Request Flight School Recommendation

happyhoovy · February 18th, 2006, 02:41

My name is Jon and I am considering a career change at age 49. I have always wanted to be a professional pilot. I tried to be a military pilot after graduating from college, but my eyes were not good enough. I have my private pilot's license from 1982. I also have about $34,000 in my GI Bill which can be use to pay for 60% of my flight training beyond the private pilot's license if the school is a part 141 school. The catch is that my GI Bill money will expire on October 6 of this year, so I would like to get as much training as possible done before that date. Can anyone recommend a good flight school/academy for me to attend? I have been considering Pan Am International Flight Academy, Flight Safety International, Delta Connection, and Falcon. Any advice you can give me will be appreciated.

Doug Taylor · February 18th, 2006, 13:31

Do lots of reading around the forum!

I've had a good working relationship with all of the listed flight schools except one.

DE727UPS · February 18th, 2006, 14:03

Find a list of all 141's that take VA's. Don't exclude smaller schools that might be closer to home. Going to a big name school doesn't really help unlike what their websites want you to believe.

What are your goals? CFI, 135 freight, regionals, fracs, majors?

happyhoovy · February 21st, 2006, 12:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug Taylor

Do lots of reading around the forum!

I've had a good working relationship with all of the listed flight schools except one.

Thanks for the advice. I have taken your advice and been reading around the forum, and have found a large amount of useful information. I am new to the forum and hope I am posting this correctly. There are so many schools from which to choose that I feel a little overwhelmed. Can you give me a clue which school you have not had a good working relationship?

happyhoovy · February 21st, 2006, 13:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by DE727UPS

Find a list of all 141's that take VA's. Don't exclude smaller schools that might be closer to home. Going to a big name school doesn't really help unlike what their websites want you to believe.

What are your goals? CFI, 135 freight, regionals, fracs, majors?

Thank you for your help. Much of my information has come from the schools' websites or representatives. From what little research I have done, it seems like the big schools have better simulators but ofter offer less multi-engine time in their programs. Some offer a CRJ simulator "jet transition" course. When it comes to being hired, as long as a person has all of his/her ratings and the required flight hours, does experience on better simulators or a jet transition course make a difference? I am currently considering Skymates, Ari Ben?, Flight Safety Academy, and Pan Am Academy. I would like to keep my costs down as long as I still can get top-quality training.

I am new to the industry, so I do not have a clear goal yet except that I want to follow my dream and be a professional pilot. I am 49 years old and have been told that I will probably never make it to a major airline, and I can live with that. It looks like the regional airlines are doing better financially than the majors right now anyway. What I would like to get from a flying job (I know some of this may not be possible, but we are discussing goals right now) is:

1. A paying job - do not want to be unemployed.
2. After 5 years flying, $40-50K income.
3. Employee benefits, especially health insurance and retirement.
4. Initially, I can be away from home most of the time, but long-term would like to be home at least 50% of the time in order have at least a sporting chance at a good relationship with a significant other.
5. Stable employment - I know this is hard to come by - so would consider a growing regional airline, a government job (FAA, Forest Service, NASA research pilot) or flying freight. I do not have enough working years left to start over too many times.
6. I would love to work with people who enjoy what they are doing.
7. I would love being around plenty of ladies who think that pilots are God's gift to women (just kidding on this one).

I appreciate any knowledge and/or wisdom that you can pass on to me.

DE727UPS · February 21st, 2006, 14:32

"Much of my information has come from the schools' websites or representatives."

That's the last place you want to look. They are trying to sell you something. For example, you go to Pan Am's website and look at the industry news link and it's nothing but good news that puts them in a better light. How accurate is that for someone who is trying to make a balanced decision? Don't get me started...

To make 50K in five years with no starting over, you gotta pick the right regional. Upgrades tend to be longer at the good ones and you just never know about the future. Look at Mesaba? Comair? Both were around 15 years ago but things aren't pretty now. Plus, you have the age 60 rule to deal with at the regionals.

Freight jobs are easy to come by but some don't like the lifestyle. Others love it. I'd do freight over regionals in a heartbeat.

In any case, the more qualified you are, the more options you have. With direct track programs, you have no options. You can get hired with super low time but lose the ability to pick and choose.

Anyhow, I don't see that there are any shortcuts in this biz. The ones I've seen don't sit too well with me for a lot of reasons. Which leaves you at getting your ratings and working your way up like everyone else. If that's the case, you want to look for a good balance between cost and quality in flight training. Find a school that's busy, has a good reputation, and takes VA. Then get out there and fly your butt off. Get your CFI, find a job, and fly your butt off. As time goes on, you'll see doors start to open up, and you can decide which path to take.

Somewhere there is a list of 141 schools that take VA. Some VA website. You should find that.

happyhoovy · February 22nd, 2006, 00:50

Thanks for your help. I really like Skymates, and although they are a part 141 school, they are not approved for VA benefits yet. I just learned that a school must be a part 141 school for 2 full years before they can be approved for VA benefits. Now I am looking at Falcon because thay say they can get me through the training in about 5 months, and also because I have family in the Atlanta area.

SkyPig · February 23rd, 2006, 00:39

Hey Happy Hoovy,
Might take a look at Orlando Flight Training. Nice price and I talked with Steve Drummond today he said should be VA approved in the next 10 months. I'm a VA guy myself. So it is very important. I visited Ari Ben also which in VA appoved.

happyhoovy · February 25th, 2006, 02:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkyPig

Hey Happy Hoovy,
Might take a look at Orlando Flight Training. Nice price and I talked with Steve Drummond today he said should be VA approved in the next 10 months. I'm a VA guy myself. So it is very important. I visited Ari Ben also which in VA appoved.

Thanks for the info.

When planning your budget, it is good to be aware of the following. Initially, I thought the VA would pay 60% of fllight training after the Private License. "The VA will reimburse 60% of the cost of dual and solo flight, dual simulator training, pre- and post-flight briefing, and academic training up to the maximum allowed by the VA for each course." Sounds good, but...the VA only allows for about half of the flight briefing hours, and does not allow for Crew Resourse Management, aeorbatic flight training, high-altitude chamber training, and personal computer aviation training device training. With the numbers I have been crunching, the VA will pay for about 45% to 50% of the cost of the course, because some things in the course are not covered or over the maximum allowed number of hours.

MultiComm · March 20th, 2006, 15:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by happyhoovy

Thanks for the info.

When planning your budget, it is good to be aware of the following. Initially, I thought the VA would pay 60% of fllight training after the Private License. "The VA will reimburse 60% of the cost of dual and solo flight, dual simulator training, pre- and post-flight briefing, and academic training up to the maximum allowed by the VA for each course."

You seem to have the VA thing pretty much figured out and I saw that you mentioned Falcon as an option for your flight training. While I am not a verteran I do know that Falcon has a excellent person on staff to talk to regarding the benefits/do's and don't of the GI Bill. If you would like contact info send me a private message and I can help you out.

Falcon's program gives you the option of Airline Career, Corproate/Charter, or Business/Recreation and they custom a program for the three major options in order to best prepare you for the line of work that you are interested in. They don't use simulators, or safety pilot time to get you through the basic courses, only real one on one attention with real aircraft flying in all types of weather conditions. There is a time builder coures that uses safety pilots but you have already recevied all the necessary training at this point and you are simply saving money by doing the time building this way.

If you need other options, Falcon will often sit down, evaluate your goals and guide you in the best direction. They want to see you suceed regardless of your goals.

DE727UPS · March 20th, 2006, 15:32

"and does not allow for Crew Resourse Management, aeorbatic flight training, high-altitude chamber training, and personal computer aviation training device training"

You really don't need that stuff. Not that it's a total waste of time but at your stage, it's not something you should put in the "have to do" column. I'm a successful major airline pilot and, to this day, I've done none of that save a one day CRM class.

February 18th, 2006, 02:41	#1
happyhoovy Newbie Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 5	Request Flight School Recommendation My name is Jon and I am considering a career change at age 49. I have always wanted to be a professional pilot. I tried to be a military pilot after graduating from college, but my eyes were not good enough. I have my private pilot's license from 1982. I also have about $34,000 in my GI Bill which can be use to pay for 60% of my flight training beyond the private pilot's license if the school is a part 141 school. The catch is that my GI Bill money will expire on October 6 of this year, so I would like to get as much training as possible done before that date. Can anyone recommend a good flight school/academy for me to attend? I have been considering Pan Am International Flight Academy, Flight Safety International, Delta Connection, and Falcon. Any advice you can give me will be appreciated.

February 23rd, 2006, 00:39	#8
SkyPig Newbie Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 14	Hey Happy Hoovy, Might take a look at Orlando Flight Training. Nice price and I talked with Steve Drummond today he said should be VA approved in the next 10 months. I'm a VA guy myself. So it is very important. I visited Ari Ben also which in VA appoved. __________________ "The only easy day was yesterday" "Second place is the first loosers" "Be careful the ass you kick today, may be attached to the feet your kissing tomorrow"

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February 18th, 2006, 13:31	#2
Doug Taylor Agent Smith Join Date: Dec 1969 Location: KSDL Posts: 41,926 Blog Entries: 1	Do lots of reading around the forum! I've had a good working relationship with all of the listed flight schools except one.

February 18th, 2006, 14:03	#3
DE727UPS Old Skool Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 6,578	Find a list of all 141's that take VA's. Don't exclude smaller schools that might be closer to home. Going to a big name school doesn't really help unlike what their websites want you to believe. What are your goals? CFI, 135 freight, regionals, fracs, majors?

February 21st, 2006, 14:32	#6
DE727UPS Old Skool Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 6,578	"Much of my information has come from the schools' websites or representatives." That's the last place you want to look. They are trying to sell you something. For example, you go to Pan Am's website and look at the industry news link and it's nothing but good news that puts them in a better light. How accurate is that for someone who is trying to make a balanced decision? Don't get me started... To make 50K in five years with no starting over, you gotta pick the right regional. Upgrades tend to be longer at the good ones and you just never know about the future. Look at Mesaba? Comair? Both were around 15 years ago but things aren't pretty now. Plus, you have the age 60 rule to deal with at the regionals. Freight jobs are easy to come by but some don't like the lifestyle. Others love it. I'd do freight over regionals in a heartbeat. In any case, the more qualified you are, the more options you have. With direct track programs, you have no options. You can get hired with super low time but lose the ability to pick and choose. Anyhow, I don't see that there are any shortcuts in this biz. The ones I've seen don't sit too well with me for a lot of reasons. Which leaves you at getting your ratings and working your way up like everyone else. If that's the case, you want to look for a good balance between cost and quality in flight training. Find a school that's busy, has a good reputation, and takes VA. Then get out there and fly your butt off. Get your CFI, find a job, and fly your butt off. As time goes on, you'll see doors start to open up, and you can decide which path to take. Somewhere there is a list of 141 schools that take VA. Some VA website. You should find that.

February 22nd, 2006, 00:50	#7
happyhoovy Newbie Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 5	Thanks for your help. I really like Skymates, and although they are a part 141 school, they are not approved for VA benefits yet. I just learned that a school must be a part 141 school for 2 full years before they can be approved for VA benefits. Now I am looking at Falcon because thay say they can get me through the training in about 5 months, and also because I have family in the Atlanta area.

March 20th, 2006, 15:32	#11
DE727UPS Old Skool Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 6,578	"and does not allow for Crew Resourse Management, aeorbatic flight training, high-altitude chamber training, and personal computer aviation training device training" You really don't need that stuff. Not that it's a total waste of time but at your stage, it's not something you should put in the "have to do" column. I'm a successful major airline pilot and, to this day, I've done none of that save a one day CRM class.