Just a few things to think about when looking into DCA.
Just like everything in life DCA has its good and bad. What works for some may not be the way to go for others but this is my honest opinion of DCA.
DCA has a lot to offer and a lot to work on. If you are looking to get to the airline fast and with a 25% chance at having a job in two and a half year this may be the place for you. I say 25% because that is about the % of students who enter the program and get hired as CFIs at DCA. If you get hired as a CFI you have a GREAT chance above 90% that you will be in the right seat in about 16-18 months.
Cost, plan to spend 60-70k or about 10-20% above what they say. This is not a pro or con just a fact of life. Don't expect to be a super pilot and save a lot of money. Do your best and plan for the worst.
The training is great, good instuctors, old but safe planes, the buildings are in need of help but buildings don't make pilots. Sanford is nothing special but there are other areas close by that are nice.
Time, while in ground school "the first month of each section" plan to spend 10-12 hrs a day just to keep up. After ground school is over plan on about 8-10 hrs a day. You have two days off a week from flying "based on your instructor". If your days off are Mon-Friday you will still have to come in for ground school. Many people need their days of to catch up on videos, backseating, homework, and studying for FAA tests, checkrides, and groundwork. In short DCA is much more than a full time job. If you have a family take this into account. Remember this is why the program can be done in under a year.
Customer service needs a major overhaul. I am sure you have heard the statement. Stay a number, or stay under the radar there is some trueth to this but most of all many students fill that DCA just does not care about them as a person or customer. It can be frustrating to spent 60k and be treated like an employee and not a customer.
Overall, DCA does get thier CFIs jobs. In this economy jobs are hard to come by. The training is solid but the road along the way is paved with its own problems. To all those who are looking into DCA and other academies good luck. DCA may or may not be the place for you.
Just like everything in life DCA has its good and bad. What works for some may not be the way to go for others but this is my honest opinion of DCA.
DCA has a lot to offer and a lot to work on. If you are looking to get to the airline fast and with a 25% chance at having a job in two and a half year this may be the place for you. I say 25% because that is about the % of students who enter the program and get hired as CFIs at DCA. If you get hired as a CFI you have a GREAT chance above 90% that you will be in the right seat in about 16-18 months.
Cost, plan to spend 60-70k or about 10-20% above what they say. This is not a pro or con just a fact of life. Don't expect to be a super pilot and save a lot of money. Do your best and plan for the worst.
The training is great, good instuctors, old but safe planes, the buildings are in need of help but buildings don't make pilots. Sanford is nothing special but there are other areas close by that are nice.
Time, while in ground school "the first month of each section" plan to spend 10-12 hrs a day just to keep up. After ground school is over plan on about 8-10 hrs a day. You have two days off a week from flying "based on your instructor". If your days off are Mon-Friday you will still have to come in for ground school. Many people need their days of to catch up on videos, backseating, homework, and studying for FAA tests, checkrides, and groundwork. In short DCA is much more than a full time job. If you have a family take this into account. Remember this is why the program can be done in under a year.
Customer service needs a major overhaul. I am sure you have heard the statement. Stay a number, or stay under the radar there is some trueth to this but most of all many students fill that DCA just does not care about them as a person or customer. It can be frustrating to spent 60k and be treated like an employee and not a customer.
Overall, DCA does get thier CFIs jobs. In this economy jobs are hard to come by. The training is solid but the road along the way is paved with its own problems. To all those who are looking into DCA and other academies good luck. DCA may or may not be the place for you.