Aviator409
New Member
I can't decide between Air Safety Academy and Weswind Aeronautics. Both are in the Phoenix area. Does anybody have any reccomondations?
Which one?
- Thread starter Aviator409
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montanapilot
Well-Known Member
neither.
There are many different routes to choose. Do you have any ratings so far? Do you have a degree? Young or Old? Those are all important factors in deciding.
Just check out all your options and remember the airlines could care less where you trained at.
My personal recomendation is to get a 4 year degree not related to aviation and do the FBO route. It saves you alot of money and you have more options should the airline industry become unstable. Another option is to go to school and during one of the summers do ATPs 90 day Pro course. Then instruct while going to school.
There are many different routes to choose. Do you have any ratings so far? Do you have a degree? Young or Old? Those are all important factors in deciding.
Just check out all your options and remember the airlines could care less where you trained at.
My personal recomendation is to get a 4 year degree not related to aviation and do the FBO route. It saves you alot of money and you have more options should the airline industry become unstable. Another option is to go to school and during one of the summers do ATPs 90 day Pro course. Then instruct while going to school.
turbinesurgeon
New Member
I would agree with montanapilot, why spend a lot of money on the same piece of paper you could get at a good FBO? I have never been asked in an interview, Where did I get my flight training?
Aviator409
New Member
I am very young, no degree. I'd love to stay with my FBO, but it would just take way too long. My instructor is old, and he would never go for the hours the Academys offer. Forgive me if i'm selfish but, I would just love to get out of this cold state and move down to tropical weather where I could fly every single day of the year. I just can't decide on which Academy to chose. Which is why I want the opinions of any pilots out there who experienced any of these schools first hand.
Aviator409
New Member
You know I'm so addicted to flying that I couldnt see myself going to a traditional college. I'd be stuck in classrooms all week with no time or money to fly for some 4 years. I can't see that happening. No, actually, I am going to earn a degree, but online. I want to get a BA in business through phoenix university and spend time earning that degree at night on my laptop while attending flight school. That can also save me thousands of dollars that I'd spend attending 4 year school. What do you guys think?
Aviator409
New Member
Argue with you? I've never spoke to you in my entire life. Maybe you have me confused with your wife.
Honestly though, what are the advantages of going to college first? I can't make a decision like that just by hearing 4 words.
I started this forum to get opinion and insight on 2 different schools in the same area. Now things are totally going off subject.
Honestly though, what are the advantages of going to college first? I can't make a decision like that just by hearing 4 words.
I started this forum to get opinion and insight on 2 different schools in the same area. Now things are totally going off subject.
I'm not going to write a dissertation or do your research for you, but you sound like a bright guy, you need to enroll in college.
Say you get all of your ratings in 9 months, but you still don't have your degree... You're competing in a extraordinarily tight job market with no degree and low flight time -- not a place you really want to be.
Go to a traditional college. You don't understand now, but you'll certainly look back and thank us for suggesting such.
Say you get all of your ratings in 9 months, but you still don't have your degree... You're competing in a extraordinarily tight job market with no degree and low flight time -- not a place you really want to be.
Go to a traditional college. You don't understand now, but you'll certainly look back and thank us for suggesting such.
Doug's given you the short answer regarding college. Rather than derail the thread any further I'll just say that I'd be happy to give you further thoughts on the subject - just start another thread in the general forum.
I'll let someone else give feedback on "Air Safety Academy and Weswind Aeronautics" if they'd like.
I'll let someone else give feedback on "Air Safety Academy and Weswind Aeronautics" if they'd like.
turbinesurgeon
New Member
If you are comming down here, why don't you check out a good FBO like Glendale Aviation?
Lima_Charlie
New Member
[ QUOTE ]
I can't decide between Air Safety Academy and Weswind Aeronautics. Both are in the Phoenix area. Does anybody have any reccomondations?
[/ QUOTE ]
First off, I agree w/ what has been said about going to college. You will do more to set yourself up for long term success if you get that degree.
Second, I don't have any personal experience w/ either flight school, except that Westwind is across the parking lot from my school. My advice on that would be to go visit. See it first hand. Talk to the students, not just the recruiter. Take and intro flight. If you know someone that has flying experience, it might even be a good idea to bring that person w/ you. Someone w/ flight experience should be able to ask a few more questions that might help you make up your mind.
Good luck!
I can't decide between Air Safety Academy and Weswind Aeronautics. Both are in the Phoenix area. Does anybody have any reccomondations?
[/ QUOTE ]
First off, I agree w/ what has been said about going to college. You will do more to set yourself up for long term success if you get that degree.
Second, I don't have any personal experience w/ either flight school, except that Westwind is across the parking lot from my school. My advice on that would be to go visit. See it first hand. Talk to the students, not just the recruiter. Take and intro flight. If you know someone that has flying experience, it might even be a good idea to bring that person w/ you. Someone w/ flight experience should be able to ask a few more questions that might help you make up your mind.
Good luck!
Hey man, well i won't waste your time, but, i don't know anything about Air Safety, as far as westwind goes:
I called them spoke to some person there, very helpful very nice, infact when i mentioned i am from Van, Canada they said they have a flt. instructor from here with them.
So i had to call them again with further Q's. This time they were nice as usual except i din't get to talk to the admisions staff, so i left a message. Next i heard from them was 3-4 days after the message. This time when i asked where all do u guys have international student instructors, no vancouver was mentioned. Plus from the looks of it - they are a good school, but, are like anyother ordinary school, with the price of a real good school haha.
Later
tj
P.S: Why only Arizona ? Florida is known to deliver what you want.
I called them spoke to some person there, very helpful very nice, infact when i mentioned i am from Van, Canada they said they have a flt. instructor from here with them.
So i had to call them again with further Q's. This time they were nice as usual except i din't get to talk to the admisions staff, so i left a message. Next i heard from them was 3-4 days after the message. This time when i asked where all do u guys have international student instructors, no vancouver was mentioned. Plus from the looks of it - they are a good school, but, are like anyother ordinary school, with the price of a real good school haha.
Later
tj
P.S: Why only Arizona ? Florida is known to deliver what you want.
montanapilot
Well-Known Member
good luck trying to get actual instrument in AZ.
Laissezfaire
New Member
Hey! I've been flying in AZ for three months and I have 0.8 actual.......
Woops... Oh, wait... I got 0.6 of it in SoCal
Just be careful you don't wind up like those poor guys and gals at ATA. From the folks I've spoken with and traded PMs with currently at Westwind, it doesn't sound like Westwind is too financially healthy.
Also, a lot of the people I met at the academy I attended didn't have a four-year degree. It certainly can't hurt to have that edge.
Good luck.
Woops... Oh, wait... I got 0.6 of it in SoCal
Just be careful you don't wind up like those poor guys and gals at ATA. From the folks I've spoken with and traded PMs with currently at Westwind, it doesn't sound like Westwind is too financially healthy.
Also, a lot of the people I met at the academy I attended didn't have a four-year degree. It certainly can't hurt to have that edge.
Good luck.
Aviator409
New Member
Don't forget monsoon season and those cloudy winter days in the valley. I'm sure I can get plenty of actual instrument
phoenixflyer
Well-Known Member
While I agree with everyone who said go to college first.... I also know what its like to just want to fly... I went to college for 6 years and started on my instrument rating at Westwind in July of 2004.... 6 months and $20k I was still working on it... so I switched to Air Saftey Academy at Glendale Muni Airport... within 1 week I had my instrument ticket in hand, and am now halfway through with my commercial multi. Air Saftey was founded by two of the partners in Westwind who also got fed up with the politics there. Though they only have a few airplanes they do have a brand new Cirrus SR20 (with whole airplane parachute recovery system) full glass cockpit w/ traffic avoidence and 2 more ordered with terrain tcas and xm satelite weather. They have a 2003 172sp with ifr gps and mfd (only 300 hours) a 172p, a 152 and a Beechcraft Duchess 76 for multi training. There is never a problem with airplane availability, and the staff / instructors are the friendliest poeple Ive met since Ive moved to Phoenix. One of my friends from Westwind who after spending $50k on private and instrument (though he has completed his instrument training, the good folks at Westwind didnt see him fit to pass the final instrument stagecheck, thus he doesnt have his ifr ticket yet) is also making the move to Air Saftey Academy. If quality training in state of the art equiptment with an fbo feel is what you want I would strongly suggest taking a look at Air Saftey Academy.
[ QUOTE ]
I went to college for 6 years and started on my instrument rating at Westwind in July of 2004.... 6 months and $20k I was still working on it... so I switched to Air Saftey Academy at Glendale Muni Airport... within 1 week I had my instrument ticket in hand,
[/ QUOTE ]
I have never been one to defend Westwind... but 6 months and 20K sounds a little outrageous. Your post also sounds as if your work for air safety. Westwind had its fair share of problems.....but if you really spent that amount on an instrument ticket you either didn't study , or had a hard time.
I went to college for 6 years and started on my instrument rating at Westwind in July of 2004.... 6 months and $20k I was still working on it... so I switched to Air Saftey Academy at Glendale Muni Airport... within 1 week I had my instrument ticket in hand,
[/ QUOTE ]
I have never been one to defend Westwind... but 6 months and 20K sounds a little outrageous. Your post also sounds as if your work for air safety. Westwind had its fair share of problems.....but if you really spent that amount on an instrument ticket you either didn't study , or had a hard time.
phoenixflyer
Well-Known Member
dont get me wrong... I really enjoyed my time at westwind, I had a great instructor and made alot of new friends... I think I just got stuck in a rut and needed a change.... it was a big decision for me to switch to air safety, one that i thought long and hard about..... but im glad i did.
Though my last post does sound a little like I work for air safety.... I dont, Im just a satisfied customer. I think that people about to make one of the biggest investments of their life should get all the information they can about as many schools as they can
Though my last post does sound a little like I work for air safety.... I dont, Im just a satisfied customer. I think that people about to make one of the biggest investments of their life should get all the information they can about as many schools as they can