Sierra News and perspective

[flyguy]

As many of you who have followed the Sierra board over the last year and a half or so know, I am a student at Sierra and an advocate for the quality of their training. I completed my commercial multi-engine about a month ago, and am just a couple flights and a checkride away from my single engine add-on.

First I'll share some of the updates that we were given at the student meeting last Friday. As most people who follow Sierra know, we will be getting brand new Cessna R model 172s equiped with Garmin 1000 glass cockpits. These planes are not on the market yet, and we will be getting them as soon as Cessna has them ready for delivery. We have ordered (I think but don't quote me) 10 of them, and will be getting I believe 2 each month beginning in June. The date keeps moving back as Cessna has been delayed in delivery, but Sierra assures us that the aircraft have been ordered and we will get them as soon as they are ready and in fact if one were to order one today, it would not be ready for delivery until 2007. We are sending most, if not all of our 172s leased from Christiansen Aviation back as we recieve the new ones. We are aquiring all of Skip Everett's 172s that were on the ramp in Oakland and I believe some 152s also. The G1000 172s will be for instrument and commercial students only, as we do not want pre-privates to learn to fly with them. Private students will fly either 152s or N model 172s. For the time being we will still be using BE-76s for multi-engine and 172 RG for complex.

The prices for the 172 have just been increased to $116 solo which is a $15 increase. This goes for all 172s reguarless of model and the new ones will probably be even higher. I haven't looked into the new prices for the other airframes, but we were told at the meeting (before the increases) that the increase would not be as much as the 172s. The price increase is to offset the increase in fuel and insurance costs. The price for 172s now is admittedly quite steep, even given our location. However most of the FBOs in the area have also increased recently, but our prices are still higher. Sierra students and instructors are fully covered by Sierra's insurance however. At most FBOs the insurance covers the FBO only and the insurance company can then make the student and/or instructor liable for any damages. This is not the case with Sierra's insurance, both the student and instructor a fully covered. That is one reason Sierra's costs are so high, but even so it is still pretty steep, and would probably be more cost effective to purchase seperate renter's insurance and rent from an FBO in the area, but we'd have to pay out of pocket rather than our account. If able to rent elsewhere however I would recommend that to Sierra students for any solo time under a part 61 syllabus. I'd stear clear of Ahart Aviation though, as I've never made it through a pre-flight on one of their aircraft without squawking a plane. One time I even found a pretty large hole in the rudder caused by an apparent tail strike, and they found no need to do anything about it. Also, after sharring this story with other pilots in the area, I've learned that they have a bad reputation for this sort of thing, making me think their maintainence is sub-par.

Sierra is now (or will be soon) a full fledged Cessna Pilot Center. We have plans to become certified as a Cessna service center and Cessna dealership and we will be providing service to the public as well as ourselves. Since there is no way to make a profit in flight training, Sierra hopes that these side businesses will help fund the flight school.

In other news, and this was disguised as "good news" but is what I found the most disturbing of the entire meeting, KS avaition (company that owns Sierra) has thoughts of starting up a part 135 operation. Sierra instructors will be able to interview for pilot positions. That I have no problem with, and this plan was stated way back when KS took over Sierra Academy. What does disturb be however is a possible plan they have to sell right seat time. Anyone who has followed the Sierra threads over the last year and a half has seen me defend Sierra and advocate their program. Up to this point I have meant ever word I have said, but if any kind of PFT/PFJ arrangement goes through I will take back everything I have said and will sever any connection I have with them. The good news is, I don't actually see them going through with the 135 operation, especially not any time in the near future. But just at the sugestion of Sierra going PFT I am already re-considering if I want to instruct for them or even do my CFI training with them. Its something I'll have to think about over the next couple weeks while I finnish up commercial.

I still stand by Sierra as I have recieved a superior education that I feel very few places can provide, but it breaks my heart to see that they are thinkig of selling out. I really hope this does not go through as it will forever tarnish their name which is already on thin ice due to the former ownership. We'll just have to see what happens I guess.

[Flight_Watch]

Thanks for the updates and comments.

I don't see the PFT/PFJ idea materializing anytime soon, it is at least 5 years down the road.

[flyguy]

I don't see the 135 operation materializing at all, but its the fact that they admit to wanting to start up a PFT arrangement that puts a sour taste in my mouth. Its not so much what will happen as much as it is what they want to happen.

[Flight_Watch]

Here is some interesting info on the subject: http://www.propilot.com/aletter.html

I like his opinions!

[SFLAX]

It will not happen I 100% agree. Plus no insurance company would let a 250 hour pilot sit in as a required crew member.

[Flight_Watch]

Sierra's New Purchase










What the press is saying about the AMD Alarus

AUTOPILOT. DECEMBER 2003

...why not an Alarus? AMD is positioned it as a flight school workhorse, and I think it fills that niche very nicely. As a flight instructor, I definitely can tell you that I would enjoy teaching in one....

PRIVATE PILOT, JUNE 2003

...To gain a customers perspective, we spoke with Noland Clifford, director of flight operations for the flight technology department at Salt Lake City Community College (SLCCC) in Utah, which operates a fleet of 10 AMD CH2000 trainers. The airplanes have been outfitted with GARMIN GNS430 GPS/VOR/ILS/com units and Sandel 3308 electronic projection-map HSI’s. This turns the CH2000 into a “sweet little instrument trainer,” according to Clifford, and SLCCC is very satisfied with the airplanes, from expense and maintainability standpoints. Its 116-hp Lycoming 0-235 engine has proven adequate for the gross weight, recently enhanced to 1692 pounds for normal-category operations....

SOUTHERN AVIATOR, SEPTEMBER 2002

"When John suggested that I stall it, I was ready for anything. The pull on the yoke was silky, no big heaves, no grunting or sweating required, just a gentle command. When the Alarus quit flying it was as if she let out a gentle sigh. I released the backpressure and she was flying again. I was really beginning to like this airplane"

AOPA, NOVEMBER 2000

"What matters most in a training airplane is function, reliability, durability, and, course, affordability. And that's what you'll get with Aircraft Manufacturing & Development's (AMD) CH2000" – "The two seat CH2000 is also attracting student owners who want to purchase an airplane in which to earn that first certificate".

FLYING, AUGUST 2000

"During the stalls, slow flight, steep turns and a simulated engine-out glide, the airplane did what it was supposed to without demanding any unusual efforts for me" - "AMD is designing a three-year extended warranty program that will provide wingtip-to-wingtip coverage for all normal wear and tear and all maintenance recommended in the airplane's standard maintenance manual, including brakes, oil changes and annual inspections".

FLYER, MAY 26 2000

"There’s a lot in the airplane that has an appeal beyond the trainer market" - "It’s easy to fly. It’s also economical to operate and maintain, and its relatively inexpensive" – "

IN FLIGHT USA, JUNE 2000

"The excellent visibility afforded by the ample glass made spotting traffic in the busy pattern a breeze. Slowing to the 60-65 knot approach speed, the CH 2000 once again exhibited excellent speed stability" – "I even managed a couple of greasers"

PRIVATE PILOT, JUNE 2000

"In raw performance numbers, the CH 2000 exceeds the old 150/152 in every category" – "Steep turns are easy and very controllable with the all-flying tail surfaces of the CH 2000

[Flight_Watch]

Sierra's Stockton facilities. Primarily Chinese contract training. Very impressive!!!!

[SteveC]

[ QUOTE ]
Sierra's Stockton facilities. Primarily Chinese contract training. Very impressive!!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Looks more like a typical FBO. I'm presuming that Sierra has some office space leased from the FBO, and all the training planes are either out flying (where they should be) or tucked away in a corner of the hanger. Unless they're now using Citation X's for training.

[flyguy]

Yeah, those Citations are a lot of fun. Got my ME rating in one. Slightly more expensive than the Duchess but you get to the practice area faster so it evens out.

[Flight_Watch]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Sierra's Stockton facilities. Primarily Chinese contract training. Very impressive!!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Looks more like a typical FBO. I'm presuming that Sierra has some office space leased from the FBO, and all the training planes are either out flying (where they should be) or tucked away in a corner of the hanger. Unless they're now using Citation X's for training.

[/ QUOTE ]

The Cessnas parking is further down the ramp, outside the view of the photos. They only have a small number if people training there right now but have over 100 new Chinese students starting next fall. Supposedly they do the entire program PP to ATP in 9 months!

[SteveC]

[ QUOTE ]
The Cessnas parking is further down the ramp, outside the view of the photos. They only have a small number if people training there right now but have over 100 new Chinese students starting next fall. Supposedly they do the entire program PP to ATP in 9 months!

[/ QUOTE ]

PP to ATP??? Surely not the flight hours and experience needed for an ATP?

[flyguy]

They might require something different in China. Their program that we will be doing for them is custom taylored to what the airline wants. I don't know any of the details though, but that's my $.02

[Flight_Watch]

I don't know the details of their program but I spoke with the cheif instructor there and he said only 9 months. They are very dedicated and sleep and breath this stuff while they are in the U.S. For example there is a shower room in the building and dorms just next door. They literally live at the school/airport for 9 months. I know I could do my training a lot quicker if I took off 9 months and just thought about flying. But then again there are other things in life that need attention like friends, family and girfriends.
More info here if you can read this: http://www.ksaviation.com/Kor/Index.php

[TaterSalad]

Geez, not an Alarus!! We've had 4 of these at my school for about a year now, and I've been teaching in them. I can honestly say, as a trainer (instrument or primary) the thing is LOUSY. It takes my students, on average, an extra 15 hrs to solo in that thing. It's WAY too unstable to teach someone to fly in. We're getting rid of ours, thank goodness! The panel is well equipped, and it's nice teaching in a brand new airplane, (and it's cheap for the flight school to operate, but hourly rates are still usually high, because of high hull insurance on a new airplane) but that's about all that's good about em. If anyone on here thinks about doing their training in the Alarus, think twice!