Ari Ben vs FSA ? Help

[thebot]

I have some questions in general.. I was told (that sometimes people (employees) from other schools will come here and post negative stuff about their competitors in hopes that it will sway people / customers away) - I'm sure the reverse could be said too where people can / could post wonderful things about their own school - some of which may or may not be true)

So i'm hoping that i'll get some honest answers here from students / graduates of such institutions... I just don't want any corporate / company fluff but rather honest answers and opinions.

So i have some questions:

Basically, if my goal is to get to the regional's what is the best school to get there between Flight Saftey and Ari-ben?

Have graduates from Ari Ben had sucess getting onto the regional airlines? On average how many people that you know personally got hired on by the regional's from Ari Ben? If so how many hours did you/they need?

If you did get hired, were you wll prepared for the interview? From what i've been told FSA grads typically are well prepped from the day they graduate for regional interviews. I want to know if the same applies to Ari Ben?

Does Ari Ben have any alliances, or contacts with the regional's? If so which? If not, does this make a big difference in the hiring process?

Does the school matter? Are flight schools "graded" like Ivy league college verses state schools etc? (Basically, do well known schools look better on a resume?) - I'm sure that all depends on the interviewer, but in general I'd like to know that when i'm applying to a regional carrier if going to (blank school) verses (blank) school makes a difference?

Ari Ben is considerably less expensive when compared to FSA so I would like to know what things do you feel were missing form this school? (Training, # of airplanes, simulators, instruction, etc...)

I know many people on here dislike the regional carriers for their pay etc.. and while I agree.. i'm going into it with the mind set that it is a means to an end (getting to a major).

I have a few family members that are pilots at the majors, but unfortunately they don't have much advise for me on this because they were trained in a different generation (where all schools were FOB's) , and but they are advising me to attend more of an academy like school. (I already have a degree, and i'm almost done with my masters) So, i'm used to structured learning and thus, the part 141 school is more appealing to me. That said, cost is a factor. I have some savings, so i'm in a position where saving as much of that savings is a factor, but I still want quality training, and have the best chances for a regional job when I graduate.

Cost does make Ari ben more attractive. But I want to see proof from the students that they are achieving their career goals within a reasonable time after graduation.

My relatives are very concerned that given my age (late 20's) that going to a smaller unknown school might not get me my first job as quickly as someone who did attend one of the more well known schools.

Thanks in advance for all of your help...

[maverick2]

1. It doesnt matter which school you go to get to the regionals as long as you have enough total time with a decent amount of mutiengine time.

2. I have been at AriBen for nearly a year and I have seen at least a dozen instructors go to the regionals or some 135 outfit. All of them had at least 700tt / 500me.

3. AriBen has a good reputation with Colgan, Pinnacle, Great Lakes, and Mesa, but nothing formal like a CRJ or a PFT program like some other schools. I have talked to an instructor who was hired by a very repuatable regional, and the interviewers asked him how much multiengine time he had, he said 800. The interviewer said, "Multiengine time not total time." The instructor said 800 again. The interview panel was in awe after double checking with his resume and application.

4. School doesnt matter. Nothing like Ivy League vs. state colleges. As long as you have the hours and can pass the interview, you are good to go. I have heard some regionals give AriBen instructors a lesser minium total time requirements due to their high amounts of multi engine time.

So lets break this down assuming you have zero hours.

FSA:
at least 70k for private single to your last instructor rating
250tt / 20 me time after the whole course
go thru an interview process to get hire as instructor, but has a 800hr dual given contract
very structure almost like miltary (as a matter of fact, their administrative staff were all ex military)
good reputational school
multiengine time very scarce.

AriBen
40k for the whole course to include your private single
I have 240 tt / 180 me (all done at AriBen except one hour of spin) , and I still have about 15 ME time to go, and and 15 single engine time left
almost guaranteed instructor position unless you screw up your first two students.
self paced, not as structured as FSA
not as well known as FSA
easy to get ME time since most training is done in multiengine time
80% training done in multiengine aircraft

Hope this helps. You should go visit the schools before making your final decision. Good luck...

[Theboy]

Sorry I can't answer your question, but I have one for you. Did you decide to get your masters even though you wanted to be a pilot? I am about to finish my MBA but want nothing to do with corporate america anymore. I have my ppl and want to start training full-time but now have to worry about school loans for my MBA. I think I will have to work full-time and pay for training at an FBO in order to afford it. Any thoughts?

[thebot]

maverick,

I really appreciate you spending the time to help me with this choice.

I have seen FSA, but didn't get a chance to see Ari Ben. I plan on visiting them in the coming weeks.

In the end I feel somewhat torn between the 2 schools given what I know. I don't want to get ripped off in anyway but I want to increase my chances during the interview etc with whatever I can. Some have told me that the school and its formal alliances is worth its weight in gold, and others have said that isn't the case. I know in the end, most of us who are willing to work for it will get there, but its simply a matter of how long. Given the fact that i'm in my late 20's i'd like to jump start the process and go with the school that will do its best to get me to my destination in the least amount of time (but I don't want a PFJ). I don't mind PFT that much, but if both will get me to the regional's around or within the same time frame than the school that costs less will be the clear winner.

Please keep me posted on your thoughts with this as I would like to know your ongoing opinion of the school feel free to PM me also if you don't want to post it.

Thanks mate !

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In reply to Theboy, (good name btw lol)


I started my MBA program prior to knowing what was "in-store" for me once getting into corporate america. I was stupid for not doing an internship and getting a true taste of corporate before enrolling in a masters program. Instead, I was running my own home based business and having a blast and I figured that I'd kick butt in corporate given the success of my company. Lets just say that it didn't take me long to figure out that I should have done what my heart was telling me to do for years... follow my passion...which had nothing to do with corporate. If anything, consider your degree an "insurance policy"

I can relate with you regarding your dislike of corporate. I'm totally with you there. I think some people like that type of environment, and others simply can't fit there no matter how hard they try. I did well at my job, was well liked, and I was told that I had a good future at the company, but internally disliked 85% of it.

Regarding your loans, in my opinion your plan sounds very sane. I guess you are already aware of the costs of flight training etc.. my best advise would be to go out and get the best corporate job you can given your education (even if it has nothing to do with your passion / concentration/ interest in business) and make as much money as you can. You already have an awesome degree so use it to make you some cash! In conjunction with that, I would try and live below my means as much as humanly able. This will allow you to save money and pay off your old loans and pursue your training. - Don't underestimate your degree; with an MBA you will be able to command a good salary, just keep looking and network.

If you haven't read some of the threads on this forum regarding the loan nightmares etc.. you should probably check them out. If you decide to go the loan route, just be prepared for some hefty monthly payments, and then take into consideration that you may / probably will only make 18 to 20k your first year at a regional. - Given what I know of finance, and the current interest rate hikes (which I think will remain in their current #'s for a while) Avoid any additional loans if possible, atleast until you know beyond shadow of a doubt that you can afford the payment, have a roof over your head, transportation, gas money, and other necessary needs.

[Theboy]

Thanks Thebot, your post makes a lot of sense. I'm similar to you as well in that I'm 30 and don't want to waste too much time. Given your business experience, would you ever want to fly corporate? It seems like it might be easier to make a decent living quicker on the corporate side.

[kailuaboy]

holy crap thats some long posts... how long did you spend on typing that, 2 hrs? just kidding

anyways, I am a former student and instructor from Ari-Ben. I recently got hired and am now flying for ExpressJet. As far as "Is Ari-Ben compatible with other schools?" YES!! Everyone in my class was from all walks of aviation lifestyle. A couple flew charter, a couple flew corporate, some of us were flight instructors, and one flys C-130s for the air national guard.... ALL of us went through the training and successfully came out ok.

There was a instructor from PanAm, and instructor from Flight Safety and me, an instructor from Ari-Ben Aviator; no one person really outdid the other. We all have our strengths and weaknesses.

I hope this clarifies your answer on that subject.