Sunstate Aviation in Kissimmee

[TWinter]

Any of you Florida guys know anything about Sunstate Aviation. I'm considering them for my instrument accelerated course in the spring. I know there are lots of pros and cons over these courses, but I'm really looking for input about the integrity of the school (or lack of). If you would prefer PM or email me at  tpwinter@bellsouth.net . If you have input to post feel free. I'm thinking 14 days in Florida flying the coast with intense flying and learning sessions..Could be an intense, but great time. I plan to beat up (I mean fly the schools planes) and keep mine home..LOL. If the school has a bad rep then I'll look further. I swapped a few emails w/ them and checked the website. Still checking them out.

 

There is a severe lack of CFIs in my area. My business is pretty well self sufficent (thanks to a very reliable staff) so my time is very flexible.  Working toward my CFI would be excellent in my long term plans. I know it's a long ways down the road, but you gotta start somewhere. Any thoughts on the school?. Thanks, TW   

[John Pursell]

I don't know anything about them, but have you looked into PIC. They started the accelerated IFR program and they come to you.

Is there a reason why you wouldn't want to master instrument flying in your plane? I would think that you'd be better off in your plane.

http://www.iflyifr.com

[Jamie]

I wouldn't think you'd have to worry about abusing your own airplane. Instrument training shouldn't be like learning to fly... there -shouldn't- be anything that would hurt the airplane (like, say, learning to land).

 

After a recent thread on here where I asked what people thought about the concept of accelerated training, and after doing a good bit of research, I've settled on PIC for when this finally happens. I'm spending the time between now and then studying on my own and learning to fly my airplane.

 

There are obviously pluses and minues to both approaches. Doing an IR at home means you are home. Which means potential distractions from job / family / etc. Doing one away from home sort of eliminates most distractions, but presents others... for example, Disney World.

 

I also really like the idea of training in the airplane I'm going to be flying IFR. I don't know how important this is (not IR yet), but at the very least it can't hurt. Can you take your plane down to Sunstate and train in it instead of theirs? OTOH, how confident are you that your plane will make it through 20+ hours of flying and not have a problem?

 

No perfect solution, and $$$. I wish I'd gotten my IR 20 years ago when it was probably half the cost it is now.

[TWinter]

Thanks for the input guys. I have only seen ads for PIC, never contacted them. I'll look into it. As far as using the schools plane vs. using mine was mearly a matter of not wanting to put hours on mine (I know it's only 20 hrs flying and the rest sim time with their program), but the wear and tear of having the instructor climbing in and out, missed approaches and just minor wear. I know what you are thinking.."What an anal SOB". I'm just super picky about my plane. That's just me. If I could ask people to pull their shoes off before getting in without being offended I would.

 

Being very serious though I think they use 172 and 182 aircraft. A slower flying plane would help the learning curve and then apply what I learned in my plane..Maybe as another an option would be to do some/most in the schools plane and then transition with them into mine (not sure, but maybe an option).

 

I'll check out the PIC program..One of the reasons I looked at Florida was it would be good experience to fly a different area. Doing it at home would be nice, but as a business owner in a smaller community you never seem to be on days off even when you have a very reliable staff. This is a city of about 15,000. I live about two miles from my health club business. If I was 1000 miles away locked in a hotel room to study I think I would have better focus, plus who does not like Florida in February

[Jamie]

Florida in February is very nice (used to live there).  It's not a bad idea, depending on whether or not Sunstate is any good. If you do it, please report back.

[flyboy0681]

 

No perfect solution, and $$$. I wish I'd gotten my IR 20 years ago when it was probably half the cost it is now.

 

Wish I had done it 20 years ago when I had 10x the number of brain cells. It's been a struggle at times for this 50 something guy but I'm in the final throes of my training. I could not imagine doing an accelerated course of this type. Just studying for the written consumed a lot of my time.

[TWinter]

Wish I had done it 20 years ago when I had 10x the number of brain cells. It's been a struggle at times for this 50 something guy but I'm in the final throes of my training. I could not imagine doing an accelerated course of this type. Just studying for the written consumed a lot of my time.

I also wish I had continued 20 yrs ago when I got my PPL. The cost then vs. now is crazy. I joke around telling people I feel like I'm getting dumber as I get older...Hopefully we are not getting dumber, maybe at 49 yrs old I just have more irons in the fire now and more to keep track of then I did 20 yrs ago.. I did not own a business back then and my only responsibility was me and not employees or business plans 

 

flyboy, Sounds like you are on the home stretch..Keep up the hardwork and let us know when to celebrate for you GLuck

 

The school charges about $9K for IR using the schools plane. Does not include lodging etc. Apparently they have some sort of hook-up w/ a local hotel (within walking distance) to the school. If I use my plane its about $6K+/-. All prices include examiner's fee.

 

I'm sure I could get it done much and I mean much less than $6K with my local CFI, but I'm not sure I would get the same quality of instruction. It would be a pretty cool experience doing it offsight. It would be a working vacation so to speak. Two of my favorite things..the Florida coast and flying. 

[David Mazer]

WHen I came back to flying I tried to use Sunstate for an intensive IFR refresher and found it to be rather disorganized and nothing more than a typical FBO flightschool advertising an accelerated course rather than an accelerated flightschool.  That was about 5 years ago so things may have changed but I would look into it carefully.

 

I seem to recal a Mooney specific instructor in Buford GA that might be another choice.

[FAST FLIGHT OPTIONS LLC]

I spent a short amount to time at sunstate and would second Dave Mazer's opinion. If your not going to fly in your plane (which I think is ridiculous not to do) and your going to travel somewhere do yourself a favor and look at redbird skyport in TX. One price gets it done in a fixed amount of time if your serious. Only place I would want to go as I like the new approach to flight training their advertising and have embarked upon

[TWinter]

Hey guys thanks for the input I was looking for. After the few comments I am seriously reconsidering not using my plane. I guess I was more concerned w/ the hours put on the plane, but a good school with split time in a simulator and my plane would be a good mix and of course the plus side to really "knowing" my plane in IFR conditions.

 

Dave and Nick, thanks for the heads up. I will also follow-up on those suggestions. A Mooney specific instructor would be a true plus.

 

Nick I see you are based in St. Augustine..My hopes at some point are to find a part or full-time home in St. Augustine. We've visited there four or five times over the few years. Several more times when I was a kid (military brat) some 40 yrs ago. Just a beautiful part of Florida. We will be in Daytona during the Biketoberfest rally. I plan to spend a few days really looking at real estate in St. Augustine. We love the downtown brick streets, surrounding restaurants and shops etc. We see some sort of future there. I also see the airport has expanded over the past several years. Do you hanger your plane there? I've never landed there, but do intend to in the near future.

 

Thanks again guys..the forum pays off again

[FAST FLIGHT OPTIONS LLC]

Yes my plane, home, and hanger are in the St. Augustine area. Give me a call when u come up if you want to get an idea on what the airport has to offer

[TWinter]

Yes my plane, home, and hanger are in the St. Augustine area. Give me a call when u come up if you want to get an idea on what the airport has to offer

Thanks and I may actually take you up on that offer. I'll touch base closer to October with a PM. It would be great to see the facility. We will be in Daytona for about 7 days the middle of October. If your around that would be great to put a face to a name from the forum. Never know, might actually be hanger-mates sometime down the road. Two Mooneys can't go wrong.LOL

Tom