"CPC" Cessna Pilot Center

[bigray03]

I am currently training a a CPC in my area for my private. I chose it over others schools because the freedom of choosing when I attended and flew was better than some other schools in the area, considering the schedule that I work. The rentals are a little higher and they talk themselves up and pride themselves on being a Cessna Pilot Center but is it really any better. I would think it is really no big deal, but does anyone else out there have any experience with a CPC vs. an independent or other schools?
Any comments?

[ashley]

I haven't tried CPC but am pretty satisfied with the training at Centennial College, Ontario.

[Lead7]

I've worked at two CPCs. Honestly, I don't really get the whole CPC thing, other than it's great marketing for Cessna. Cessna knows that whatever a student learns in, he is likely to stay in after he get's his license. Get more people to learn in Cessnas, you get more people to buy Cessnas.

If you look on Cessna's website they basically give three reasons to learn at a Cessna Pilot Center. "Worlds best trained instructors..." "Computer Based Learning..." and most importantly "Flying Cessnas..." (Just so you know, I love Cessna's and think they are one of if not the best training airplane.)

the first one about the instructors is BS. There are good and bad instructors at CPCs just like anywhere else.

Computer based learning. This is true. but you spend $300 for the softwhere packet. They are done by the Kings and they are great and may fit your learning style better. Does it offer a huge advantage? I don't think so. They are still willing to sell the packet to you even if you don't go to a CPC.

Finally the most important thing, they train in Cessnas. This is true for the most part but I worked at a CPC that had 2 Pipers and 3 Cessnas.

I tried to find the requirements to become a CPC but I couldn't find them.

The bottom line is that a CPC is a flight school is a flight school is a flight school. Just because someone is a CPC doesn't mean that you should only consider them. Look at all your options (they could well be the best one), ask to see the planes (not just the glass cockpit), ask for a tour of the maintence facilities. Ask them what happens when an aircraft is squaked. Do you like the instructors and the general attitude of the flight school?

Cessna's are great, CPC's can be great, or they can suck.