questions

[dongdpsioc]

My friends and i r from China. we r considering about skymates as our flight school. we want get FAA commercial license with mutli engine rating from zero.
we sent email to Skymates and we got a write back. The price is ok. but we still have some problems. we want commercial part 141 csel and commercial part 141 cmel. we found there were only 10hours dual in commercial training according to skymates' write back. we think maybe it's a big problem because the dual is about 60 hours in other flight school's write back.

We wonder why the instruction is so short during the commerical pilot training.

Part 141 / 61 Combined Basic Course Meeting DGCA Requirements

Total Flight Hours 253.0

Must take the Commercial Single and Multi Con-currently

Private Part 141

22.5

hrs.
IFR Cessna 172 (Dual)

$135.00

$3,037.50

10

hrs.
IFR Cessna 172 (Solo)

$95.00

$950.00

2.5

hrs.
Simulator (Dual)

$90.00

$225.00

10

hrs.
Ground School

$40.00

$400.00

30

hrs.
CPC Ground School (Including Books)

$329.00

$356.14

1.5

hrs.
VFR Cessna 172 (Solo) Checkride

$95.00

$142.50

1

Checkride W/Examiner

$250.00

$250.00

Total

$5,361.14

Instrument Part 141

25

hrs.
IFR Cessna 172 (Dual)

$135.00

$3,375.00

10

hrs.
Ground School

$40.00

$400.00

10

hrs.
Simulator (Dual)

$90.00

$900.00

30

hrs.
CPC Ground School (Including Books)

$329.00

$356.14

1.5

hrs.
IFR Cessna 172 (Checkride)

$95.00

$142.50

1

Checkride W/Examiner

$250.00

$250.00

Total

$5,423.64

Commercial Part 61 ASEL

134.5

hrs.
IFR Cessna 172 (Hour Building)*

$47.50

$6,388.75

10

hrs.
IFR Cessna 172 (Dual)

$135.00

$1,350.00

7.5

hrs.
Simulator (Dual)

$90.00

$675.00

10

hrs.
Ground School

$40.00

$400.00

30

hrs.
CPC Ground School (Including Books)

$329.00

$356.14

1.5

hrs.
IFR Cessna 172 (Checkride)

$95.00

$142.50

1

Checkride W/Examiner

$250.00

$250.00

$9,562.39

Commercial Part 61 AMEL

20

hrs.
Beech Duchess (Dual)

$230.00

$4,600.00

10

hrs.
Ground School

$40.00

$400.00

5

hrs.
Simulator (Dual)

$90.00

$450.00

30

hrs.
CPC Ground School (Including Books)

$199.00

$215.42

1.5

hrs.
Beech Duchess (Checkride)

$190.00

$285.00

1

Checkride W/Examiner (including night check)

$550.00

$550.00

Total

$6,500.42

Total Course

$26,847.60

Fuel Surcharge Rate: 5.00/ hr. for ASEL and 10.00/ hr. for AMEL Not included in the above price list.

Fuel Surcharge Will Fluctuate Depending On The Current Cost of Fuel Per Gallon.

Please check with school for current fuel surcharge not included in published prices.

[jtrain609]

Because the commercial checkride is a complete and total joke.

Is that what LeAnn sent you? I hope Les isn't charging $550 for ya'll for a ride!

[dongdpsioc]

hi to jtrain609 .
thank u for ur reply. and i still have a question.
do u know the difference between commercial part 141 csel and commercial part 61 csel?
we don't know it very clearly. but our government said they only admit the FAA PART 141 flight school.
thank u.

[perpetual]

你好你们是中国人对吧? 你们住在哪儿? 我现在住在石家庄

[dongdpsioc]

Originally Posted by perpetual

你好你们是中国人对吧? 你们住在哪儿? 我现在住在石家庄

yep .we r chinese. we r in shanghai .contact me. 13512189131 dongdpsioc@hotmail.com

[ryanmickG]

We do the commercial part 61. The reason for this is because a 141 commercial consist of 120 hours including 55 hours of dual. That is just way to expensive.

[ryanmickG]

Originally Posted by perpetual

你好你们是中国人对吧? 你们住在哪儿? 我现在住在石家庄

egg

[jtrain609]

Jesus Joe...

[kellwolf]

Originally Posted by jtrain609

Because the commercial checkride is a complete and total joke.

Is that what LeAnn sent you? I hope Les isn't charging $550 for ya'll for a ride!

I know Les used to charge extra if you were from out of the country or didn't have a US pilot license. He probably still does. You know if it isn't 'Merican or support the Bush family, he doesn't like it.

[Maximillian_Jenius]

Originally Posted by kellwolf

I know Les used to charge extra if you were from out of the country or didn't have a US pilot license. He probably still does. You know if it isn't 'Merican or support the Bush family, he doesn't like it.

Is he the one that gives the bible away?

[frog_flyer]

Get Lou.

I brought him a carton of marlboro reds and he said we could skip the oral.


as always, check my avatar before you get all excited.

[SteveC]

Originally Posted by frog_flyer

as always, check my avatar before you get all excited.

Touchdown!?!???

[kellwolf]

Originally Posted by Maximillian_Jenius

Is he the one that gives the bible away?

That's the one. I don't think John ever got one, though. I guess Les figured he was a lost cause.

Frog, I used Lou for my students' SE checkrides and Les for the ME rides. If Lou were able to do Seminole checkrides, I would probably have used him for both.

[jtrain609]

Hey man I told him the truth that I'm Catholic. YOU on the other hand told him you were "Non-denominational" you freaking warlock!

Originally Posted by kellwolf

That's the one. I don't think John ever got one, though. I guess Les figured he was a lost cause.

Frog, I used Lou for my students' SE checkrides and Les for the ME rides. If Lou were able to do Seminole checkrides, I would probably have used him for both.

[perpetual]

你们好/ 안녕하세요/ หวัดีครับ ทุก ๆ คน / Hiya everyone

Dongdpsioc 我们也可以说在 MSN


Whatsssssss up Ryan / John,.. yeah I read, write, and speak a bit of Chinese now... ya know.. Egg-stuff..

Anyway, lots of people always ask me how my experience was at Skymates, and as I've said before, it was just fine, no problems and great place to be etc.

People have asked:

1.) Efficiency of scheduling vs unnecessary delays?

Answer: I've never really had any problems when I was there. Students control their own schedule.
If you want to fly, schedule it. If not, stay home and study / prepare for the next flight. Additionally, aircraft have always seemed to be online and available. No real issues with maintenance if any at all.

2.) Probability of finishing the Prof.Pilot Quick Multi Course program in 5 months?

Answer: When I went to the school, it was basically to get my commercial (mel/sel) and then CFI/CFII/MEI.

I basically already had the time in category/class/type of aircraft so the commercial single and multi licenses took a total of about 8~9 hours to complete (ie,..about 4+ hours for each license)

I did not fly everyday because I needed to prepare my self knowledge-wise before wasting money trying to learn in the air. So I "could" have technically finished both these licenses in about a week (if I was current, proficient and comfortable to simply get in the plane and go) ...

However, I had just came back from teaching abroad for 2 years, and thus the need for self study / preparation prior to getting back into the plane.

If you are a brand-spankin new student to aviation, and if you study every day, and fly regularly (ie,.. at least 3 to 4 times every 7 day period) you "should" be able to get:

• PPL within about 1 month (the multi add-on in about another week),
• Instrument Rating in about another month(add about another 5 days for the multi-add-on)
• CPL (sel) within about 2 and a half weeks, (add about 1 week for multi-add-on)
• CFI Initial (Study for about 1 month with flying for initial)
  
• CFII (Add-on) one week
• MEI (Add-on) one week

Those are normal general times, people can and have accomplished the ratings faster and slower, but it's up to you as to how motivated you are / current (if currency is an issue as it was for me comming back in to aviation)

3.) Maintenance practices and aircraft reliabilty?

Answer: As said above, I never really actually had ANY problems with being delayed because of "maintenance" issues.

The only thing that did happen was one of the renters landed with the gear up in one of our planes. The plane at the time was the 2nd available retractable single that Skymates had. So instead of using that one, we just used the other, no big deal.

4.) Housing?

Answer: When I was there, the housing was nice, a big 5 bedroom house with a backyard to lay out have barbecues with other instructors when not flying or studying. The only thing I could say was that the housing was a bit to pricey.

There were actually 3 houses that I was aware of. There could be more now. I'm not sure.

The going rate was 450 and then went up to 480$ a month while I was there. That is "kinda" expensive if you have 4 or five guys living there. But it was still a nice place. ((AS long as we cleaned up our stuff)) nudge nudge... ahem..

5.) Quality of Instruction?

Answer: This is an interesting question, because I almost need to ask... well what is the quality of the "Student"?

If you are interested in flying, always learning, and trying your best, your instructor will love you because the learning is easily transferred and both learn in the end.

When I was there, I flew primarily with one Instructor (Austin) who was great at simply showing me how I needed to correct things and give guidance on what I needed to focus primarily on. If you've ever been to schooling such as university or others, you should have a set system of study skills that will help you with your experience growing to be a pilot.
Using your own time wisely, Ie,.. studying, will benifit your wallet by reducing the need for re-training in the sky and / or on the ground.

I am the type of person that doesn't need to be spoon fed so I do quite a bit of self study. Many of the guys at the school and the newer guys that were also becoming instructors (who may now be working as instructors) were very eager and happy to answer and Teach all they know to new students.

6.) Experience of International Students(if you knew any personally) (M-1/J-1 visa)?

Answer: I lived with an Italian guy that was building time at the school and seemed to have no problem. In addition, we had a Japanese student, but I'm not sure what the circumstances are/were or for how long he had been there.

I think Dianne (I think that is her name) is the one to talk to about that. When I was there, I saw all sorts of foreign (non-american) pilots either renting, or being taught at the school. Just contact the school and let them know your situation.

7.) Management practices?

Answer: Well, the school, is like a family run business. Things are pretty straight forward and everyone seems to talk to everyone about everything. No secrets there etc. I thought that everyone was like I said above, one big flying family. Luca the owner / boss is great and would do anything to help you out. Lyanne the chief flight instructor (along with Ryan) would answer any questions or teach you anything you needed to know.

The whole operation is pretty cut-n-dry. You go there to learn, they have people teach you, you get your certifications as slow or as fast as you can/want. It's up to you. You're also not just a number, you can talk to the instructors even maintenance practically anytime you want. Again, it's up to you.

Final words:

Skymates, is a great place to invest your time and money. Just study, do you're part and they will do theirs.

-Egg (aka, JoeD)
(周赛夫 飞行员在中国)
조샙디캠프 조종사 중국에서
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[dongdpsioc]

great ! i must say peoples' comments on skymates give us confidence.

so if everything is ok, one of us will go to skymates next Feb or next March. And then , two of us(including me) will go to skymates next November. After i get my commercial with multi rating , two of my friends will...

Great!
thanks!

[frog_flyer]

Originally Posted by SteveC

Touchdown!?!???

Bah, I meant sig, smartass!!

Lou can't do MExrides? Dang.

Ask him to tell you about the time he went to mexico in '64....