Air Desert Pacific
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 31
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From: Spain
Air Desert Pacific
I woul like to received as much information as possible about this school.I am thinking in going to USA to build flight time and have been told to go to this school but would like to know more about it. Thank you very much
Shining Example, apparently...
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 288
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From: Lone Star State
I've chatted about ADP with a number of folk in So. California and heard opinions across the spectrum. As far as I can recall, they've about 7 Senecas. They're significantly cheaper than anywhere else in the area.
320, check your PMs for further detail!
320, check your PMs for further detail!
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 41
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From: here and there
I used ADP for some hour building Summer 2001. It's cheap and the admin staff are good. From what I saw, the instructors are pretty poor, and the singles fleet is aesthetically tatty, although maintained where it counts.
Top tip: Stay in the local Shilo Inn (free pick up/drop off) rather than ADP's residence. You pay a bit more, but the other customers around who were staying at the residence seemed pretty damn wierd. + you get a swimming pool at the Shilo.
Anything specific just ask I'll try and help.
Dave.
Top tip: Stay in the local Shilo Inn (free pick up/drop off) rather than ADP's residence. You pay a bit more, but the other customers around who were staying at the residence seemed pretty damn wierd. + you get a swimming pool at the Shilo.
Anything specific just ask I'll try and help.
Dave.
Flies for fun
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 789
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From: Wishing it was somewhere sunny!
The instructors are hour builders that’s probably true, but the set up is very professional and they don’t load on unexpected “extras” and in my experience are completely honest. The airfield (Bracket) is in the busy LA basin so a lot of good ATC communication experience and there are loads of good places to fly to. The scenery is second to none. The airplanes are well maintained but are not new and a bit scruffy but they do fly. You don’t get new airplanes at the prices that ADP charge. Loads of good experience to be gained in what is probably one of the busiest airspaces in the world. This part of the USA is very interesting as are some of the destinations easily reached on a flying daytrip. Any questions, just ask.
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 11
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From: Iceland
Well well well, ADP (Another Dead Pilot).
I flew at ADP 2001, the service was crap, twins were crap, singles were crap but the price is low, that is true.
I built my twin hrs. there but decided to fly singles somewhere else.
The instructors get almost no money for pr/hr pecause the school takes it all (almost).
Find another place...
I flew at ADP 2001, the service was crap, twins were crap, singles were crap but the price is low, that is true.
I built my twin hrs. there but decided to fly singles somewhere else.
The instructors get almost no money for pr/hr pecause the school takes it all (almost).
Find another place...
Flies for fun
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 789
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From: Wishing it was somewhere sunny!
Well, well, well extrakt will you please justify that "ADP (another dead pilot)" (yes, very clever, I've never heard that one before 
) by referring to an NTSC accident report where an ADP aircraft defect was a factor in a pilot death? It is a sad fact that hour building instructors seem to be paid on the basis of the going rate at most schools and stickers on the backs of many instructors cars "I fly for food" says much!
Quite simply you get what you pay for and you don't get new aircraft at ADP prices. Do you really need colour GPS and autopilot and new airplanes to build hours on a budget? I am fortunate that I do not need to go for price but nevertheless would not hesitate to return to ADP and probably will do just that during this year for the reason that California is a great place to fly and ADP are a very professional outfit who will absolutely do their best to schedule your flying at times and in the aircraft that you want! They treat you as a welcome customer not as a milking cow!
) by referring to an NTSC accident report where an ADP aircraft defect was a factor in a pilot death? It is a sad fact that hour building instructors seem to be paid on the basis of the going rate at most schools and stickers on the backs of many instructors cars "I fly for food" says much!Quite simply you get what you pay for and you don't get new aircraft at ADP prices. Do you really need colour GPS and autopilot and new airplanes to build hours on a budget? I am fortunate that I do not need to go for price but nevertheless would not hesitate to return to ADP and probably will do just that during this year for the reason that California is a great place to fly and ADP are a very professional outfit who will absolutely do their best to schedule your flying at times and in the aircraft that you want! They treat you as a welcome customer not as a milking cow!
Last edited by Sensible; 16th January 2003 at 10:01.
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 743
Likes: 1
From: Kilmacolm
Hello A320,
Visited ADP in May 2000 and October 2001 for two week hour building sessions on each visit.
In 2001 I was booked in one of their Arrow II's N39WT but when I arrived I was told that they had to let N39WT go to a couple of other people as they were doing some IFR Hour building for the two weeks that I was away. However they had already scheduled me on the more expensive Arrow III (N47455) but were letting me hire it at the Arrow II rates. They asked if I that was okay - well of course it was as the N47455 is a much nicer airplane than N39WT in my opinion. Besides I didn't require an IFR airplane and the Arrow III had bigger tanks. :-)
ADP seem to be professionally setup and run, they are helpful and friendly too. There seems to be a high turn over of instructors, but the pace may have slown down since Sept '01.
I've flown most of their Archers, Warriors and all three of their Arrows. They all fly fine, but don't expect new airplanes. Some of them look scruffy but rest assured they are airworthy. Some of the aircraft have really good avionics... the Arrow III even had an HSI slaved from a remote compass.
Something about SoCal (Southern California) airspace. It is busy. However the air traffic controllers and the service they provide over in SoCal the United States in general are absolutely excellent. You shouldn't have any problems with flying out of Brackett (where ADP are based).
Another little point about SoCal. If you have an IR then the SoCal area is quite good for practicing approaches in real IMC. Quite frequently the SoCal basin is covered with a marine layer which burns off quite quickly in the morning, but still good if you want to get some actual conditions IFR practice in.
One thing to note from their website, they have quite strict rules with renting aircraft. Non-IR holders are limited to daily rentals within a radius of 350 miles. If you've been there before the new rules then they may waive the requirements, they did for me, but don't count on it.
If you want cheap then ADP, but if you want brand new airplanes then look somewhere else.
Above all have fun.
Best wishes,
Charlie Zulu.
Visited ADP in May 2000 and October 2001 for two week hour building sessions on each visit.
In 2001 I was booked in one of their Arrow II's N39WT but when I arrived I was told that they had to let N39WT go to a couple of other people as they were doing some IFR Hour building for the two weeks that I was away. However they had already scheduled me on the more expensive Arrow III (N47455) but were letting me hire it at the Arrow II rates. They asked if I that was okay - well of course it was as the N47455 is a much nicer airplane than N39WT in my opinion. Besides I didn't require an IFR airplane and the Arrow III had bigger tanks. :-)
ADP seem to be professionally setup and run, they are helpful and friendly too. There seems to be a high turn over of instructors, but the pace may have slown down since Sept '01.
I've flown most of their Archers, Warriors and all three of their Arrows. They all fly fine, but don't expect new airplanes. Some of them look scruffy but rest assured they are airworthy. Some of the aircraft have really good avionics... the Arrow III even had an HSI slaved from a remote compass.
Something about SoCal (Southern California) airspace. It is busy. However the air traffic controllers and the service they provide over in SoCal the United States in general are absolutely excellent. You shouldn't have any problems with flying out of Brackett (where ADP are based).
Another little point about SoCal. If you have an IR then the SoCal area is quite good for practicing approaches in real IMC. Quite frequently the SoCal basin is covered with a marine layer which burns off quite quickly in the morning, but still good if you want to get some actual conditions IFR practice in.
One thing to note from their website, they have quite strict rules with renting aircraft. Non-IR holders are limited to daily rentals within a radius of 350 miles. If you've been there before the new rules then they may waive the requirements, they did for me, but don't count on it.
If you want cheap then ADP, but if you want brand new airplanes then look somewhere else.
Above all have fun.
Best wishes,
Charlie Zulu.
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 31
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From: Spain
thank you very much for your answers.I consider really helpfull all of them.I am not looking for new planes to make hour building.just one more question: how old are the ADP planes?because the planes in which I learnt to fly were 25 years old more or less
Flies for fun
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 789
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From: Wishing it was somewhere sunny!
So far as I know, the aircraft are about the same sort of age give or take a decade!
The folks at ADP are a real friendly bunch, phone them and ask! They will answer any other questions you may have as well!
if you e-mail me, I will send you a couple of pics of the mountain scenery at the airport if I can work out how my scanner works.
The folks at ADP are a real friendly bunch, phone them and ask! They will answer any other questions you may have as well!
if you e-mail me, I will send you a couple of pics of the mountain scenery at the airport if I can work out how my scanner works.
