Ep. 294 Picking the Perfect Flight School. What They Don't Tell You!

Ready 4 Pushback

Nik Fialka

Business, Careers, Leisure, Aviation

4.8 • 716 Ratings

🗓️ 3 November 2025

⏱️ 33 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Former flight school owner and current major-airline pilot Joe Theis joins Nik for a practical, in depth guide to picking a flight school. From Part 61 vs Part 141 to pricing, aircraft, scheduling, financing, and matching learning styles, this one's a 101 + "things nobody tells you" rolled into one. Joe has hired instructors, built syllabi, dealt with FSDOs, and trained pilots across both 61 and 141 environments, so he is perfect for this roadmap to flight training.

CONNECT WITH US

Are you ready to take your preparation to the next level? Don't wait until it's too late. Use the promo code "R4P2025" and save 10% on all our services. Check us out at www.spitfireelite.com! If you want to recommend someone to guest on the show, email Nik at [email protected], and if you need a professional pilot resume, go to www.spitfireelite.com/podcast/ for FREE templates!

SPONSOR

Are you a pilot just coming out of the military and looking for the perfect second home for your family? Look no further! Reach out to Marty and his team by visiting www.tridenthomeloans.com to get the best VA loans available anywhere in the US.

Be ready for takeoff anytime with 3D-stretch, stain-repellent, and wrinkle-free aviation uniforms by Flight Uniforms. Just go to www.flightuniform.com and type the code SPITFIREPOD20 to get a special 20% discount on your first order.

#Aviation #AviationCareers #aviationcrew #AviationJobs #AviationLeadership #AviationEducation #AviationOpportunities #AviationPodcast #AirlinePilot #AirlineJobs #AirlineInterviewPrep #flying #flyingtips #PilotDevelopment #PilotFinance #pilotcareer #pilottips #pilotcareertips #PilotExperience #pilotcaptain #PilotTraining #PilotSuccess #pilotpodcast #PilotPreparation #Pilotrecruitment #flightschool #aviationschool #pilotcareer #pilotlife #pilot

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Hey, pilot, welcome to Ready for Pushback. It's another interview show. I'm so glad you made it with me today.
0:08.4	Our conversation today is all about choosing a flight school. Do you know somebody who is interested in
0:15.3	learning how to fly? Do you have somebody in your life that's got questions about how to pick a flight
0:20.0	school? Well, today's guest, his name is Joe Tees.
0:22.8	We talk deep about all the different types of flight schools, what to look for, what to avoid,
0:28.6	and any kind of pitfalls there might be.
0:30.9	It's a really great in-depth conversation about flight schools.
0:34.3	So let's go.
0:35.4	Sit back.
0:36.5	Relax.
0:37.3	Let's get ready for pushback.
0:39.3	It all started as a spark. Maybe it was the sound of jets racing across the sky.
0:47.3	Or the feeling of your heart racing as you watch Crop Duster flying low and slow.
0:53.3	Even then, you knew you were meant to fly. as you watch Crop Duster flying low and slow.
0:54.3	Even then, you knew you were meant to fly.
0:58.2	For pilots, it's more than just a job.
1:00.8	It's a calling.
1:02.9	The early mornings, the long hours, the relentless training,
1:07.0	you didn't do it for the money.
1:08.8	You did it for that moment.
1:10.7	That moment when the wheels lift off and the Earth falls away beneath you.
1:14.6	But flying is just the beginning.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Nik Fialka, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Nik Fialka and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.