We first rented from Air Orlando in 1997 and flew our first Bahamas trip in 1999. Since then we have been back almost every year.
The freedom and almost guaranteed weather are a refreshing change from flying in the UK.
Favourites are Cape Santa Maria, Long island and Fernandez Bay, Cat island.
Look after N775SP for me, See you again next April.
Pete M. -- from the UK
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Thanks from Jens S. -- Berlin Germany
Dear Air Orlando, Flight instructors and all other employees,
I wanted to thank you all very much for the great opportunity I had to do all of my flight training with your school. I want to use this opportunity to tell other interested flight students – especially from Europe – about my experience.
My goal is to become a professional pilot who would be able to fly US Airplanes but also European Airplanes on a commercial basis.
I started flight training at Air Orlando in August 2008. To become a FAA commercial instrument pilot it took me 12 months. And that includes training at a leisurely pace, and all the hour building for the CP License.
If you want to become a pilot, the key question is how do I find the best flight school for me? For me, the answer was easy.
Several years ago, I was a foreign exchange student at a High school hosted by a wonderful family and they happened to own a flight school. But, at that time of my life, I started to ignore my childhood dream to become a professional pilot, because I thought only very few people in the world are capable of being a pilot. A few years later in Germany, I started to study engineering. After thinking about it I said to myself, why should I do something I don’t like, and this was the beginning when I asked my former host family if I could do flight training with them.
I didn’t know anything about how the competing flight schools differentiate from Air Orlando. But nobody knows unless you experience it and hear other people/students/pilots talk about them.
At Air Orlando Aviation, I experienced a very honest flight school, where they have a great, educated, nice staff, great well maintained late model airplanes, a great flight simulator, and of course the weather is beautiful for learning how to fly. This school is not only a school it also has its own maintenance shop and offers a variety of pilot’s supplies.
I found the pricing of aircraft and instruction at Air Orlando to be very reasonable in comparison to other flight schools in Florida. I also found that Air Orlando included insurance for the pilot without making any additional charges for it, which I do not think other flight schools do. Since of the Dollar-Euro exchange rate is so favorable, I was able to complete my FAA training for a fraction of what the same training would cost in Europe even after factoring in the amounts I am now spending to convert my FAA licenses to JAA licenses.
In round numbers, the total cost of my training will be 40.000,00 Euros from zero knowledge to FAA and JAA Commercial, Instrument and Multi Licenses. I have more than 250 hours of flight time in an airplane. For the JAA licenses I will have to fly at a school that is close by to Air Orlando because Air Orlando does not yet have JAA instructors and examiners.
If you are interested in becoming a professional pilot and would like more information about what I did and what had to been done to fulfill this dream, don’t hesitate to email me (jens.schleinert@gmx.de) or ask me in facebook (http://www.facebook.com/schleinert).
Many Greetings
Jens S. - from Berlin Germany
I wanted to thank you all very much for the great opportunity I had to do all of my flight training with your school. I want to use this opportunity to tell other interested flight students – especially from Europe – about my experience.
My goal is to become a professional pilot who would be able to fly US Airplanes but also European Airplanes on a commercial basis.
I started flight training at Air Orlando in August 2008. To become a FAA commercial instrument pilot it took me 12 months. And that includes training at a leisurely pace, and all the hour building for the CP License.
If you want to become a pilot, the key question is how do I find the best flight school for me? For me, the answer was easy.
Several years ago, I was a foreign exchange student at a High school hosted by a wonderful family and they happened to own a flight school. But, at that time of my life, I started to ignore my childhood dream to become a professional pilot, because I thought only very few people in the world are capable of being a pilot. A few years later in Germany, I started to study engineering. After thinking about it I said to myself, why should I do something I don’t like, and this was the beginning when I asked my former host family if I could do flight training with them.
I didn’t know anything about how the competing flight schools differentiate from Air Orlando. But nobody knows unless you experience it and hear other people/students/pilots talk about them.
At Air Orlando Aviation, I experienced a very honest flight school, where they have a great, educated, nice staff, great well maintained late model airplanes, a great flight simulator, and of course the weather is beautiful for learning how to fly. This school is not only a school it also has its own maintenance shop and offers a variety of pilot’s supplies.
I found the pricing of aircraft and instruction at Air Orlando to be very reasonable in comparison to other flight schools in Florida. I also found that Air Orlando included insurance for the pilot without making any additional charges for it, which I do not think other flight schools do. Since of the Dollar-Euro exchange rate is so favorable, I was able to complete my FAA training for a fraction of what the same training would cost in Europe even after factoring in the amounts I am now spending to convert my FAA licenses to JAA licenses.
In round numbers, the total cost of my training will be 40.000,00 Euros from zero knowledge to FAA and JAA Commercial, Instrument and Multi Licenses. I have more than 250 hours of flight time in an airplane. For the JAA licenses I will have to fly at a school that is close by to Air Orlando because Air Orlando does not yet have JAA instructors and examiners.
If you are interested in becoming a professional pilot and would like more information about what I did and what had to been done to fulfill this dream, don’t hesitate to email me (jens.schleinert@gmx.de) or ask me in facebook (http://www.facebook.com/schleinert).
Many Greetings
Jens S. - from Berlin Germany
Comments from Phil C. from Canada
Dear John:
It's been a couple of months since I left Florida and returned to Canada. I've been working through the paperwork to transition my FAA documents into their equivalent Transport Canada licenses, so that I can start flying up here in the near future. As I've had some 'down-time' recently, with the Olympics being hosted here in Vancouver, I've had the opportunity to reflect on my Florida flight training. Just wanted you to know that my time with Air Orlando Aviation (March 2009 - January 2010) certainly counts as one of the best experiences of my life!
As you are aware, I had had a profoundly negative experience with another Florida-based flight school during the fall of 2008. Leaving that situation in early 2009, I was skeptical about finding a new school that would treat this student pilot, not as a number, but as an individual with unique needs. I was looking for the reassurance that my goals could be met in a timely and cost-effective manner. I was seeking experienced and personable instructors to work with. I was hoping for the option of flying a selection of different aircraft models. My search led me to your facility.
From my first phone call to Air Orlando Aviation, I knew that your organization was going to be different and it was the 'little' things that made it so. It began with the invaluable one-on-one assistance to help expedite my visa paperwork. It was present every day in the friendly smiles around the office that greeted me on my arrival for training sessions. It was demonstrated in the expert care taken by the maintenance crew to ensured safe aircraft. However, it was best illustrated by my Flight Instructors, who customized their ground and flight lessons to maximize my learning opportunities! They took the time to ensure that I not only understood the material but also had the chance to experience it from my seat in the cockpit. They continually found new ways to challenge and engage me in the learning process. They raised the bar on performance expectations and then pushed me to meet those goals. Yet, they took the time to help me celebrate each accomplishment. I felt as if I had come home and by the time I had completed all of my ratings, I truly felt as though I had become an integral part of the Air Orlando family!
John, you should be proud of your team! I would like to pass along my heart-felt thanks to each of my instructors: Carlos, Les, Jerry, Chad, Jeannie and Richard. I thank you for being patient and dedicated teachers, concerned with my success. I deeply appreciate the gifts of your time, your stories/examples, your encouragement and your friendship. As role models, you are simply the best. Note: I've been observing your techniques and now, I'm going to adopt as many good practices as I'm able!
I am a proud graduate of Air Orlando. This has been a positive and vital experience, a stepping stone on the path towards developing a solid foundation of knowledge and skills for the commercial aviation career that I'm intent on pursuing.
I look forward to staying in touch and I plan to drop in, whenever I happen to be in the vicinity.
Sincerely,
Phil C. from Canada
It's been a couple of months since I left Florida and returned to Canada. I've been working through the paperwork to transition my FAA documents into their equivalent Transport Canada licenses, so that I can start flying up here in the near future. As I've had some 'down-time' recently, with the Olympics being hosted here in Vancouver, I've had the opportunity to reflect on my Florida flight training. Just wanted you to know that my time with Air Orlando Aviation (March 2009 - January 2010) certainly counts as one of the best experiences of my life!
As you are aware, I had had a profoundly negative experience with another Florida-based flight school during the fall of 2008. Leaving that situation in early 2009, I was skeptical about finding a new school that would treat this student pilot, not as a number, but as an individual with unique needs. I was looking for the reassurance that my goals could be met in a timely and cost-effective manner. I was seeking experienced and personable instructors to work with. I was hoping for the option of flying a selection of different aircraft models. My search led me to your facility.
From my first phone call to Air Orlando Aviation, I knew that your organization was going to be different and it was the 'little' things that made it so. It began with the invaluable one-on-one assistance to help expedite my visa paperwork. It was present every day in the friendly smiles around the office that greeted me on my arrival for training sessions. It was demonstrated in the expert care taken by the maintenance crew to ensured safe aircraft. However, it was best illustrated by my Flight Instructors, who customized their ground and flight lessons to maximize my learning opportunities! They took the time to ensure that I not only understood the material but also had the chance to experience it from my seat in the cockpit. They continually found new ways to challenge and engage me in the learning process. They raised the bar on performance expectations and then pushed me to meet those goals. Yet, they took the time to help me celebrate each accomplishment. I felt as if I had come home and by the time I had completed all of my ratings, I truly felt as though I had become an integral part of the Air Orlando family!
John, you should be proud of your team! I would like to pass along my heart-felt thanks to each of my instructors: Carlos, Les, Jerry, Chad, Jeannie and Richard. I thank you for being patient and dedicated teachers, concerned with my success. I deeply appreciate the gifts of your time, your stories/examples, your encouragement and your friendship. As role models, you are simply the best. Note: I've been observing your techniques and now, I'm going to adopt as many good practices as I'm able!
I am a proud graduate of Air Orlando. This has been a positive and vital experience, a stepping stone on the path towards developing a solid foundation of knowledge and skills for the commercial aviation career that I'm intent on pursuing.
I look forward to staying in touch and I plan to drop in, whenever I happen to be in the vicinity.
Sincerely,
Phil C. from Canada
Monday, March 1, 2010
Air Orlando Aviation By Brad Pierce – President of Restaurant Equipment World
By Brad Pierce – President of Restaurant Equipment World
Something amazing happened way back on July 3, 1996. I took my first flight in a small general aviation aircraft at Air Orlando. In just under two hours of soaring through the blue skies above, I knew that my life had changed forever. That was the start of a long-term relationship with Air Orlando that’s truly been remarkable. A lot has changed in my life and flying career since that first flight, but one thing has remained constant, Air Orlando has been a solid company the excels in every area of their operations. I wouldn’t be where I am today without Air Orlando.
The basis for my exemplary view of their operations is multi-faceted. I earned my Instrument Rating training with their flight instructors, who were some of the most dedicated and professional people in the industry. I’ve also done recurrent training with them to keep myself, my family, and my business associates safe – and legal. My credit card company can confirm I’ve spent countless hours in their pilot shop that’s filled with everything a pilot could ever imagine. I’ve also been both a rental customer as well as an aircraft owner who’s had an airplane on a lease-back program with their flight school. Throughout my ownership experience of three airplanes, each of them has been meticulously maintained by the highly trained staff at the AOA Maintenance facility. I have no doubt that any of their mechanics would put their own families in any plane that they maintain given the high level of quality they achieve during each visit. Most importantly, I’ve spent a great deal of time over the years with the management of Air Orlando. Talking, often about airplanes, yet also about people, places and business in general. I think you can tell an awful lot about an organization by getting to know the people behind the operation. In the case of Air Orlando, the company is run by some of the finest individuals and most trustworthy people I’ve ever had the honor of knowing.
As we fast forward quite a few years, it leads me to explore the true impact Air Orlando has had on my life. I currently fly a Turbo Cirrus SR22 aircraft which I use extensively in my business. While many competitors are limited by geographic constraints and hoping for better times ahead, I’m actually out there expanding our business and meeting face-to-face closing deals. Just last week I asked a customer in San Antonio if we were up against many competitors for a project – their response was typical – “yes, we’ve gotten proposals from several companies, but you’re the only person to actually show up and visit us.” That statement was followed by a smile as this customer was turning from a prospect into a sale, something that would have been difficult to accomplish without the use of a general aviation aircraft. The number of similar stories that I could convey are countless. My logbook reads like a novel of business and personal experiences made possible through use of general aviation. My company has grown ten-fold over the past years and I have Air Orlando to thank as a trusted partner who has been a key ingredient in this success story. I urge other business operators and individuals to explore all that Air Orlando has to offer. Their services will give you a solid tool to change your life, take your business to new heights, and open doors to new experiences to enjoy with your friends and family.
Air Orlando is My Aviation Place!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
