Flight Training in Florida

flyingloonie · October 22nd, 2009, 13:23

I am based in Toronto Canada and have been taking flying lessons for last several months. I am quite frustrated by not getting enough flying time due to the weather in the great lakes region. I have managed to go up only about 17 times so far (also had some challenges with my instructor joining a charter etc). I find that I am not making as much progress as I would have if I had been flying more regularly. I am seriously considering a short term relocation ( a month) to Florida and taking flying lessons there. My goals are rather limited for now - I would like to go solo soon and get my license.
I think I would be able to get a lot more flying done in Florida than up here. Could anyone recommend a good flying school that caters to beginners with good facilities /instructors? I have been flying a C-150 for now - but am okay to switch to a C-172.

tjvpa28 · October 22nd, 2009, 17:56

There are a few good flight schools in S. FL that I know of, but before you make a decision keep in mind that you are not definitely going to get your PPL in one month or less. As I'm sure you know it depends on your progress. Professional Flight Training at FXE is a good school, but they fly Pipers, which are not difficult to transition to from Cessnas. Airborne Systems is another school at the same airport and they do have Cessnas. Palm Beach Flight Training at LNA is a good Cessna school too.

S.T.Aviator · October 22nd, 2009, 21:23

Keep in mind as a Canadian you are going to have to go through th TSA process.

www.flightschoolcandidates.gov

Good school in Arizona to get done quick.
www.shebleaviation.com

Which school are you currently flying at? I used to live in mississauga.

KungFuJoe · October 23rd, 2009, 08:34

I am from Montreal, and went through the same thing crap weather and lots of delays to training, so I finished my private here and did everything else in Florida and Kansas in basically less time than it took me to do my private here. TSA and license conversion was simple enough. The hard part was finding a school to deliver what they promised, but I ended up with some good instructors eventually. I can recommend some schools and instructors, I dont know if they are still around but I can give advice on where not to go. pm me if you have questions...

JOEFRIDAY2 · October 23rd, 2009, 14:04

There is a flight school at KFXE in Ft Lauderdale called Ft Lauderdale Flight Training that is starting to impress me. I have recommended it to a few people and have not gotten any negative feedback. Their website is www.flflight.com

I've seen what they do and they deliver what they promise. They also have 150's available if that is what you are used to.

I've always said that it's just about impossible to get a private pilot license in 30 days. This school has proven me wrong twice in the past 3 months.

That's not to say that I'm a big fan of getting a private pilot license in 30 days with 40 hours of training! I'm from the old school and I believe it's better to take some time on your pilot training so you can acquire life long skills that you won't forget 6 months from now.

My first instructor told me to train on the same schedule as I would expect to fly each month.

His advice was if you are going to fly once a week then you should train once a week. If you are going to fly 8 times a month then you should train 8 times a month. I always thought was was pretty good advice.

Anyway, check these guys out and let us know how it goes. I believe this school would be a good match for you.

Joe

flyingloonie · October 23rd, 2009, 14:21

Thanks for the information. I hadnt taken into account the TSA Clearance requirement. I am currently flying with Toronto Airways - pretty solid school - but even they cant control the weather

. I was hoping to go solo before the end of this year - but looks like that might not happen - which is frustrating. I just want to feel confident about my flying. I am okay with coming back and continuing the process Spring/Summer next year and getting my private here in Canada.

S.T.Aviator · October 23rd, 2009, 14:30

If you're staying in Canada you might want to check out
www.durhamflightcentre.com in Oshawa.

They charge $105/hr for the 152 and the instructors and
ground schools are excellent. If you are interested they
do offer a 1 yr full time program through Centennial College
for $38,500. That includes Private, Instrument, Commercial single and multi.
I don't think you can beat those prices anywhere in Canada!

October 22nd, 2009, 13:23	#1
flyingloonie Newbie Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Toronto Posts: 2	Flight Training in Florida I am based in Toronto Canada and have been taking flying lessons for last several months. I am quite frustrated by not getting enough flying time due to the weather in the great lakes region. I have managed to go up only about 17 times so far (also had some challenges with my instructor joining a charter etc). I find that I am not making as much progress as I would have if I had been flying more regularly. I am seriously considering a short term relocation ( a month) to Florida and taking flying lessons there. My goals are rather limited for now - I would like to go solo soon and get my license. I think I would be able to get a lot more flying done in Florida than up here. Could anyone recommend a good flying school that caters to beginners with good facilities /instructors? I have been flying a C-150 for now - but am okay to switch to a C-172.

October 22nd, 2009, 17:56	#2
tjvpa28 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Lake Worth, FL Posts: 131	Re: Flight Training in Florida There are a few good flight schools in S. FL that I know of, but before you make a decision keep in mind that you are not definitely going to get your PPL in one month or less. As I'm sure you know it depends on your progress. Professional Flight Training at FXE is a good school, but they fly Pipers, which are not difficult to transition to from Cessnas. Airborne Systems is another school at the same airport and they do have Cessnas. Palm Beach Flight Training at LNA is a good Cessna school too.

October 22nd, 2009, 21:23	#3
S.T.Aviator Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Holiday Inn Posts: 647	Re: Flight Training in Florida Keep in mind as a Canadian you are going to have to go through th TSA process. www.flightschoolcandidates.gov Good school in Arizona to get done quick. www.shebleaviation.com Which school are you currently flying at? I used to live in mississauga. Last edited by S.T.Aviator; October 22nd, 2009 at 21:26.

October 23rd, 2009, 08:34	#4
KungFuJoe Newbie Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CYUL Posts: 9	Re: Flight Training in Florida I am from Montreal, and went through the same thing crap weather and lots of delays to training, so I finished my private here and did everything else in Florida and Kansas in basically less time than it took me to do my private here. TSA and license conversion was simple enough. The hard part was finding a school to deliver what they promised, but I ended up with some good instructors eventually. I can recommend some schools and instructors, I dont know if they are still around but I can give advice on where not to go. pm me if you have questions...

October 23rd, 2009, 14:04	#5
JOEFRIDAY2 Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Ft Lauderdale Posts: 118	Re: Flight Training in Florida There is a flight school at KFXE in Ft Lauderdale called Ft Lauderdale Flight Training that is starting to impress me. I have recommended it to a few people and have not gotten any negative feedback. Their website is www.flflight.com I've seen what they do and they deliver what they promise. They also have 150's available if that is what you are used to. I've always said that it's just about impossible to get a private pilot license in 30 days. This school has proven me wrong twice in the past 3 months. That's not to say that I'm a big fan of getting a private pilot license in 30 days with 40 hours of training! I'm from the old school and I believe it's better to take some time on your pilot training so you can acquire life long skills that you won't forget 6 months from now. My first instructor told me to train on the same schedule as I would expect to fly each month. His advice was if you are going to fly once a week then you should train once a week. If you are going to fly 8 times a month then you should train 8 times a month. I always thought was was pretty good advice. Anyway, check these guys out and let us know how it goes. I believe this school would be a good match for you. Joe

October 23rd, 2009, 14:21	#6
flyingloonie Newbie Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Toronto Posts: 2	Re: Flight Training in Florida Thanks for the information. I hadnt taken into account the TSA Clearance requirement. I am currently flying with Toronto Airways - pretty solid school - but even they cant control the weather . I was hoping to go solo before the end of this year - but looks like that might not happen - which is frustrating. I just want to feel confident about my flying. I am okay with coming back and continuing the process Spring/Summer next year and getting my private here in Canada.

October 23rd, 2009, 14:30	#7
S.T.Aviator Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Holiday Inn Posts: 647	Re: Flight Training in Florida If you're staying in Canada you might want to check out www.durhamflightcentre.com in Oshawa. They charge $105/hr for the 152 and the instructors and ground schools are excellent. If you are interested they do offer a 1 yr full time program through Centennial College for $38,500. That includes Private, Instrument, Commercial single and multi. I don't think you can beat those prices anywhere in Canada! Last edited by S.T.Aviator; October 23rd, 2009 at 14:45.

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