Experience in Ari Ben

[fly_by]

Well, for those looking for a flight school, here is a short story about Ari Ben Aviator.

I came to Aviator Flight School in August 2003, showed up with a private license and 80 hrs. By mid December, same year, I was done with the Commercial Ratings. After that, took a trip home and a 2 month vacation. In March 2004 I started working on the CFI's. It took me around 3 weeks to get them all done. So basically I was done by April 1st. 2004. After all the check outs that have to be done to be able to instruct in the 141 courses, I was assigned my first student. Lets say it was the first day of May 2004.

At first I was assigned one student, so I dedicated all my time to him and got him done fairly quickly, wich kinda gave me some recognition, so the student flow began to increase. As I was assigned more students, the daily flight hours obviously started increasing, wich for me it was great, since I'm here on a J1 visa, my stay here is limited (24 months). So I figured out that I had to really start working hard!!! Which I did. To make the story short, after 13 months as a CFI, out of wich 1 month and a half was taken away by the hurricanes, I finally reached the final goal, pilot certificate wise: ATP. So if you do the numbers, roughly I flew 1,200 hours in 11 months. Wich is G R E A T.

Now, the question peolple always ask around here: how much of that is in a twin? Out of 1550 hrs, 1260 are in a Duchess (Twin). So I can say I've flown in a Cessna counted times.

Anyway, the only purpose of this message is to inform the people looking for a flight school, that if you are willing to work hard, and I mean WORK, this is the place to be. Good luck trying to find any other place where you can log as much multi engine, actual, night, etc.

In you have any questions, feel free to ask.

Fdo.

[Cruise]

Congratulations on the ATP!

That's awesome. It's been great knowing you Fdo, good luck in your upcoming job search.....I'm sure you'll succeed.

Matt

[maverick2]

Awesome!! 80% of your total time is multi time. I hope I get to meet you and the other CFIs at Ari that post on JC like Cruise, JohnT, Gonzo, and Cactus. Thanks for the info and the motivation fuel.

[ShoreFly]

I guess the BallBuster was having a good day, huh?

Congrats FDO! Good luck in the land of Tequila!

[BrianNC]

Counting the 3.5 months off you went from an 80 hour PPL to an ATP in about 18 months. That is awesome. And all that twin time.

I was considering going to Aviator to do the 100hr time building with the multi rating and commercial included. It is $9495.

Let me ask you or anyone else a question. I already have my instrument and right at 240hrs. Eventually I would like to get the CFI's and instruct in twins to build time. Should I just go for the 200 hour ME course and just use the time alloted for instrument for more cross country (I am assuming that is the one you did since you already had your private or did you piece-meal it?)? Is that how they work that if you alread have the instrument? Or can you deduct that from the total cost?

I also noticed one instructor rating has to be with a FISDO office. Is that just for being hired from the outside or is that waived if you train there? If so is it handled automatically?

Any advice would be welcome.

Thanks!

[Cactus_Cutter]

Congrats FDO!

I know FDO has been great at resolving learning issues and getting many students on track with their programs. His exceptional level of time-management, organization, accountability, and professionalism gives aviation training a good name.

Good luck on your job search and I hope you get what you are looking for.

This place will never be the same without you… (Well? Maybe some new dry wall, a little exterior paint, and clean carpets? LOL)

[Cruise]

[ QUOTE ]
Counting the 3.5 months off you went from an 80 hour PPL to an ATP in about 18 months. That is awesome. And all that twin time.

I was considering going to Aviator to do the 100hr time building with the multi rating and commercial included. It is $9495.

Let me ask you or anyone else a question. I already have my instrument and right at 240hrs. Eventually I would like to get the CFI's and instruct in twins to build time. Should I just go for the 200 hour ME course and just use the time alloted for instrument for more cross country (I am assuming that is the one you did since you already had your private or did you piece-meal it?)? Is that how they work that if you alread have the instrument? Or can you deduct that from the total cost?

I also noticed one instructor rating has to be with a FISDO office. Is that just for being hired from the outside or is that waived if you train there? If so is it handled automatically?

Any advice would be welcome.

Thanks!

[/ QUOTE ]

Hey Brian,

If you're looking to instruct here at the Aviator, as far as I know, you're gonna have to complete at least 200hrs in the Duchess with us. This is both an insurance thing and it keeps outsiders from poaching the quality hours by completing instructor ratings elsewhere and then showing up on the doorstep to nudge out those of us who have gone through the "pro" course.

And yes, use that time to log extra X-C time.....after all, you need 500 hrs. X-C for the ATP, so you'll be that much closer to having that requirement completed.

As far as the FSDO requirement goes, this is a quality control / assurance method for the Aviator when they hire outside instructors. Now I am obviously not the "official" word....for that you should contact Ari or Mike.....they'll give you the absolute information.

Hope it helps,
Matt

[TripleSticks]

Good Luck Fez.

Hopefully we'll run in to you in an airport some day.

j

[BrianNC]

How does Aviator pay their instuctors? How much per hour?

[TripleSticks]

As of today it's $15 per hour. Flight time only. That's one of the reasons the price for getting all the ratings here stays so low.

j

[BrianNC]

If I have an instrument rating already, is the first order of business getting the ME rating as to be able to start logging all time as PIC? I am assuming you cannot log PIC in the multi until the rating is completed.

[SmitteyB]

[ QUOTE ]
If I have an instrument rating already, is the first order of business getting the ME rating as to be able to start logging all time as PIC? I am assuming you cannot log PIC in the multi until the rating is completed.

[/ QUOTE ]

Of course.

[kailuaboy]

Yes, you will have to get your Multi-Engine rating first before you can log PIC. Also, you need to have your instrument rating in a ME aircraft before you can fly IFR PIC (unless your with an instructor giving you dual for an IFR rating and you already have a ME rating).

Did that confuse anyone else?