Pittsburgh Flight Training Center

love2fly's synopsis is far from the truth. While it may be his/her opinion, it doesn't change the facts. While you may be able to go through training with a reduced cost due to scholarships, grants, etc; that has nothing to do with PFTC (there is no way that scholarships and grants will ever cover the cost of your entire training, you simply don't get that much). All Part 141 get these financial benefits, it's not PFTC that helps. Anyone can take advantage of this, but is has nothing to do with PFTC. PFTC is unfriendly, very unhelpful, unprofessional, rude, negative, nasty, and countless other negative things I could say about them. love2fly said, "Even if the prices on paper may be greater (which I don't think the are)" That statement makes zero sense. Any flight school around PFTC will crush them in competition for cost. They are extremely expensive, and even just raised their rates higher. You are forced to pay a fuel surcharge, which is normal for some flight schools, however: You are required to purchase the fuel from the most expensive fuel supplier on the field. What company owns the fuel that you are required to use? That would be Corporate Air based at KAGC. Guess who owns PFTC? Corporate Air. So you are required to purchase the most expensive fuel on the field (when others are cheaper), you are required to purchase it from the same company, and you are even charged a fuel surcharge for it. Even after they are making money on you just purchasing the fuel in the first place. How is that caring or showing appreciation for a customer that decided to utilize their flight company for training? It's not. You could interview 10 students that attend CCAC (the college that subcontracts PFTC for flight training), and 7 out of 10 of those students will give you horror stories or negative responses. Many go there simply because there are not really any other local options to train under Part 61. I have also heard from quite a few verterns (this is second hand info, nothing I have expereinced personally, I'm not a vet), that PFTC has taken extremem advantge of them. The Armed Forces will pay for flight training for 365 days for veterans. These verterans have stated to me that PFTC & CCAC will do everything in their power to stall/delay that veterans training so they can squeeze them for every dime possible, oh and, don't forget about the fuel surcharge I mentioned. So do you want to go to a flight school that takes advantage of veterans? While this review is merely my opinion. This information can be sought out, you can ask students, and even former students. PFTC has more unhappy customers than not. There are not many other options for a Part 141 in this area, other than the Community College of Beaver County. So many people are forced to go here if they want to pursue a career in aviation and earn a degree. If you are looking to become a pilot, earn a degree, training under Part 61 or 141...do yourself a favor and go anywhere else. As I said, Beaver Community College is a good alternative for Part 141 training if you happen to live close enough for it to be beneficial. If not, you can train Part 61 at Rostraver, Washington, Latrobe, or Connellsville. The best part of any flight lesson at PFTC, is when you land, and get to go home. A student should never "not want to" go to a flight lesson. That is something you should be excited about, especially if you have a burning passion for it. PFTC will make you loathe going to a lesson, and make you happy when it's time to leave. Now there are some really awesome instructors there. Like simply outstanding, but they have nothing to do with PFTC business practices. They also pay and treat with instructors like a pile of dog crap. The best choice you can make in your flight training is to -- GO SOMEWHERE else. Don't believe me? Spend a semester there, and then when you are at 80-100 hours, and have still not tested out for your Private Certificate...don't say I didn't tell you about it.

There are a lot of flight schools in the Greater Pittsburgh area, but this is the only one I found in Allegheny County. I like that because it makes me feel closer to home. It's also the most affordable flight school I found. Even if the prices on paper may be greater (which I don't think the are), the staff there helps you find ways to afford it. I know a student that went through his entire Instrument rating without paying a dime. It was all paid for by scholarships and grant money. It is a really friendly place and everyone there feels like your family. I have been to other flight schools and seriously--nothing compares to this one. They teach you how to be a pilot, not just how to fly a plane and pass a test-- it makes me feel really safe.