Pelican or Hillsboro
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Wonderland
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Pelican or Hillsboro
Hi everyone,
I started to enroll myself to PFT but after so bad posts about this school, I'm completly confused about what to do
IDK what to think about Pelican or a guy called Viktor. Maybe I started to look at the right time before going too far. I also searched for F1 visa aviation school and it seemed that all Florida schools are scams. The only one looking good might be HAA.
So guys, why did you choose to not go to PFT ? Because they lied or because the management there or because money issues as they request to pay in advance ?
Many thanks in advance for your time folks !
crazy
I started to enroll myself to PFT but after so bad posts about this school, I'm completly confused about what to do
IDK what to think about Pelican or a guy called Viktor. Maybe I started to look at the right time before going too far. I also searched for F1 visa aviation school and it seemed that all Florida schools are scams. The only one looking good might be HAA.
So guys, why did you choose to not go to PFT ? Because they lied or because the management there or because money issues as they request to pay in advance ?
Many thanks in advance for your time folks !
crazy
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Europe
Posts: 404
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Can only comment on Hillsboro (Oregon). Did my entire flight training there (from PPL to CPL/IR and Instructor) can't really say anything negative about them, but that was something like 10 years ago. It was and still is a big international flight school, I believe one of, or the largest at the West-Coast. Lots of international students, mainly from Asia and India. Many instructors with a variety of experience, from rookie to "senior" instructor.
Can't really comment on the current fleet, but according to their website it looks like they got a few additional multi-engine aircraft, when I was there they only had two. I saw from the photographs that a few of the old C172 (N models) are apparently still in use (I recognized the call signs). I assume that the fleet is not the newest, but I think they also have some glass-cockpit airplanes available, but probably they are more expensive. Don't know about the airplane availability, at my time they didn't have online scheduling. The new schedule was issued every Tuesday morning at 7am and if you where just 5 minutes late the schedule was already booked out for the rest of the week. So you either had to fly very early in the morning, like form 6-8am or late in the evening, if your instructor was willing to put up with it. Scheduling was always a pain in the a**!
The training environment was good, lots of different airspaces/airports and approaches nearby (good for IFR training). Another thing which came in convenient was that Oregon didn't charge any sales-tax, don't know if that's still the case but I believe so. They provide housing for international students or non-locals (at additional cost, don't expect anything fancy). Basically everything is within walking distance, school, grocery-stores, Starbucks, restaurants etc. Portland Downtown can be reached easily by public means of transportation, the Max (tram) is just across the flight school. One thing to keep in mind is that during the fall/winter (Nov to Feb) your flight training might be delayed due to bad weather. Usually the worst month are Dec/Jan.
Can't really comment on administration and student support (e.g. visa) but at my time I never heard anything negative. But since the school is quite busy, I believe they have a waiting list, like 6 month or so before you can start your flight training, at least that was the case in the past. If needed they'll pick you up from the airport (PDX).
PS. just came across a few of your older posts here on the forum and saw that you already have your FAA CPL/IR. Basically your main intention is to return to the States (avoid doing the EASA conversion) get you CFI ticket, work as such to built time and eventually get hired by a regional airline (as a non US citizen). Well, no comment on that, I mean you already started a separate thread asking this questions and you received more than one opinion. But regarding Hillsboro, I can only say that usually they prefer hiring their own former students who do/get their CFI after completion of their CPL training. As mentioned I did my complete flight training with them (PPL to CPL and CFI) and I remember the manager back then, telling me that I'd stand good chances of being hired as an instructor after finishing my training. Well, all I can say is that I didn't get a job as promised. I never failed a single exam/check-ride, not even my initial CFI (which is not uncommon to fail) and never had an incident/accident during my training. I know Hillsboro is looking for CFIs currently, but I beleive as a non US citizen and neither being from Aisa or India your chances of being hired as a CFI are kinda slim. That dosen't mean that they wouldn't offer you to do your CFI training with them, they'll take your money for sure, like any other school in the US.
Can't really comment on the current fleet, but according to their website it looks like they got a few additional multi-engine aircraft, when I was there they only had two. I saw from the photographs that a few of the old C172 (N models) are apparently still in use (I recognized the call signs). I assume that the fleet is not the newest, but I think they also have some glass-cockpit airplanes available, but probably they are more expensive. Don't know about the airplane availability, at my time they didn't have online scheduling. The new schedule was issued every Tuesday morning at 7am and if you where just 5 minutes late the schedule was already booked out for the rest of the week. So you either had to fly very early in the morning, like form 6-8am or late in the evening, if your instructor was willing to put up with it. Scheduling was always a pain in the a**!
The training environment was good, lots of different airspaces/airports and approaches nearby (good for IFR training). Another thing which came in convenient was that Oregon didn't charge any sales-tax, don't know if that's still the case but I believe so. They provide housing for international students or non-locals (at additional cost, don't expect anything fancy). Basically everything is within walking distance, school, grocery-stores, Starbucks, restaurants etc. Portland Downtown can be reached easily by public means of transportation, the Max (tram) is just across the flight school. One thing to keep in mind is that during the fall/winter (Nov to Feb) your flight training might be delayed due to bad weather. Usually the worst month are Dec/Jan.
Can't really comment on administration and student support (e.g. visa) but at my time I never heard anything negative. But since the school is quite busy, I believe they have a waiting list, like 6 month or so before you can start your flight training, at least that was the case in the past. If needed they'll pick you up from the airport (PDX).
PS. just came across a few of your older posts here on the forum and saw that you already have your FAA CPL/IR. Basically your main intention is to return to the States (avoid doing the EASA conversion) get you CFI ticket, work as such to built time and eventually get hired by a regional airline (as a non US citizen). Well, no comment on that, I mean you already started a separate thread asking this questions and you received more than one opinion. But regarding Hillsboro, I can only say that usually they prefer hiring their own former students who do/get their CFI after completion of their CPL training. As mentioned I did my complete flight training with them (PPL to CPL and CFI) and I remember the manager back then, telling me that I'd stand good chances of being hired as an instructor after finishing my training. Well, all I can say is that I didn't get a job as promised. I never failed a single exam/check-ride, not even my initial CFI (which is not uncommon to fail) and never had an incident/accident during my training. I know Hillsboro is looking for CFIs currently, but I beleive as a non US citizen and neither being from Aisa or India your chances of being hired as a CFI are kinda slim. That dosen't mean that they wouldn't offer you to do your CFI training with them, they'll take your money for sure, like any other school in the US.
Last edited by Transsonic2000; 12th Sep 2017 at 01:54.
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Oregon
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well I'm a current student at HAA. Just finished my End Of Course for PPL last week. Now gonna work on my instrument and I'm honestly excited for real IMC experience. You pay as you fly. No sales tax in Oregon.
Good school overall, but they have some scheduling issues lately to be honest. It took me 1 month before I could do my end of course check cause of the lack of progress checkers/examiners. But for normal daily lessons, got enough aircraft so far.
Well if you're coming for CFI F1 visa, it's a great place to build hours as they do hire a lot of their CFI students. Work is more promising than other F1 schools, as far as I've heard. I enrolled here cause I want to be a CFI too with my F1 visa.
Really though, they need to hire more CFI's to match the amount of current students !
Good school overall, but they have some scheduling issues lately to be honest. It took me 1 month before I could do my end of course check cause of the lack of progress checkers/examiners. But for normal daily lessons, got enough aircraft so far.
Well if you're coming for CFI F1 visa, it's a great place to build hours as they do hire a lot of their CFI students. Work is more promising than other F1 schools, as far as I've heard. I enrolled here cause I want to be a CFI too with my F1 visa.
Really though, they need to hire more CFI's to match the amount of current students !
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Wonderland
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks a lot buddy. I was in touch with Ashley and she recommends me to come after February because of the weather conditions. Anyway I hope I'll meet you there 
Happy landings,
Happy landings,
