International Student Frequently
Asked Questions
This web page is here to try and
answer some of the most asked questions about international students
coming to Ahart Aviation Services for their commercial training.
Note: This page is ALWAYS under
construction.
Last updated on February 25th, 2010
Courses
Question: Is Ahart Aviation
a Certified flight school?
Answer: Yes.
We are certified to teach Part-61, Part-141 (FAA approved),
International students (M-1 Visa) and Veterans Administration
Students studying on a GI bill (U.S.)
Question: What is Part-61?
Answer: A Part-61
course is a course much like the FAA approved Part-141 course except
it is more flexible. We teach both Ground and Flight Part-61
courses.
Question: What is Part-141?
Answer: A
Part-141 course is an FAA approved flight and ground course.
This is the program that our international students come to Ahart to
complete.
Question: Why would I pick
Part-61 over Part-141?
Answer: A Part-61
course much more flexible than a Part-141 course, but the problem
with a Part-61 course is that international students cannot come to
the United States to study a Part-61 course. However, Ahart
can teach our international students under a Part-141 ground course
allowing the student to fly under Part-61. We have found this
a perfect combination.
Question: What do airlines
require pilot candidates to train under
Answer: Airlines
require that someone searching for a job with them have been trained
at a Part-141 school. Ahart is a Part-141 school.
Question: How do I get
started?
Answer: Fill out
an
enrollment form (press the submit button at the bottom of the
form), we will contact you right after we get the completed form.
We will ask you for $500.00 for expenses we have in getting your
paperwork ready. After we get the down payment, we will create
an account for you and mail you your I-20 form (if you are an M-1
visa student) so you can get your Visa. We will then discuss
your arrival date and time and arrange to pick you up at the
airport.
Program Costs
Question: Are there any
enrollment fees or down-payment required?
Answer: Before
you begin your training, a $500.00 deposit in your Ahart account is
required. If you will be coming here on an M-1 Visa, you will
need an I-20 to get your Visa. We will create this document
and send it to you in your home country. The fee for this is a
standard $100.00 and will
be deducted from your account. If you are currently here in
the United States, the I-20 fee will only be $50.00. The remaining balance of the
$500.00 can be used for your training.
Question: I saw a cost
break-out sheet on your web site. Is this exactly what it will
cost for me to get my commercial pilot's license?
Answer: The cost
for your training is dependent on how hard you work and how often
you come in for a lesson. The cost break-out sheet is a way
for us to communicate to our customers the minimum cost for training
(hours defined by the FAA). Some students meet this minimum,
and some do not. It depends on two things: 1) Your skill
as a pilot; 2) How hard you work. The harder you work and the
more often you come in for a lesson, the faster you will finish and
the less expensive it will be.
Question: In the cost
break-out sheet on your web site, I see a $350.00 administrative
charge. What is this for?
Answer: Managing
international students is very expensive. The $350.00 charge
(per license acquired) is used for processing of paperwork, spending
time with SEVIS, TSA and INS in managing your Visa and/or I-20,
managing any accommodations you are staying here under, driving you
to and from your finger print appointments and other appointments
you need help with, and brokerage fees if you are coming here under
a broker. We charge this fee so we do not need to charge you
for every individual fee. We have found that in the long run,
this single fee will actually be less than what we really spend on
you, but close enough to make everyone happy.
Question: What method of
payment does Ahart take?
Answer: Credit
card, Personal check (in a U.S. Bank), Travelers checks, Direct wire
to the Ahart bank account. For more information, contact Ahart
management.
Question: Are there any
hidden costs or other costs I have not been told about?
Answer: Ahart
Aviation prides itself on being very fair and up front about costs.
We do not charge students for anything they do not receive as a
service or a product. However, there are times where some
costs may need to be increased temporarily. One that comes to
mind is fuel prices. We may need to add additional costs of
flying our planes if fuel prices get too high for us. We will
notify the student on our web site when this happens.
There is also a small management fee for
international students to cover our travel and other international
fees we must pay to host these students. Normally these fees
are about $350.00 for each license acquired.
Question: I have heard that
Ahart gives a 5% discount if $500 or more is deposited into my Ahart
account. Is this true?
Answer: For
domestic and international students/customers who do not need
special services (immigration documentation, use of a car,
apartments, etc.), this is true. However, because of the added
cost of providing immigration documentation, lending a car to a
student, broker or agent fees Ahart needs to pay, and other costs
associated with international students, we do not offer this
discount. Remember though, Ahart Aviation Services is the
least expensive flight school in California, so you get a discount
by just coming to study here.
Question: Does Ahart
require me to pay the full amount of my training after I enroll and
before I start my training?
Answer: No, in
fact, we would rather that you not pay your full enrollment fee all
at once. We allow you to pay in three equal payments, or, you
can pay as you go as long as you keep $1,000 or more in your Ahart
account at any one time.
Question: If I leave Ahart
before my training is complete, will I have to give up any money I
have on account?
Answer: Ahart
will return the full amount you have on account if you leave before
you complete your training, however, your refund may take 30-60 days
depending on how much money you have on account with us.
Housing
Question: Where will I be
staying during my training?
Answer: Ahart
Aviation Services does not own any apartments or 'rooms', but we
have made arrangements with some local apartment buildings and
hotels to house our students. We prefer that the student come
to Ahart, stay at one of our 'approved' hotels, and find their own
place to live. This is both easier and less expensive for the
student. Students that want to stay at an apartment that Ahart
has made an agreement with, a $20.00 per month service fee will be
charged for management of your room.
Question: Where are the
hotels that Ahart uses?
Answer: All of
the hotels where are students stay are very near to Ahart - walking
distance. We can provide you with a bicycle if you like, and
even some of our students have bought cars during their stay.
Question: What hotels does
Ahart use?
Answer: Here are
a couple:
Question: Where are the
apartments that Ahart uses?
Answer: Ahart is
trying to get out of the 'apartment business', but until that
happens, the apartments are about 2-3 miles away from Ahart.
Again, we can arrange for you to use a bicycle or you can look for a
car while you are here.
Question: How much does it
cost to stay at an apartment or Hotel while studying at Ahart?
Answer: Prices
for either hotels or apartments are about the same. When two
people stay in a room, it costs each about $700.00. In larger
rooms (suites), where four people can live, it still costs about
$700.00 per person because of the larger room size.
Question: Why would I want
to stay at a hotel instead of an apartment?
Answer: The
hotels where students stay have furniture and are cleaned daily,
have included television/cable and internet access, included cost of
electricity and hot water, and even have free breakfast and some
free dinners included. Apartments have none of these benefits,
and if the student wants these, they need to pay extra.
Question: Do I need to pay
for electricity, cable or internet access?
Answer: If you
stay in a Hotel, no. If you stay in an apartment, yes.
These fees could add up to 20% of your rent fee, depending on how
much electricity and hot water you use.
Transportation
Question: If I fly into the
United States to start my training, will someone pick me up at the
airport?
Answer: Of course
we will! We will pick you up at the airport and take you to
either the school or to the place where you have arranged to stay
during your training. You should make sure you get everything
arranged with the Ahart staff before arriving though, to make sure
you are ready to begin training as quickly as possible. You
can do this via email.
Question: Will car's be
provided to students?
Answer: if you
have a valid driver's license, we will rent you a car for $20.00 per
day and $35.00 for a two-day weekend. The fee will be deducted
from your Ahart account so you can easily see what you are being
charged for. The car must be in the same condition as it was
when you rented it, much like a normal car rental company except
much less expensive
Question: What kind of
on-going transportation can be made available to me?
Answer: Ahart
Aviation is not in the business of buying and lending automobiles,
so we do not let students use our cars for free. However, we
will be happy to provide you with a bicycle at no charge so you can
get back and forth between the school and your hotel as easily as
possible. Remember, the hotels we use are less than a mile
from the airport.
Instructors
Question: Will I be working
with the same instructor through out my training?
Answer: If you
like, Yes! We don't 'rotate' instructors like some other
flight schools. Keeping the same instructor through out a
certification is good for the student because you will benefit from
the friendly relationship that will develop while training with your
instructor.
Question: Can I choose my
own instructor?
Answer: Normally,
Ahart Aviation Services management will assign you your first
instructor, but if for any reason, you are not happy with your
instructor, we will let you change at any time. The staff at
Ahart Aviation Services is here for one reason: To make you a
good and safe pilot while having fun. Working with an
instructor you don't like makes this impossible - so feel free to
let us know if you like your instructor or not.
Question: If I don't like
my instructor, can I change?
Answer:
Absolutely! Just let Ahart management know and we'll make sure
you are taken care of.
Airplanes
Question: What airplanes
does Ahart have available?
Answer: That's an
easy question. Just click
here to
see.
Question: Will there be
enough airplanes available for my studies?
Answer: Yes!
We have many airplanes and all can be used for almost all types of
aviation education. If, for any reason, we have a shortage of
airplanes, we will let you know before you come to begin your
studies.
Question: How are the
airplanes maintained?
Answer: Unlike a
lot of other flight schools, Ahart Aviation Services has it's own
service department. We have an incredible safety record since
our staff is so knowledgeable and skilled. For more
information, click
here.
Question: How often will an
airplane be off-line for maintenance?
Answer: That's a
difficult question to answer, but let's try. The FAA and our
insurance company requires us to schedule maintenance on our
airplanes. Every 50 hours the airplane needs to be taken
off-line for about 1/2 a day. Every 100 hours the airplane
will be taken off line for about 3 days for its 100 hour inspection.
Every year an airplane will be taken off line for about a week for
its annual inspection. Also, if an airplane part stops working
(like a light, alternator, etc.), that airplane may need to be taken
off for a day or two allowing us to buy the part and install it.
Question: Can I schedule
airplanes more than once a day?
Answer: If an
airplane of the same model is available the day you wish to fly, on
that day you may reserve it. You cannot reserve the same model
of plane multiple times a day in advance. If you have any
questions, ask our dispatch personnel.
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