Expert: Ismar Avdic, Eng. - 10/2/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hello sir,
 I want to ask you that Which is the best training school for getting CPL? I am from India and I have graduated from a reputed engineering college with stream as computer science. But I am more passionate about flying rather than making my career in IT industry. I have strong academic background but my financial status is not that good. I have just completed my degree but have not started earning so I'll have to take a loan for the course. I read your posts about being instructor after getting CPL to get more hours. Can you please guide me how I should choose a flying school and after training How I can increase my experience and thus chances to get hired by best airlines. Also I don't have any knowledge about the 4 year courses. Is it some advanced course or something else? please explain.

Regards
Khushal

ANSWER: It really depends where are you located. I do assume that you are located in India. You see in USA that is an standard way to build flight hrs. working as an CFI. But there is another ways to build flight hrs too. One way is sharing time with another student (this is an expensive way, as you have to pay your share of time), getting and fly with another airplane owner and acting as an safety pilot (in that case you can log all flight time as long as other pilot doing flying with IFR hood) All this is applicable for USA FAA and FAR regulations. You see I do not have any information about India unfortunatelly.  would suggest you to get to closest airport in India (if you are located there) and get to more informations about flight school requirements and where you can start training..

Ismar


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Dear Sir, Thanks for the immediate response but I am asking about the training schools in USA only as I am planning to move to USA for the course. Which schools are the best from quality of training and job perspective? I didn't find any ranking or something after searching for so long over net. Also what are the requirements to be an instructor. Other options would be expensive for me so I would like to build hours through this way only. Please also tell me what does these 4 year courses provide and would that be necessary for me also though I am already B. Tech. graduate?

ANSWER: there are numerous flight schools in USA, majority of them they do nice job. There is some few schools that do have world famous reputation through the world. Famous schools like

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, that has Bach of Science and seperate school for flight training with all major ratings

Flight Safety International (FSI) flight training centers through USA and some parts of world are really very reputable.

Now remember that famous and reputable schools, price will not be cheap. Those schools are pretty pricy and their reputation and quality of training is what you are paying. With those schools you will have fantastic adventage once you complete flight training and when you apply to fly with airlines..

Ismar


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Sir,
one last doubt. I couldn't find any course at ERAU for commercial pilot training on their website. It is possible that the course is offered with a different name. Please tell me under which section it is. Thnks.

Answer
It is not under different name, just different department. OK this is link from Presscot AZ flight department of ERAU campus. Also you can see pricing, I would verify pricing calling them directly, but I do believe that prices are correct.
Embry Riddle is an huge college and has numerous departments  and programs as I mention you.

http://prescott.erau.edu/degrees/flight/external-link-pr-flight-dept.html