LeonB1985 From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2005, 720 posts, RR: 3 Posted (2 years 7 months 1 week 14 hours ago) and read 735 times:
Hoping that somebody here can give me a bit of help! I'm looking into doing an FAA PPL in the United States this summer, possibly in California, although I am open to all other suggestions. Of course almost every flying school has a website telling me how great they are and why they deserve my hard-earned cash. Naturally, I can't visit every flying school in CA, let alone the USA, so does anybody here have any recommendations, or tips in general? Anybody kind enough to share their experiences with me?
Input much appreciated - many thanks!
From the construction site that is better-known as London Heathrow Airport
Wow, didn't think anyone new about this. I currently go to school here at Florida Tech, and have to admit that I've loved all of the flying down here. While we don't have brand new equiment like other schools, we really don't need it, because most likely when you go out flying in the real world after school, you are NOT going to be flying state of the art equipment. FIT Aviation is in Melbourne, FL, and we have great weather year round. Our over the counter operation is booming, and the instructors are more than qualified to actually teach you how to fly, you will come out of here knowing more than you bargained for. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
KaiGywer From United States, joined Oct 2003, 10360 posts, RR: 30 Reply 4, posted (2 years 7 months 1 week 1 hour ago) and read 673 times:
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My friend went to Phoenix East Aviation in Daytona Beach, FL. He was very happy with it, and currently has over 550 hours. He is now working as an instructor down there. I could probably put you in contact with him if you are interested. Email me thru the mail interface here on A.net.
Mir From United States, joined Jan 2004, 10200 posts, RR: 56 Reply 5, posted (2 years 7 months 1 week 1 hour ago) and read 669 times:
If you know where you're going, then it shouldn't be too hard to find a good school in the area. If you just want the PPL, it probably isn't worth going too far afield from where you'll be to get one. Narrow that down first, and then perhaps people can give you more detailed advice.
-Mir
Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the war room! | Bloomberg '08!
CaptainJon From , joined today!, posts, RR: Reply 6, posted (2 years 7 months 1 week ago) and read 661 times:
I took a Discovery Flight from N07 (Lincoln Park, NJ) and had a blast. The instructor I had was great too. However, one of my dad's colleagues holds a PPL and recommended to him I train from a controlled airport, such as CDW.
The school at N07 is Aero Safety Training, Ltd. (http://www.lpawings.com)
and the one at CDW is Century Flight Academy (http://www.centuryair.com)
Anyone familar with either? Aero Safety was nice and seems like a great quiet place to learn.
APFPilot1985 From , joined today!, posts, RR: Reply 7, posted (2 years 7 months 1 week ago) and read 655 times:
120 bucks an hour for a brand new 172 with moving map, IFR GPS and 2 Axis Auto Pilot. I've been flying with them for about 5 years now and have never had a bad experience. Plus Naples is great, we are about 2 hours from MIA, 1.5 from FLL, 2.5 from TPA (driving). For flying you can be in EYW in about 45 min via V225. Seriously if you are looking at FL check out europe american.
Fokker70NG From Netherlands, joined Nov 2005, 232 posts, RR: 2 Reply 8, posted (2 years 7 months 6 days 23 hours ago) and read 643 times:
I'll be going to the USA this summer to get my PPL, most likely to California. I'm seriously considering American-Anglo Aviation in San Diego (www.flyaaa.com), along with some other schools in Florida (but I prefer California).
However, I'll be doing my JAA PPL, so not FAA PPL. Have you considered getting your JAA PPL? With a JAA PPL, it is much more easier to fly in Britain, since with a FAA license you are only permitted to fly N-registered aircraft..
Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe. -Albert Einstein
AgentM From United States, joined Jul 2004, 43 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (2 years 7 months 6 days 23 hours ago) and read 635 times:
I went to a couple different places when I started training. The first was North American Institute of Aviation at HYW which is close to Myrtle Beach, SC. It was a great flight school, but I didn't get as much controlled airspace experience as I wanted. Sure, there were flights to MRY, but I wanted more. So to finish up my training I went to the San Francisco bay area and picked a flight school. The choices I considered were Palo Alto flying club at PAO, American Flyers at RHV I think?, and either Oakland Flyers or Alameda Aero Club (can't remember which) at OAK.
At the time, the flight school I was looking at in OAK only had 172s, and I didn't really 'need' to spend extra money to do all my training in that when I could do it in a 152. On the other hand, Oakland is busier airspace (class C).
As far as American flyers in RHV, it's probably good, I didn't research it much because I liked being in Palo Alto more than San Jose.
At PAO they have a lot of different flight schools to choose from. I decided on Palo Alto Flying Club because their instructors and planes were just as good as the flight schools that charged double for instructors.
San Carlos - SQL might be worth checking out too, I didn't research the schools there, I just figured they would be more expensive being closer to SF.
I loved flying in the Bay Area, you had busy airspace - Class D, C, and B. There's so many beautiful sites to enjoy like flying over the mountains to Half Moon Bay, going past downtown SF, Monterey Bay, Castle air museum, etc. The weather is great, but most mornings have fog which will usually dissipate by late morning/afternoon.
I liked HYW, but the confidence gained from always being in controlled airspace was more valuable to me. And of course, the NYC area is always a blast to fly in
Let me know if you have any questions, I'd be happy to try and answer them.
LeonB1985 From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2005, 720 posts, RR: 3 Reply 10, posted (2 years 7 months 6 days 23 hours ago) and read 624 times:
Quoting Fokker70NG (Reply 8): With a JAA PPL, it is much more easier to fly in Britain, since with a FAA license you are only permitted to fly N-registered aircraft..
Actually, this isn't the case - as it's an ICAO licence and the UK is an ICAO country, I could just as well fly a G-reg aircraft. Can't quote details at the moment as they at home and I am not, but it seems FAA does have certain advantages over JAA even for someone residing in the UK/Europe.
From the construction site that is better-known as London Heathrow Airport
KELPkid From United States, joined Nov 2005, 3333 posts, RR: 3 Reply 11, posted (2 years 7 months 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 584 times:
Try Hillsboro Aviation http://www.hillsboro-aviation.com . It's in a much less congested part of the world than California, but has plenty of controlled airspace nearby, and it is at a towered field, HIO.
Very professional staff, and plenty of foreigners. They can help you with your visa status, etc. I got my instrument rating with them, and took my commercial ground school there.
Rulebooks and regulations are made from paper...and they do a poor job at preventing metal from contacting rock-Ernest G
Mir From United States, joined Jan 2004, 10200 posts, RR: 56 Reply 12, posted (2 years 7 months 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 580 times:
Quoting LeonB1985 (Reply 10): Actually, this isn't the case - as it's an ICAO licence and the UK is an ICAO country, I could just as well fly a G-reg aircraft. Can't quote details at the moment as they at home and I am not,
When you get home, could you please quote those details? I'm very interested in that.
-Mir
Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the war room! | Bloomberg '08!
Av8rPHX From United States, joined Mar 2003, 705 posts, RR: 8 Reply 13, posted (2 years 7 months 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 562 times:
120 bucks an hour for a brand new 172 with moving map, IFR GPS and 2 Axis Auto Pilot.
Why spend $120 an hour for stuff in a plane you dont even need for your PPL? All you need is a 152 with the basic instruments, and you'll save a decent amount of money as well. Im sure its not as cool as the moving map and autopilot, but you wont be using those during your PPL anyways.
A licence issued by any other ICAO Contracting State (including a JAA State that has not yet been recommended for mutual recognition) is also deemed to be valid under the ANO for the purposes of flying a UK registered aircraft, providing that the licence and medical are valid in accordance with the rules/laws of the issuing State, and the CAA does not in the particular case give direction to the contrary.
However, the ANO2005 Article 26 (4) (a) states that the holder of such a licence cannot:
1) act as a member of the flight crew of any aircraft flying for the purpose of public transport or aerial work or on any flight in respect of which he receives remuneration for his services as a member of the flight crew; or
2) in the case of a pilot's licence, to act as a pilot of any aircraft flying in controlled airspace in circumstances requiring compliance with the Instrument Flight Rules or to give any instruction in flying.
[Edited 2006-01-18 01:53:04]
From the construction site that is better-known as London Heathrow Airport
APFPilot1985 From , joined today!, posts, RR: Reply 15, posted (2 years 7 months 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 541 times:
Quoting Av8rPHX (Reply 13): Why spend $120 an hour for stuff in a plane you dont even need for your PPL? All you need is a 152 with the basic instruments, and you'll save a decent amount of money as well. Im sure its not as cool as the moving map and autopilot, but you wont be using those during your PPL anyways.
The small difference in price IMHO is worth it (granted I did my PPL in 75 Cessna 172) because let's face it, thats the way GA is going, might as well get as familiar with it as possible.
Sphealey From United States, joined May 2005, 272 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (2 years 7 months 5 days 22 hours ago) and read 503 times:
One thing about Southern California it is possible to be there for 10 months and experience only two types of weather: clear and hazy. If you plan to fly in Europe you might want to select a training location (and dates) where the weather is closer to what you will really be dealing with where you plan to do the bulk of your flying.
AeroTycoon From United States, joined Jan 2006, 101 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (2 years 7 months 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 482 times:
Try the central valley of California. Much less congestion than the Bay Area or Southern california, nice flat terrain for those engine outs, and an abundance of airports (both towered and nontowered). Sacramento Executive Airport (KSAC) has a number of flight schools in the airport terminal, very professional with competetive rates.
DCrawley From United States, joined Jun 2005, 352 posts, RR: 0 Reply 19, posted (2 years 7 months 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 457 times:
Please do not respond to this post with angry words for me. I am just relaying information and facts given to me to try and help the post originator and others make an informed decision on an expensive investment.
I will tell you one place I would recommend NOT to do your training. Several friends of mine attended the Regional Airline Academy (RAA) at IWA and not a single one had anything very positive to say about them. Planes constantly down for maintenance, ground school consisting of getting' through Power Point presentations as fast as possible with no hand outs or homework, EXTREME misquoting of time and money involved, lazy management, and many other things. Flight instructors are paid $10/hour while they charge $35/hour. I heard (from a fresh CFI from there) that most of the good instructors are trying to leave (the others can't get a job elsewhere). They make you sign a contract for all your training through CRJ type-rating, in the ballpark of $76,000 (but what they don't tell you is they have contract for each "stage" of training (i.e. - PPL, instrument, CPL) that you can sign as you go), and if you void it (i.e. - loss of medical, change of mind) you are legally obligated to still pay them the amount left on the contract (and the most compassion they've had is to only take half).. or fly it off. That could be pretty hefty if you spend $8,000 to get your PPL and still have $68,000 left.
From my understanding, they are quintessential thieves. It's appears to be a poorly run business that puts on a great front.. so don't judge the book by its cover. This information comes from multiple people I know whom have attended or currently attend the school.
Flying is very expensive and the quality of your training extremely important.. but when it comes down to it, money is usually the issue for most people. I feel that many people go into training misinformed of the true quality of the flight school. If you would like recommendations on which flight schools might fit your specific needs or requirements, I'd be glad to help you by giving you any information or advice I (and other pilots) can, just e-mail me through my profile. I wish you the best!
-d
[Edited 2006-01-19 03:23:44]
"Weather at our destination is 50 degrees with some broken clouds, but they'll try to have them fixed before we arrive."
LeonB1985 From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2005, 720 posts, RR: 3 Reply 20, posted (2 years 7 months 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 415 times:
Sphealey, AeroTycoon, DCrawley - Many thanks for your comments, they are all noted.
With regard to previous messages in the thread, it seems that it is possible to fly a G-reg aircraft in VFR conditions in the UK on a FAA PPL. Have searched through CAA docemntation and the ICAO website and that seems to be the (current!) verdict.
From the construction site that is better-known as London Heathrow Airport
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