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cessna_cptn · November 23rd, 2005, 18:43

I went to American Flyers in DPA to finish up my private a few years back. They advertised a finish up program that was just what I needed. After a sit down meeting to make a custome course outline for me, it was decided that $800.00 was the minimum it would cost me. Mind you at this point, I was current, and had all my x-countrys done, as well as total hours met in all the areas.

I was excited. Had a hotel room for a 4 day weekend(I lived in chicago at the time), so I would not waste time commuting in the wonderful summer construction. Oh yeah, I was making a point. Anyway, the weather on day one was marginal, but pattern was surely an option. The instructor said that time would be better spent doing a ground review. Day two had decent weather, but was a little on the windy side. Again, I had flown in worse, but the instructor said that the day would be better utilized doing recoveries from unusual attitudes in the fancy sim. Now, I could see spending a few hours on it if I had been al ham handed, but I nailed them on the first go. After two hours of this, I remembered thinking that I I was working on my instrument rating. Now mind you that I am now done with day two, and had yet to touch an airplane. Just some ground and a few sim hours. Should still have plenty of that $800.00 left. Oh yeah, I had to give them a check to cover the minimum amount prior to the start of the training.

Day three came with a beautiful clear sky. After two days of BS I was finaly flying one of those American Flyer cessnas with the fancy eagle painted on it. DPA has many runways and a control tower. For some reason, the instructor had me fly twenty minutes to a non towered airport to do pattern. No other maneuvers were done enroute. We landed back at DPA after two hours of flight time. I had done pattern. The instructor thought that this would be a good time to do more ground training. He called it a day and a day of good flying was wasted. I had one day left. If we flew all day, we might be able to hit the mark.

When I reported in that day the receptionist told me I needed to deposite more money because my deposite was all used up. After I became aware that one flight cost me $800.00 I walked into the guys office that sold me this program, and pleaded my case. "Remember that that amount was the minimum It was going to cost." was the response I received. I felt like a rape victim. This post stirred up all sorts of bad memories for me. Avoid American Flyers like the plague. It seems as if they are still selling the same product.

November 23rd, 2005, 18:43	#10
cessna_cptn Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 66	I went to American Flyers in DPA to finish up my private a few years back. They advertised a finish up program that was just what I needed. After a sit down meeting to make a custome course outline for me, it was decided that $800.00 was the minimum it would cost me. Mind you at this point, I was current, and had all my x-countrys done, as well as total hours met in all the areas. I was excited. Had a hotel room for a 4 day weekend(I lived in chicago at the time), so I would not waste time commuting in the wonderful summer construction. Oh yeah, I was making a point. Anyway, the weather on day one was marginal, but pattern was surely an option. The instructor said that time would be better spent doing a ground review. Day two had decent weather, but was a little on the windy side. Again, I had flown in worse, but the instructor said that the day would be better utilized doing recoveries from unusual attitudes in the fancy sim. Now, I could see spending a few hours on it if I had been al ham handed, but I nailed them on the first go. After two hours of this, I remembered thinking that I I was working on my instrument rating. Now mind you that I am now done with day two, and had yet to touch an airplane. Just some ground and a few sim hours. Should still have plenty of that $800.00 left. Oh yeah, I had to give them a check to cover the minimum amount prior to the start of the training. Day three came with a beautiful clear sky. After two days of BS I was finaly flying one of those American Flyer cessnas with the fancy eagle painted on it. DPA has many runways and a control tower. For some reason, the instructor had me fly twenty minutes to a non towered airport to do pattern. No other maneuvers were done enroute. We landed back at DPA after two hours of flight time. I had done pattern. The instructor thought that this would be a good time to do more ground training. He called it a day and a day of good flying was wasted. I had one day left. If we flew all day, we might be able to hit the mark. When I reported in that day the receptionist told me I needed to deposite more money because my deposite was all used up. After I became aware that one flight cost me $800.00 I walked into the guys office that sold me this program, and pleaded my case. "Remember that that amount was the minimum It was going to cost." was the response I received. I felt like a rape victim. This post stirred up all sorts of bad memories for me. Avoid American Flyers like the plague. It seems as if they are still selling the same product.