Takin' the plunge

kellwolf · March 24th, 2004, 00:14

Well, after much soul searching (and those of you that were in the chat area last Friday and Saturday know I was a little burned out on work), I've decided I'm gonna take the plunge and head to Farmington. Shooting for August. I've been turning this over in my head for a few months, but I had always planned on going the PACE route. Well, I'm a little tired of paying $500 a class for ERAU distance learning classes, and I have no focus locally after getting my instrument. My most recent instructor is driving to Ohio tomorrow to start training at Airnet, so I would have to find a new instructor anyway. So, I'll be going into the ab initio program with all of my core requirements for college out of the way and about 160 hours of flight time. Down side is that I still have to take the flight classes, but at least I don't have to re-take any checkrides.

Now, on to the question. Anyone know how to get an accident/incident report from the FAA (even if you don't have any, I guess they just want proof that you don't)? They also want a driving record, but I should just be able to call the FL DMV for that. I always think of these things at 2 AM, so there's never anyone at those places to call.

Mr_Creepy · March 24th, 2004, 06:38

I have those forms at my office Kell.

fsiflyer · March 24th, 2004, 09:01

Congrats...I think you will like it at MPD. I am interviewing in April for PACE and I got my FAA report by just sending them a fax with my name, DOB, SSN, Pilot cert number, and signature. I got the fax number from San Juan. A few days later bam, got the letter in the mail. Oh yea on the fax give them you address as well. Good luck, fly safe.

MissedApproach · March 24th, 2004, 10:29

Congrats and good luck!
So with ab-initio how long will you be in Farmington? [ QUOTE ]
...at least I don't have to re-take any checkrides.

[/ QUOTE ] Maybe not technically, but it'll certainly feel like it!

flyallday · March 24th, 2004, 11:14

Fsi and Kell want to roommate?

I interviewed last year and got accepted into the ab initio program but counldnt make it so im looking to re interview in May.

Aviator737 · March 24th, 2004, 15:06

If all things go well, I may be at the May interview as well for the August ab-initio program. What are they gonna do with all these JC'ers?

aloft · March 24th, 2004, 18:24

Laugh all the way to the bank?

kellwolf · March 24th, 2004, 20:16

Heh, well I can look into apartments. If we all get in, we can get like a three or four bedroom. Looks like most of us are gonna be there in May for the interview anyway.

kellwolf · March 24th, 2004, 20:22

[ QUOTE ]
So with ab-initio how long will you be in Farmington?

[/ QUOTE ]

Depends on what transfers from Miss State and ERAU. Most of it is basic stuff (English, Algebra, Sociology, etc), so I don't think it'll be a problem. The only thing I'm not sure about is how the flight classes are gonna work with me already having the ratings. I'm sure I'm not the first ab initio guy to come in with a private license and instrument rating. I'm guessing probably three semesters at the most, though.

flyallday · March 24th, 2004, 21:58

sounds good to me

Aviator737 · March 24th, 2004, 22:33

Sounds good to me too. I have no plans for rooming/living.

The ab-initio program is advertised as taking 19 months. As I only have 23 hours and no college experience, that'll probably be pretty close to my stay in Farmington.

flyallday · March 24th, 2004, 23:38

I have zero college cridets and 60 hours but no PPL. So ill be in good old Farmington for 19 months as well.

flyallday · March 24th, 2004, 23:47

Kell

A friend of mine in the ab initio program said you are better off finishing your commercial and going threw PACE because you will end up saving around 30k in flight charges

If you want to ask him some questions PM me and ill give you his info so you can email him

kellwolf · March 25th, 2004, 09:40

I thought about that, but there's a couple of problems...

1) I'd have to take out a loan anyway, and my flight school only has ONE loan source: Sallie Mae. The most I've gotten approved for from them is $10K. That's about enough to cover time building to the commercial but not the actual rating.

2) my flight school is hella expensive. The Bonanzas are only $5 more an hour, and the flight instructor fees at MAPD are $10 and hour LESS.

3) PACE is about $15K in addition to what I would have already spent, and I don't have my Associate's Degree. I would need at least one more class (at $507 a class plus books) from ERAU and my Comm license to get that.

4) I'm ready to get the hell out of Florida. Sorry, JT. I know you like it down here, but I need to get somewhere cooler and less.....touristy. From what I hear, Farmington is about as close as you can get.

Mr_Creepy · March 25th, 2004, 11:01

You will appreciate O-town more after being away from it for a while.

You will learn young padawan, that Farmington is not called "Farm-pit" for nothing

fsiflyer · March 25th, 2004, 11:07

[ QUOTE ]

Fsi and Kell want to roommate?

I interviewed last year and got accepted into the ab initio program but counldnt make it so im looking to re interview in May.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sounds good to me...now all I have to do is pass the interview. I have not flown a lot in the past two years so I hope my instrument knowledge is up to par for that instrument test that they give you. If you have any gouge on it let me know.

flyallday · March 25th, 2004, 13:37

nope, cant help you with Pace. Go over to mesalounge ask around there.

Aviator737 · March 25th, 2004, 17:43

What's the link to the Mesa Lounge? Never been there, and can't find it on Google.

Aviator737 · March 25th, 2004, 17:48

Nevermind. www.mesalounge.com

flyallday · March 25th, 2004, 21:15

hey kell

I talked to another person at mesalounge and they said that you will still have to stay for the 5 semesters

kellwolf · March 25th, 2004, 23:37

I'll grill the recruiters at Sun N Fun, I'm sure they'll be there. From what I can tell, classes like English, Algebra, Humanities etc SHOULD transfer. That would nix a whole semester right there. If I have to stay the whole 5, then I might re-think and go PACE. That would push me back to at LEAST Jan next year. I don't mind logging the extra flight time, but if I have to take physics or algebra again, I'll shoot myself in the face.

Grrr. Just read the fine print. Yeah, it would be the full 5 semesters. I would just have a LOT of free time. Time to start looking at other options..... HOPEFULLY, I can still get there for PACE in Jan.

UA_Wildcat · March 26th, 2004, 11:05

Kell,

Once you get into the PACE you would be done in a semester right? What if you spoke to someone down there about finishing your Associate there? Just a thought, it seems redundant to go through all of your ratings again?

UACAT

kellwolf · March 26th, 2004, 21:01

Fine print from the FAQ on their website says that if you do ab initio, no matter whether you have transfer credits or prior ratings, it will still be 5 semesters since it is a structured program. They suggest using the extra time to study, fly or get a part time job. PACE is just one semester, but you have to have at least a commercial single (you can get your multi there now) and an Associate's. I have none of those as of right now. I would seem silly for me to spend two years and only be at about 100 more hours than I am now.

aceflyley · March 27th, 2004, 00:27

[ QUOTE ]
Fine print from the FAQ on their website says that if you do ab initio, no matter whether you have transfer credits or prior ratings, it will still be 5 semesters since it is a structured program. They suggest using the extra time to study, fly or get a part time job. PACE is just one semester, but you have to have at least a commercial single (you can get your multi there now) and an Associate's. I have none of those as of right now. I would seem silly for me to spend two years and only be at about 100 more hours than I am now.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree. If I were you I would just finish my associates degree (I don't see why you'd have to pay through the nose for those ERAU distance learning classes, just finish it at a local community college or even San Juan for a fraction of the cost), finish up your commercial, and then apply for PACE. You would definitely save a lot of time and money that way.

I'm not really in the same situation as you but I was also considering both the ab initio and PACE. I have a college degree but just a few flight hours. If I did the ab initio I would have to go 65K+ into debt (the program+living expenses), but if I work full time, get my commercial locally and save money for PACE (which is do-able), I could do it all in the same amount of time (or less) without going into any debt at all. I would say that PACE makes a lot more sense for people with A) a college degree, or B) lots of flying experience. Just my two cents...

flyallday · March 27th, 2004, 07:06

I agree if you have a lot of flying experience then PACE is the program for you but I think I might disagree with if you have a college degree and very little time your better off with PACE.

If you dont have any flying experience why not have Mesa teach you from scratch on up. The prices arent all that bad. At least compared to here in NYC. In Farmington they charged $109 for the Bonanza and $25 for the CFI. Here in NYC they would charge you 99 for a 172 and 42 for the CFI. So for me it would be cheaper to do my training at MAPD, and I would rather do my training in a Bonanza.

If I was in your shoes I would just do the ab initio program. Since you already have the degree you wont have any college classes, you will only have GS and flying. You could definitely get a job to pay for rent and food etc... So if you go threw Pace lets say you spend 20k on ratings and 15k for Pace. Thats already 35k. It might work out to be the same price or a little more if you do the ab initio program and you would be learning the "Mesa way of flying from ground up" but who knows if thats just marketing BS

March 24th, 2004, 00:14	#1
kellwolf Old Skool Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 13,667	Takin\' the plunge Well, after much soul searching (and those of you that were in the chat area last Friday and Saturday know I was a little burned out on work), I've decided I'm gonna take the plunge and head to Farmington. Shooting for August. I've been turning this over in my head for a few months, but I had always planned on going the PACE route. Well, I'm a little tired of paying $500 a class for ERAU distance learning classes, and I have no focus locally after getting my instrument. My most recent instructor is driving to Ohio tomorrow to start training at Airnet, so I would have to find a new instructor anyway. So, I'll be going into the ab initio program with all of my core requirements for college out of the way and about 160 hours of flight time. Down side is that I still have to take the flight classes, but at least I don't have to re-take any checkrides. Now, on to the question. Anyone know how to get an accident/incident report from the FAA (even if you don't have any, I guess they just want proof that you don't)? They also want a driving record, but I should just be able to call the FL DMV for that. I always think of these things at 2 AM, so there's never anyone at those places to call.

March 24th, 2004, 06:38	#2
Mr_Creepy Old Skool Join Date: May 2003 Location: In the O-zone Posts: 5,807	Re: Takin\' the plunge I have those forms at my office Kell.

March 24th, 2004, 09:01	#3
fsiflyer Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: LAX & Moscow Russia (UUEE, UUWW, & UUDD) Posts: 376	Re: Takin\' the plunge Congrats...I think you will like it at MPD. I am interviewing in April for PACE and I got my FAA report by just sending them a fax with my name, DOB, SSN, Pilot cert number, and signature. I got the fax number from San Juan. A few days later bam, got the letter in the mail. Oh yea on the fax give them you address as well. Good luck, fly safe.

March 24th, 2004, 10:29	#4
MissedApproach Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 538	Re: Takin\' the plunge Congrats and good luck! So with ab-initio how long will you be in Farmington? [ QUOTE ] ...at least I don't have to re-take any checkrides. [/ QUOTE ] Maybe not technically, but it'll certainly feel like it!

March 24th, 2004, 11:14	#5
flyallday Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: USA baby!!! Posts: 226	Re: Takin\' the plunge Fsi and Kell want to roommate? I interviewed last year and got accepted into the ab initio program but counldnt make it so im looking to re interview in May.

March 24th, 2004, 15:06	#6
Aviator737 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Oregon Posts: 376	Re: Takin\' the plunge If all things go well, I may be at the May interview as well for the August ab-initio program. What are they gonna do with all these JC'ers?

March 24th, 2004, 18:24	#7
aloft Old Skool Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Inside your OODA loop Posts: 6,849	Re: Takin\' the plunge Laugh all the way to the bank?

March 24th, 2004, 20:16	#8
kellwolf Old Skool Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 13,667	Re: Takin\' the plunge Heh, well I can look into apartments. If we all get in, we can get like a three or four bedroom. Looks like most of us are gonna be there in May for the interview anyway.

March 24th, 2004, 20:22	#9
kellwolf Old Skool Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 13,667	Re: Takin\' the plunge [ QUOTE ] So with ab-initio how long will you be in Farmington? [/ QUOTE ] Depends on what transfers from Miss State and ERAU. Most of it is basic stuff (English, Algebra, Sociology, etc), so I don't think it'll be a problem. The only thing I'm not sure about is how the flight classes are gonna work with me already having the ratings. I'm sure I'm not the first ab initio guy to come in with a private license and instrument rating. I'm guessing probably three semesters at the most, though.

March 24th, 2004, 21:58	#10
flyallday Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: USA baby!!! Posts: 226	Re: Takin\' the plunge sounds good to me

March 24th, 2004, 22:33	#11
Aviator737 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Oregon Posts: 376	Re: Takin\' the plunge Sounds good to me too. I have no plans for rooming/living. The ab-initio program is advertised as taking 19 months. As I only have 23 hours and no college experience, that'll probably be pretty close to my stay in Farmington.

March 24th, 2004, 23:38	#12
flyallday Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: USA baby!!! Posts: 226	Re: Takin\' the plunge I have zero college cridets and 60 hours but no PPL. So ill be in good old Farmington for 19 months as well.

March 24th, 2004, 23:47	#13
flyallday Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: USA baby!!! Posts: 226	Re: Takin\' the plunge Kell A friend of mine in the ab initio program said you are better off finishing your commercial and going threw PACE because you will end up saving around 30k in flight charges If you want to ask him some questions PM me and ill give you his info so you can email him

March 25th, 2004, 09:40	#14
kellwolf Old Skool Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 13,667	Re: Takin\' the plunge I thought about that, but there's a couple of problems... 1) I'd have to take out a loan anyway, and my flight school only has ONE loan source: Sallie Mae. The most I've gotten approved for from them is $10K. That's about enough to cover time building to the commercial but not the actual rating. 2) my flight school is hella expensive. The Bonanzas are only $5 more an hour, and the flight instructor fees at MAPD are $10 and hour LESS. 3) PACE is about $15K in addition to what I would have already spent, and I don't have my Associate's Degree. I would need at least one more class (at $507 a class plus books) from ERAU and my Comm license to get that. 4) I'm ready to get the hell out of Florida. Sorry, JT. I know you like it down here, but I need to get somewhere cooler and less.....touristy. From what I hear, Farmington is about as close as you can get.

March 25th, 2004, 11:01	#15
Mr_Creepy Old Skool Join Date: May 2003 Location: In the O-zone Posts: 5,807	Re: Takin\' the plunge You will appreciate O-town more after being away from it for a while. You will learn young padawan, that Farmington is not called "Farm-pit" for nothing

March 25th, 2004, 11:07	#16
fsiflyer Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: LAX & Moscow Russia (UUEE, UUWW, & UUDD) Posts: 376	Re: Takin\' the plunge [ QUOTE ] Fsi and Kell want to roommate? I interviewed last year and got accepted into the ab initio program but counldnt make it so im looking to re interview in May. [/ QUOTE ] Sounds good to me...now all I have to do is pass the interview. I have not flown a lot in the past two years so I hope my instrument knowledge is up to par for that instrument test that they give you. If you have any gouge on it let me know.

March 25th, 2004, 13:37	#17
flyallday Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: USA baby!!! Posts: 226	Re: Takin\' the plunge nope, cant help you with Pace. Go over to mesalounge ask around there.

March 25th, 2004, 17:43	#18
Aviator737 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Oregon Posts: 376	Re: Takin\' the plunge What's the link to the Mesa Lounge? Never been there, and can't find it on Google.

March 25th, 2004, 17:48	#19
Aviator737 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Oregon Posts: 376	Re: Takin\' the plunge Nevermind. www.mesalounge.com

March 25th, 2004, 21:15	#20
flyallday Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: USA baby!!! Posts: 226	Re: Takin\' the plunge hey kell I talked to another person at mesalounge and they said that you will still have to stay for the 5 semesters

March 25th, 2004, 23:37	#21
kellwolf Old Skool Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 13,667	Re: Takin\' the plunge I'll grill the recruiters at Sun N Fun, I'm sure they'll be there. From what I can tell, classes like English, Algebra, Humanities etc SHOULD transfer. That would nix a whole semester right there. If I have to stay the whole 5, then I might re-think and go PACE. That would push me back to at LEAST Jan next year. I don't mind logging the extra flight time, but if I have to take physics or algebra again, I'll shoot myself in the face. Grrr. Just read the fine print. Yeah, it would be the full 5 semesters. I would just have a LOT of free time. Time to start looking at other options..... HOPEFULLY, I can still get there for PACE in Jan.

March 26th, 2004, 11:05	#22
UA_Wildcat Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 101	Re: Takin\' the plunge Kell, Once you get into the PACE you would be done in a semester right? What if you spoke to someone down there about finishing your Associate there? Just a thought, it seems redundant to go through all of your ratings again? UACAT

March 26th, 2004, 21:01	#23
kellwolf Old Skool Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 13,667	Re: Takin\' the plunge Fine print from the FAQ on their website says that if you do ab initio, no matter whether you have transfer credits or prior ratings, it will still be 5 semesters since it is a structured program. They suggest using the extra time to study, fly or get a part time job. PACE is just one semester, but you have to have at least a commercial single (you can get your multi there now) and an Associate's. I have none of those as of right now. I would seem silly for me to spend two years and only be at about 100 more hours than I am now.

March 27th, 2004, 00:27	#24
aceflyley Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: DEN Posts: 159	Re: Takin\' the plunge [ QUOTE ] Fine print from the FAQ on their website says that if you do ab initio, no matter whether you have transfer credits or prior ratings, it will still be 5 semesters since it is a structured program. They suggest using the extra time to study, fly or get a part time job. PACE is just one semester, but you have to have at least a commercial single (you can get your multi there now) and an Associate's. I have none of those as of right now. I would seem silly for me to spend two years and only be at about 100 more hours than I am now. [/ QUOTE ] I agree. If I were you I would just finish my associates degree (I don't see why you'd have to pay through the nose for those ERAU distance learning classes, just finish it at a local community college or even San Juan for a fraction of the cost), finish up your commercial, and then apply for PACE. You would definitely save a lot of time and money that way. I'm not really in the same situation as you but I was also considering both the ab initio and PACE. I have a college degree but just a few flight hours. If I did the ab initio I would have to go 65K+ into debt (the program+living expenses), but if I work full time, get my commercial locally and save money for PACE (which is do-able), I could do it all in the same amount of time (or less) without going into any debt at all. I would say that PACE makes a lot more sense for people with A) a college degree, or B) lots of flying experience. Just my two cents...

March 27th, 2004, 07:06	#25
flyallday Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: USA baby!!! Posts: 226	Re: Takin\' the plunge I agree if you have a lot of flying experience then PACE is the program for you but I think I might disagree with if you have a college degree and very little time your better off with PACE. If you dont have any flying experience why not have Mesa teach you from scratch on up. The prices arent all that bad. At least compared to here in NYC. In Farmington they charged $109 for the Bonanza and $25 for the CFI. Here in NYC they would charge you 99 for a 172 and 42 for the CFI. So for me it would be cheaper to do my training at MAPD, and I would rather do my training in a Bonanza. If I was in your shoes I would just do the ab initio program. Since you already have the degree you wont have any college classes, you will only have GS and flying. You could definitely get a job to pay for rent and food etc... So if you go threw Pace lets say you spend 20k on ratings and 15k for Pace. Thats already 35k. It might work out to be the same price or a little more if you do the ab initio program and you would be learning the "Mesa way of flying from ground up" but who knows if thats just marketing BS

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