determined2fly

I wanted to do CFI training there...talked with Mike from AF on the phone...really nice guy from what I gathered...helpful. The lack of an MEI program at the Santa Monica location for me is a big draw back though.

Way2Broke

Mike is a great guy, but he is not a pilot, he is a sales man. Just watch out for that. I was happy with the program back in 2002 in ADS, and met some great friends while there, but the price quote and hours that are included in the rate (10 hours to do CFI, and CFII) are not realistic and their per hour rates and policies were a bit absurd sometimes. Such as not allowing a commercial pilot to solo in their aircraft when you had to go somewhere else to complete a check ride, thus forcing you to pay for a instructor. All of this was a long time ago, but I doubt much has changed much. Their instructor ground school was very good, but they raked in the money on their flight training.

determined2fly

Hey Thanks for the update Way2broke. Yeah, no doubt Mike is really helpful and answered alot of my questions. He had referred me to another fellow and I was able to get a better understanding about what their all about. I am also look at Aviators Academy in Florida...at this point a toss up between the two.

smugglersblues

Go to a trusted FBO and get your CFI, use asa study guides, use good common sense. AF are very good at seperating people from their money on a grand scale.

Way2Broke

Seriously, if you could do only the ground school with them, and do the flying somewhere else it that would be great! The CFI academy ground school experience was hard to beat as long as you have a good size group of people in the ground school. The flying, not so much.

hotbwayjoel

I'm currently at AF, KPMP location. The class currently has 10 students. As pretty much stated before the ground school is amazing. Patrick the ground school instructor really knows his stuff with a wealth of knowledge. The flying is above average but I wouldn't rate it as the best. Like everywhere else there are great instructors and you will happen to find that one or two bad egg(s). Good thing is that you never fly with the same instructor more than twice hence it becomes a toss up. I personally like this cause you get perspectives from many different instructors.
Then 10 hours for CFIA and II is a little ridic. The last class from the prior academy had four students and only one finished in 28 days. There is still one guy still here from the last class who failed his check-ride twice the first time the examiner set him up for the ILS on a near 90 degree angle and he blew it (full needle deflection). The second time he forgot clearing turns on is IA.
All in all i would highly recommend it. Just have your writtens done before or at least the FOI and IA and start reading up your airplane flying handbook and you will be in good shape as far as ground school proficiency.

NoBeta

hotbwayjoel.....

I can understand failing on the initial airplane ride for not doing clearing turns. It is in the PTS. I don't like the 90 degree intercept thing though. Any aircraft will blow right past the needle on a 90 degree intercept.