To test this feature, visit your live site.

Flight School in the US

I'm new here. I am planning to get a PPL within 2-4 years in the US. Since its an expensive trip, I'm planning to get the license as soon as I can (maybe around 2 months, no longer than 3 months) with a budget of around HKD 120000. I am struggling to choose flight school in the US.

I'm looking for schools that are under Part 61/141 and found the Flying Academy in Miami, and Florida Flyers Flight Academy in North East Florida. Both are flight schools under Part 141 and provide details of the information on their courses.

However, Flying Academy claimed their price of PPL course start from USD7500 (Around HKD6100) and Florida Flyers Flight Academy did not list their price of PPL course. (I know most of the flight schools calculate their price per hour of flight training). Florida Flyers Flight Academy provides an instructor with an Instructor to the Student Ratio of 1:2 to 1:3 (which is great) and Flying Academy does not. It looks like the Florida Flyers Flight Academy has greater equipment able to use ( simulator/etc) while the Flying Academy doesn't. One thing I'm afraid of is they never mention the price of the course, and afraid of going overbudget.

Any recommendation on US flight Schools or advice on choosing flight schools?

4 comments

4 Comments

Jerry F

Mar 30, 2020

Thanks for the reminder. Have a nice day :)

Jerry F

Mar 30, 2020

Thank you for your explanation. Didn't expect a detailed explanation reply.

The budget that I planned to use is everything included (flight tickets, living costs, PPL course fees, etc). I expect a flight school that is both professional in teaching and the PPL fees are not too expensive. I do also expect I have to do additional training if I have to, Therefore, I expect the total of PPL course fees will not more than USD10000 (around HKD80000), which I think is reasonable.

I do notice the difference between Part61/141 and I prefer schools under Part141. More structured (preventing bad instructor delaying lessons) and detailed. Since I'm planning to get the license within 2-3 months once I get there, I believe a structured course would be a better option for me.

Thank you for your patient. Hope this will be the forum for every future aviator in Hong Kong.

ATVpilot

Mar 30, 2020

Replying to

Well, Keep in mind, bad instructor can be in Part 141 as well. Do you have a US citizenship? If not, you will need to go thru TSA and homeland security. Once you got clearance to study with 1 school, you are attached to it. so do more research on flight school.

Also, a side note, Do Not pay them in Full! Buying a 10hours block is reasonable; but paying the program in FULL is Risky.

ATVpilot

Mar 30, 2020

Hello, Fung, I understand your concern. First, I would like to point out the diff between Part 61 vs Part 141. FAA demands Part 141 flight school to have a proper structure and more restrictions. On the other hand, Part 61 is more like a flight club, and they both authorized to provide trainings.

Part 61 is usually cheaper and a bit more flexible; however, sometimes, the quote they provide might not be too accurate.

With your budget on HKD120000, I would need to clarify if the ticket and living cost is included or not; before I can provide further assist.

In general, whatever quote they provided, put a 20% on top would be a more realistic guestimate. ( Doesn't mean they try to scam you, but to provide a competitive quote, and stay in budget, you need to have a very smooth training. Providing you are well prepared, planes are ready, weather is good, no hiccup at all.)

Anyway, Let me know if you have further questions! and keep me posted on your plan. Cheers!