by David Santo -

Reasons to get an A320 Type Rating

Reasons to get an A320 Type Rating!

As an aspiring pilot, it is smart to do your homework about which aircraft qualifications will make you the most marketable as a pilot. You certainly don’t want to spend a lot of money getting qualified in an aircraft only to find that there are no jobs in that particular aircraft type.

Getting a type rating in the Airbus 320 is probably the safest bet – each time an aircraft is sold, more jobs for captains and first officers are created.

Here are recent orders for Airbus A320s by domestic and international carriers.

  • Qatar Airways selects 50 Airbus A320neo and 5 additional A380s
  • Spirit Airlines signs commitment for 75 Airbus A320 Family jets
  • Aviation Capital Group signs firm order for 30 A320neo  
  • ALAFCO expands commitment to 80 Airbus A320neo 
  • Republic finalizes order for 80 A320neo Family aircraft
  • Lao Airlines becomes new Airbus operator
  • JetBlue signs firm order for 40 A320neo aircraft
  • TAM finalizes order for 32 A320 Family aircraft, including 22 A320neo
  • Qantas and Airbus seal biggest order in Australian aviation history
  • Airbus sees demand for over 27,800 aircraft in the next 20 years
by David Santo -

How “You Get What You Pay For” Applies in Advanced Flight Training

Ever heard the old adage “you get what you pay for”? The reason it’s an old adage is because it’s a true one.

advanced flight trainingThere are a lot of schools who offer type ratings and advanced flight crew training. AeroStar is one of about a dozen schools approved to provide type ratings under FAR 142. However, not all these schools are built the same. Unfortunately, most are not focused on helping your career dreams take flight.

It’s sad that many of these schools prey on the passions and career aspirations of aviation enthusiasts for selfish reason.

Many schools care only about their “bottom line” rather than their customer’s career success. One key way to help you identify the school’s motivations is to look at the qualifications and background of the people who own them.

Are they pilots? Have they ever been professional pilots? Do they really know anything about training pilots? How can they help you achieve what they themselves have never accomplished?

Most type rating schools are owned by career business people and some by aerospace engineers. These owners have never pursued the dream of being an airline pilot. They have never experienced what it’s like to train to airline standards nor do they have a proven track record of successfully flying airplanes.

To learn about the school’s owners check out their website, call and ask or inquire via e-mail.

Sure they deliver what their customers pay for but all too often this is nothing more than the bare minimum. These companies share an unspoken motto to get training done cheaply and get clients in and out as quickly as possible – the cheaper the better. To them a marginal pass rate is good enough. To them their clients are just numbers and dollars not fellow pilots.

If you’re looking for business advice, talk to a business man. If you want really cool aviation software, talk to an aviation software engineer. However, if you want to train to be an airline pilot then enroll in a school founded and operated by career pilots – pilots who care about your success, pilots who have a proven track record of helping others fulfill their career dreams.

No, AeroStar is not the cheapest. Our programs frequently cost more than some while less than others. Why? Because we care enough to offer the best training at the best value! Our fee structure has allowed us to price competitively while recruiting and retaining the best instructors, offering the best simulators, deploying the best learning tools and creating the best courses. Our pricing reflects our belief that quality and experience matters. It reflects that you get what you pay for and that the customer expects a return on their investment.

AeroStar Training Services, LLC was founded by career airline pilots with thousands of hours of flight experience. They created their unique and highly successful training programs to help others succeed the way they had.

At AeroStar we don’t create software nor do we build simulators, we train professional airline pilots. Our organization utilizes the best training tools available to deliver the best training experience. Each AeroStar instructor has been hand-picked based on his/her experience, talent, and a passion for teaching.

Our bottom line is that we care about the customer’s success. Our motto is to “help your aviation career dreams take flight.”

by David Santo -

Florida Tech Offers Two New Pilot Training Courses

MELBOURNE, FLA.—Florida Institute of Technology announces two, new advanced airline pilot training courses to be presented in conjunction with Aerostar Training Services of Orlando. The courses, Jet Transition and Commercial Type Rating, are aimed at upper-division students who plan careers with commercial airlines.

Florida Tech Pilot Training CoursesThe offering is unique in that it allows students to use regular electives in their bachelor’s degree program to prepare fully for a career flying a large transport jet. Although private pilot,  jet transition and type rating courses are available on the open market, no other college or university offers this program as part of its academic degree.

“We are very excited to make this opportunity available to our students in the College of Aeronautics,” said Dean Winston Scott. “The courses will prepare them well and provide all the ratings necessary to go directly to a major airline. This is a significant step forward, and represents the gold standard in collegiate flight training.”

Although most colleges and flight schools offer commercial multi-engine ratings in propeller airplanes, type ratings (required for all turbojets), have not been offered for academic credit. The type rating check ride is beyond the commercial certificate: it is conducted to airline transport pilot standards. “This is truly innovative and reinforces Florida Tech’s excellent reputation for flight training,” said Scott.

According to Peter Dunn, program manager, assistant professor and faculty adviser, there has been much talk in the industry about the looming pilot shortage in the United States. “At Florida Tech, we decided to do something about it,” he said.

“Recently, the U.S. Congress has mandated airline pilot standards for first officers. We are responding to what the new law intends. We want to give our graduates the ability to compete for major airline jobs. Having this credential is a huge step in that direction. Airline recruiters understand the value of a type rating.”

A type rating, according to Dunn, proves that pilots have the “right stuff” to pass the rigorous airline initial training. This program is designed to enable Florida Tech students, with additional flight hours, to bypass the regional carriers and get a job with a desirable national carrier.

“At this time, we will offer the A320 and B 737NG type ratings so that students can target the airline of their choice. We also plan to offer a summer school program, so students from other colleges may also take these courses,” said Dunn.

Florida Tech, teaming with Aerostar Training Services of Orlando, will offer a three course sequence: Flight Observation Lab (already available), Jet Transition and Commercial Type Rating in either the A320 or b737. Students may take any or all of these courses.  To enroll, prospective students may call Nick Galli, Florida Tech College of Aeronautics, (321) 674-7369.

 

About Florida Institute of Technology
Founded at the dawn of the Space Race in 1958, Florida Tech is the only independent, technological university in the Southeast. PayScale.com ranks graduates’ mid-career median salaries in first place among Florida’s universities, and lists Florida Tech among the top 20 universities in the South—both public and private. The university has been named a Barron’s Guide “Best Buy” in College Education, designated a Tier One Best National University in U.S. News & World Report, and is one of just nine schools in Florida lauded by the 2012 Fiske Guide to Colleges. The university offers undergraduate, master’s and doctoral programs. Fields of study include science, engineering, aeronautics, business, humanities, mathematics, psychology, communication and education. Additional information is available online at www.fit.edu.

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 -

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 -

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!