Pan Am International Flight Academy? Any good?

[Webbzzz]

Hi Guys and Gals.

I am an aspiring pilot just like many of you. I have recently been offered a place on Pan Am's Pro Pilot scheme after passing the assessment day a week before. I have previously also been accepted by CTC Wings for the Wings programme but the cost was just too high. Hence I was attracted by the lower cost of Pan Am's course. From what i have researched so far the reviews of Pan Am have been overwhelmingly negative :\

So i suppose I have two questions for you lot.

1) What are your opinions on Pan Am's flight academy?

2) Would I be much better off saving for CTC Wings (Which i must admit were very impressive) rather than join Pan Am.

Any help is much appreciated.

[BigGrecian]

after passing the assessment day a week before

Just so you know everyone passes - it's a marketing exercise - same with the scholarship - the course is inflated $5,000 - then everyone gets the "scholarship".

Search for Orlando Flight Training and Cabair - Pan Am brought the remains of those schools.

They only have one EASA flight instructor. Think about that - excellent marketing however.

[Webbzzz]

Yer I guessed as much. Although the supposed "scholarship" I was offered is 10k not 5.

Aside from this what is the actual flight school like. Is it all as much of a scam as their assessments are?

[limesoda]

I too am also interested in this.

I recently visited the seminar in St Albans, just to see what it was all about. Didn't think the reps would make a good impression to be perfectly honest but it sounds to be good training etc regardless of the so called 'scholarship'

One thing that was avoided, were the actual raw employment statistics. But then again most schools don't tend to give these out to easily, if at all!

Any more info would be great!

[Boksryan]

I'm torn between both these flight academy's. I have been accepted into and would like to gain my [f]ATPL by the end.

Pan-Am offers a good price, however, some reviews has been negative.

Is it worth paying extra to go to CTC?

any help would be great.

[cefey]

They have amazing EASA ATPL ground.
I know for sure, 2 out of 4 instructor is top class! Some of the best you can get!
Another one - meh. And I dont know about last one.

If you are willing to work hard - Im sure you will like the school. Some of the better experience I had with the flight schools.

[squall1984]

Use to work there when it was Orlando flight training or ACA whatever you like to call it, was not good then and maintenance was not high priority, haven't been back there in two years and a lot has changed since then wi pan am taking over, my advice is go see it, you are making a big investment it's worth the trip or try forums I guess

[pompington]

Hi guys

I am looking at these two schools as well, thinking of potentially going modular however Orlando, ACA, Pan Am whatever you like to call it is certainly attractively priced to do the full integrated!
Had a friend that went through there for just PPL about 5 years ago and he said it was great!
Could you let us know which you decide to go with and once you start maybe an update on the course.

[B2N2]

PPL about 5 years ago and he said it was great

Completely irrelevant.
5 years is a lifetime in an industry that is filled with 'fly-by-night' organziations and operators.
They could have gone through 5 management changes in those years and everybody that was' great' then is loooong gone now.
Anything more then a year ago is useless information.

[BigGrecian]

Overseas ATOs regulated by EASA are viewable at :

EASA - FCL Organisations Approvals (http://www.easa.europa.eu/approvals-and-standardisation/organisation-approvals/FCL-organisations-approvals.php)

However, they are not currently able to accept students from outside the USA which I noticed when replying to : http://www.pprune.org/professional-pilot-training-includes-ground-studies/522727-sevis-approved-schools-advice-miami-schools.html
that on the US immigration school list : Study in the States - School Search (http://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/school-search)

that Pan Am for their Space Coast/Orlando location do not have approval which means they can't even accept students who aren't US citizens or residents.

[zondaracer]

Do they actually to the EASA Integrated course, or is it just Modular on a continuous basis ?

It is not integrated. Straight from their website:
Our Pro Pilot Programme is a full-time fully structured ATPL programme with concurrent flight and ground
training. Due to its unique construction this course allows you to gain certain FAA licences which are
ultimately converted into EASA, ensuring that the high costs usually associated with this kind of training
are significantly reduced.
JAA ATPL Pilot Training | Airline Pilot School | Pan Am Academy (http://www.panamacademy.com/pilot-training/fully-structured-pro-pilot-course)

[BigGrecian]

Didn't catch that myself.

Therefore is't not even an EASA Course it's just FAA then conversions.

Surprising you would have thought Pan Am would have the resources to make it effective as an EASA Course.

[zondaracer]

Pan Am uses the EASA approval certificate of Space Coast Aviation.

[dera]

Whenever a school claims to use another schools ATO or has anything even remotely suspicious about the validity of their certificate - run.

[BigGrecian]

Whenever a school claims to use another schools ATO or has anything even remotely suspicious about the validity of their certificate - run.

A lot of the schools operate like this and so do a lot of non aviation related companies for various business reasons. Even CTC have subcontracts for part of their training and I would hazard around 50% of schools have some sort of slight name difference.

Your responsibility : Know who your paying money to - and pay by credit card so you can reclaim it if necessary.

It's all a mute point if they can't sponsor you for a visa.

[dera]

I wouldn't worry about it - Space Coast Aviation is owned by Pan Am Flight Training which is actually now owned by All Nippon Airways the Japanese airline.

A lot of the schools operate like this and so do a lot of non aviation related companies for various business reasons. Even CTC have subcontracts for part of their training and I would hazard around 50% of schools have some sort of slight name difference.

Your responsibility : Know who your paying money to - and pay by credit card so you can reclaim it if necessary.

It's all a mute point if they can't sponsor you for a visa.

If we are strict about how we read the EASA licensing rules, if in their opinion the training is provided by Pan Am and not Space Coast, that training does not count towards your license. The rules are too young and they haven't really been tested, but I would exercise caution every time there is even the smallest ambiguity about the ATO/training provider credentials.

Its not a moot point, there are visa types which allow training that are not sponsored by the school. Being approved by TSA to train non-residents and being SEVIS approved to issue I-20 are two completely separate items.

[BigGrecian]

if in their opinion the training is provided by Pan Am and not Space Coast,

It's not - you operate under Space Coast rules and procedures, operations manaul, training manual records - Pan am just sell the product.

[Sam Rutherford]

Is Adam B. still in the office?

Cheers, Sam.