slapnut

Has anyone trained with these guys? I do not see any guarantees on prices, so I was also wondering if I might get taken perhaps on the EXTRAS. I have been researching many academy's, Part 141 schools, and FBO's. I have noticed that Aviator's offering seems to be fairly competitive, but do not know first hand about the quality of instruction? I was hoping anyone might shed a little light that may know of anyone who has trained there etc.

According to their website the Ari Ben AVIATOR training is:

• Part 141/VA Approved School located in Fort Pierce, Florida.

• 222 Total hours

• 200 Hours Multi-engine all ACTUAL w/ NO SIMULATED time

• 3 month Housing included (Admissions represented more accurate time frame to complete course was 4 to 6 months depending on student)

• RATINGS: Private Multi-Engine,Multi-Engine/Single-Engine Instrument, Multi-Engine/Single-Engine Commercial, Flight Instructor, Instrument Instructor, Multi-Engine Instructor

• $35,995. with instructor ratings or $32,995 without

• $2,500 additional for written exams and checkrides

The web address is: http://www.flyaviator.com

My quick Bio:

37 Years old
Pvt SEL
181 TT

planecrazyjenn

Did my training there. All sounds correct...first three months are included, but yeah it does usually take a little longer for most people. I got my stuff done in 3 months, so it is possible...you just have to really want it. 3 months isn't the way to go for everyone...but you can study at your own pace if you want. No sims...it is 141 and you'll get all the certificates/ratings you listed above. Overall, I was very happy with my choice to go there...and would go again in a heartbeat if I had to do it all over. Everyone there was great.

Also, search around on the flight training/school section...this topic has been brought up before and I know it went into a few pages from several people who've been there.

slapnut

Thank you for the information it is much appreciated. I guess I should have done a search on the forum first.

Attention moderators....Time to merge topics :-)

RxPilot

Wow I need to check that school out. Much cheaper than ATP.

I'm 181hr pri SEL too, but spread out over 15 yrs. Looking for a career change.

slapnut

Well my time is spread out over 20 years. I am also looking for a career change too! I'm looking for a good mix between quality, a program that is reasonably priced, and not spanned out over too many years unless absolutely neccessary. I obviously don't have the luxury of time that a 18, 19, or 20 plus year old has at age 37.

planecrazyjenn

If you have any questions you are more than welcome to ask. I hope they can help you out...it was definitely worth the money. I don't have any experience with All ATP...but we did have some students who came to us from there and it was a complete 180 from their previous training. However, that's not to knock ATP...I don't know much about them, so I can't say much.

But, in regards to Ari...please ask. :-D

RxPilot

planecrazyjenn,

What's the daily routine like at the school?

Is there a ground school, or are you pretty much on your own in that department?

Is it really possible to finish everything in 90 days? Have you seen it done? If so what percentage?

Are some of the multi hours flown as a check pilot?

Is there anything that I should be doing to prepare for the Pro Pilot Program before arrival?

I'm planning to have the instrument written out of the way and study up on the commercial material before going.

I'm planning to start training in September.

Please add any other information that you think is important. Thanks!!

RxPilot

Slapnut,
I'm in exactly same position as you. I'm 39/m. When I finished my private training back in 1992, I was so excited that I wanted to go all the way to CFI. But then reality hit. Lots of news of pilots getting laid off and starting pay for FO of low 10K scared the doo doo out of me.

I went back to college, got 2 degrees, and now currently working a boring job as a pharmacist. I'm making over 6 figures, my house is paid for, and I have no debts at all.

The problem is that I feel like I missed out on my dream of flying for the airlines. Now I wonder if I should have stuck it out in my 20s and finished up my ratings? Where would I be now if I stayed with it? It's driving me crazy.

I know the pay will never equal what I make currently, but life is too short to be trapped in a boring job.

I'm ready to make a drastic change in my life! For less pay...

slapnut

RxPilot,

Well I am bored to death doing Internet Marketing and Web Development Consulting right now. <sigh> I got my degree in Economics way back when and then got involved in computer repair & networking shortly after that.

The only time I was ever happy was when I did my flight training with a local FBO before I could even drive a car back in 1986 in Danbury, Connecticut. Subsequently, I've also only been happy when I've had a chance between other stuff to just fly over these last 20 years. I agree with you about life being too short to be trapped in a boring job because that is definitely me right now. Unfortunately, due to my current contractual obligations I am unable to take the plunge just yet, but see the 2nd quarter 2008 an opportunity for me to just go for my dreams and fly!!! Obviously we both can't change the past and what is done is done, but we still can mold our futures and follow our dreams while there is still time realistically left. We both definitely need to act now for sure!

Slapnut

planecrazyjenn

Rx, I can somewhat relate to you...only in a different way. Our goals are very similar...I knew I wanted to fly for the airlines, but wanted to use medicine as a back up. Little did I know I would eventually lose my medical...so I'm having to fall back on those degrees. You will be in a much better position than your peers, in that you will have experience in a back up career...God forbid you should ever have to use it. Also, making 6 figures...you will enter your new airline position with little debt. If you are married, just make sure your wife realizes that your looking at a major pay cut. If you are not happy in a boring job, then change what your doing. Money is not everything...happiness is. Go make it happen.

Slap...use your time left at your current job to save whatever you can...the less you take out in a student loan, the better off you will be.

Now...rx, to answer your questions...


You pretty much design your own routine. If you come there with the attitude that you only want to fly 3 times a week, then that's your choice. Some people fly two times a day, wx and instructor depending. Sept should be a good time for you to go there...I went in the winter and found that the weather was terrific...summer we can't say the same for. In between flights, you'll have ground school...and taken your writtens. Basically, you have a lot of design in your course. You have to go there with some motivation...they aren't going to hold your hand the entire way.

Yes and no. For your instructor ratings you'll sit in a classroom and go through a formal ground school. For everything else, you can elect to take the classroom style groundschool...or you can do it one on one with your instructor. I liked the one on one...because you could skip the stuff you really felt comfortable on, and could focus on what was giving you trouble. You will have a lot of studying to do on your own though.

It is absolutely possible to finish everything in 90 days. The people at ATP do. At Ari, you CAN finish it in 90...but most people do take a little longer because they choose to. I think in the end it's a better decision. 90 days is very fast, and you will forget stuff...I don't care what anyone tells you. But, if your looking for an immediate CFI, or airline position then you can make it work. If your just looking for the certificates, I really don't recommend it. I only knew a handful of people who did it that fast...most took about 4-5 months. I did it in 3 total but it wasn't all at the same time...as I had other priorities as well - family, school, military commitment, etc. Made it rough, but if your motivated and self-determined you can definitely get it done quickly.

Your time building stage is flown with another student, or time builder...and yeah you do the PIC/Safety pilot thing. The exception is if your military...you do 55 hours of solo time.

Getting the writtens out of the way beforehand is huge. I'm not saying the information on the writtens is at all worthess, but if you can get that done now...and not have to focus on things you don't really use in flight later...you'll thank yourself in the long run. Combine your writtens...for example...take the AI, IGI, and CFII at all the same time. You'll find the information is the same, and you'll see the same questions on the tests as you take them. It beats having to restudy for the CFII later in your training.

Also, brush up on private pilot stuff. Brush up on the FAR/AIM, and if you can look into some multi engine aerodynamics. If you don't have access to the BE-76 POH, I can send you the 'numbers' via email - V speeds, weights, specs, etc. Knowing that stuff prior to will really help cut down on your overall time. You can go there and not brush up on a thing, but with your goal of finishing as quick as possible it'd be wise to cover as much now as you can.

Let's see...anything else off the top of my mind...no not really. Having a positive attitude is the biggest key to finishing quickly. Don't necessarily go there with the attitude of finishing quickly, but rather finishing thoroughly. If you finish in 90 days and don't remember a thing, what good is it? If it takes another month or so and your confident, it'll mean a world of difference.

Good luck to the both of you...if you want the duchess info let me know an email address.

Jenn