Flight school in San Diego or San Fransisco - FAA MEP-IR

[DiamondC]

Any recommendations on flights schools in San Diego or San Fransisco to do my FAA MEP-IR? (Good and bad points are both useful, most places have both!)

I will have limited time away from work and I am a foreign student, so I would be looking for somewhere that has experience in intensive training and can provide the necessary visas.

[kmjame]

Have a look at www.iflycoast.com (http://www.iflycoast.com) I am looking to do training out there shortly and went to check out a few FTO whilst I was in the US in November. Looks like a nice spot with an all Cirrus fleet to train in. Also nice part of the city with decent accommodation options around KMYF with Universities near by.

[DiamondC]

Thanks kmjane. I found iflycoast as well and they look good. What training will you be doing? And when will you be going? It would be really good to get your feedback when you have been there.

I also found these and have emailed them for more details. Did you visit any of these schools or have any other feedback on them (PM is fine if you prefer)?
- San Diego Flight Training International: Contact Us (http://sdfti.com/contact.php)
- California Flight Academy: Contact Us (http://flycfa.com/contact-us/)
- Pinnacle Aviation Academy: Flight Training Career Pilot Flight School Learn to Fly San Diego FAA Cessna (http://www.pinnacleacademy.com/learntofly/me.aspx)
- Learn to Fly San Diego: Flight Training Career Pilot Flight School Learn to Fly San Diego FAA Cessna (http://www.pinnacleacademy.com/learntofly/me.aspx)
- American Aviation Academy: Flight instruction in San Diego Instrument Rating Course (http://flyaaa.com/courses/flight-instruction-instrument-rating-course/)

Thanks lots for your help.

[kmjame]

You are welcome! I am waiting to hear back about a few options here, if they fall through then its off I go end of March or however long it takes for the M1 visa/TSA process and to find suitable flatting accommodations.

As for the other schools, I was only able to visit Coast Aviation after a fair amount of hours hunting through all those websites and aircraft fleets I came to the conclusion; If I am going to finish training (currently PPL) to CPL/ME-IR through a US based FTO then I may as well find a place with a great fleet, and a course that will allow me to explore the country a little more than just heading to and from the "Training area". Which Coast Aviation has a unique training syllabus which excited me from the beginning.

I have been in correspondence with another school in LA Accelerated Flight Training Center: IFR Instrument Flight Training & Pilot Training (http://www.aftcenter.com/) which I liked the look of also but wasn't able to check the place out.
For my training and an easy conversion back to NZCAA I need a Part 141 course, which takes away a few options that you may be able to explore. Exciting times though huh!!

[DiamondC]

Hi kmjane,

I will be coming from the UK so would also need Part 141. I agree the syllabus at Coast looks really interesting. It would be great to stay updated on your progress!

Thanks for the suggestion on the school in LA. I did my FAA PPL near LA so looking for some new places to explore if I go to the US again.