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Whether you are just graduating high school or looking for your next career, if you’ve dreamt of becoming a pilot, you might be wondering what makes a top-notch flight training program? There are a lot of places to choose from, and it’s important to know how to weed the good from the not-so-good. Even more, how to choose the perfect fit for you.

We know that learning to fly is exciting and rewarding, filling the need for adventure. Sure, piloting an airplane carries a lot of responsibility with it, but there’s no reason you can’t also have fun and love your job at the same time, and you will love it more when you find the training program that is a perfect fit for you. Plus, there’s that little perk called traveling.

Here are some guidelines you can use to choose the flight training program that will suit you best. 

What are Your Goals?

If you want to learn as a hobby or to become a professional pilot, it will determine which type of training is best for you. If you are interested in the professional pilot route, check to see if the schools you are considering partner with any regional airlines, such as J.A. Air’s partnership with Southern Airways and Mesa Airlines.

How Much Will it Cost?

When comparing costs, look at both the flight school costs and aircraft rental costs. Those include not only rental of the aircraft itself, but also includes insurance, fuel, taxes, instructor fees, and processing fees. Find out if rental includes fuel or not (wet vs. dry).

What Type of Training Do You Want?

At J.A. Air, you can pursue a Bachelor of Science degree online through Liberty University, while completing all of your FAA flight ratings through JA Flight Training. This program runs year-round, can be completed in as little as 30 months, and is perfect for high school graduates looking for all of the financial benefits college programs have to offer, such as; scholarships, grants, financial aid, low-interest student loans, and parent plus loans.

The other option is a 12-month accelerated flight training program at Aurora Airport with a follow-up interview with Mesa airlines and an internship with Southern Airways. This program is perfect for career changers and students. Because of J.A.’s ownership in Southern Airways, and their agreement with Mesa Airlines, this program is a one-of-a-kind opportunity that can have our students flying with the airlines in as little as a year and a half.  There is no quicker or less expensive path to becoming an airline pilot.

Does it Matter What Type of Aircraft is Used?

The type of aircraft is, to a degree, personal preference. Safety, however, is mandatory. Some don’t mind the older aircraft with round dials, while others prefer glass cockpits and GPS, which is good if you are interested in flying professionally.

At J.A. Flight, we take pride in our top-notch program, the facilities, and the newest aircraft and simulators. With all of our exceptional aircraft maintained by our FAA Certified repair station and Cessna Service Center, you won’t find a finer fleet that’s supported by more trusted and proven technicians. This creates the foundation for a world-class flight training school that prepares our students for a successful future in piloting with flexible classes and affordable programs.

Research, Visit, Meet Pilots

Be sure to do your research. Read reviews left by students who have graduated from the program. Go visit the flight school and listen to your gut instinct. Above all, make sure to go on a discovery flight with an instructor and ask questions about the school, safety and the staff.

Call Us Today

We are committed to helping you become the best pilot possible, using real airline pilots for training and mentoring. All of our ground and flight training is done one-on-one with your instructor. We tailor our flight training programs to your specific needs and schedule. Give us a call at J.A. Flight today and schedule your visit.

This winter has been a bit intense, with record snowfalls in northern Wisconsin to everything from rain, ice, and snow in northern Illinois. Most people are ready to issue a hearty welcome to spring, with its milder temperatures and more moderate weather. That means it’s time to get your aircraft ready for spring flying.

Here are some items you should put on your checklist as you prep for wheels up.

Look Over the Maintenance Records

Now is a good time to go over your aircraft’s maintenance records to make sure you are familiar with what has been done and what you need to do. Is there anything you have put off? In particular, are there safety repairs that are required by the FAA to legally fly the plane? Now is the time to get it scheduled and done.

Routine Maintenance

You probably changed the oil in your plane before storing it for the winter, but that doesn’t mean you can skip the springtime oil change. While you are taking care of that, make sure to also check the fuel system.

Old oil can cause corrosion and pitting of certain components, such as cam lobes and bearings due to a change in the acidity over time. The rust from that, if mixed with the oil, puts your engine at risk for extensive damage.

When checking the fuel system, remove the fuel filter, clean it and replace. Be sure to check for condensation in the tanks, a common problem if the fuel tanks air was in the tanks due to being partially full. Other items to check for are water in the tanks, condition of tanks and straps, fuel lines, drains and valve for leaks or damage, and the fuel gauge for any damage. And don’t forget to remove any covers installed before winter, turn on the master switches, and open the fuel cocks.

Electrical Components

This is also the time to check the battery age and condition and replace it if necessary. General recommendations are to check it every 50 hours of use. Don’t forget to check the battery leads, mounting gear, circuits, circuit breakers, terminal wiring, the radio, and antenna.

Tire Inspection

Make sure to check the tires for wear and air pressure. It’s common for tires to lose air pressure over time. Don’t forget to check both the struts and brake assembly. Any leaks must be addressed and struts replaced if worn out.

Wings and More

As you continue to move through your checklist, write down anything that may not need work right now, but will in the near future. That way you can schedule it instead of being grounded at a time that doesn’t suit you.

Check the wing flaps, tail fins, propeller assembly, landing gear and landing gear doors. You don’t want anything that is loose, damaged or dirty. If it is dirty and you can clean it properly, then do so, if you can’t, or it is loose or damaged, you must call a mechanic to repair it. This is true of anything you find.

The final section on your checklist should be checking the fuselage for damage—hairline cracks or damage from contact with another plane while in storage. Look over all gaskets and seals to be sure they aren’t corroded or dried out and check the air intake and cowling, pilot tube, stall warning vent, and static ports for animals–that may have built nests in those places.

The Final Touch

After all that has been done, enjoy some time babying your aircraft and give it a good wash on the outside and some interior detailing. If you don’t have time for that, give us a call at J.A. Air and we’ll be happy to take care of it for you.

New or experienced, young or old, it doesn’t matter. Pilots have flying in their blood, and once it’s there, it’s there to stay. They have such passion for flying, it’s not surprising that most, if not all, dream of one day owning their own aircraft. Cost is the barrier most face, but bringing older planes back to life is one way to leap over into ownership.

When new light-sport aircrafts cost at least $150,000 and close to $250,000 for entry-level Part 23, it’s no surprise that a lot of pilots can’t do more than stare in envy. What if that didn’t have to be the case? What if you could be cool and retro, finding and rehabbing an old plane that doesn’t deserve to die just yet?

Finding the Right One

There are a lot of great older planes out there. That’s because between 1965 and 1980 there were about 215,000 piston planes built and 10,000 general aviation planes. That’s about 14,000 produced each year, while today, less than 1,000 are produced annually.

If you are willing to buy one that needs some work—often either a panel upgrade or an engine overhaul, you can buy one for less, knowing you will have a sizable bill ahead of you. The bonus in that is your ability to then have the repair work done at a shop of your choosing.

Patience with finding the aircraft that is right for you can be fairly demanding and take a lot of your time, or you can ask a professional to do the legwork for you.

J.A. Aero offers acquisition services that will save you countless hours searching. Let us know what you are looking for, what your budget is for not only the purchase, but also any needed refurbishment or repairs. With more than 30 years’ experience helping pilots find the right aircraft, we know all the right questions to ask.

Having help with a major purchase like this, especially when there are an overwhelming number of options when it comes to performance, characteristics, and price, can mean the difference between a beloved plane that gets a lot of use and one that is an expensive dust collector.

Questions to Ask

Before buying any aircraft, there are a number of questions you should obtain answers to:

•     Who performed the last annual inspection?
•     Who performed the overhaul, and are they reputable?
•     Are all A.D.’s complied with?
•     Is it right time to buy an aircraft?
•     What are all available aircraft options?
•     Is there a damage history on the aircraft?
•     Is the price appropriate?
•     Are there any liens against the aircraft?
•     What financing is available?

The Beauty of Professional Help

There are a lot of details you should know before agreeing to the purchase of an aircraft, including what repairs will be necessary right away, what will need to be done sometime down the line, and what it all will cost you. Then there are the “electives”—those things you would like done “just because.”

J.A. Aero will ask those questions for you, give you a comprehensive overview of the current condition of the aircraft, what must be done, what you may want to consider doing, along with other options and they will not only negotiate on your behalf, but also give you the after-purchase costs involved.

Acquisition consultations are free and often lead to not only the best value aircraft, but the best choice for YOU. Call today to set up an appointment.

Owning your own aircraft is certainly a joyful and freeing experience. It can also be a painfully expensive one, especially when unexpected problems arise and threaten to take a large bite out of your wallet. The new Piston Engine Service Program (PESP) is like Kevlar for your finances, protecting both your investment and your wallet from the unpredictable.

AeroEngine Protection Corp. (AEPC) offers the only PESP available in the general aviation industry. Professionals from AEPC used data from large fleet overhauls and more than 4,000 piston-aircraft overhauls over a 20-year period before designing the different programs they offer.

Owners of piston aircraft are now able to manage the risk of costly unplanned expenses through PESP. This engine maintenance program not only protects current owners of an aircraft, but it is transferrable to a new owner should the aircraft have time left on the program when sold.

What is Covered Under the PESP?

The list of what is covered under the PESP is impressive, starting with 100% parts and labor for all unscheduled maintenance of the engine’s covered components. Enrollment can be done at any time, with agreements for both new and used aircraft up to seven years, and options to renew. It is fully transferrable.

Under the program, unscheduled maintenance can be performed by any FAA-approved owner/operator and a broad list of engine components are covered, including loaners and ground freight. If you are grounded more than five days waiting for parts, you will be paid for loss of use, up to $500 and if away from your base airport, you will be paid up to $300 for trip interruption expenses.

With the two top-tiered programs, PESP Plus and PESP Care, 100% parts and labor coverage for engine accessories is covered, and the top-of-the-line program also covers scheduled service such as the annual inspections/overhaul.

Engines that are covered by the PESP plans include the Lycoming O-320, IO-360, O-360 and IO-540 and the Continental IO-360 and IO-550.

Benefits of a PESP

Benefits include increased aircraft value that will appear in the Aircraft Blue Book, coverage and risk transfer beyond the warranty period, a fixed budget for all unscheduled maintenance, and increased aircraft dispatch availability.

This fleet of programs comes at just the right time in an industry that is seeing costs and maintenance requirements on the rise. Providing an alternative to the norm of simply dealing with problems as they arise and hoping the resulting bill is affordable, the minimization of risk and stabilization of unscheduled service bills is a huge opportunity for piston aircraft owners.

Call for More Information

Partnering with AEPC lets J.A. Air Center offer our clients the predictability, protection, and peace of mind that owners of turbine engines have enjoyed for decades. Be sure to give us a call for more information on how this program can save you money.

We are committed to offering valuable services we believe will make a difference for our clients, whether it’s a chance to minimize financial risk, to have top-quality repairs, to have well-timed and timely inspections done, or any of the many services we offer at our luxurious and well-appointed FBO in Aurora, Illinois, just west of Chicago.

Aircraft maintenance is a comprehensive, ongoing process designed to meet the standards set by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). No one knows that better than J.A. Air Center, the leader in aircraft maintenance in Chicago.

With nearly 50 years of experience, our Class IV Part 145 Repair Station is FAA Authorized and EASA Approved. Our teams of experienced and trained technicians provide service for almost every airframe and engine event, scheduled or unscheduled, on numerous models of Jet, Turboprop and Piston aircraft.

With temperatures getting colder, we have some winter aircraft maintenance tips below for things you can do yourself or, if you’re short on time, you can ask J.A. Air Center to do.

Aircraft Maintenance Tips for Winter

As we head for the heart of winter, the days shorten, the temps dip, and, usually anyway, we get snow dumped on us fairly often. Check out these tips to make sure you—and your aircraft—are ready for the winter ahead.

Wash and wax: Taking the time to wash and wax your aircraft, including windows, will pay off when the ice and snow hit. Dirt and bugs attract the snow and ice, helping them to stick. Having your aircraft detailed lets it all slide right off.

Change the oil: Changing the oil rids the system of acids, contaminants, and any water that may be present. This also allows you to change from straight-weight oil to a thinner one meant for colder temperatures, and you may want to consider an anti-corrosion additive.

Lubricate the airframe: Lubricants play an important role when it comes to protecting your aircraft from the cold of winter. Lubricating them according to schedule will not only help prevent wear and corrosion but also help reduce strain on components that are cold sensitive and tend to become stiff.

Conduct a battery check: Check the main battery by having it tested to make sure it has the required capacity. If it fails the test, replace it. This may be a good time to consider buying a maintenance-free battery. Replace all other batteries as well—in headsets, flashlights and carbon monoxide detectors.

Check the heating system: Make sure to thoroughly check the heating system, including the exhaust system that usually supplies heat to single-engine aircraft. No one wants to discover the heat doesn’t work once up in the air, and a carbon monoxide leak can be deadly.

Preheating check: This is also the time to check over your engine preheater if you have one. If you don’t, you may want to consider buying one. Also, a small, fire-safe ceramic heater for the interior reduces the expansion/contraction on interior parts.

Emergency preparedness: Preparing for emergencies should be done year-round, including items such as a first-aid kit, bottled water, and snacks. For winter, add an emergency blanket, lighter, hats and gloves to your usual emergency gear.

Call to Schedule Service

Your aircraft deserves the best, and J.A. Air Center delivers it. No matter what you need, from regular maintenance to upgraded avionics, our team of specialists will have you back up and running with minimum downtime.

Sure, we are proud of all the awards for excellence that we have received. What means, even more, is the trust placed in us each time pilots return with their aircraft for additional work. Give us a call and find out why we are the leader for aircraft maintenance in Chicago.

With news of the anticipated pilot shortage all over the news, it’s no surprise that a lot of people are interested in following their dreams and becoming a pilot. If you are interested in becoming a pilot, do you know what to look for in a flight training school?

Flight training schools are working hard to meet the demand as it’s projected that they will need to turn out 87 new pilots each day. They aren’t all the same, so below are several different factors to consider where you want to go.

What are Your Pilot Goals?

Like anything else in life, it’s good to define your goals before getting started, especially your long-term goals. This way you have something to focus on, to keep you motivated and moving forward. Something you can use to get you over the little humps and bumps along the way.

Deciding, for instance, on whether you want to be a professional pilot or only flying as a hobby will go a long way in deciding what type of training you are looking for. If you are looking at it for a career, you may want to look for one that has an association or partnership with regional airlines as it can get you up and running faster upon graduation.

How Much Can You Afford?

Just as there are a lot of different types of cars out there, with just as many price-tags to match, the same is true of flight training schools. What schools charge varies widely, and several factors affect their rates: location of the school, how many students they can take on, the type of aircraft you will train on, to name a few.

Some schools will offer financial assistance and loan programs. Decide on your budget and use that to narrow your list of candidates.

How Much Time Do You Have?

Are you willing to make training a priority might be the better question. Find out how much time is required for classes and flying, and what their schedule is, in order to find out if you are able to make the commitment. It can be costly to delay flight training because you didn’t plan ahead, and it can make it harder to gain the “muscle memory” that only comes with flying, and flying, and flying.

Part 61 Or Part 141 Flight Training School?

This is a big decision as both types of schools have distinct differences. Part 61 offers a bit more flexibility for your training, while 141 utilize FAA-approved training courses which must be adhered to. Over all, Part 141 schools are by their nature more structured than Part 61.

Only you can decide, based on your time availability, personal preferences, and learning style which is best for you.

Do Your Research

Part of your research can easily be done online by reading reviews, but you also need to get out and talk to pilots who have gone through the training program themselves. Ask them about the pros and cons and don’t expect perfection, because a perfect flight school doesn’t exist. What does is the right school. That is the one that is uniquely right for you, with all your requirements. You will find it, you just have to be committed to finding it.

Take a Tour

Once you’ve narrowed down your list, go ahead and schedule school tours and an introductory flight with an instructor. Pay close attention to your gut feelings about the environment, the staff, safety, policies, and if other students seem content.

Safety

While doing your research, be sure to check the safety record of any flight school that is a serious contender. As questions about their safety record when you tour the facilities, and also ask about the maintenance of their aircraft and how the defect reporting system works. You want to make sure safety is their top priority.

Aircraft and Simulators

Preference should be given for flight training schools that use aircraft with modern, up-to-date equipment. Simulators take students through replica conditions as set by the instructors—extreme weather, emergencies, winter weather systems, or the high heat of summer in the south. These different experiences–simulating real life–allow students to take risks and experience failure without facing true danger.

Contact Us Today

Contact us today at J.A. Flight Training. We ARE what you’re looking for in a flight training school. We’re committed to your success.