get drunk now, and then thank my instructor.
 
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