Part 141 Schools - Reviews

F-GCRU

F-GCRU

Filing Flight Plan
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May 3, 2018
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Louvres
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Mehdi
Hi, my name is Alexander and I'm French. I want to become pilot ( my childhood dream ) and I think USA will be the best place to realize this dream. Let me introduce myself : I got my PPL 6 months ago and I flew apprx. 65h, with 32h as PIC. I prefer USA than Europe because training is cheaper, for the English practicing and for the busy airspaces. I think I'll go during next September so I already begin searches to find a school.

I need to get IR - CPL - TimeBuilding - MEP - CFI and CFII. I also need Part 141 school, because they are able to provide studying visa to foreigners. I saw 4 schools with Internet :

- Skymates, Dallas
- AAA, San Diego
- Flying Academy L.A.
- Flying Academy Miami

Maybe you have reviews, I'm listening !!
 
down check Skymates.

Better selection for the Dallas area is https://www.flighttraining.thrustflight.com, https://atpflightschool.com, and https://americanflyers.com

https://www.usaviationacademy.com in my hometown of Denton, TX is another possibility. They provide training for lots of Asian students who are soon-to-be commercial pilots. So they are very familiar with what's need to bring out of country students to their academy. They also own a few apartment complexes in town and can offer student housing.

The DFW airspace is active, occasionally busy, but no where near as nuts as SOCAL or parts of the Northeast. Controllers are very friendly and willing to accommodate student pilots as they work the remaining commercial and GA traffic.


If you do wind up in Dallas area, we have a good batch of pilots for you to socialize with. So let us know if this is where you land.
 
F-GCRU said:
Hi, my name is Alexander and I'm French. I want to become pilot ( my childhood dream ) and I think USA will be the best place to realize this dream. Let me introduce myself : I got my PPL 6 months ago and I flew apprx. 65h, with 32h as PIC. I prefer USA than Europe because training is cheaper, for the English practicing and for the busy airspaces. I think I'll go during next September so I already begin searches to find a school.

I need to get IR - CPL - TimeBuilding - MEP - CFI and CFII. I also need Part 141 school, because they are able to provide studying visa to foreigners. I saw 4 schools with Internet :

- Skymates, Dallas
- AAA, San Diego
- Flying Academy L.A.
- Flying Academy Miami

Maybe you have reviews, I'm listening !!
Click to expand...

I would not use Flight Academy LA or AAA San Diego because the cost of living is rather expensive in Calaifornia.

If you find a flight school in Nevada, New Mexico or Arizona the weather is VFR everyday and you can complete your training without weather delays.
 
Clip4 said:
If you find a flight school in Nevada, New Mexico or Arizona the weather is VFR everyday and you can complete your training without weather delays.
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And become very proficient in operating in hot weather and at high density altitudes.
 
Clip4 said:
Texas and Florida are cool in summer?
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Cooler than many parts of Arizona.

And the base elevation is lower in much of Texas and Florida
 
Thanks for replies :cool:

So I think I'll avoid California, I already saw the VERY HIGH cost of life ( even if gasoline is always cheaper than France* :eek: ), but I was motivated by the busy airspace :cool:

Do you have some schools to review in Nevada, Arizona or New Mexico ??

*In France, a US gallon costs 6.78$ :eek:
 
AggieMike88 said:
down check Skymates.

Better selection for the Dallas area is https://www.flighttraining.thrustflight.com, https://atpflightschool.com, and https://americanflyers.com

https://www.usaviationacademy.com in my hometown of Denton, TX is another possibility. They provide training for lots of Asian students who are soon-to-be commercial pilots. So they are very familiar with what's need to bring out of country students to their academy. They also own a few apartment complexes in town and can offer student housing.

The DFW airspace is active, occasionally busy, but no where near as nuts as SOCAL or parts of the Northeast. Controllers are very friendly and willing to accommodate student pilots as they work the remaining commercial and GA traffic.


If you do wind up in Dallas area, we have a good batch of pilots for you to socialize with. So let us know if this is where you land.
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The problem is that I think studying with only international students will not be very good for my learning. But I'll see with USAA Denton
 
F-GCRU said:
Thanks for replies :cool:

So I think I'll avoid California, I already saw the VERY HIGH cost of life ( even if gasoline is always cheaper than France* :eek: ), but I was motivated by the busy airspace :cool:

Do you have some schools to review in Nevada, Arizona or New Mexico ??

*In France, a US gallon costs 6.78$ :eek:
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I'm a recreational flyer, but a number of career-minded folks pass through the Part 141 flight school where I did my training in California: www.sunriseaviation.com.

It's certainly more expensive to live around here than other parts of the U.S., and you will burn more $ during training while dealing with ground control and a busy pattern, but I'd think the crowded SoCal airspace would be helpful to getting a solid start as a student.
 
eetrojan said:
I'm a recreational flyer, but a number of career-minded folks pass through the Part 141 flight school where I did my training in California: www.sunriseaviation.com.

It's certainly more expensive to live around here than other parts of the U.S., and you will burn more $ during training while dealing with ground control and a busy pattern, but I'd think the crowded SoCal airspace would be helpful to getting a solid start as a student.
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Good !! Do you have the cost estimates ?? :rolleyes:
 
No, our LZU-based flight school no longer does 1-on-1 training. We no longer have a traditional flight school. All we do are internet-based training products.
 
Hello all,

I'm wondering if any one here would recommend USAA in Denton for a Local (non-international) student? My Son needs to finish up his Private and then jump on his Instrument and Multi-engine in quick succession. We live just a few miles north of KDTO at T58.

Thanks in advance,

Ben Huston


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
I did my PPL with them many years ago. I was happy with my instructor, but not impressed with the school. Their focus is the international 141 students.

I would suggest talking to Tamara Griffith at Fox Aviation located at Propwash near Justin. She is well regarded in the area and places high standards on her quality of instruction. And several of her students have found good employment as commercial pilots.
 
Thanks AggieMike, I'll give her a call.

Ben


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
AggieMike88 said:
I did my PPL with them many years ago. I was happy with my instructor, but not impressed with the school. Their focus is the international 141 students.

I would suggest talking to Tamara Griffith at Fox Aviation located at Propwash near Justin. She is well regarded in the area and places high standards on her quality of instruction. And several of her students have found good employment as commercial pilots.
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I think that's a school done for the healthiest. 16k$ for a IR :eek: 23k$ for a CPL Multi :eek:
 
I found a new school located in Fort Pierce FL. It's name is Aviator College, located in Treasure Coast "International" Airport ( KFPR ). I found there this school which proposes a pilot program for international students for 57k$. When you take care of things included, you find a very attractive deal :

- Theory PPL
- Flight PPL ( 40h )
- Theory IFR
- Flight IFR ( 40h )
- Theory Commercial
- Flight CPL + MEP ( 120h, it includes Time Building )
- Theory Instructor
- Flight CFI, CFII, MEI ( 25h )

I already have the PPL, so the school allows me a 10k discount. The final fare is 46.604$, it means 38.960€. Other things are included :

- Visa F1 ( not M1 like SKYMATES )
- Accomodation during 6 months
- The possibility to work up to 30 months after graduation ( allowance by law, not by the school )
- I just have to pay written exams, checkrides, books, ForeFlight, administrative and deposits.

That's a good deal, I just need to know if Aviator is a good flight school.

Thanks
 
Regarding the prices quoted.... Schools such as this use the FAA minimums to have something to multiply against their hourly rates.

If you are the best flight student ever, perhaps you can finish in this minimum time. However, it is more common for the PPL student to finish in the 55 hour to 65 hour range.

For IFR, CPL, CFI-A and CFI-I, I don't know the average hours it takes to finish.

Nonetheless, my point is to not fall in love that $46,600 is the final price. If you take longer than the FAA minimum to finish one or more of the ratings, the final tally could be much more than quoted.

-----------------------------------------

And a word on funding the training.... What has this school in others said regarding how much is needed to become enrolled and get started? Is it the entire 100% or partial? If partial, how much?

-----------------------------------------

And since you're training in the USA, you'll be working under the FAA rules including the requirement to obtain an FAA medical (at least a third class).

Do you foresee any problems from obtaining an FAA medical? For more info, read the user guide for MedXpress, with emphasis on the area of medical history, history of doctor visits, history of medications, and history of law enforcement encounters. https://medxpress.faa.gov/medxpress/Content/Docs/MedXPressUsersGuide.pdf
 
AggieMike88 said:
Regarding the prices quoted.... Schools such as this use the FAA minimums to have something to multiply against their hourly rates.

If you are the best flight student ever, perhaps you can finish in this minimum time. However, it is more common for the PPL student to finish in the 55 hour to 65 hour range.

For IFR, CPL, CFI-A and CFI-I, I don't know the average hours it takes to finish.

Nonetheless, my point is to not fall in love that $46,600 is the final price. If you take longer than the FAA minimum to finish one or more of the ratings, the final tally could be much more than quoted.

-----------------------------------------

And a word on funding the training.... What has this school in others said regarding how much is needed to become enrolled and get started? Is it the entire 100% or partial? If partial, how much?

-----------------------------------------

And since you're training in the USA, you'll be working under the FAA rules including the requirement to obtain an FAA medical (at least a third class).

Do you foresee any problems from obtaining an FAA medical? For more info, read the user guide for MedXpress, with emphasis on the area of medical history, history of doctor visits, history of medications, and history of law enforcement encounters. https://medxpress.faa.gov/medxpress/Content/Docs/MedXPressUsersGuide.pdf
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Thanks for reply dude.

I have an appointment with a FAA doctor who works in France. I gonna take the Class 2 and requirements for the FAA medical are lighter than the JAA medical. It's also cheaper.

You know, I got my PPL with 45h, the minimum in Europe. But I'm modest, I know I'll need more hours to be fluent with english ( on the radio, when talking w/ the instructor / examinator ). I already have enough money to afford more than the training, and I have some months to get more.

I'll ask about the possibility to pay on several times. Because paying 60k$ in one time is a risk.
 
F-GCRU said:
Because paying 60k$ in one time is a risk.
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Exactly.

There are many, many stories of schools who required the entire money upfront, had active students who did pay that big money, then all of a sudden the school shut down with no warning, and the student money was gone.
 
One thing to say : I have sent an email to AVIATOR College in Fort Pierce FL eight days ago. Any reply :(

Do you this avoiding this school will be better for me ?? o_O
 
F-GCRU said:
I have sent an email to AVIATOR College in Fort Pierce FL eight days ago.
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I wouldn't judge a school based on how they respond to emails. I know two schools in CA, both of whom I was a student during my training, who are terrible at responding to emails.
But, whenever I call them and if there is no answer, they always call me back within minutes saying "sorry we were on the other line but saw that you called".
Long-winded way of saying: CALL the school!
 
write-stuff said:
No, our LZU-based flight school no longer does 1-on-1 training. We no longer have a traditional flight school. All we do are internet-based training products.
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I’m glad you clarified. I was trying to imagine an instructor in the back seat training multiple students in the front. Lol. Or maybe an instructor in the front and one in the back yelling at the student.
 
Hippike said:
I wouldn't judge a school based on how they respond to emails. I know two schools in CA, both of whom I was a student during my training, who are terrible at responding to emails.
But, whenever I call them and if there is no answer, they always call me back within minutes saying "sorry we were on the other line but saw that you called".
Long-winded way of saying: CALL the school!
Click to expand...

But U.S. calls are not included in my mobile plan XD XD XD :D:D

More seriously, I'll try to call to Florida :)
 
F-GCRU said:
But U.S. calls are not included in my mobile plan XD XD XD :D:D

More seriously, I'll try to call to Florida :)
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Just pack yourself into a crate and come to our side of the pond for a visit.

man_frieghts_3.jpg
 
Hippike said:
I wouldn't judge a school based on how they respond to emails. I know two schools in CA, both of whom I was a student during my training, who are terrible at responding to emails.
But, whenever I call them and if there is no answer, they always call me back within minutes saying "sorry we were on the other line but saw that you called".
Long-winded way of saying: CALL the school!
Click to expand...

I would, especially if I was a foreign student.

I want a written record of who said what and when.

"Hey Chief Pilot I got a problem and when I called three months before I started so and so said it wouldn't be a problem"
"Who said that?"
"I don't remember"
"Well we've never told anyone working here to say that..."
 
jaybee said:
I want a written record of who said what and when.
Click to expand...
Very good point. Especially since this is a "long distance" transaction involving lots of money and a significant time commitment from F-GCRU
 
You misunderstood me! :(
I am not saying don't get anything in writing. Please do; especially about matters concerning money.
I'm just saying if the OP sends an email to a school and he receives no response, don't flush that particular school down the loo. Pick up the phone and give them a call. If they sound good and legit and he wants to work with them, then he can get an email address for the person responsible who will make sure that emails will be responded to.
Most email addresses posted on school's websites aren't monitored, or spam folders are not checked regularly, but there is always someone in the office to answer the phone!
 
Any word about Aviator College in fort pierce?
 
I got my PPL at Flight Academy in Corona, California. It is legit school with Asian international students in part 141. It’s less crowded and you get experience many airspace’s and terrains. Veronica is the point of contact there. Give them a call.
 
If you want to learn to talk on the radio, you won't do better than California.

Consider California Aeronautical University - they are a Part 141 based in Bakersfield. The cost of living is quite low there and you are still close to busy airspace. They have quality people working for them.
 
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