Which Flight School To Choose From (USA)
 

Hi people...!

I'm thinking of doing my flight training in FLORIDA.

I'd like to make it to a commerical pilot's license (CPL) with multi-engine (MER) and instrument ratings (IR).

Any SPECIFIC flight training INSTITUTES you could recommend?

What about accomodation?

I got a budget of about $30,000...

I'm an Indian student looking to bag about 200 hours.

Thanks...

Re: Training in Florida?
 

Just remember, you get what you pay for. Some of the aircraft at the cheaper schools are just simply sh1t heaps. I was disgusted by the state of some of the aircraft in FL and was seriously concerned about their safety. So as Cilla would say, a lorra lorra dogs !

Re: Training in Florida?
 

Have you got a PPL? Or are you starting from scratch?
Here is a breakdown of costs from Naples Air Center:

JAA PPL-$5750
MER-$2313
JAA ME CPL-$6965
CPL Flight exam fee-$1172
FAA IR- $5805
JAA IR Conversion-$7900
TOTAL- $29905

I hope this is of some help to you!

*I dont work for NAC nor have i, i got prices and info from www.naples-air-center.com*

Re: Training in Florida?
 

I could not agree more with happyhamster.....

I worked for a school in Southern Florida, and some of those aircrafts where really crappy and have scared me more than once! One day I discovered oil floating in the RPM gauge, taxied back to the school and told them....... they told me that it was not dangerous and it had been like that for a while (about 7 years!!!)..... they even joked about it, saying it would be an backup attitude indicator!!!!

So be carefull!! I have heard good things about Naples!!

Best of luck!!

Re: Training in Florida?
 

Checkout www.flyaviator.com
I went there and it was a good school, all multi engine flying for the same price as most other schools single engine. They also have a purpose built 200hr program, which is what I did.

Re: Training in Florida?
 

First of all, make sure that you can get a Class One medical. Whilst you may be able to get an FAA one, be sure that you will pass the Indian one! No point in spending all your money if you are medically inapt!

Re: Training in Florida?
 

I went to EFT in Fort Pierce Florida. JAR school with great instuctors.....def worth a look!!
www.flyeft.com

Training in the USA (incl Florida!)
 

Thanks for this SHARPPOINT,

Can you PM more details about the condo accomodation, how do i organise it? do you do it when your there or have to book in advance? This was one thing concerning me, going out there for 10 weeks or so i dont want to stay in a flea pit!

Also was naples the only school you trained at in the US or were there others to attended?If so what were your thoughts compared to NAC?

Thanks

Re: Naples Air center...comments please
 

Start of April i hope for 10 weeks or so.

Want to get all my PPL exams done before i go so i can enjoy my flying!

What about you?

Re: Naples Air center...comments please
 

The accom does seem expensive! Even the wellesley hotel (motel) is rated just about the worst hotel in Naples on Tripadvisor.com (out of 54 hotels)

I would be interested to find out more about the condo's.

Can anyone help?

Re: Naples Air center...comments please
 

Try http://www.forrent.com there seems to be some cheap places on that! If you share with 3 people u can get an apartment for about $350p/m each or even less. Or even try some of those roommates websites with people looking for people to rent a room off them.Hope this helps...

Re: Naples Air center...comments please
 

Thanks this is all really helpful!

Its not making my decision any easier though, has anyone else been to NAC and another US schools that they can compare. East or West Coast.

Does anyone know what any of the the west coast schools are like?

Re: Training in Florida?
 

What training did you do at EFT?

How did you find them?

Re: Naples Air center...comments please
 

I have been to both east and west coast. I did my PPl at Naples, with London Avaition, through Multiflight in Leeds. the aircraft were okay, all had two working Comms and GPS as well. I did my CPL and ME in Fort Pierce with EFT http://www.flyeft.com Again the aircraft were clean tidy and servicable, accom was $25 per night and that was at either student housing or the holiday trailer park they used, which was very nice. All the aircraft worked and were kept to a high standard. have a look at them and give them a call, their instructors are european's, mainly english and I found the instruction second to none.
Frank

Re: Naples Air center...comments please
 

Frank,

Thanks for this, have you done any of your training in California at any schools. I wanted to do my PPL and 100 or so hours in one go, in about 10 weeks but i hear hours building in Florida is really dull compared to California.

But EFT sounds like a really good place, i heard nothing but praise so far from a number of people.

:cool:

(open)

Once i have my JAA PPL I thought i only needed a FAA flight check to hours build in the US is that correct?

Re: Naples Air center...comments please
 

Sorry V2, but I did all my USA flying in Florida.
EFT have several cessna's, One Piper Arrow, and several Beech Duchess's.
I do have some photo's of the flight line and a few interiors of the duchess's, email me if you want to see them.
Frank

Re: Naples Air center...comments please
 

Has anyone had any experiences with JAA flight schools in California?

Thanks

Re: Naples Air center...comments please
 

Thanks DB,

This has been really helpful!

:ok:

Re: Training in Florida?
 

Thanks loads everyone...

I'll definitely check out the places you have recommened and I'll try to keep away from the flying-junk type aircrafts...

Killol

Re: Naples Air center...comments please
 

U find those pics yet 1960?

Re: Naples Air center...comments please
 

Nosefirst,

Thanks for this, check your PM.

V2

:cool:

Re: Naples Air center...comments please
 

Thanks for all your comments. Much appreciated!

V2

Off to NAC
 

Hi
I having been following this thread with interest as I will be at NAC in February on a PPL course.
Most of the previous comments seem favourable, but it obviously has not suited all students.
I am looking forward to my trip and will try to maintain a Blog whilst in Naples. This is somewhat dependent upon being able to get internet access and having the energy to write the blog at the end of the day. I will not be updating the blog every day as I want a to enjoy Naples and not be stuck in front of a computer every night. Hopefully I will be able report the NAC training experience as it happens.
I have already started my blog and those interested can see it at
peewitppl.!!!!!!!!.com
Happy flying
Peewit

The Wellesley Inn has free broadband Internet access in all of its rooms. All you need is your laptop with built in wireless technology or a wireless card to plug into it.

The general aviation terminal also has free wireless internet access which one can access over in the Naples Air Center building. Again you need your own laptop etc etc...

The centre of Naples is rumoured to have free wireless internet access too... however I haven't tested it myself.

So there you go, just hope you have a laptop now!

Many thanks Charlie Zulu.
I will be taking my laptop but will be spending some time in the student condos, although exactly how long seems to be an unknown at this juncture. So when I am not at the Wellesley I will probably use my laptop to create a post, then transfer it to my pda and lastly cycle into Naples to find a wireless hotspot and a cool beer.
Peewit

peewit,
that is a very good idea ,mate!:ok:
I for one will enjoy reading it, it will be like taking a stroll down memory lane.....

davey147,mate,
seeing as you are paying their bills, that is ALWAYS a problem!

count d.

V2, im assuning one of the reasons why you wanna go to the us is because the ppl can be done a lot quicker than in the uk, due to the weather.
Have you thought about doing it in spain, which has the same advantage?

A number of flight schools offer a 3-4 wk PPL with British instructors, such as
www.fly-in-spain.com, down at Jerez.
The training cost I think comes out at about a grand more than places like OFT and Naples, but once you factor in US flights ((around £300) and visa charges ($337 for the visa plus $180 for registering with the alien flight student programme) it might not be too much of a difference.
Plus in europe u will get more experience of flying in controled airspace, of which there is not a great deal of in Florida. A lot of people say that someone who gets their PPL in the US is advised to take a couple of hours of instruction when they get back to the uk to get used to the difference.
Am out there myself in a week or so to do quick PPL with Fly in spain, will put my thoughts about it on pprune when im done.

Nac
 

King Rooney,

Thanks & good luck with the PPL and i look forward to your response.

V2

Nac Blog
 

Peewit,

Thats a great idea! I look forward to reading more soon!

Rergards

V2

ATPL Training in USA or UK?????
 

I'm basically lost with what to do about the ATPL training side of things. Should I stick with training in the UK or should I risk training for my CPL/IR etc over in the USA?

I plan to start Distance Learning course once I'm sorted with my path.

What are the chances of employment when you train in the USA compared to the UK?

How many of you have actually got a job in Europe or USA generally with the airlines after completing a JAA course?

I know it's cheaper over in the USA, but is the training really as good and the a/c really that safe lol! ?

Who's got an airline job or similar since doing training in the USA?

I'm currently working right next to Gatwick and seeing the a/c during the day taking off/landing is making me feel unforfilled.

Any help on this would be appreciated.

Cheers! :D

Spike,
You cant compare the two, they are very different. I believe the FAA flight training is more advanced and more functional in todays flying. By the same token I believe the JAR/JAA written subjects can teach you a better basis of how things fly (as well as how they have flown for 100 years, they tend to dwell) If you do not have the legal right to live and work in the U.S. then forget the FAA approach and do it as an add on. Your chances of getting a job in the U.S.with no green card are between No Hope and Bob Hope, and Bob died!
There are "N" reg jobs around and many airlines accept the FAA ATP but most of those are like Cathay and you need 3000+ hrs to get in. You will find it alot easier to get a job with a JAR FATPL than with a FAA COMM as that is all you will have untill you get to 1500hrs and do your ATP test.
Good luck

Yeh the aviator 200hr pro course is great !

Been there done that, very happy with that place !

I also did some work with EFT they are such a stream lined pilot factory, with excellent instructors.

razzele

peewit, well done mate, well done!

Just one question, how are the cats, in particular Snowy and Tux?

Fire
 

I am up early this Sunday morning as the hotel fire alarms went off. The alarms are very loud and we needed a visit from two fire tenders to turn them off. It was all caused by a bit of burnt toast. Most guests had been in bed or in the shower. See my blog for pictures later.
DownIn3Greens many thanks for the tip on taxis. I see you are a pilot and live in Naples. Are you with a flight school or flying one of the exec. aircraft.
I have certainly met the cats Count Dinglebury and they seem well despite some problems with a possum. I haven't got their names sorted yet. The black female likes to come and sit on your chart and help plot the route. She lets me know if the track should be a whisker to starboard.
Peewit

My question would be: why go to the States for a JAA qualification?

If you want to learn in the US, why not go to a US school for an FAA PPL? If you want a JAA qualification why not either do that and convert back here or do the whole thing at your local flying club? The problem with any JAA training in the states is that it is by the nature of its target market necessarily "sausage factory", set up for flying tourists trying to get hold of a licence quickly and/or cheaply, not for people to enjoy flying and learn. This is not a criticism of the schools nor really of the students who don't know better; it is just an inevitable product of the market conditions.

The focus will be on money, on speed and on getting you out with the right paperwork because that is what the client looks for, you will not get a rounded flying experience. Half of what I have learnt in light aviation has been from being in flying organisations and around pilots; there is lot you can't learn by being around other part-finished products of a training factory!

JEREZ
 

Cheers for that King Rooney, never thought about that, was looking into NAC but indeed you are right, at the end of the day you will probably pay the same. And it must be a godd school, Aer Lingus and I think BA used to send there ab-initios there, Can I PM you for some more info.
IE

Maybe I fall into the "don't know any better" category.
The reason I chose to do a JAA PPL at NAC was was for speed, as you rightly point out. Being over 60 years I just wanted to get flying asap. I have been learning in England for 6 months and found that it was slow progress with so many cancellations due to bad weather. I was averaging 1 hour per month over the winter and forgetting things from earlier lessons. In my opinion the standard of instruction I am getting here is just as good as the best I got in the UK. Here though I am able to build on the previous days lessons and feel I am really improving. I did all the written exams before coming out here so I do not feel part of a sausage factory. I am just flying almost every day in lovely weather. The cost saving is a factor too, and having the JAA training is purely again for speed and convenience. I did not really consider getting FAA training and converting but given the choice again I would probably make the same decision.
Peewit

I do agree with this comment regarding some schools. However, I am very upset to think that it could be true regarding all schools. I did part of my training at a JAA school in the US and this was not the case at all! I think part of the problem lies with FAA instructors instructing JAA courses rather than JAA qualified instructors...?
For Info www.flyeft.com have all JAA instructors and I believe Naples the majority are.

Preparation prior to Florida?
 

Hi all,
I am planning to go to "a" school somewhere in Florida in May to lash out 50hrs and get my ME and night rating. I unfortunately haven't got a clue where I am going to go and also haven't got any idea about procedures, airspaces, routes etc over in the US. So, could anyone tell me what I can buy before heading out to get me up to speed and well prepared prior to leaving. I also want to get up to speed with flying twins, any good generic books that you may recommend? Now to the final question, which school in your opinion/experience has the safest/cleanest planes? By cleanest I don't mean hygiene, I mean knackered interiors etc.
Any and all info, without a debate on which school is best as I dare not ask that question, would be great.
I also would like to have a safety pilot for a few trips, how much can I add to my hourly cost by doing this?

Thanks in advance

http://www.aopa.org/asf/publications/advisors.html look under "regulations"
http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/ only if you are looking for some specific regulation, no bedtime reading
http://www.flytandem.com/airspace.htm an explanation re:airspace
http://www.myairplane.com/ online charts, under "VFR sectionals" choose "miami" or "jacksonville" (doesn't zoom in firefox for some reason)


Multi-Engine Piston by D Robson is fairly decent, but there are plenty of others
an article i wrote on critical engines a long time ago


You mean, how much it will cost you to hire a safety-pilot? I wouldn't spend money on that, you can ask anyone to come with you, especially other students, you will learn plenty from eachother.