Opinions on Florida schools for hours building.

[erika]

Folks,

I'm planning to head to the states to hours build early next year. I have 90 hours at present, so will go for ~60 hours.

I'm considering International Flight Training Academy and Orlando Flight Training. Has anyone been to these and what do they think of them? How professional are they? What are the facilities like? Do you get to fly for many hours a day?

Thanks,
Erika.

[carbonfibre]

Erika

Past experience is dont use IFTA, honest opinion, poor planning, maintenance is worse, although i understand they have fixed that problem, but total dis-organisation. Cost too much for hour builders anyway. Oh yeah the owners are sharks too.

Best bet for cost is OBA but having said that try one of teh US firms i went to Voyager who has a UK owner gave me a plane to myself all week for 40 hours so possible to do the 60 in 2 weeks if you talk to him nicely, nice at $47 an hour too for a nice well maintained Cherokee:)

[woodydcfc]

Erika, i did my ppl at OBA,not a bad outfit but only guarantee 50 hours in 2 weeks,i myself wanted to do 75 in 2 weeks,so i got in touch with Jim powell from Rainbow air and they said they will guarantee me a cessna 152 for the duration off my hours@$52 per hour,then either $15 or $40 per night for accomadation.Hes away at the moment comes back on the 16th november,his e-mail addy is [email protected],I am going out in febuary,I hope.
Cheers Woody.
p.s if you want any info in the mean time i have it all,which i can e-mail you if you like.:)

[CAT3C AUTOLAND]

Erika,

Have not had personal experience of either school, however a friend of mine has been to IFTA, and did not recommend it to me, for similar reasons to what Carbon Fibre said.

I have been to OBA, and even though I had a good time there, I would not return, simply because I have now flown with better schools. I went to Naples Air Center last summer for hour building and had a great time there, well run, good aircraft, and never had a problem with the availablity, as long as you book in advance. If you are going in the early part of next year the weather should be lovely for you, thunderstorm activity at that time should be at a minimum.

Have a good time! If you get a chance fly down to Key West, it is a great trip.

Cheers.

[blueb0y79]

I have also done alot of research on the schools in Florida. I would recommend OBA for price and their attitude in helping people with visa issues or otherwise. I havent been there yet but i will be going in January.

Also i will be visiting Voyager Aviation who offer very cheap rates for hour building. However they dont have a website and it seems they do not specialise in accepting people from other countries.

If you wish to go to the US to achieve ratings then i would recommend EFT as seem to be a professional outfit and the owner used to fly at the same place as me. However they do not have enough aircraft to offer alot of hour building.

Both OBA and EFT are JAA approved (for some ratings.) Check out the list of JAA approved schools in the US before making your choices. Thats what i did.

blueb0y79

[FunnyOnion]

Erika,

Over the last 3 years i have returned to Florida to hour build/x-country - i have used OFT, and although had a good time - not th best in organisation, availability - alot of the time you are promised an aircraft but spend more time on the ground waiting for it.

Wouldn't trust everything they say either with regards medicals, forms, etc. ive known several people who have been given misleading information by them and at the time may have flown unkowingly without relevant Check-outs/BFR's student certs etc. - so if you go to them make sure you get a second opionion on their advice. Saying that we still had a great time with everyone else their.

My own reccomendation is that we got fed up being messed around and checked out a place called 'Air Orlando' which is based in Executive Airport Orlando. We have been using them twice a year now for the past 2 years, and i can't fault them one bit.

Trudy, the receptonist/secreatry is soooooo helpfull, if you need any questions answered before you arrive - she will spend ages on getting information for you, not just for your flying but, accommodation, car hire places to visit etc. every instructor we have met has been totally professional but very friendly , and they have excellent briefing rooms and equipmnet all of wich are available even if you ar ehour building.

They have a very good selection of planes in particular C152/C172 (they have loads others you should check out their website www.flyairorlando.com , most are brand new or a couple of years old and are in immaculate condition (and i relaly mean this interior and exterior are superb - most equipt with all the nav gear and color GPS etc - a few have CD players and air con too.

I have no affiliation with this company if you think i sound like one of their salesman - but for every time i have gone to them ,we have always been treated great with value for money and they are on top of my list to start training with them for my FAA CPL next year.

Good luck on the flying, i hope you get a good school.

[BIG MISTER]

If you want cheap hours in a C152 then have a look at Debenair.

They are British owned and based at Space Coast Reg Airport (Titusville) next to NASA.

Flying is 'cheap as chips' but make sure you get a nice 'fly drive' deal from the airline you come over with as the accomodation is a 'short drive' away.

As mentioned before Key West is as must.....if your planning to stay over night (hotels are a bit exspensive but its worth it) then fill up on 100LL (again not the cheapest in FL) and save on the over night parking. ENJOY !!!!!!!

[G-SPOTs Lost]

There are thousands of C152's for rent in Florida, There should be absolutely no need to "wait" for an airplane at all.

50 Hours in two weeks is barely doable however 75 hours in three weeks is. Make sure that you do a twinrating whilst you are out there.

For those considering H/building in Florida, I suggest you obtain a night rating in the UK prior to going as the FAA PPL normally extends the privileges on your UK license.

I did 65 hours in three weeks to include a twin rating at Suncoast Flying Services at clearwater. They booked me a 152 for three weeks (N26EF) and when the txpdr went tech replaced it with another cessna N48985 immediately. I was charged $40.00 ph and I could reduce that rate by filling up at obscure airports and making money on the fuel rebate. Very helpful - let me get on with it without interfering.

I suggest that a place like this would be better than some of the larger flight schools who take a full page in Pilot magazine who have problems with a/c availability.

I have nothing to do with SFS just letting people know where I did my H/building.


PS if you are going to the states then buy a North & South Florida chart before you go and plan the first three days cross countrys, this will take the pressure of you.