Veteran Student Frequently
Asked Questions
This web page is here to try and
answer some of the most asked questions about veteran students
coming to Ahart Aviation Services for their commercial training.
Note: This page is ALWAYS under
construction.
Last updated on October 14th, 2011
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.). We are also approved to
teach Dispatcher courses as we have a dispatcher CFI on staff.
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. Minimum ground and flight hours for Ahart's approved
FAA courses can be found
here.
Question: Why would I pick
Part-61 over Part-141?
Answer: A Part-61
course is much more flexible than a Part-141 course, but the problem
with a Part-61 course is that international students need to be
enrolled in an approved 141 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 be trained as an
FAA certified pilot and they do not care if it was Part-61 or
Part-141. You do NOT need to be trained as a Part-141 student
to be hired at an airline. However, being trained at a
Part-141 school is always advantageous because of the special
relationship that school has with the FAA. Airlines also are
beginning to require 1,000 hours or more of flight experience to get
a job, when in the past, they used to only require 250 hours.
So, the more hours, the better.
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 $300.00 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.
Testing
Question: Can I do my FAA
written tests at Ahart?
Answer: Yes!
We have a full-featured Lasergrade testing center. Cost for
tests are around $150.00.
Question: What do I need to
bring with me to take a test?
Answer: Ahart
Aviation Services needs to abide by both FAA and Lasergrade
requirements for people taking tests in our testing center. To
this end, here is a list of things you may need, depending on your
current status in this country.
-
Driver's License, Government ID
Card, Passport or Military ID Card
-
Second form of ID which includes
your name and address.
Examples could be: Power bill, phone
bill, etc.
Question: If I do not have
another 'government' issued ID to use for my testing, where can I
get one?
Answer: The
California DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) can issue you a state
picture ID for around $5.00. We'll help you get all of that
taken care of, just let us know.
Program Costs
Question: Are there any
enrollment fees or down-payment required?
Answer: None!
Just come in, get a customer folder all setup and we'll get you
started without having to pay us a penny.
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: This fee
does not apply to domestic customers.
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.
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.
Question: If I pay with
Credit Card, can I get Cash back from Ahart?
Answer: No.
Ahart is not a bank or financial institution, so we do not convert
credit to cash. There is also a lot of illegal activity going
on in the internet today and one of these 'scams' is people trying
to get company's like Ahart to take credit card charges from
'stolen' credit cards, wire cash back to the customer, then the
credit card charge is reversed when the real owner of the card
notices the charges. Companies loose millions of dollars a
year because of scams like this, so Ahart will not participate in
such activities.
Question: I heard you had a
referral program How does that work?
Answer: Ahart
Aviation appreciates your business, and any business you send our
way, we will be happy to pay you a small commission for that
referral. You can find all of the details
here, but in short, YOU must contact Ahart with the name of the
person you are referring before the student contacts Ahart. We
have rules so this program is not abused, and these rules can change
at any time. Please see the
details for more information. Ahart Aviation services can
change or cancel this program at any time without notice.
Housing
Question: Where will I be
staying during my training?
Answer: Housing
is the responsibility of the customer/student.
Insurance
Question: Will I have
insurance while doing my training at Ahart?
Answer: Yes.
Ahart Aviation Services is fully insured and you will be fully
covered while flying our airplanes
Question: Can I buy
renter's insurance?
Answer: Yes. You
can buy renter's insurance from the Airplane Owners and Pilot's
Association. This insurance will cover the cost of aircraft
repair deductibles that the insurance companies charge if there is
damage to an aircraft and an insurance claim is submitted to the
insurance company. You can find more at this link
(www.aopa.org) once you sign up (free membership).
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.
Weather
Question: What's the
weather like in Livermore?
Answer:
Beautiful! The rainy season in northern California (where
Livermore is located) is absolutely beautiful. During the
months of December through February, it can rain a couple of times a
week, but bad weather like thunderstorms rarely, if ever occur.
Question: Do you ever see a
lot of Fog in Livermore?
Answer: Fog will
normally 'roll' into Livermore in the late evening and burn off,
normally, no later than 9:00 in the morning. Other cities like
Concord, Hayward and Oakland can easily see fog all day long because
of their location nearer to the water or ocean. But even these
locations see sunshine most of the day.
Question: What are
temperatures like in Livermore?
Answer: Between March
and June, the temperature stays in the mid-70's. Between July
and September, the temperature can get into the mid to high 90's.
All other months, the temperature fluctuates between 70 and 50 (all
temperatures are represented in Fahrenheit).
Question: What are
visibility condisions like in Livermore?
Answer: VERY
good! Unlike Concord California, Livermore does not sit next
to oil refineries or industrial centers which cause a lot of air
pollution. Instead, Livermore is more of a business, economic
and education area where both college and flight students reside.
We have two community colleges in or near Livermore and a lot of
businesses in the city. It is very safe to live in Livermore
as well
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