Universal Air Academy

Reviewers Male / Female Recommend Yes / No Number of Reviews Instruction & Ground School School Facilities Aircraft & Courses Cost Total Average Rating
2 / 0 0 / 2 2 1.50 2.00 2.00 1.50 1.75

Date Submitted: December 14, 2009
Flight School: Universal Air Academy
Location: CA - El Monte, United States
Instruction & Ground School: 1 out of 10
School Facilities: 1 out of 10
Aircraft & Courses: 1 out of 10
Cost: 1 out of 10
Recommend: No
Review: Read the fine print!
A small percentage of the Instructors is all that keeps Universal Air from being one of the absolute worst businesses I've ever encountered. The owners seem more interested in getting a hold of your money than they are about safety, customer service, and maintaining their equipment. Everything contrary to what you think you're signing up for is written in the fine print of their lengthy rental/training agreement, and they use it all in their favor.

Their advertisements and the general appearance of the facility is what made me check them out, and one of the owners sold me on training with them. Although there was the option of saving some money with one of their "packages", I'm glad I didn't purchase one. After several training cancellations due to my Instructor being reassigned to someone "more important" or problems with the airplane (most, I was told, were "acceptable", even though the issues made me feel unsafe), I decided to look elsewhere. With all of the uniformed students - Middle Eastern kids - walking around the facility, I doubt Universal will miss my business.

Before committing to Universal, contact your local FAA Flight Standards District Office for a list of your local FAA Designated Pilot Examiners. Call them and ask what their opinion is of the local Flight Schools. They test the students from the local Schools and can give the most accurate, non-biased, review of each.
Comments [ 0 ]
Submitted by: SkyHighDoc
32 year-old   ::   Male Reviewer   ::   Pasadena, CA, USA

Date Submitted: December 11, 2009
Flight School: Universal Air Academy
Location: CA - El Monte, United States
Instruction & Ground School: 2 out of 10
School Facilities: 3 out of 10
Aircraft & Courses: 3 out of 10
Cost: 2 out of 10
Recommend: No
Review: Stay Away
I have both trained and taught at Universal Air Academy, have over 4 years of Flight Instruction experience, and fly for an airline. Prior to becoming a Part 141 Flight School Universal was one of the best Part 61 Flight Schools in Southern California. Since becoming Part 141, the owners of Universal Air Academy have become more interested in making money and less interested in providing quality flight training. Universals' CFI's are treating very poorly by the owners and pressured to limit the training of each student to the absolute minimum time required by FAA regs. The result is a hazardously low quality of training which encourages total memorization with little comprehension and understanding. From 2005-2009, Universal Air lost 5 aircraft (6 accidents) all attributed to "Pilot error". Each Pilot was a graduate of a Universal Air training program.

My advice...from the potential airline pilot to the recreational pilot, I would recommend any other flight school other than Universal Air. If you are looking for a Part 141 Flight School in Southern California, check out American Flyers. If you're looking for a Part 61 Flight School, check out Los Angeles Flight Center (El Monte Airport), Ballard Aviation (Brackett Field in Pomona) or Beach Cities Aviation (Hawthorne Airport). Each of these Flight Schools provide a much higher quality of Instruction in a much better learning environment.
Comments [ 0 ]
Submitted by: Big K CFI
36 year-old   ::   Male Reviewer   ::   Monrovia, CA