Good FBO training in DAB?

[jawright]

I am currently training at SFB (just earned pvt, about to start inst.) and I am thinking about switching schools to one that is a little closer to home/work. I know that many ERAU students train at local FBOs rather than at ERAU itself to save money. Which FBO is best for training over there?

[crashmbern]

epic although they are based out of New Smyrna

[Pilot Hopeful]

Epic Aviation is a sure favorite of everyone I have talked to. I hadn't even heard another school mentioned before moving to Daytona.

In fact, the Epic fleet and maintenance program are the envy of the local training industry...so I decided to check them out when I moved here last month. Outstanding! I now work as an instructor for Epic and would be glad to help you with your instrument rating. If you want more details, let me know.

[jawright]

Thanks for your help guys! I've heard good stuff about Epic, too, and somebody emailed me about another school that is supposed to be good. I'm going to check them both out. Is Epic a Cessna Pilot Center, by chance? I didn't see anything about that on their website.

[Pilot Hopeful]

Affirmative. Epic is a CPC with some really fine 172SP's and offers both part 141 and 61 flight training.

If you know when you might be out there, I can try to meet up with you, or you can have one of the other instructors show you around.

[cessna2351]

I rented from Epic for several months before they closed their DAB office and kept their entire operation at the New Smyrna office. Their aircraft we're in top notch condition with some pimped out avionics as well. I really wish they would have kept their DAB office open, but I guess maybe when Riddle's spring semester ended, they lost alot of business at DAB.

I'd say the most popular FBO at the DAB airport is probably Air America. I don't really know much about them besides their prices are supposedly really good.

[MedicRyan]

How often does Epic look for instructor's. I was looking at them for when I get out of the military in year to instruct. What is the pay like???

Thanks

Ryan

[Pilot Hopeful]

For contract instructing, hourly pay at Epic seems to be one of the best in the flight training industry, gathering from what I have seen on these forums... perhaps only matched by my previous flight school in Greenville, SC.

I would estimate a serious instructor could generate $30,000-40,000 annually, perhaps more.

[MedicRyan]

How long is the contract for???

[Pilot Hopeful]

Contract... I don't know the exact way that works, but I do receive a 1099 form for taxes instead of a W-2 --- something like working through the company but not for them? Perhaps one of the other instructors here knows the exact reasoning.

As the chief pilot put it, you work as often and as much as you want. There are no set hours, so you may freely determine your schedule. Having completed a brief standardization flight, I am now free to instruct at the school.

As far as contract duration, there was no set length. The numbers I gave you are based on average hours flown each month by some "full-time" instructors (meaning they see instructing as a full-time job and put in 5-6 full days each week) multiplied by the take-home pay. Hence you can fly less...and earn less...or fly more and potentially earn more.

Why does this make Epic a great place? Students and instructors are paired on an individual basis and scheduling is based on the student's needs. With plenty of instructors on hand, a student is apt to find a perfect match for training, not only in terms of schedule but also in terms of teaching style. Couple that with the new C-172SP's in the fleet (nearly all of the fleet...two even have G-1000's), it sure is a hard deal to beat.

[cessna2351]

Just curious....

Why did the DAB office close?

[Pilot Hopeful]

I'm fairly new to the operation, but from what I hear...

Rental/student levels at DAB were lower than expected. Coupled with some aspects of trying to run the 141 training program at two airports (e.g. maintenance, scheduling/dispatching, aircraft re-positioning), it seemed wise to consolidate all operations at the home airport, New Smyrna.

Yes, it would be nice to have the school just a couple of minutes away, but the company has had to make financially-viable decisions to maintain high-quality service for its students and customers. From my perspective, the company is strong and provides outstanding options to the flight training community. Perhaps they will be able to return to DAB in the future. I doubt that would be out of the picture entirely...

[cessna2351]

Fair enough, I can understand. It was pretty easy to book those 172s every weekend for whenever you wanted at DAB so I guess business was a little down. I was very satisfied with the product though .

[kellwolf]

[ QUOTE ]
I don't know the exact way that works, but I do receive a 1099 form for taxes instead of a W-2 --- something like working through the company but not for them?

[/ QUOTE ]

You're considered an "independent contractor" and not an "employee" is what that means. In a nutshell, you're responsible for your own tax witholding.

[jawright]

As an independent contractor, how much do you usually withold for Federal taxes? I get 1099 forms for teaching high school drumlines when I was in college, but I never made enough to actually file until now. I am kind of afraid I am going to have a ridicu-tax bill at the end of the year....

By the way, thanks again for the help with the FBO stuff!!

[kellwolf]

I TRY (try being the keyword there) to put 20-30% in a savings account. That way, if I DO have to pay, the money is there plus a little extra. If not, well then I have an instant tax return.

[ComplexHiAv8r]

Also watch when you do your taxes, it might make you start doing quarterly estimated payments, and if you don't in the next year, you get a penalty charge for NOT doing them.

[EDUC8-or]

I was an instructor for Epic, mostly out of Daytona until the offices closed and then I moved down to EVB. The Daytona instructors were sort of left scratching our heads on that one. It was nearly impossible to book an airplane less than a week in advance and while you could get an airplane on the weekends they still flew all day on Saturday and Sunday. I think fuel costs were a biggie because gas is much cheaper for the company out of New Smyrna.

Instructors now make 17 bucks an hour instead of 30. Epic is still the best flight school in the Daytona/Ormond/New Smyrna area. Air America has some good rates, but let's just say I wouldn't fly a few of their airplanes.

[planeracer]

IMHO the ONLY place to train is Regional Airline Academy in DeLand. Just look at the article in the current (November) issue of Plane & Pilot. In 2005 they have placed 100% yes, it said one hundred percent of their graduates in good jobs. Nobody else works so hard for their students. Again, no flames this is just one persons documented view.