My Visit to The Aviator

[SmitteyB]

Arrived: West Palm Beach, FL on Jan 9
Visited Aviator: Jan 10
Departed: to Syracuse, NY Jan 11
Total Time: 2 days in Vero/Ft. Pierce

Back from my trip to Florida where I visited the Aviator on January 10th. I was really impressed with the cleanliness of Vero Beach compared to my very brief stop in Fort Pierce to get a bite to eat. While visiting I stayed at the Comfort Inn in Vero Beach for $75.00/night. The hotel is nice with a Chili’s in the front parking lot and in close proximity to the mall(s) and/or different food places. The rooms are big, however they smell like dirt. Literally. You do get a free breakfast, but it’s a counter with bagels, donuts, and OJ…nothing like an Embassy Suites where they make your omelet in front of you. No…No…this is much different. If you do fly into West Palm Beach Airport, be prepared for an hour long ride from the airport to the hotel.

My first impression of the flight school was “small” and I could definitely tell that it had some hurricane damage. We walked up to the school, a little afraid to go in because we didn’t know if it was the right place. It was and a friendly smile come walking around the building, it was Ari. We were treated well the entire visit and got to see a large majority of the school.

As other reviews have stated, and I feel the same, that the instructors there are very knowledgeable and helpful to all the students. I enjoyed the fact that the instructors were willing to schedule twice a day with students as that is ‘illegal’ at my current school. First we went and looked at the maintenance buildings which were….busy to say the least. But they were organized and everyone seemed to be working. Watch out for their guard dog…haha.

Next a newly christened instructor took us to see the student housing. The houses are in Vero Beach, and a majority are on the same street. Picture a street with nothing but the same looking houses in different colors with cars all over the place and that’s what the housing environment is like. Inside the houses are nice with a few having High Speed Internet. Overall the housing is livable. However some of the tenants did say that the unexpected house inspections suck. The housing is run by Mike’s wife, Peggy.

After the housing visit we drove back 10 or so miles to the airport and back seated a flight. I was fortunate and back seated with a fellow JC’er Ryan (RPM) in the twin BE-76 Duchess to the southwest. The instructor Chad was extremely knowledgeable which comforted me. Ryan did a hell of a job under the hood for at least an hour. The scenery at 5000’ is beautiful, so that is a plus. The VFR traffic in the area is extremely congested! Collision avoidance is a big thing down there so even I was keeping my eyes peeled.

After the ride I sat down with Ari and discussed many different things. Most of their instructors are going to Colgan Air Dba: US Airways Express.

Negative Side…

Too hot for a white boy from Upstate New York, I couldn’t wait to step of that CRJ in Syracuse in the 25 degree wind and snow. Airport is TOO busy for a field with no commercial traffic, but is good experience. High Speed Internet is not available in all houses.

Overall the visit was nice, and I will most likely attend and am excited. The price is great for all the multi time you get. The deciding factor will probably be that you’re almost guaranteed and instructor job with Aviator and when you’ve got a 400/month student loan bill coming due, you can’t afford to sit around waiting for ATP to call saying they might have a job for you.

[RPM]

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Watch out for their guard dog…haha.



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I think that little beast bit Chad on the ankle the other day.

I'm glad you enjoyed your visit. I wish I had more time to show you around some. Man, that day you flew with me...I thought I was screwed with that checkride being so soon and me being so rusty , but after a few more hours Chad had me pretty well prepared, and I got through the checkride no problem. On to the next one....

Good luck on that flying up there and hope to see you back here soon.

-Ryan

[Luftpost]

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The instructor Chad was extremely knowledgeable which comforted me.

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Guess we did ok Chad!

[SmitteyB]

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[ QUOTE ]
The instructor Chad was extremely knowledgeable which comforted me.

[/ QUOTE ]

Guess we did ok Chad!

[/ QUOTE ]


?

[GatorFC]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
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The instructor Chad was extremely knowledgeable which comforted me.

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Guess we did ok Chad!

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?

[/ QUOTE ]Smittey, if you read back on Luftpost's previous posts, he was an instructor at Ari-Ben. I'm guessing he was Chad's instructor when Chad was a student.

[SmitteyB]

Yea, thanks he PM'd me about it.

[DaiLo]

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However some of the tenants did say that the unexpected house inspections suck.

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???

Just wondering what that's about? What are they inspecting for? I mean just stopping by and checking out the place is one thing, but it's like I get the impression that this is some kind of involved process in order for it to be such a hassle? Can anyone fill me in on this?

Is the housing at ATP any better or worse?

[RPM]

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However some of the tenants did say that the unexpected house inspections suck.

[/ QUOTE ]


???

Just wondering what that's about? What are they inspecting for? I mean just stopping by and checking out the place is one thing, but it's like I get the impression that this is some kind of involved process in order for it to be such a hassle? Can anyone fill me in on this?

Is the housing at ATP any better or worse?

[/ QUOTE ]

Its no hassle....I've been here for a while and havn't had ANY so called "random inspections". Ocassionally an instructor might stop by to show a prospective student the housing, but thats no big deal, just keep your door locked and nobody will ever go into your room.

Oh... I forgot, Mike stopped by the other day and told us not to run the AC with the windows open anymore .