by David Santo -

AeroStar Sponsors NIFA Awards Banquet at FIT, David Santo to Speak

The National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) is a professional organization that provides a forum of competition and learning for aviation students from colleges all around the United States.

NIFAOfficial NIFA Mission Statement “The National Intercollegiate Flying Association was formed for the purposes of developing and advancing aviation education; to promote, encourage and foster safety in aviation; to promote and foster communications and cooperation between aviation students, educators, educational institutions and the aviation industry; and to provide an arena for collegiate aviation competition.”

AeroStar will be the primary sponsor for the awards dinner for the Southeast, NIFA Region IX. on Saturday, November 12. This is opportunity to recognize top aviation students.

This sponsorship is just one more way that AeroStar helps aviation career dreams take flight!

Watch for reporting from the event – we may have photos and video!

by David Santo -

AeroStar Training Services to offer Flight Training Courses through Florida Institute of Technology

Melbourne, Florida

flight training AeroStar Training Services LLC has signed a contract with FIT to deliver three courses to students for college credit. This is the first program of its kind in the industry to provide advanced type rating training  to students toward a degree. When a student enrolls at FIT he or she will actually choose from the course catalog one of three specially designed AeroStar programs, (labs) leading to FAA type rating certification in either the Airbus A320 aircraft or the Boeing 737NG aircraft incorporated into their flight and degree curriculum.

“We have worked closely with FIT over the last year and are thrilled  to be part of this very unique program, that will enhance the students’ aviation education, and career opportunities to help these young aviators’ careers take flight!”

by David Santo -

A320 Takeoff Checklist

This is a tiny sample of our PC courseware for the A320 programs. Every light, switch and dial is in the proper place.

In our programs, we combine:

  • This software on your PC (with which you can spend an unlimited amount of time practicing scenarios!)
  • Our state-of-the-art simulators where you get to test your skills for yourself.
  • Instructors who are experienced airline pilots who know what a great takeoff is supposed to sound and feel like, and how to respond to real problems and issues.

by David Santo -

Concerned about the cost of a type rating? You Should Come to AeroStar!

Many students are concerned about the cost of a type rating. Some programs that offer type ratings for pilots end up costing more than you expected to pay.

AeroStar has put a lot of thought into our computer-assisted and classroom training programs so that 97 percent of students graduate without purchasing additional simulator time!

We offer Type ratings in the Airbus A320 and Boeing B737 and BBJ aircraft.  Several programs are available to meet your needs, schedule and budget.

by David Santo -

AeroStar Participates in Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Career Day

On Wednesday, October 19th AeroStar participated in the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Career Day event. As a vendor, AeroStar was able to host many ERAU seniors and graduates in our booth to answer lots of questions about training with  AeroStar,  careers, and how AeroStar can enhance their pilot opportunities both domestic and internationally. Over 1,000 students participated in the one day event. AeroStar will be participating in other on campus events, and hosting tours of our training facility on a regular basis,  as we continue to work with ERAU to develop a training partnership.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

by David Santo -

Preparation Tips for the Dreaded FAA Written

By Dave Hensley

FAA WrittenFor many students, passing the FAA written test is a major nail biter!  Jitters over the prospect of failing a multiple choice test cause some students to postpone or delay the test and what should be a relatively easy step ends up being a stumbling point and source of frustration.   Passing the written test is a necessary part of the pilot certification process but unfortunately, many of us do not use successful preparation strategies.  Use this rehearsal tip to boost your score and reduce anxiety.  Practice like you test!

The best way to get rid of “classic” test anxiety is to be prepared.  That means taking the time to complete a reasonable study plan using a methodical approach. An all night cram session is definitely not a good idea because retention suffers when you don’t allow enough time to consolidate new information.   Likewise, when developing a study plan for a written, more frequent or “distributed” sessions are more effective than “massed” periods. Shorter periods with frequent breaks are better than extended sessions accomplished less frequently.  We all have friends who seem to breeze through tests with very little preparation.  Unfortunately, most of us need enough time to thoroughly review the training material and study.  Another way to boost your performance is to practice in a place and way that you expect to encounter on test day.  Taking practice tests over the same material is great.  Doing this type of practice in a place that is similar to the actual test center is even better. There are several very good commercial test books available that both organize the content and provide sample tests for rehearsal. Making up your own tests will give you added confidence. As a nice gesture, the FAA provides access to some of the test question data bases that the actual written tests draw upon.  A quick visit to www.faa.gov and a few mouse clicks will take you to the specific test banks.  The commercial test guides offer the advantage of narrowing the question field and organizing the material in a more logical sequence.  If you prefer to do it yourself, use your computer to access the test banks and cut and paste your own practice test.  This will allow you to practice using the actual questions you will see again on test day.

Testing is a part of certification.  Very few enjoyed being tested but taking multiple choice tests definitely does not have to be stress event it seems to be.  Take the time to prepare and practice like the real test.  Your FAA written should be a breeze.

by David Santo -

Piloting Adventures – the Vintage Airways DC3

by Scott Patton

Piloting adventures - the Vintage Airways DC3 - vintage advertisement Piloting adventures - the Vintage Airways DC3 - advertisement Piloting adventures - the Vintage Airways DC3 Piloting adventures - the Vintage Airways DC3 - Vintage NoseartMy greatest thrill as an airline pilot was not at thirty five thousand feet on autopilot, but rather at the controls of the legendary DC-3 at  eight hundred feet flying out of the west at sunset in a two ship formation and peeling off overhead Key West on a champagne sunset flight as WWII era music played in the cabin.

I had the honor of flying tine DC-3 for a WWII themed tour operator from Orlando to Key West, with fly bys of the Kennedy Space Center and champagne sunset flights over Key West. The theme celebrated VE Day, May 8, 1945, complete with period uniforms, actual Life Magazines and fabulous “Big Band” music set to each leg of the flight.

I will admit, with every takeoff, as those huge 1350 horse power radial engines roared into the sky, and the sound of Benny Goodman music played in the background, there  was a smile on my face every time!

Now as an instructor for AeroStar, I get to introduce people to this fantastic career opportunity. You may get to fly a DC3. You may be flying spacecraft in the future!  We never know what adventures await our students in the future.

What we do know for sure is that your future is much brighter when you prepare and invest in your skills and abilities to do what you love.

We look forward to seeing you in class, and helping your aviation career dreams take flight!

 

by David Santo -

Stories from Our Students and Graduates – First Officer Kenian Jabbour

As the Admissions Director of AeroStar, I learn a lot about our students and their careers.

Stories from our students and graduatesThe career path for pilots has changed in the last few years.  The career path used to be something like this:

  1. Get your multi-engine and commercial license
  2. Become a CFI
  3. Build time as an instructor
  4. Work for a Regional Airline or 121 to build more time
  5. Apply to a major airline or for a corporate flight department

Airlines were also willing to pay for type rating training for new hires.

A more typical (and better!) career path for today’s pilots goes like this:

  1. Get your multi-engine and commercial license
  2. Get your A320 or b737 type rating from AeroStar
  3. Get hired by an overseas airline (many of whom are hiring our graduates!)
  4. Get paid while you build time
  5. Apply for a major U.S. airline (if you like.)

Many of our students do exactly this.

It is good to see people who are so excited about their success.

A few months ago, Kenian Jabbour had had his doubts about our program.   His crew partner was getting his flight training at a competing academy (PanAm) and had been quoted a lower price than AeroStar was offering.   But Keenan toured our facility, compared the quality of the program, and started with us.

Kenian spent 10 days on site with us getting his a320 type rating.   He was hired as a first officer for an airline, and recently stopped by our office while his aircraft was being fueled. They had just returned from France and were planning a trip to Casablanca.

Since then, his crew partner has actually spent MORE money on additional training and was still working on his type rating.

Why do AeroStar students get hired?

  1. Our students stand out from the pack by showing that they’ve made a smart investment in their career.
  2. Our students save time for the airlines because they are already fluent and proficient and no additional training is needed.

A big thank you to Sunrise Aviation for helping students like Kenian get started and referring them to AeroStar for advanced flight training. Together we help aviation career dreams take flight!