American Flyers

5 Answers

1. 
   

   
   

   Bob Watson on May 19, 2013

   I don’t know anything about AF, but I got my CPL/ME add-on at a ticket-mill-like operation (that’s since gone out of business) and here’s what I’d look for based on that experience if I were to do it again.

   1. If you can visit them in person before committing your time and money, I’d highly recommend that (actually, scratch that…don’t sign up for anything sight-unseen). They always look different in person than they do in the marketing glossies. Talk to some instructors. Talk to some students. Talk to the counter staff. Visit the mechanics. Are the planes on the line or in maintenance most of the time? Get a feel for the place and decide if that’s a place where you want to spend your time and money. In my case, I had a great instructor and got lucky plane and weather-wise. I could have just as easily had the opposite experience.

   2. Do the math…If the simulator time is unlimited for you, it’s unlimited for everyone else. Something doesn’t add up–and that’d be something else to check in person. How many sims do they have and how booked-up are they?

   3. You don’t say how current or proficient you are, which are two other big (and different) factors in determining your success with a ticket-mill (or any place, I suppose). I went in to my CPL/ME training at as close to the top of my game as I’ve ever been and it was a challenge. If I’d been any less proficient, I wouldn’t have made it out in the 3-day weekend. If you’re not already at the top of your game, expect to double the time and cost of whatever they’re advertising, especially for the initial CFI. From what I recall, that has the lowest first-time pass rate of all the tickets, so that’s all the more reason to be current in both flying skills and all the rules and regs.

   4. You need to be very self-motivated and self-disciplined to succeed at one of these places, as well. While you’re visiting them, check out their CFI lesson plans. Are those lessons something you could do easily or are you going to need to work at it? If the latter, do as much homework on them as you can before you get there.

   Practically, I think a month to get a CFI/CFII is enough time, if you’re in tip-top pilot-shape and have everything line up when you start. If not, you’ll need to add some dual to get proficient and spend some late nights doing homework, but I’d say it’s still possible in a month or so.

   Let us know what you find out!

   +1 Votes 1 Votes  0 Votes

2. 
   

   
   

   Tom Kelley on May 19, 2013

   I had a very positive experience with AF in Addison about 2 years ago, getting my instrument rating. I was particularly impressed with their very professional approach, based on a strong standardized program. At first I was not sure if I would like having multiple instructors, but in the end it worked out very well, and I think I learned something unique from each of them. Scheduling and support also excellent.
   Also, in response to the specific concern about cost, I never felt that anyone at AF was trying to delay my progress or doing anything but rigorously moving me forward wtih my training.

   0 Votes 0 Votes  0 Votes

3. 
   

   
   

   Bruce J. Sato on May 19, 2013

   I took the 30 Day course over at AF (Santa Monica, CA) and it took me a little longer than that after the 30 Day.

   I took it upon my self to see the whole operation before I signed up, and it looked great, but once I started it all went down hill from there but you get a placard for completing both courses (CFI & CFII) even though you haven’t passed the checkride hahaha.

   The class starts of with the introduction of the instructor and what his background is like and what he is going to do for that day. After Everyone says there name and what they want to do in aviation, you get shown how to do a lesson plan, Holding was the one we did. We get books not binders like others did before. I was told the binders didn’t have much of an accuracy on information so they redid it all and made books instead. The rest of the time spent at AF was like this basically if your not flying your doing lesson plans, and if your not doing that you are either studying for the knowledge test, back seating a Classmate. presenting a lesson plan or flying the simulator.

   TIPS
   1. Get the Verbage, Objectives, and Configuration down for each maneuver!
   2. Keep presenting those lesson plans! Its one thing to write it down but its presenting it that shows how much you can teach it (at least for me).

   The BAD

   First
   I and a couple other classmates wanted also was the part 141 (CFI & CFII) course but when the first day was done they had told us that they are only going to give us the part 61 (CFI & CFII), supposedly its because of some FAA officaial that didnt like the 141 course at AF, so they stoped the 141 for the time being. Many of the applicants left right after I stayed.

   Second
   When they had told us that part 61 was only provided we thought the CFI was first then CFII, NOPE!!! its all done backwards, we did the entire course AS IF it was the part 141
   (CFII 1st then CFI) but it all was done under part 61.

   Third
   When I did the CFI part they had me with an Instructor most of the way but when it was time for me to fly with the cheif pilot, my verbage from my instructor was all BS and they looked at me like if I was speaking another language, so that incident had me spend another 3k (10hrs @ $240hr) for my verbage. @ $240hr I would rather fly a twin for that price. After that flight I flew with the cheif pilot only! no one else because it was a waste of my time and money with others since they didn’t like their verbage.

   Long story short AF was okay to me, it wasn’t great but I only got my CFI there and went to a local FBO for my CFII and the price was way better!!!!!!! 149hr (G1000) vs $240
   (172RG in okay condition) Id take that g1000 anyday..

   American Flyers is a good name and a professional school, they have been doing this for many years, had I known that all that was going to be given to me I would go to a local FBO and do it there but then again I wouldn’t gain the experience. This is my 2 cents and my past experience with them hope it was helpful.

   +8 Votes 8 Votes  0 Votes

4. 
   

   
   

   Bob Whalen on Nov 26, 2013

   There are other very good schools at Addison — and they charge a lot less! Try Lone Star Flyers …

   +1 Votes 1 Votes  0 Votes

5. 
   

   
   

   Dee on Jan 05, 2014

   I was just another victim of ATP airline career program. I thought going in I did all my research. Being an older individual than most that traditionally attend I thought my life experiences and education along with common sense would keep me from being a victim. Oh but was I wrong. The flight instructors are jUst there to log hrs to get to the regionals, they could not careless about teaching or instructing. Not to mention they constantly complain about the amount that they are paid and what ATP expects in return for this minimal pay. When they don’t want to work they log a “briefing” onto your calendar to make it look as if they are actually earning their pay. The end result is that you pay $60 every time they do this. I was charged for 92 of these briefings eating up thousands out of my loan which was being paid immaturely as I was training. Many of the instructors are abusive including physically. Many of the guys have been slapped, hit and even threatened to be punched in the cockpit. I am female so I was treated as if I was an idiot and constantly was bumped during training. I was even told that if I played xbox I would be an awesome pilot. I guess I should tell the DPE s that issued my pvt/instrument and me ratings that Iam really not that good because I didn’t play nor own an xbox. Anyhow once they went through all my money they flew me to a location hrs from my training location tried to squeeze an additional 30k from me after I’ve just invested 70k plus into my training program. When I would not agree they terminated me enrollment and left me stranded at a municipal airport on a Friday night to find my way back to my training location 100 of miles away. Can sue them because hidden in the enrollment agreementis an agreement to arbitration which I unknowing signed so I am screwed there. My advice is this beware!!!! Educated and keep on top of everything don’t trust anyone!!!!

   +12 Votes 13 Votes  1 Votes