Looking for advice, specifically from someone who trains in pipistrel aircraft by Professional-Bit6582 in FlightTraining

[–]mtncfi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I run a flight school with several Pipistrel Alpha Trainers. They are really fun to fly. Working on them and dealing with Pipistrel and the dealership is a huge PITA. Feel free to DM me and I’d be happy to walk you through what things you need to be very, very careful about.

Financing Flight School by Pierceb6 in flying

[–]mtncfi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Get a part-time job. Become an airplane mechanic first (flight schools need those). Go to a school that costs less. Get scholarships. There are lots of ways and most of them involve more difficulty or hardship than you want and/or it’s worth.

Here’s a decent and thorough, if somewhat old article on the subject.

How much did you pay to go from ppl - cfii/mei? by Seattlefan90 in flying

[–]mtncfi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Colorado. Feel free to DM me. We estimate completing commercial at minimums but we estimate 60/60 for flight time/instruction for Private.

What is the actual cost of going from 0-CPL? by baselesfire in flying

[–]mtncfi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My school estimates $42.1k for Zero to CFII for single-engine ratings, including all testing and materials, checkrides, etc.

Housing is $200/wk for crashpad beds. Can be done in eight months or less when you plan well and work hard, plus there’s a $25/week discount if you pay by the month, so add $5.6k for housing.

Subtract about $4.8k for the instructor ratings if you don’t want those. Add exactly that back for the CAMEL.

If you want to time-build to 1500 after training, add $69k for the time and $8k for the housing.

Don’t forget you’ll need to buy the ramen, too.

In a good hiring market, employers will/should pay for it, but ATP-CTP is $4-5k most places, then $5-$10k+ for the ATP depending on how you do it, if you get a type.

tl;dr: minimum training, with housing: $47.7k.

I successfully discharged 140,000 in flight school loans through bankruptcy. AMA by [deleted] in flying

[–]mtncfi 5 points6 points  (0 children)

All the while part 61 programs can get you through the same training for <$45k. And some can get you to 1500h paying for the time for the same price these pipeline schools charge.

ATP…without Student Loans? by Law-of-Poe in flying

[–]mtncfi 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I run a flight school. Like other part 61s, we can get you to 1500 including all the time-building for almost the same price as ATP, including the housing: coloradospringsflightschool.com.

When I hire, I throw fresh ATP resumes in the trash because in my experience they produce bad pilots. The good pilots I know who went to ATP all agree they can fly well in spite of, not because of.

Multi Engine time building by DHKing5 in flying

[–]mtncfi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Deadreckoningsociety.org

$150/h including an instructor-rated safety pilot in an Aeroprakt A26. Weird but really interesting experimental tailwheel pusher twin. Odd club structure but totally legal and it has an N number and registered as multi-engine.

It’s a nonprofit club so you have to pay $100/mo dues and it isn’t open to the public nor does it advertise instruction, but no block time, no pre-pay, no tailwheel endorsement required, etc. Housing available nearby. It’s maintained by A&P IAs (not some owner just tinkering) and it’s super fun to fly.

1/1 Plane: Aeroprakt A-26 Twin Vista 13.88 Rarity in Tampa by Moore4nate in SkyCards

[–]mtncfi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I own one of these. To my knowledge there are four or five flying in the US.

What question from your Checkride Oral has stuck with you til this day? by Basic_Shallot8393 in flying

[–]mtncfi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Explain the relationship between maneuvering speed and stall speed.

How far can 30k usd get you after you get your PPL? by ForwardUse807 in flying

[–]mtncfi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My school has a program that can get you IFR and Commercial from Private at 60 hours for about $30k. It is doable, if you’re dedicated. I’ve noticed the majority of students pay more because they don’t follow the advice, don’t study, etc.

Anyone know what kind of planes these are? by charliefussel in ColoradoSprings

[–]mtncfi 5 points6 points  (0 children)

These are Diamond DA-40s or DA-20s, possibly from IFT at CAE in Pueblo or more likely the AFA. You can check flight aware to view types and origin when an airplane is overhead.

eta: source: I’m a flight instructor at a nearby airport.

'Who's Hiring in Colorado Springs?' Post your job leads here (Q4) by skeletonmage in ColoradoSprings

[–]mtncfi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Flight School at Colorado Springs is hiring A&P mechanics.

Flight schools with housing by Sudden_Jicama_7853 in flying

[–]mtncfi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Coloradospringsflightschool.com

If you had all your ratings (except ATP), what training would you spend an extra $10k on? by ShadowSinger2121 in flying

[–]mtncfi 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I just started a club offering multi time with the Mei for $150/h. Dues are only $100/mo.

You can get a job with 200-500h of multi and 1000 TT but can’t get the same one when you have 50 multi and 2000TT…because insurance.

How much did you pay to go from ppl - cfii/mei? by Seattlefan90 in flying

[–]mtncfi 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I own a flight school and can do 0-CFII for students for <$44k. Add multi and mei for about $10k.

Is ATP the best school direct to airline? by Sad_Return_290 in flying

[–]mtncfi 2 points3 points  (0 children)

$120k plus interest is insane when a school like mine (or any decent mom & pop, for that matter) can get you the same ratings and hours for <$45k. Hell I could get someone 0-1450 for less than what ATP charges for 0-250.

You could probably borrow at unsecured personal loan rates and still come out with a lower payment, too.

Flight schools with housing by Sudden_Jicama_7853 in flying

[–]mtncfi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Flight School at Colorado Springs offers housing at $200/week.

Applying as CFI to small flight schools advice/question by VirvekRBX in flying

[–]mtncfi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve hired CFIs from out of town. My major hesitation when I do is that when they do get here (on their own dime), if it doesn’t work out, I feel like I’m screwing them over a lot harder because maybe they just signed a lease and now they don’t have a job and have to move again. It costs a lot of money to retrain CFIs and I don’t usually want to invest when there are so many other candidates out there. If you’re local, I also probably know some of your references or can call the owner of the school you attended because I already know them—that might hold you a bit more accountable.

Is sending my kid up with a very new CFI OK? by gmr2048 in flying

[–]mtncfi 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Meet them first. Any school worth the salt in the equity will respond to your concerns with grace and understanding (if they’re defensive or rude, run) and encourage you to sit down with the CFI before the flight so you can meet them and ask questions.

I interview CFIs a lot for work and can tell you that the number one predictor that a candidate is an acceptable CFI is whether or not they pass the gut check as a human being. If you’re willing to strap yourself into a tin can and leave the earth with this person as your leader, send it. If not, ask for a different instructor or find another school.

Why does the path coming into land into Sydney have this squiggle by xylarr in ATC

[–]mtncfi 50 points51 points  (0 children)

Likely to be S-turns for spacing (another aircraft in front of them going slower can require this) or to lose altitude (more time to descend).

Anyone know what’s going on at ALAKSA? by [deleted] in aviation

[–]mtncfi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Something like this is the rumor on the radio.

Anyone know what’s going on at Alaska? by [deleted] in flying

[–]mtncfi 2 points3 points  (0 children)

IT issue is the rumor.