Concentrated Flight instruction vs. local flight school

[Enemy Ace]

Does anyone have an opinion as to what is better: Going to a full time, intensive flight training school such as Flightsafety, Gulfstream academy, ATP, etc vs. getting ratings at the local flight school? Of course the big schools cost more but then I see guys go to Flightsafety and just get it all done, vs. the local school students who seem to start strong but then just kind of fade away after a while...is there any professional advantage to having gone to one of the bigger schools??

[RyanShort1]

I think a lot depends on the instructor you get. I've seen guys let down by both.

Ryan

[The Inspector]

Another consideration would be what's the cost v. time invested? If you are doing it as you can afford it, and have things like wife, kids, job, house note, car note, etc. it may take quite some time to get everything completed. If you are however in hock up to your eyeballs with a student loan to pay for it all, your attention tends to get a bit more focused. It's like ER vs. the local Comm College, with ER you get a $35,000.00 education that is precisely the same as the one you'd get for $4 to 5 grand at the CC because the Feds dictate what gets taught and for how long. Difference is, with ER you also get a really spiffy birdcage liner and years of loan payments. And once you have it, really no one gives a rats patooty where it came from so it's like having a weak bladder and wearing a dark suit.

[race9]

If you are going into the airlines, it is definitely better to go to a flight school like ERAU or North Dakota, especially with the new rule changes for ATP.

[Lynn Allen]

If you are going into the airlines, it is definitely better to go to a flight school like ERAU or North Dakota, especially with the new rule changes for ATP.

All great points, but remember you are throwing down a lot of money so get the instructor that you feel is best for you and not the horses A's that are around. You won't learn anything but to remember him or her down the road as you will run into them again. If they can't teach you a lesson, don't use them. I would use Gleim study books (The Red Books).

Good luck...

[RyanShort1]

If you are going into the airlines, it is definitely better to go to a flight school like ERAU or North Dakota, especially with the new rule changes for ATP.

Personally, instead of doing that, and having a $100,000 loan to pay off, I'd try to buy a $15,000-$18,000 trainer that's minimal IFR capable, and fly it with an instructor of my choice. Having seen things from this end of the deal, I think you'd come out ahead.

Ryan

[Enemy Ace]

Thanks for the replies. My work schedule gives me a month or three off a year but the rest of the time flying is simply not possible, so I am more interested in getting it done than how much it costs. I do have a IFR Warrior but just don't see any serious instructors around where I live.
I am gonna try a local instructor here in about a week. We'll see how it goes.