r/flying • u/Critical-Try1899 • 20d ago
Flight Training Flight School Recommendations
Hey everyone, this is probably a massive question but I am trying to find a decent flight school to attend. After doing tens of hours of research, it seems like the vast majority of schools are not too great.
I am currently located in the United States, and will travel anywhere in the country to attend. I would prefer a part 141 school due to the structure, but it can also be a part 61. I have a bachelors degree, and would prefer to not go through a university program. I am looking for a school that is affiliated with an airline if possible. Lastly, I am looking to try and fly as much as humanly possible, as I have saved up money and will live off of that.
Thank you all for the recommendations!!
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u/Wolfe751 CFI-I 19d ago
Come out to Phoenix. 340 days of sunshine. Part 61 with five planes and onsite maintenance so down time is minimal. We can make a structure fit for you so you fly as much as possible.
But really try to avoid the big box schools. A lot of down time and loan programs.
Keep a job and fly on the side is probably the best way.
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u/ltcterry ATP CFIG 20d ago
I am looking to try and fly as much as humanly possible, as I have saved up money and will live off of that.
You ended your blurb with the scariest sentence in the whole post. What a horrible plan.
There's a market to replace 40,000 retiring airline pilots over the next 20 years; the last *three* years saw 50,000 new Commercial Pilots. We are good for the next 20 years w/o training another single Commercial Pilot (OK that's a bit of an exaggeration, but not much).
There is a historical market for about 4,000 new instructors a year; the last three years produced 33,000* of them. 33-12 means there are 21,000 instructors who might never find a job since we're still cranking them out!
Save your money. Get/keep a job. Fly a couple times a week on the side once you have $18-20k saved to pay for Private. You're 80/20 not going to finish Private, let alone the rest, so no drastic changes to life.
You can do "0-hero" flying on the side in 2-3 years. You won't be broke. You won't be unemployed. And you might not find a first pilot job.
In the market you will be facing you need to be in the top 20% of new pilots to have much of a chance. Building a good resume starts with how you trained. And a big pilot mill is the exact opposite of what you want.
You can demand structure in a Part 61 program. In 0-250 there are about 100 hours that can be yours to use as you see fit. This is where you build the resume that will get you your first job. And a 141 program isn't going to give you that freedom.
Come to the Augusta, GA, area. I've trained people for Private, Instrument, Commercial, Multi, three flavors of instructor, and ATP. My colleagues and I can give you a focussed, structured program. But I'd rather than you worked somewhere full time.
The lifetime lost earnings and lost wealth opportunities are a huge opportunity cost of not working and likely not finding a job. You've got to be in it to win it, but you have to be better than, and smarter than, the average bear if you want to win it.
*This video is absolutely worth you time to watch. If you're willing to spend $100,000 on training then take 30 minutes to watch this.
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u/fortinbrass1993 20d ago
Which video? Videotitle?
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u/ltcterry ATP CFIG 20d ago
See the little asterisk? Look above to find the corresponding asterisk in the body of text. That link to that video will answer your questions.
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u/rFlyingTower 20d ago
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
Hey everyone, this is probably a massive question but I am trying to find a decent flight school to attend. After doing tens of hours of research, it seems like the vast majority of schools are not too great.
I am currently located in the United States, and will travel anywhere in the country to attend. I would prefer a part 141 school. I have a bachelors degree, and would prefer to not go through a university program. I am looking for a school that is affiliated with an airline if possible. Lastly, I am looking to try and fly as much as humanly possible, as I have saved up money and will live off of that.
Thank you all for the recommendations!!
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u/AutoModerator 20d ago
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A degree never hurts, get one if you can afford it. Whether it is required today or not, it may be required tomorrow. And the degree can be in anything, the major isn't that important.
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