I want to get my flight training with my favorite airplane and my favorite instructor.

Quite often, we have customers at the flight school that have a favorite airplane to fly in and a favorite instructor to fly with. That’s great! As long as you schedule in advance, you will be able to schedule with no problem. But there are times in your flight training, where you may fly with a different instructor. When could that be?

1. When there is an unexpected scheduling adjustment due to weather, aircraft maintenance, or delayed flights.
2. Stage Checks (which is a flight where the training curriculum will have another instructor see and make a friendly evaluation) to get second opinions on how you are progressing.
3. When the instructor has flown over his/her allowed limits( In any 24-consecutive-hour period, a flight instructor may not conduct more than 8 hours of flight training by law. – 14 CFR 61.195)

So, when the time comes, don’t worry. It’s only one flight or two that you miss your favorite instructor and airplane.  It’s not the end of the world.

But what happens if there is an instructor that get’s hired by an airline company and now you “really” can not fly with your favorite instructor any more? Humm. Unfortunately, what we can say is, “that’s just the way it is.” (in this case) But, still, no worries.  Flight instructors will work it out to make sure that you will get introduced to your new flight instructor and your training will be followed up by either you Pilot Logbook entries that your favorite instructor entered, or by the student record folder so your transition from the “old” instructor to the “new” instructor will be seamlessly conducted in an efficient manner.

By the way, the same goes with helicopter flight training!

When would it be the best time of the year to start Flight Training in Southern California

El Monte Airport in Southern California is the BEST of the BEST when it comes to Pilot Training ALL YEAR LONG:

• When you need nice calm clear visibility conditions, in the beginning of the training, you got it.
• When you want to practice crosswind effects, you can get it.
• If you want to go VMC, you got it.
• If you want to go IMC, you can get it.
• If you want Controlled airspace, you got it.
• If you want Special Use / Other airspace, you can find it.
• If you want Non-Controlled Airspace, you got it.
• If you want Mountain, Valley, River, Ocean, Beach, Island, High Altitude, Low Altitude, Quiet Airspace, Busy Airspace, you can get it.

and more;

• If you want your airplane washed, you can get it!
• If you want Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, at Annia’s Kitchen, you can get it!
• If you want the BEST CHICKEN and PIZZA? you can get it!
• If you want your Morning Donuts, you can get it!
• If you want to get a Haircut, you can get it!
• If you want to Golf, you can play it!

by editor

What does it take to get my Helicopter Add-on?

First of all, what is an “Add-On?”  Here’s a Quick Ref.

PILOT CERTIFICATES – Universal Air Academy Inc

• Student Pilot
• Sport Pilot
• Recreational Pilot
• Private Pilot
• Commercial Pilot
• Airline Transport Pilot(ATP)

Each Pilot Certificate has its own unique Privileges and Limitation. Most of the time you will hear the majority of the people who fly say, “the first license” is the “Private Pilot Certificate.”  There’s nothing wrong with that.  If I were to quickly explain about “pilot certification” to somebody, I’ll probably choose to say the same. However, technically, that’s not correct.  The “Student Pilot Certificate” would be the first pilot certificate that you pursue, get and earn. Then comes the rest.

Within the various types of pilot certificates, as you receive your ground and flight training with an authorized flight instructor, you get the privilege of flying an airplane based on a student pilot certificate, or for example, a helicopter based on a student pilot certificate.  In order to obtain and be able to exercise the privileges of a student pilot certificate, there are specific requirements that you have to meet and the Certified Flight Instructor, commonly known as a CFI, will guide your training so that it meets those requirements pertaining to the aircraft that you are going to be flying.  Email us if you would like to know the requirements for a specific aircraft.

If you want to get your Private Pilot Certificate, one of the requirements is to have a student pilot certificate.  Along with all the other  requirements, eventually, the CFI will guide you and sign you off to go on a “test”, commonly refered to as the “CHECKRIDE.”  This is where you will be checked to see if you meet all the requirements that you must have to obtain the pilot certificate that you are seeking, then have Knowledge Oral Examination, followed by a Flight Test.  Once you demonstrate your skills and decision-making and knowledge and found to be within the standards, you will be granted the Pilot Certificate.

So, what does everybody do with the Private Pilot Certificate that they get?  Well, some people store it. Some people fly on weekend just to enjoy the privilege that he/she earned.  Some people continue on with training for other Pilot Certificates and “category ” and “class” and “types.” 

This is where the term “ADD-ON” is used.  If you are already an airplane private pilot certificate holder and you want to become a holder of a helicopter pilot certificate, you will need to receive additional training to meet the requirements in the Regulation. Once you meet all the requirements and obtain a different category or class aircraft privilege, your pilot certificate will be replaced with an updated version and the list of different types and ratings that you have will increase. 

If you have any questions about what you can add-on to your pilot certificate, you can email us and we can guide you to see what we have to offer.  Send Email.

by Editor

Flight School: Phone 1-626-454-5254

email: info@universalairacademy.com

Address: 4233 Santa Anita Ave. #13 El Monte, California 91731 USA

Do you have everything you need for the flight?

I remember a training flight with a student that I flew with and we were trying to meet one of the cross country flight requirements towards a commercial rating. 

I usually have everything that I need.  It could be anything from the basic pilot items like the Current Aeronautical Chart for the area that you intend to fly in, a headset(that works) for you and the passenger(s), a flash light for preflight inspections and post flight inspections regardless of day or night and the list goes on and on.

Well, that’s probably good enough, right? So, what did my student do? He didn’t come with anything except for the following:

1. his iPhone and his wallet and his car keys;
2. a Garmin GPS (with no extra battery nor auxiliary/external power unit);
3. information about when the restaurant on Montgomery Field (MYF) closes.

The entire flight actually came out to be a very good flight. We learned that back in those days, if you had a cellular phone with an area code New York for example, and called 1-800-WX-BRIEF from it in San Diego, you get to talk to some body in New York giving you weather for San Diego.  I’m sorry if I’m wrong, but no worries anymore!  It’s FIXED!

We learned that the GPS is a great aid for flying, but when the battery dies during the day time, it’s not too bad.  But for some reason, if you lose the battery during night-time, you get really worried for about a second or two. But eventually, figure out that a chart works good enough.

We learned how weather can change along the shore before you walk into a restaurant to have dinner to the time that you walk out of the restaurant. And I also learned that the “Get-There-itis” is true.  We modified our route of flight, airspeed and therefore the ETA not based on the aircraft performance, weather, and ATC like we had planned; but based on making sure that we get to the restaurant before they take “last orders.”

There was a list of things that came up in my mind during the flight, that I didn’t need at that time but wished I had in case I do need it. I wish I had noted it as I thought of it.  Because the only thing that I can remember, today are “the DOORS”.

By Editor

Do you have a large group of students in one classroom or do you have a small group class? I learn better with one-on-one based sessions with a teacher. Can you offer one-on-one instruction?

—YES— We believe one-on-one lessons are very important for student pilots to understand what they are learning. In some cases, we do provide small group classes as necessary.

Flight Training in El Monte, California 91731
Flight Training in La Verne, California 91750
go to Customer Reviews

Part 141 and Part 61 Flight School
Universal Air Academy (Los Angeles California USA)
4233 Santa Anita Ave. Unit#13
El Monte, CA 91731 USA

How many instructors do you have? How much flight time do they have? Are they good?

—YES— At Universal Air Academy, we have experienced instructors with thousands of hours, and also fresh instructors that know exactly what the FAA Examiners are looking for in pilots that fly today.

How many times can I fly per day? Do you always have an aircraft available?

—YES— You can fly as much as you want in one day, however, you might encounter situations where there might be scheduling conflicts between you and another student/customer that booked an aircraft just before you did. Otherwise an aircraft is always available for you.

Flight Training in El Monte, California 91731
Flight Training in La Verne, California 91750
go to Customer Reviews

Part 141 and Part 61 Flight School
Universal Air Academy (Los Angeles California USA)
4233 Santa Anita Ave. Unit#13
El Monte, CA 91731 USA

I don’t live in Southern California/USA. Do you offer any housing or accommodation?

—NO / YES, Now we do.—We will be more than happy to recommend motels and hotels in the vicinity of El Monte Airport. However, we do not offer housing for non-local trainees at this time. We now do provide housing and/or accommodation for your stay during your flight training at the flight school.

Flight Training in El Monte, California 91731
Flight Training in La Verne, California 91750
go to Customer Reviews

Part 141 and Part 61 Flight School
Universal Air Academy (Los Angeles California USA)
4233 Santa Anita Ave. Unit#13
El Monte, CA 91731 USA

I’m looking at a brochure/publication that I picked-up at an airport but your rates on the AD are not the same as the rates on the website? Where can I get the most current rates? On the web?

—NO— Although we try to keep our publications and website as accurate as possible, the only way to get the most current rates is to contact us via phone or online chat.

Flight Training in El Monte, California 91731
Flight Training in La Verne, California 91750
go to Customer Reviews

Part 141 and Part 61 Flight School
Universal Air Academy (Los Angeles California USA)
4233 Santa Anita Ave. Unit#13
El Monte, CA 91731 USA

I’m thinking of purchasing your Private Pilot Package in a Cessna 152. Are there any other costs that I should be aware of upon starting my flight training?

—YES— Unless otherwise specified, packages do not include fees such as medical examination fees and practical test fees.

Flight Training in El Monte, California 91731
Flight Training in La Verne, California 91750
go to Customer Reviews

Part 141 and Part 61 Flight School
Universal Air Academy (Los Angeles California USA)
4233 Santa Anita Ave. Unit#13
El Monte, CA 91731 USA