How to Find the Best Flight School - Checklist

How to Find the Best Flight School – Use This Checklist!

Shopping for the best flight school is daunting! It’s important to make the best decision, but you may not know what questions to ask! To help students evaluate their options carefully, we’ve created this checklist and provided our information.

We suggest you research the equivalent information from at least two other sources before making your decision. And give us a call if you have any questions!

Item Aerostar Training Services Option Two Option Three
Courses/Ratings Available
Orientation Flights Yes
Private Pilot Yes
Instrument Yes
MultiEngine Yes
Commercial Yes
CFI Yes
CFII Yes
Type Rating – A320 Yes
Type Rating – B737 Yes
ATP CTP Yes
Professional Courses
Interview Prep Yes
MCC/Jet Transition Yes
Professional Pilot Instrument Refresher Yes
Simulator Observation Yes
Cockpit Resource Management Yes
Written Test Prep Yes
Certificate Conversions – ICAO/FAA Yes
Facilities & Resources
Location Kissimmee, FL
Instructors Airline/Regional/Corporate Career Pilots, not fresh inexperienced CFIs
Sims Redbird

Level D (Full Motion) A320

Level D (Full Motion) B737

Online Instruction iPad Required,
courseware provided.
FAA Certifications Part 141

Part 142

Financing
USA Veterans Education Benefits 100% Approved
GI Bill See Details here.
Work Opportunities while in training See Details here

 

You may be a high school student looking at possible careers as an airline pilot, or you may already be a professional pilot looking for your latest type rating or updated training.

Whether you’re an international student looking for the best flight school on Earth, or just looking for the best flight school in Florida, this checklist should help!

AeroStar Training Services – The Overview

In this short video, Captain David Santo answers questions about AeroStar Training  Services, including

  • How is Aerostar different from other pilot training organizations?
  • What credentials does AeroStar hold?
  • What pilot training programs does it offer?
  • How about beginners with no aviation experience?
  • Who will we be working/studying with?
  • How do we get started?

How is AeroStar different from other pilot training organizations?

Hello, my name is David Santo, and I’m the Chief Training Officer at AeroStar Training Services. I wanted to take this opportunity to let you know a little bit about AeroStar, and what we have to offer you. AeroStar was formed by a group of airline professionals with one goal in mind. We wanted to help aviation career dreams take flight. What that meant to us is we had enjoyed successful careers as airline pilots, and we wanted to be able to provide a pathway to help others to obtain the career goals, and success that we had.

What credentials does AeroStar hold?

AeroStar is an FAR 142 type rate training organization. What that means is, we operate under the FAR that allows a pilot to obtain a aircraft type rating, or add an airline transport pilot certificate by using advanced flight simulation technology.

When we started we dry leased airline simulators, and aircraft manufacturer simulators all over the country. Today we now have in our own facilities two Level D A320, and Boeing 737 full flight simulators. These simulators are state of the art technology. They sit on six axis hydraulic motion basis. We had 220 degree wrap around collimated visual systems that represent exactly the aircraft, and airport environment that you would be able to operate in. A Level D simulator is the highest level of simulator certification. With this simulator, and they’re called full flight sim’s, you can actually complete 100% of a type rating, or an ATP check ride without ever having to go out and fly the aircraft itself.

Tell us about the instructors.

Our staff is comprised of some really fantastic people who have years of airline, and training experience that we bring together for you. This includes CFIs, CFIIs, MEI,  It includes airline transport pilots, current active and retired airline captains, and first officers.

What pilot training programs does AeroStar provide?

Today AeroStar offers a number of different programs. We offer type ratings under two different formats, initial, and what we call the fast track program. We offer an upgrade transition type rating course for those who already have experience time and type. We offer recurrent training for those who are actively flying the aircraft, and need to accomplish a PC check, and we are one of a few schools in the United States that offers the airline transport pilot certification training program, or atp ctp.

How about beginners with no aviation experience?

Under our 141 part 61 certificate we’re able to provide the private instrument commercial multi-engine flight training, so together we can take an applicant from zero flight experience all the way through type rating, airline placement ready all on one location here in Kissimmee, Florida

Who will we be working/studying with?

We have a wonderful staff who are manning our phones, and are able to answer emails. I’m very proud to say that our admissions specialists are all pilots themselves. They’re all eager to help you.

How do we get started?

If we can do anything to give you guidance, answer questions, help you realize your dream of becoming an airline pilot, or a commercial pilot, then please I encourage you to call us at (407) 888-9011. That’s here in the U.S.

You can also reach us at [email protected]. We’d be very pleased to work with you, and help you in any way we can. On behalf of myself, David Santo, and the entire team here at AeroStar, thank you for watching. We look forward to working with you, and seeing you out on the flight line.

 

AeroStar Training Services Launches New A320 Simulator Training Campus

One-Stop Pilot Type Rating Training in Orlando, Florida

KISSIMMEE, July 1, 2018 — AeroStar Training Services announces the official launch of an on-location A320 simulator, recently installed in their new 18,000, soon-to-be 30,000 square foot hangar facility at the Kissimmee Gateway Airport. This simulator is being used by the school’s pilot trainees working on an A320 type rating or ATP certificate, as well as by airlines and organizations who wish to dry lease simulator hours.

This grand opening is phase one of a major expansion effort for the company, which includes a $1.5 million dollar building addition, featuring a new state-of-the-art aircraft maintenance facility, Spectrum Aero. It also introduces the first of several new simulators that have been acquired by AeroStar. These simulators provide student trainees with the opportunity to complete all necessary pilot training in-house and not require them to travel to other locations for the simulator portion of their training. Phases two and three will roll out later this year and cost approximately $2-3 million dollars to complete.

“We look forward to making our sim training more convenient for our students and having state-of-the-art equipment on-site that we will also be able to lease out to airlines and other training organizations and use for many years to come,” said Deidra Toye, AeroStar’s president & CEO. By the time the expansion project is complete, the company will have secured over $20 million dollars in simulator assets and AeroStar will be the only school in the Americas that will be able to train pilots from obtaining a Private Pilot License to a complete Airline Transport Pilot License and type ratings on A320 or B737 under the same roof.

New A320 Simulator Certification

We are very pleased to announce that AeroStar has officially received our Airbus Level D Full Flight Simulator certification from the FAA!

To celebrate launching our new sim, we are still offering a one-time promotional price for A320 & atp ctp“>atp ctp classes with April 2018 start dates. We are happy that our students will now enjoy the convenience of AeroStar being a one-stop, world-class aviation training school and not have to worry about traveling off-site or inflexible sim schedules. 

New Sim

ATP CTP: $3,000.00
A320 Upgrade: $6,600.00
A320 Fast Track: $9,500.00
A320 Standard: $11,100.00

Enroll Now!

* Rates cannot be applied to other dates * Good for ISM campus only * Rates based on crews

New March ATP CTP Class Date Added

Last Minute ATP CTP Class

Announcement:  We’ve just added a new March ATP CTP class date due to high demand. Our March 3rd class is sold out! Take advantage of our special promo rate to celebrate our new simulator grand opening for March & April classes only.

Successful completion of our FAA Approved ATP CTP qualifies you for the ATP Multi-Engine (ATM) knowledge test. Our course is also approved for VA funding with veterans’ benefits.

Additional course start date is on March 22ndPromo price is also good for other March & April dates still available. See website for schedule.

Investment – $3,000 (Savings of $615!)

Click here to enroll in this class!

*We reserve the right to cancel this class if enrollment requirements are not met.
*This class cannot be changed from other previously enrolled classes.

A320 Simulator Nears Completion

A320 Sim

To kick off the grand opening of our in-house A320 simulator, we are offering special pricing for students who enroll in A320 & ATP CTP classes that start on March 15th-April. Be among the first to take advantage of our new one-stop training program. Enroll now on our website before all the open spots fill up! 

ATP CTP: $3,000.00 • A320 Upgrade: $6,600.00 • A320 Fast Track: $9,500.00 • A320 Standard: $11,000.00

* Rates cannot be applied to other dates 
* Good for KISM campus only 
* Rates are based on crews

New A320 Sim Arrives at AeroStar Hangar

Last week our newly purchased A320 simulator was delivered to our AeroStar hangar at the Kissimmee Gateway Airport. The sim arrived on two gigantic trucks, which were escorted by a caravan of vehicles (quite the sight!) and was finally unloaded into the sim bay that was built in our new hangar over the last several months.

This is the first of several sims that have been acquired by AeroStar, which will provide future students with the opportunity to complete all training in-house and not have to travel to other locations for the simulator portion of their training. “We look forward to making our sim training more convenient for our students and having state-of-the-art equipment on-site that we will also be able to lease out and use for many years to come,” said Deidra Toye, AeroStar’s president & CEO. 

The official launch date of our new on-location sim training is March 2018. Check back for updates on our progress! 

new a320 sim

B737-300 Sim Training Now in Orlando

b737-300

We are pleased to announce that we are now offering ATP CTP training in a B737-300 sim in the Orlando area at a partner facility. This will save our students time and resources from having to travel to South Florida to complete the sim portion of their training. Construction is currently underway for a brand new 30,000 sq. ft. AeroStar training facility that will house several simulators at the Kissimmee Gateway Airport and is anticipated to be completed in early 2018.

Here are the confirmed class dates for Nov & Dec:

November: 27th
December: 4th & 18th

Call for more info (407) 888-9011 or fill out an enrollment form online. 

We hope to see you in our next class!

-AeroStar Enrollments Team

(Ground school in Kissimmee & sim training in Sanford, FL approx. 40 min drive)

FAA Approves Part 142 Training Center to Provide Innovative ATP-CTP Programs

Orlando, FL — AeroStar Training Services, LLC is one of the first Part 142 flight training centers to receive Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval on an in-house Airline Transport Pilot certification training program (ATP-CTP).

The ATP-CTP became a requirement on Aug. 1, 2014 for new pilots wanting to attain their ATP certification, which qualifies them to fly commercial aircraft. The CTP must be taken before a new pilot can take the ATP written test.

“Our mission is to help aviation students realize their career dreams, and find innovative ways to meet the challenges involved,” said David Santo, founder of AeroStar. “We provide training that meets requirements and more importantly, produces safe pilots who are ready to meet the challenges they will find in the air AND on the ground.”

AeroStar has worked closely with the FAA to develop time and cost-effective programs that meet the rigorous requirements for ATP-CTP certification. Successful completion of any of AeroStar’s ATP courses allow the candidate to take the ATP written exam.   They have also created courses that use required simulator time to serve the requirements for both the ATP-CTP certification and a type rating, making graduates qualified candidates for more flying jobs at a considerable savings.

An innovative ATP-CTP ground school program provides AeroStar instructors and materials to selected partners, such as state colleges, Part 61 and Part 141 programs, so that students can complete the four-day ground school program on-siteATP-CTP at AeroStar.

“We understand that airlines, flight schools and students need to meet this challenge, so we are doing what we can to provide quality, flexible training programs that meet their needs within time and expense parameters.” said Santo.

“Some airlines, such as Lufthansa and Emirates, have already begun recruiting individuals who meet their qualifications other than flight training, and provide ab initio training programs. Partnerships with airlines and flight schools allow us to create custom programs that meet these changing needs with qualified candidates.”

For more information about AeroStar’s ATP-CTP programs, Flight School partnerships, or airline partnerships for ab initio training, contact Captain David Santo, AeroStar Training Services, LLC.

About AeroStar Training Services, LLC

AeroStar Training Services is a US-based, FAA approved Part 142 Training Center specializing in pilot and flight attendant training utilizing the latest advances in aviation training technology. AeroStar was founded in 2008 by a team of experienced airline pilots with a vision that aviation training should be realistic, state of the art, and provide an enjoyable learning experience. The team focused on providing flight training using the most advanced equipment available, delivered by experienced professional airline pilot instructors.