Advice with flight schools or even cadet programs.

Posted by Practical_Swing_7187@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 2 comments

I’m just looking for people’s input and advice regarding cadet programs and flight schools. I have one year of college left which I’m honestly dreading and in the meantime, I’m currently training at my local Part 61 flight school for my Private Pilot Certificate.

After college, I’m interested in possibly attending an accelerated flight school or one that offers direct pipelines to cadet programs. I’m based in Florida and would prefer to stay here.

How competitive are cadet programs once you meet the application requirements? I’ve looked into the Academy of Aviation in Orlando, which partners with Delta Propel, as well as Skyborne and a also few schools affiliated with United’s Aviate program. Aviate seems appealing because it looks like you get accepted into United’s program before training, unlike other cadet tracks where you might put in a lot of time and money without a guaranteed spot.

I’ve also seen a lot of mixed opinions online about ATP. They seem to have a crazy number of airline partnerships and multiple Orlando locations with a sim, which is appealing. However, I’ve come across quite a few horror stories that make me skeptical.

Lastly, my current flight school is offering a career package from 0 to MEI and CFII for around $100k. It's Part 61 and doesn’t have a cadet program, but they’re trying to convince me to stay. Still, the price is comparable to some Part 141 schools that do offer airline pathways.

What tips or recommendations do you have? I’d really appreciate any input from people who’ve gone through this.

Thanks for any responses