Q: I am enrolled in a Part 141 aviation program at a community college in Oregon. The school advertised that it provides ground school for the private, commercial, and instrument in a classroom setting. After I had moved to Oregon from California to attend the school, I found out the school’s private pilot ground school curriculum consists of a homemade PowerPoint presentation viewed online one hour per week. The tuition is $328. I am upset because I could have bought a professionally produced online or DVD ground school course from Sporty’s or King Schools for $200 to $300. I and many of the other students complained, but it fell on deaf ears. A classroom is what was advertised and what I paid for. Is it standard for a college offering a professional pilot degree under Part 141 to only offer ground school online one hour per week? Am I not getting the optimum educational format and should look elsewhere?
A: Well, that is quite a story, and it is unfortunate that you were not delivered what you expected based upon the school’s advertising. Without knowing the precise circumstances, such as whether a certain amount of time is also provided on a PCATD, the availability of one-on-one instruction with a live faculty member, or a kit full of tools, it does seem on face value that the price is excessive. Further, it would appear that one hour of ground school weekly is sorely deficient. How is a student expected to prepare for a know-ledge test with only one hour of education per week via PowerPoint with no interaction with instructors or other students?
It appears that you are seeking some satisfaction. If you want to go right to the top, you should request to see a copy of the school’s FAA-approved training course outline. It should detail each ground school lesson and delivery method. Then, depending on the level of your dissatisfaction, draft a letter to the FAA’s principal operations inspector (POI) with a copy to the Flight Standards District Office manager and the school’s dean or department chair. The POI provides FAA oversight for the school and is the one who likely approved the curriculum. Express your concerns about the ineffectiveness of the training. The FAA can do very little about pricing structure.
Finally—and I hesitate to recommend this—you can use social media to vent frustration. A well-placed tweet or Facebook comment that is factual and unemotional may give you satisfaction, provide a warning to other potential students, and perhaps compel the school to take a hard look at its program.
You would not be the first to be misled. A personal friend was told that the complete professional pilot program at an academy would cost $55,000 to $65,000. She completed the program $120,000 later. That program charged $45 per hour for a laptop with a joystick.
Due diligence is a must before investing in any aviation training program. It would be interesting to see if any of our readers have had similar experiences. Drop us a line. I hope it all works out for you.
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