Hi guys,
I was very close to joining ASA as a student - so close in fact that I had received an M-1 Visa from the US Embassy on the day that I found out what trouble ASA is in!! I'd paid them $2500 as a training deposit and admin fee, which I'd used my creit card for - so luckily I can claim that money back from the insurance company of the credit card.
The school told me that they were moving from Castle in Atwater to McClellan in Sacremento. Two days after I was told this I called them to let them know the Visa had arrived and that I was in a position to book my flights - couldn't get through on the number I'd rung at the start of the week! The number had been disconnected. So I contacted the FAA at Sacremento. They said that they'd heard of ASA wanting to move, but because they didn't like the way they did business they declined to allow the move to continue. He said I'd be better off coming over to California and looking for them myself!! Couldn't risk that, so I didn't! I contacted the FBO at Atwater, and was told that they had just taken off (no pun intended) with all the money and hadn't been seen for weeks!
I found this a few days ago, sounds like things are really going from bad to worse:
SAJAforum: FOLLOW UP: High-Flying American School of Aviation Grounded
for those that are interested, I had a back-up school (PEA in Florida). The guy I've been speaking to has been an absolute star. He's been great, efficient and helpful. Couldn't have asked for better after the near miss I had! All being well after my appointment at the US Embassy on Wednesday I'll be at PEA with a J-1 Visa fist week of September!
Cheers
Rob