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Regardless of which school you choose you will earn the same FAA certificates and ratings. The speed and quality of your training are two important variables in controlling costs and making you a safe and responsible pilot. How you get that training and the schools dedication will make a difference in how long it will take, how much it costs, how prepared and safe you will be.
Here are a few question to get you started:
What is your training objective or orientation?
SDFTI makes it easy … whether you are career oriented, non-career oriented, or an international student. While the flight training curriculum is exactly the same high standard, we make special adjustments and accommodations for your schedule and to any special information that fits your situation and individual needs. Additionally, you choose between our "Custom Training Program," where you work one-on-one with your instructors on a schedule that fits your life, or perhaps you join one of the Airline Direct® Academy center program tracks.
Does the school use an FAA approved and monitored training syllabus?
SDFTI is a Part 141 school that is constantly audited by the FAA and must have detailed, FAA-approved course outlines and meet student performance rates.
Does the school have student testing Examination Authority and aircraft Inspection Authority?
SDFTI has earned and maintained the strictest standard the FAA has to be a trusted partner in keeping the skies safe.
How conducive is the school’s climate, airspace, topography, and location to making you a well rounded pilot?
SDFTI is located at San Diego’s Montgomery Field with 24 hour operations, a complex airspace, dedicated practice areas, ILS approach, a rich variety of terrain and more than 8,400 hours (350 days) for flight training every year. With temperate Mediterranean weather conditions year-round regulated by 70 miles of ocean, you can focus on your training in comfort.
Does the school maintain and own its training aircraft (versus lease backs or club planes) and how old are they?
SDFTI owns and maintains 20 full-time training craft. Every 100 hours these planes get a complete engine and airframe inspection and needed repairs. The majority of our fleet is 2000 or newer. Four Garmin G1000-equipped C172SP models were placed into service in 2006.
What are the sizes of the classes?
SDFTI offers one-on-one custom training and is the home of the Airline Direct Academy which limits class sizes to 10 students for more personalized training.
With a national average to earn a Private Pilot at 74 hours; what is the average completion time for the school?
SDFTI finishes Private Pilots in 52 hours on average.
Finally, is the promise of post training employment. Many career schools claim to have “connections” with an airline or even several airlines - however this is something that often times is not valuable to you because:
- The airline industry is in a state of constant change - it is nearly impossible to tell who will really be hiring when you are done with your education and finished building your flight experience.
- Be careful of the guaranteed interview and never pick a school for the so called guaranteed job. These are interesting marketing spins. Be sure to ask how many students who got interviews were given unconditional jobs and how long did it take them to get hired?
Airlines hire based on competencies, people skills, technical skills and flight experience. Most importantly is the airline's need for new pilots and that is the case regardless of whether your school has “connections.” You and your school should focus on you being prepared for an interview anywhere not just with someone they claim a connection.
Some schools will offer you employment as a flight instructor, which is how most of us get the required flight hours for our first airline job. Here again the issue is not will they offer you a job but do they have enough students to help you get the flight time you need as fast as you would like?
The items to watch out for in this area are:
- If the school offers everyone a job as an instructor then none of the instructors will get enough flight time to accelerate their career.
- You need to choose a school that hires the best flight educators available based on teaching skills, not just because the marketing department knows it sounds good to new prospects.
Finally, here are some things to assess:
How does the school's philosophy, goals, and objectives match up to yours?
If you need it, can the school offer you assistance with housing resources and financial aid such as the GI Bill and independent funding?
How long has the flight school been in business?
What are the school's classrooms like?
What is the school's reputation on regulations and safety policies?
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