I need some advise...maybe some encouragement?

[ryanv]

You know...the internet is a curse sometime...for a couple days now I was all excited about coming down to the FL and flop down a bunch of cash to get my Multi-Instrument-Commercial with 150 hours of Beech Dutchess. I even got approved for a loan with SalieMae.

So today I got online and did what I would normally do when I buy something like a new camera, a new piece of software and did a little "research"...as it turns out there is a big controversy about Ari Ben Aviator and its quality of airplane, facility, training...and of course there are the apple and orange comparison between Aviator and ATP.

I mean if you read some of these comments online you would think Aviator is a crowded hole with the wall running by a big fat, hairy, fast talk used car salesman...then you read more and there is the ATP versus Flight Safety Academy, then on to the Flight Safety versus Pan Am and so on and so on...

So maybe all this deflated my enthusiasm and makes me feel dumb and even a bit gullible for even get a little excited about going to Ari Ben Aviator and now I don't know what to do.

I mean – can it really be that bad? I was going to visit the school with open mind but now I am thinking what and where should I dig for the real dirt about the school…it is so sad.

I guess if the claim is true that there are over 200 students at the same time and there are only a few people complaining then I guess there is still hope?

This just *ucks!

[Denny of Oakland]

Little word of advice from an old grayed haired guy. Contact the local Flight Standard District Office (FSDO) that over sees the flight school you want to go to. Explain what you want to do and ask lots of questions about the school from the airworthiness and operation inspector assigned to the school. They may not be able to tell you everything, but you should be able to read between the lines about the quality of instruction and condition of the aircraft.

You can find the local FSDO on line at FAA - Home a telephone call could clear up a bunch of questions and maybe save you a pocket full of change.

Just one man's opinion.

[SkykingC310]

Hey there, I see in your profile that you're located in Reno. Have you considered Sheble Aviation in Kingman, AZ? I've only heard good things about their program and it's much closer to home for you. Sheble Riviera Aviation Flight Schools in Kingman Arizona and Henderson Nevada

[navyretread]

Ryan,

Maybe you were just looking for someone to tell you to go ahead and do it but it sounds as though wiser heads are suggesting caution; i.e. you don't have enough information and/or perhaps need to do a little more homework. The purpose of gathering information isn't to sell yourself on this course of action but to make a wise decision and maybe give more consideration to some alternatives.

God, I wish I were young again! I know what I'd do but that isn't going to help you make your decision. One thing I do know from putting one kid through college and law school and the second one starting college this Fall, those Sallie Mae loans are fine as long as you're sure you're going to be able to pay them back, presumably with increased earning power resulting from the financed education. So, do a proforma budget using your projected earning power and the kind of life you want to live while you pay that loan back.

Personally, I think your earning power isn't going to be that great until you get a lot more than 150 hours of multi/instrument/Comm'l (why not go for the ATP, too?). Some of these other guys know more about this than I, why don't one of you give Ryan an idea of what the earnings track looks like-say, for the next five years after flight school?

Them's my thoughts.

nrt

[aviatordream]

A little advice from someone who has been there. Take a breath, relax. Now there is nothing wrong with doing good solid research into any school you are to attend. However there is such a thing as too much. What I mean by that is this, if you search long enough and hard enough, you can find good comments and bad comments and even horrible end of you life type comments for any and all flight schools out there. Every scchool has students that are satisfied and hppy and every school has someone who hated it and will let anyone who will listen know it. Do some research, be honest with yourself about your goals and to some extent go with your gut feeling when interviewing potential instructors, it most cases this will serve you fine, but never ever give them all of your money upfront, the good schools will let you maintain a certain balance ussually like 500 dollars and then pay by the flight. If the school goes down and theyre holding 5 or 10 thousand of your money, youll never get it back.. Most schools out there have students that were success stories, so dont look for problems that might not be there because of one or two blogs on a website, just use common sense, and keep a level head, this is good experiance for your career. As a pilot you will face hard decisions with differing opinions even in the cockpit, and youll have to keep your head. good luck in your endevour and dont get discouraged.