Anyone have experience with OKC flight schools?

[Commander Keen]

I'm currently in the process of pursuing a degree in aviation in order to (eventually) get my commercial pilot's certificate, as flying has been a lifelong dream. However, due to numerous factors (time, extra expense, and the amounts of utter BS at colleges) I'm seriously considering going directly to a flight school for this.

I stopped by Airone and Oklahoma Aviation yesterday to talk to a flight instructor. The guy at Airone didn't really seem like he wanted to talk to me much, but I had a good conversation with a guy named Ross at Oklahoma Aviation. He gave me a lot of good information, and we even went outside to look at their fleet, including jumping inside a new Cessna 172.

Based on the information I got from my own research and my visits I'm just about ready to choose Oklahoma Aviation, but I would like to know if any of you guys and gals have any experience with these or any other flight schools in the general Oklahoma City area.

 

[JxxxOxxxE]

I'd like to hear some experiences with this as well...I've been throwing around the idea of getting just my private license. It seems like a decent small plane can be had under $40k or so....sounds like fun....

 

[angsniper]

I did mine years ago at in Norman and I can't even remember the name of the flight school. It wasn't a flight school like Spartan in Tulsa is. More of a pay as you go. I understand that spartan wants payment in full within 30 days.

 

[SoonerATC]

Hey man,

Glad to see another pilot on the board. I am currently in the aviation program at OU. I earned my private in Dec 2010, Instrument in Dec 2011, Commercial Single engine in May 2012, and Com'l Multi in August of this year. I'm currently saving up for my CFI and will be doing that this coming spring.

I already had a degree from OU about 8 years ago, but since I was financing my flying with the Post-9/11 GI Bill, it was actually more beneficial for me at the time to pursue the whole degree, rather than just get the ratings like you are considering. Trust me, having already been through college once, I was not keen on having to sit through all kinds of random classes (aviation history, human resource management, etc) just to get my pilot certificates and ratings. As I said though, it was more beneficial for me at the time financially to pursue the whole degree rather than just the ratings, ironic as that might sound. I think the VA has since changed the rules so you don't have to pursue a degree program to get benefits, but I was already so far along I figured I might as well finish it out.

I don't know how familiar you are with the flight training process, but OU's aviation program is actually Part 141, which has benefits over doing your training Part 61 (which would be essentially going to your local FBO and getting flight instruction from Joe Smith CFI). In a nutshell, Part 141 is more structured than Part 61 training, so the FAA therefore believes you are likely to learn more in a less amount of time. For the record, Oklahoma Aviation is also Part 141. AirOne doesn't mention anything on their website, so I can only assume they are Part 61, since most 141 schools are quick to let you know. On a sidenote, you can also only use GI Bill benefits at a Part 141 school (not sure if that affects you at all).

I don't have experience with either Oklahoma Aviation or AirOne, but I have been doing some pretty hefty research lately on the best place to rent an airplane from since I'm pretty much in time building mode now that I've got my major certificates and ratings. Oklahoma Aviation has some very nice airplanes, but they also charge a LOT to rent them. You can expect your training to cost a good amount more if you train there, but that's not to say the training will not be worth it. I've met Tyler Nikkel and Chris Carr before (two of their other CFIs) and both of them seem to be pretty stand up guys.

I don't know a thing about AirOne except that their airplane rental prices are a little more reasonable.

You don't have to be enrolled in the degree program to do flight training at OU. They offer all of their flight courses non-credit as well, and they are very reasonable compared to the cost of other flight training options. For example, to get your private ticket at AirOne in a C-152, they estimate it will cost you $8,999. To do your training in a C-172 (little more power and performance), they estimate it'll cost $9,999. Chickasha Wings estimates your private will cost you $6,434 when doing your training in a C-150.

OU on the other hand, quotes $6,315 for your private ticket when using their Piper Warriors. OU replaced their entire fleet in 2005, so the airplanes are only about 7 years old, GPS equipped, leather interiors. Really a very nice airplane to train in. Additionally, OU does all of their checkrides in-house, which can save you anywhere from $200-$300 that you would have to pay a Designated Pilot Examiner at another school.

OU offers everything from Private through Commercial Multi/Instrument.

At OU, they will schedule you for 3 hard slots during the week (after you submit your availability). This is obviously less flexible than if you were to train somewhere else at your own convenience, but that goes back to the Part 141 "more structured training" issue.

I recommend you check us out. http://aviation.ou.edu/noncredit_courses.html. Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions about training in general, or OU in particular. I'll be glad to help. You can also email our Chief Flight Instructor, Dave McClurkin ([email protected]).

Clear skies,
SoonerATC

 

[SoonerATC]

I did mine years ago at in Norman and I can't even remember the name of the flight school. It wasn't a flight school like Spartan in Tulsa is. More of a pay as you go. I understand that spartan wants payment in full within 30 days.

Probably Airman Flight School, same place that trained a few of the 9/11 hijackers. They went bankrupt a number of years ago.

 

[Commander Keen]

*snip*

Clear skies,
SoonerATC

Great info, thanks! PM inbound!

 

[LightningCrash]

I so need to play some Invasion of the Vorticons. Thanks for the reminder.

 

[expertzx]

I'd recommend OU, I did lessons through Oklahoma Aviation. While good, they're significantly more expensive. I think I spent around $10,000 on the lessons.

 

[Dave70968]

You should avoid AirOne at all costs. The owner, Hal Harris, had his ticket revoked by the FAA for giving flight instruction without actually being an instructor. I'm having trouble finding the initial ruling, but I did find the order denying his appeal, which notes the reason for his revocation: "The Administrator’s emergency order revoked respondent’s airman certificate (with airline transport pilot and commercial pilot privileges) for his alleged unauthorized endorsements of the logbooks of two airmen in violation of FAR sections 61.3(d)(2)(iii) and 61.59(a)(2)."

http://www.ntsb.gov/alj/o_n_o/docs/AVIATION/5110.PDF

I shall refrain from repeating the various airport gossip (at least some of which I know to be true), but this is hard fact, backed by legal orders. I recommend steering well clear.

 

[angsniper]

Probably Airman Flight School, same place that trained a few of the 9/11 hijackers. They went bankrupt a number of years ago.

Nope. Wasn't Airman. It was down from them on the corner. IIRC it was a faded green or blue building. Over by the OU hangers.