by David Santo -

Video – Flying an Airbus!

We love this video of a great pilot flying an airbus!  Can’t keep from smiling when we watch it.

AVIANCA BRASIL
Airbus 319
GoPro Hero 2

Song: Sail – Awolnation

Sequence:
0:05 – SBRJ Santos Dumont RWY 20L – Rio de Janeiro – Brasil
0:30 – Copacabana Beach – Rio de Janeiro – Brasil
0:35 – SBRJ Santos Dumont RWY 20L – Rio de Janeiro – Brasil
0:51 – Florianopolis SC Brasil
1:07 – Downwind leg SBRJ Santos Dumont RWY 02R – Rio de Janeiro – Brasil ( Botafogo Beach )
2:11 – SKBO El Dorado RWY 13R – Bogota – Colombia
2:16 – SBSP Congonhas RWY 17R – São Paulo – Brasil
2:23 – SKBO El Dorado RWY 13L – Bogota – Colombia ( Gust from left before touchdown )
3:16 – SBSP Congonhas RWY 35L – São Paulo – Brasil

by David Santo -

Do airlines hire pilots with zero time in type?

Captain David Santo talks about time in type

We’ve heard it said and read it posted in aviation forums that “no” airline hires pilots who possess a type rating with zero time in type. This is a false statement. We all know that Southwest Airlines hires type rated pilots without time in type and that Spirit Airlines has publically said that they prefer a PIC type for initial applicants. Whether you or I agree with this hiring practice is not the issue. The fact is that it is happening both in the USA and all around the world. Airlines all over the place have adopted this standard practice.

Although most airlines have not drawn a “line in the sand” by stating a type rating is mandatory many have made it a point to offer preferential interviewing and hiring to those who are typed. If you owned an airline wouldn’t you want to mitigate your training risk by doing the same thing?

Years ago I was offered an interview with South West Airlines which would have required me to obtain a b737 type rating paid for out of my own pocket. At the time I rejected the idea and turned down the opportunity. It scares me now to look back at how much money I lost over the years which have passed by not jumping at opportunity. I can only imagine how senior I would be by now and how much better my quality of life would have been. What an  OOOOPS.

AeroStar’s students are and have been very successful getting jobs and this is a fact. For obvious legal reasons I cannot post any of our customer’s names here however I can give you names of a few of the airlines who have hired our graduates (in no particular order). These are; Jetblue, Spirit, Lan Airways, TACA, Copa, Avionca, Philippine Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Airlines, Nile Air, Jeju Air, Qatar Airways, Nas Air, Saudia, e.t.c.

by David Santo -

If you bet on yourself to invest in a type rating in an A320 or B737, I’m betting that you’ll get a job flying one!

investIf you bet on yourself to invest in a type rating in an A320 or B737, I’m betting that you’ll get a job flying one!

We are prepared to offer any customer who is unsuccessful at obtaining employment on the aircraft for which they received an AeroStar type rating within one year of their course completion a 50% discount on a 12-month recurrent training event. Were doing this for two reasons we want the customer to know we are willing to put our money where our mouth is and that we are confident they will be successful.

We could not afford to offer this price if we where not absolutely sure that the vast majority of our alumnus would not be flying their type rated aircraft.

Regards,

Captain David Santo Aerostar Training Services LLC

by David Santo -

Coming to America . . .Helping Foreign Flight Students Navigate Entry into the United States

By Kim Jones

Foreign Flight StudentsTraveling to a new country can be daunting. Foreign flight students travel from their country to the United States, and  will experience some culture shock and might even feel a bit homesick. It’s an advantage to stay with someone who strives to make things easier and feel welcome by providing the caring support and services you need. The same holds true when choosing your flight training organization.

Good judgment when it comes to training means you pick the best value not the lowest price. You cannot rely on the price of your training alone. You need to look at your school of your choice to see what is provided in their total package. Look for a school that takes great pride in being a full-service Flight School. A school that considers not only the training event, but the student’s total training experience. A school that will help you navigate through the many checkpoints of entry into the United States.

At AeroStar we welcome customers from all over the globe. Our typical student is an aviation student who desires to become a pilot flying large jet aircraft. The AeroStar distinction is that we know what is required when it comes to visa and immigration issues to achieve this dream by attending training in the United States. AeroStar recognizes that these requirements to enter the United States are extensive and time consuming to you. We are there when you need that extra lift.

To ensure that international students are well equipped, AeroStar puts in the extra effort in assisting you through this demanding task and aids you in expediting processing. We have done this in part by generating an informational “flight plan.” This flight plan is specifically for foreign students attending AeroStar to successfully navigate the required course for entry into the United States for training at the AeroStar training center. This “flight plan” was developed by the experiences and suggestions of students who have attended AeroStar before you and now are flying jet aircraft for airlines around the world.

The flight plan has several “checkpoints” that each student must complete to begin their training at AeroStar. These checkpoints are required by the United States government to ensure that the student is properly vetted and meets the requirements set forth by United States laws and regulations. These checkpoints are cumbersome and confusing if you do not choose a training school that has the first hand experience and is highly qualified in dealing with the different government departments of the United States. It is so important to select a school that is committed to helping you complete these requirements in a timely and acceptable manner to prevent being denied entry in the United States.

Some of these checkpoints are items such as being processed to receive an I-20 document to begin the visa application process. AeroStar is one of the few advance aircraft training organizations approved to provide you with this document. Another checkpoint is the process of receiving approval through the Alien Flight Student Program administered by the Transportation Security Administration. Other checkpoints deal with how to properly contact and schedule an interview at an US embassy or consulate in your home country. Several more checkpoints deal directly with entering the US and what to expect in this process. Finally, what to do when you have arrived in the United States to begin your jet training. In addition, throughout the “flight plan” AeroStar will provide you with more detailed information as necessary and be there to answer the hard questions that arise by working closely with all the Federal agencies involved to ensure that your interests are represented.

This flight plan is one of the many ways AeroStar is there for you along the journey to your aviation career. Just remember the team members here at AeroStar take great pride in providing you the best training experience in the world and the benchmark for which you will measure all of your future training events in your aviation career. The training you will receive from AeroStar will lay a foundation for building a successful career.

We look forward to helping your aviation dreams become a reality!

by David Santo -

A Day in the Life of an AeroStar Student

By Kim Jones

Day in the life of a flight studentSo, you are considering AeroStar as your flight school and you’re wondering what a typical day in the life of one of our flight students would be like.

As one of our students, you would wake up at one of our recommended hotels where you would eat breakfast. Our recommended hotels have many wonderful food options and the surrounding area has many outstanding choices as well.

Shuttle service is provided each day to and from your ground school location or sim location.  We have found most students like to have their own rental car so they can get around freely.

A student completing our traditional 21 day program would attend Virtual Flight deck ground school for 9 days.  A school day is approximately 8 hours per day with weekends off in most cases.

Each class is different, but many get lunch off campus together as friendships develop during training. We have a list of our favorite delivery spots for those who wish to order in. The same holds true for dinner, though many will grab something and return to the hotel at the end of their day where you will study and sleep.

When you have completed your ground school you will be ready for sim training.  You will train in one of our state of the art Simulators.  Four, Level 5 Flight Training Devices, advanced courseware technology, are all housed in State-of-the-Art facilities supported by a team of experienced pilot instructors. These instructors are dedicated to making your training experience professional and enjoyable.

All training requires crew partners and your schedule would look like this:

  • FTD (flight training device) for first session 2-hours each pilot
  •  FFS (full flight simulator) Level D 2-5 module session
  •  FFS (full flight simulator)  Level D sim check ride last session 2 hours each pilot

This is a good overview as to what you can expect as an AeroStar student.  If you have any additional questions feel free to contact us directly.  In the meantime,   did we mention we are located in Orlando, Florida? Orlando has sunny weather and occasional rainfall throughout the year.  The average annual temperature is a cozy 72.4 degrees Fahrenheit. Does it get any better than that!

Congratulations to our latest AeroStar graduating class!  We are proud to report all 12 students including 3 from FIT have passed!  Job well done!

For more information or to enroll in our next available class, email [email protected] or call 1.407.888.9011. You can also join us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Google+.

by David Santo -

Great Pilots Aren’t Necssarily Great Flight Instructors

By Kim Jones

great flight instructorsThe single most important element in your desire to fly is finding a great flight instructor that’s perfect for you.  There are two professional organizations that represent flight instructors.  The Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE) and the National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI).

A Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) in the United States is required to be at least 18 years of age and be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language.  You also need to attain a Commercial Pilot Certificate which requires a minimum of 250 hours of flight time as a pilot, and then complete the training and pass both an FAA practical knowledge written examination and a flight test to become a CFI.

A CFI completes many requirements, as does a professional pilot.  Many professional pilots will acquire their CFI certification as a means to build flight hours in preparation for a move to the airlines or other flying career.

You would think a great pilot would indeed make a great instructor.  They have the certification and experience. They may be competent and skilled at flying as well as being extremely passionate about flying. They may have a great personality and plenty of devotion to the student.  This does not make them a good teacher. Being a good teacher is the key ingredient to make a great CFI.   There are some individuals who truly enjoy life as an instructor pilot and find it very rewarding to teach people how to fly.  Not only are they sharing their love for aviation with a fellow pilot, but the very process of teaching someone to fly helps sharpen their own skills to become a better pilot in the process.

A good teacher allows the student to benefit from their experience and carefully prepares and guides the flight candidate to a successful outcome.

A good teacher does their homework and is well prepared during training at all times. They will provide their students with plenty of demonstrations.  These demonstrations are done with clarity and skill.  They provide the initial experience that students build upon as they work towards mastering the skill. Providing plenty of good demonstrations will accelerate the student’s progress.

A good teacher will also talk to you while you fly.  Verbalization is a powerful way to not only improve the CFI’s instructional skills, but will increase the rate of a students’ progress. It is a good idea to have students talk while they fly.  The “telling and doing” process identified in the Aviation Instructor’s Handbook not only provides a great feedback loop for the pilot, but it allows the instructor better insight into the students thought process.  More often, execution problems are cognitive in nature. If they talk, you may be able to pick up on problems faster and correct them.

Lastly, a good instructor is able to admit if they have made a mistake.  Error analysis training is an important part of initial CFI certification.  By hearing your acknowledgement of the mistake, along with necessary actions to correct it can give the student some tools for coping with errors.

A great pilot may not necessarily be a great flight instructor, but, rest assured, a great pilot can be made by a great flight instructor.

At AeroStar, we hire great instructors!

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 -

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.