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| | #1 |
| Newbie Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 12
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I just read the post about meeting with future students. I myself am a 21 year old college junior at a Liberal Arts school in Iowa. Im currently working on a Athletic Training/Sports Medicine BA but flying seems to keep pulling my eyes skyward. I am going to DVT to visit Pan Am Tuesday March 8th. Ill be there at 9 am and am staying in the PHX area for a week so I have the opportunity to meet at other times. I was wondering if I could meet either with you or how available other students would be. I am a very driven individual and have read a lot of the posts on here about academies, I believe it is in my best interest to find stuff out for myself and I greatly appreciate everyones opinions. Any direction and tips for looking at flight schools would be greatly appreciated. If anyone wants further information about myself feel free to PM me also. Thanks.
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| | #2 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 563
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I would be happy to chat with you while you are in town. I am pretty sure I will be at school on the 8th. I will drop you a PM w/ my cell number, so if we don't connect while you are at school, we can figure out another time. Are you checking out any other schools while you are in town? LC |
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| | #3 |
| Old Skool Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Spokane, WA
Posts: 6,578
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"Any direction and tips for looking at flight schools would be greatly appreciated" Be sure to check out as many schools as you can and weigh the positives and negatives for yourself. Don't put a lot of weight on what a professional recruiter tells you. Talk to the random student and don't stick to the "scripted" tour. |
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| | #4 |
| Newbie Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 12
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Thanks LC, I appreciate it. I hadnt thought about looking at any others in PHX, I am however looking at Delta Connection, and FSI. I would like some others but I could use some guidance. Thanks to all.
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| | #5 |
| Old Skool Join Date: May 2003 Location: Portland, Orygun
Posts: 1,643
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[ QUOTE ] Delta Connection [/ QUOTE ] Hell I'd recommend PanAm anyday over DCA. While not all that great at least PanAm's advertising doesnt blatently lie to people unlike "Delta" Connection Academy. My advice to you is to not rule out local training also. There is alot to be said for supporting local flying schools and not having Key Bank own you for 20 years. Don't be mislead into thinking that the airlines give any preference as to were you learned to fly cause they dont. |
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| | #6 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 563
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Well, there are the 5 that sponsor JC. So that is as good a place to start as any. I suppose it really depends on your situation and what you feel is important to you. Obviously if you have read through the post on JC, you know there is group that feel the FBO route is the way to go, and others that feel the academy route was worth the added cost. I agree w/ what 727 said. DEFINITELY take the time to talk w/ students outside the tour. The PA tour typically only takes an hour or so. The tour is intended to give you the chance to talk to everyone that runs the place, from the Chief Flight instructor, to the maintenance director, to the Chief Ground School instructor, not just the marketing people. So when you are done, you should have plenty of time for you to talk to some of the students. There is another thread in the PA forum that I offered up a list of questions that I asked when I visited, so that could be a good starter list.
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| | #7 |
| Old Skool Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Arlington TX
Posts: 2,009
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[ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] Delta Connection [/ QUOTE ] Don't be mislead into thinking that the airlines give any preference as to were you learned to fly cause they dont. [/ QUOTE ] ![]() No matter what anybody tells you it dosent matter where you went to school on your job interview 95% of interviews are based on your personality. not to say academies are not the way to go but im saying to take all your options in account. Remember no matter how much money you throw at flight training its not going to make you a better pilot you get from it what you put in. |
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| | #8 |
| Newbie Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Jackson, TN
Posts: 13
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LC, I went to a Pan Am seminar in Atlanta on Saturday. Could you please tell me a bit more about the changes forthcoming to the Pan Am program? It seems that what they have proposed is really going to change the entire decision making process for the prospective student when they decide how they would like to proceed with their training. I wish they would have had more information for the seminar. I feel like I just wasted my time by going to hear about the old programs pros and cons. However, the part of the seminar dealing with the state of the airline industry and its future were quite informative. One of the presenters there said there is 100% job placement rate coming out of PanAm. They said it on more than one occasion while being asked repeatedly to respond to this particular question. The presenters said the new cirriculum was about 60 days from being posted in the website and implemented in the school. For those considering PanAm it seems like it might be better to waite a couple of months before deciding to make that decision. Could you please divulge a little more about the different modules of training being proposed and each of the different 'routes' a student may take. |
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| | #9 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 563
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Hey Bud... As much as I would love to share the details, since the info isn't public knowledge just yet, I probably should hold off until the plan is a little more permanent. I would hate to tell you one thing, only to discover that something else is in the works. And about the seminar... Did they really say 100% placement?? Was that 100% of people that finish the program, or was it based on something else? I will get back to you on what changes are happening... LC |
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| | #10 |
| Newbie Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Jackson, TN
Posts: 13
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It was 100% of the students that went to the school and completed the school. That did not include those who started the program and who wound up not finishing there or quitting. The 100% was for those who did complete it. Now, I have done my studying on the major academies and I wanted to say BS. But it was not my place to say it or to instigate an arguement. I have that persons name although I don't want to post it publicly here. As far as the academies go, I believe PanAm is one of the top notch schools out there. The 100% was hard to swallow though.
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| | #11 |
| Newbie Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 12
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Im confused Bud, do you recommend Pan Am or no? Sorry maybe I was misinterpreting. Thanks
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| | #12 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 563
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[ QUOTE ] It was 100% of the students that went to the school and completed the school. That did not include those who started the program and who wound up not finishing there or quitting. The 100% was for those who did complete it. Now, I have done my studying on the major academies and I wanted to say BS. But it was not my place to say it or to instigate an arguement. I have that persons name although I don't want to post it publicly here. As far as the academies go, I believe PanAm is one of the top notch schools out there. The 100% was hard to swallow though. [/ QUOTE ] Hmmmm.... I am curious how they qualify that number. If it is based on the number of people that finish the program, stay on as an instructor, and want an airline job, then it would make sense. 100% of the people that want an airline job, get an airline job... eventually, I suppose. I don't know of anyone at this campus that WANTS to be an instructor forever, or are training here just for ####s and giggles... Does that make sense?? |
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| | #13 |
| Newbie Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 12
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Yea, I think I just have way too much going through my head this week!
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| | #14 |
| Newbie Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Jackson, TN
Posts: 13
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[ QUOTE ] Im confused Bud, do you recommend Pan Am or no? Sorry maybe I was misinterpreting. Thanks [/ QUOTE ] Im not in a position to recommend anything to anyone. I am just someone like you exploring my options to get into the airline industry. My situation may be a bit unique. I am 33 and married with 2 kids. In the best interests of my family, Im not going to relocate them, especially when my wife is making great money here, to a school in Fla or Az and then have to relocate again when I eventually (hopefully) get hired. There is a local Part 141 school where I live. After having visited and spoken with them indepth about their program, this option is definately more viable for me. I wish I was mid 20's and single again. Then I would be a bit more flexible in my choices. But the fact is Im not. My biggest concern, as I expressed to them, is getting in my hours once I finish all of my ratings, including CFI. There is no guarantee that I could get hired on there when I finish. Then what am I faced with? I have all these ratings and I am stuck paying back the loans I take out. But I have thought and researched this enough. Ive played out every scenario in my head. Sometimes you just gotta say "What the f$&%". And thats what I am going to do. Hope for the best and worry about the rest when it gets here. Ive waited too long in life to find something that I truly love to do and not to act on it. I may be pissing and moaning later but for now I am happy with my decision. |
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| | #15 |
| Newbie Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Jackson, TN
Posts: 13
| Hmmmm.... I am curious how they qualify that number. If it is based on the number of people that finish the program, stay on as an instructor, and want an airline job, then it would make sense. 100% of the people that want an airline job, get an airline job... eventually, I suppose. I don't know of anyone at this campus that WANTS to be an instructor forever, or are training here just for ####s and giggles... Does that make sense?? [/ QUOTE ] Makes sense to me. Im just telling you what I heard. |
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| | #16 |
| Old Skool Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Spokane, WA
Posts: 6,578
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"However, the part of the seminar dealing with the state of the airline industry and its future were quite informative." What did they have to say about the state of the industry and it's future? One of my big complaints about the PanAm website is the page where they have news links that backs up their rosy picture of the state of the industry. All those links are happy news. They don't include anything negative. This is misinformation at it's worst as it doesn't give a clear picture of what's going on. I would hope that the seminar's are different. |
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| | #17 |
| Newbie Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Jackson, TN
Posts: 13
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[ QUOTE ] "However, the part of the seminar dealing with the state of the airline industry and its future were quite informative." What did they have to say about the state of the industry and it's future? One of my big complaints about the PanAm website is the page where they have news links that backs up their rosy picture of the state of the industry. All those links are happy news. They don't include anything negative. This is misinformation at it's worst as it doesn't give a clear picture of what's going on. I would hope that the seminar's are different. [/ QUOTE ] Of course the obvious with the major airlines. But by the time you could get there (their est. time of less than 10 years) it should be much improved. Regional is where they placed all of the emphasis. They did go through the downfall since 9/11 and how the majors would have to adopt the ways of the low cost carriers. It wasn't all rosy but listening to them they paint a very positive outlook. What is your opinion on the future with the regionals? |
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| | #18 |
| Old Skool Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Spokane, WA
Posts: 6,578
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Schedules are on par. Pay isn't. If you'd be happy flying an RJ and making 100K a year after 15 years, the regionals are for you. In the end, the regionals aren't immune to the ups and downs of the industry. Furloughs, pay cuts, and bankruptcy's happen at the regionals, too. I hope that the majors recover to the extent that they stop using RJ's on what used to be mainline trips. This would hurt the regionals, to some extent, but would improve the career expectations of everyone as major jobs would be easier to find. That's the way it used to be, the regionals were a stepping stone to the majors. It's best for everyone if it gets back to that. |
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| | #19 |
| Old Skool Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Ithaca, NY
Posts: 1,974
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I don't have any experience, but I couldn't agree more. I think it makes perfect sense.
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| | #20 |
| Old Skool Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Spokane, WA
Posts: 6,578
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"But by the time you could get there (their est. time of less than 10 years) it should be much improved." So...let me get this straight. They are saying less than 10 years to a major and that's based on things being much improved in the future? Sounds pretty optimistic to me. I hope they are right.... |
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| | #21 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: South Dakota
Posts: 509
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As long as you're in Phoenix, I'd recommend checking out a couple of other flight schools. If you're set on the academy style of learning, check out Westwind which is literally across the parking lot at DVT. And also check out Regional Airlne Academy in Mesa at Williams Gateway. Also, check out a couple of FBO's that have good training. Glendale aviation has a nice setup at the Glendale airport and Angel Air at stellar airpark, which has the nicest/newest planes in the PHX area as a worthy place to check out. If you decide to check out Angel Air, PM me. Just my recommendations, nothing more.
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| | #22 |
| Newbie Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 12
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Thanks for the names...I heard of Westwind but didnt really know where else to work. Ive been in Minneapolis for the last couple days so sorry for the delay. Ill see what I can look into down there. Appreciate it!
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| | #23 |
| Newbie Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Jackson, TN
Posts: 13
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Just curious LC. If PanAm is promoting the new cirriculum at the seminars why can it not be discussed here. I think it would be great for those deciding on which academy to attend and help in their decision making. Thanks. |
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| | #24 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 563
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[ QUOTE ] Just curious LC. If PanAm is promoting the new cirriculum at the seminars why can it not be discussed here. I think it would be great for those deciding on which academy to attend and help in their decision making. Thanks. [/ QUOTE ] I understand your question, however, I just don't think it is my place to share info that I have only heard in passing. The last thing I want to do, is share inaccurate information. When the time is right, and I have heard that the plans are "a go", then I will post. Until then, I will leave it to the guys in charge. If someone is curious, they are more than welcome to contact the school directly at 800-837-4568. |
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