How did you get your ratings?

DrewWalden · March 15th, 2008, 19:52

Hello, I am wanting to become a pilot.

I was at MTSU doing there flight time and logged about 13 hours there, but I was feed up with the quality of training. I went down to Flight Safety Academy and loved it. My plan at this point is to go to Flight Safety.

How did you all get your ratings?

Tips?

Seggy · March 15th, 2008, 20:31

Welcome!

For the first tip, don't go to FlightSafety.

Second tip, http://www.skymates.com/

Thirdly, try a local FBO

DrewWalden · March 15th, 2008, 20:34

Why not flight safety? Just the money??

I liked the school because it was extremely professional.

Seggy · March 15th, 2008, 20:42

What is professional flight training? I didn't go to Flight Safety but took a very professional approach to flight training.

You LEARN professionalism and you can do that anywhere. At Flight Safety you just pay a lot of money to wear a uniform with two bars flying around in a Piper Warrior.

By the way, Flight Safety has an excellent product for advanced training for turbine powered aircraft, not basic flight training.

scflyin · March 16th, 2008, 11:28

I did my PPL training through a community college in Iowa. Then I did my instrument training through a local fbo. After I ran out of money for the second time I got a loan and went to a flight school in SC. The quality of the instruction was about the same at all the places. But the flight school I went to was good because I was able to get the rest of my ratings pretty quick.

Kristie · March 16th, 2008, 11:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seggy

Welcome!

For the first tip, don't go to FlightSafety.

Second tip, http://www.skymates.com/

Thirdly, try a local FBO

Segs, you really should explain your reasonings for when you say do and/or don't type answers...it would help as the new folks don't know you like we do yet

JDMcFly · March 16th, 2008, 11:47

Erh, so far at a small flight club via online program through UVSC.

moxiepilot · March 16th, 2008, 11:50

Spent too much money at a big flight school to get PVT, INST and most of the commercial. Smartened up and went to the local FBO for the rest of commercial, multi, CFI / CFII.

The least professional was the big name place.

MusketeerMan · March 16th, 2008, 11:52

I stayed local...already had my private when I decided to take the plunge. I bought a plane with 2 other guys and flew 3-4 times a week and worked at the same time. While working, I went from private to flying 121 in 18 months. Sure, I could have done it quicker and paid a ton more, but with my family situation, this was the best choice for me...by far. If you get a good FBO that will let you choose the pace, go for it!!

Good luck in whatever you choose!!!

LoadMasterC141 · March 16th, 2008, 11:59

At first I was hell bent on attending the ALLATPs zero to hero 90 day program. In the end, I could not stomach the loan and decided to do as much as I could at a local FBO. That got me through my IFR and around 230 hours. I recently finished my Commercial Multi and Single at another small school in North Carolina that advertises(and delivers!) an accelerated 4 day course. My Instructor ratings will be attained at a larger flight school in Kansas City.

I am not knocking the large academies. I bet their training is succinct, standardized, and very professionally done. If I had the money to spend, I likely would have gone to ATP and be done with it all and probably at an airline already. However, I am going to come out of this around $15k in debt versus $60k+. There is something to be said for that as well. If all the mergers and consolidation happen this year, I am going to be kicking myself for not taking the loan when I am stuck ont he sidelines though....

v1valarob · March 16th, 2008, 12:07

Took me just over a year to finish my PPL at an FBO, which I didnt like. So I went to ATP last summer and did the 90 day program. Best choice I ever made.

-Rob

t-cart · March 16th, 2008, 13:20

Local FBO for the private, then bught a small single engine for the commercial. FBO for the instrument and multi. Now own a small twin for building the twin time.

Screaming_Emu · March 16th, 2008, 13:23

I just filled out the forms that were in the lucky charms box, mailed 'em in, and the next thing you know I'm a commercial pilot!

March 15th, 2008, 19:52	#1
DrewWalden Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Cleveland, TN Posts: 35	How did you get your ratings? Hello, I am wanting to become a pilot. I was at MTSU doing there flight time and logged about 13 hours there, but I was feed up with the quality of training. I went down to Flight Safety Academy and loved it. My plan at this point is to go to Flight Safety. How did you all get your ratings? Tips?

March 15th, 2008, 20:31	#2
Seggy Old Skool Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Somewhere in the Northeast Posts: 4,941	Re: How did you get your ratings? Welcome! For the first tip, don't go to FlightSafety. Second tip, http://www.skymates.com/ Thirdly, try a local FBO __________________ www.alpa.org

March 15th, 2008, 20:34	#3
DrewWalden Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Cleveland, TN Posts: 35	Re: How did you get your ratings? Why not flight safety? Just the money?? I liked the school because it was extremely professional.

March 15th, 2008, 20:42	#4
Seggy Old Skool Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Somewhere in the Northeast Posts: 4,941	Re: How did you get your ratings? What is professional flight training? I didn't go to Flight Safety but took a very professional approach to flight training. You LEARN professionalism and you can do that anywhere. At Flight Safety you just pay a lot of money to wear a uniform with two bars flying around in a Piper Warrior. By the way, Flight Safety has an excellent product for advanced training for turbine powered aircraft, not basic flight training. __________________ www.alpa.org

March 16th, 2008, 11:28	#5
scflyin Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 244	Re: How did you get your ratings? I did my PPL training through a community college in Iowa. Then I did my instrument training through a local fbo. After I ran out of money for the second time I got a loan and went to a flight school in SC. The quality of the instruction was about the same at all the places. But the flight school I went to was good because I was able to get the rest of my ratings pretty quick. __________________ Better to hit the far fence at ten knots than the close fence at Vref. - Cpt. Rick Davies

March 16th, 2008, 11:47	#7
JDMcFly Old Skool Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: New York Posts: 1,664	Re: How did you get your ratings? Erh, so far at a small flight club via online program through UVSC.

March 16th, 2008, 11:50	#8
moxiepilot Old Skool Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: CFI / CFII in PA Posts: 2,566	Re: How did you get your ratings? Spent too much money at a big flight school to get PVT, INST and most of the commercial. Smartened up and went to the local FBO for the rest of commercial, multi, CFI / CFII. The least professional was the big name place.

March 16th, 2008, 11:52	#9
MusketeerMan Old Skool Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Elk Grove, CA Posts: 1,881	Re: How did you get your ratings? I stayed local...already had my private when I decided to take the plunge. I bought a plane with 2 other guys and flew 3-4 times a week and worked at the same time. While working, I went from private to flying 121 in 18 months. Sure, I could have done it quicker and paid a ton more, but with my family situation, this was the best choice for me...by far. If you get a good FBO that will let you choose the pace, go for it!! Good luck in whatever you choose!!!

March 16th, 2008, 11:59	#10
LoadMasterC141 Old Skool Join Date: May 2006 Location: Live in Temple, TX - From Ithaca, NY - Wish I was on an island in Fiji Posts: 1,905	Re: How did you get your ratings? At first I was hell bent on attending the ALLATPs zero to hero 90 day program. In the end, I could not stomach the loan and decided to do as much as I could at a local FBO. That got me through my IFR and around 230 hours. I recently finished my Commercial Multi and Single at another small school in North Carolina that advertises(and delivers!) an accelerated 4 day course. My Instructor ratings will be attained at a larger flight school in Kansas City. I am not knocking the large academies. I bet their training is succinct, standardized, and very professionally done. If I had the money to spend, I likely would have gone to ATP and be done with it all and probably at an airline already. However, I am going to come out of this around $15k in debt versus $60k+. There is something to be said for that as well. If all the mergers and consolidation happen this year, I am going to be kicking myself for not taking the loan when I am stuck ont he sidelines though.... __________________ CFI, CFII, MEI, AMEL, ASEL, IFR, IGI 450TT 90ME Ex- USAF C141B Crewmember Ex- Cube Monkey Getting paid to fly! (little stuff)

March 16th, 2008, 12:07	#11
v1valarob Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Woodbridge, VA Posts: 1,009 Blog Entries: 3	Re: How did you get your ratings? Took me just over a year to finish my PPL at an FBO, which I didnt like. So I went to ATP last summer and did the 90 day program. Best choice I ever made. -Rob __________________ CFI - MEI http://robertstogsdill.flyblog.com "Yea, the guy with the $4000 suit is going to hold the elevator for the guy that doesnt even make that in 3 months. COME ON!" - Gob Bluth

March 16th, 2008, 13:20	#12
t-cart Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: In the sticks Posts: 596	Re: How did you get your ratings? Local FBO for the private, then bught a small single engine for the commercial. FBO for the instrument and multi. Now own a small twin for building the twin time.

March 16th, 2008, 13:23	#13
Screaming_Emu Old Skool Join Date: May 2002 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 3,092	Re: How did you get your ratings? I just filled out the forms that were in the lucky charms box, mailed 'em in, and the next thing you know I'm a commercial pilot! __________________ Commercial Pilot - ASEL, AMEL, Instrument CFI/II 850TT CRJ-700 FO at Southernjets Connection Former flight instructor out of KBWI and W29 Loves Dutch chicks "jtrain609: I wish I had a pair"

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