Transfer to Epic Flight Academy
Have you already had some level of flight instruction or aircraft mechanic training? Are you thinking you might want to transfer to another flight school? We have welcomed thousands of transfer flight students down through the years and helped them complete their flight training here at Epic.
Whether you are interested in changing flight instructors or you simply quit flight training and would like to start again, we can help. You don’t have to be a flight school dropout. Transferring your flight hours to Epic makes perfect sense, and we can transfer you in at any level regardless of how much training you’ve had. The same is true for aircraft mechanic training.
Why do people change flight schools?
Flight students change flight schools for many different reasons. Sometimes it’s simply logistics. Perhaps they have moved or are wanting to move to a new area to be closer to family or some other reason. Many international students transfer to the U.S. so they can perfect their English skills while earning their pilot’s license.
However, many times aviation student transfer because they are frustrated with their current school. We hear from students all the time who might like the area where they are training, but they feel that their school has bad instructors or unfair policies. In fact, ‘hated flight instructors’ is the number one reason we hear from our transfer pilots. This is strong language, and we feel it’s important to listen, whether you’re training as a pilot or aircraft mechanic.
How does your current aviation school meet your needs?
Your current flight or aircraft mechanic school might be the perfect fit for you, and if it is, we think you should stay right where you are. However, if your school is failing to meet your needs, you owe it to yourself to find the aviation school that is the best fit. Some questions you should be asking yourself include:
- Does my instructor talk down to me and make me feel stupid?
- Does my instructor schedule me for flight training maneuvers I’m not ready for?
- Has my instructor lost his or her temper with me?
- Do I dread lessons with my flight instructor?
- Do I feel intimidated by my instructor?
- Does my CFI seem more interested in logging hours in his logbook than in teaching me?
- Has my flight training run way over schedule and/or budget?
- Does my current aviation school have questionable policies and procedures?
- Have I ever felt unsafe because of a policy at my school or a decision by my instructor?
- Do I ever feel frustrated with my progress?
- Do I sometimes feel like aviation isn’t for me?
After you’ve asked yourself these questions and reflected on the answers, you’ll know if it’s time to find a new aviation school. You have a dream to become a pilot or an aircraft mechanic, and you’re investing time and money into your education. You have the right to expect quality instruction in a career field that is growing daily. The commercial pilot shortage and aircraft mechanic shortage are serious problems, and aviation training to prepare for that career should be just as serious.
Why should you transfer to Epic Flight Academy?
Pilot Transfer
We have walked in your shoes and understand your needs. Whether you’re interested in transferring here, are a lapsed pilot seeking a private pilot refresher course, or are just getting into flying, we know exactly how you feel and what you need to do next. We meet your needs in a number of ways, but most importantly, we view all of our training, policies, and procedures from the student’s viewpoint. In every decision we make, we ask ourselves, “What is best for the student?” For example, at Epic you can expect the following:
- Highly qualified flight instructors who possess the knowledge, skills, and disposition to help you succeed
- Affordable and safe training
- New, safe aircraft
- An awareness of and respect for your personal timeline goals and budget
- An environment where every success is celebrated and recognized, where you are respected and heard
At Epic, we are proud to have a fleet of flight simulators where pilots can safely practice maneuvers without adding greatly to the expense of your flight training. Keeping costs low is one of our goals for our students, and we approach flight training with this in mind. We will teach you everything you need to know on the ground before you begin logging flight hours. This is more efficient, safe, and affordable.
Aircraft Mechanic Transfer
If you’ve already done some aircraft mechanic training but would like to transfer to Epic, we can help with the transition. Epic may consider awarding credit for previous aircraft maintenance instruction on a case-by-case basis by evaluating a student’s official transcript and/or administering an entrance exam.
The Director (or their designee) may evaluate a student’s official transcript to determine if the previous instruction meets or exceeds Epic Aviation’s curriculum content. The evaluation is generally based on any combination of the following:
- Detailed (official) transcripts
- Course catalog description of the course (or courses) completed by the student
- Other documents showing the course content on which the credit is being based
Transfer credit may be granted if:
- The course was completed with a minimum score of 70 percent.
- The course material covered is equivalent to the course material outlined in the course curriculum.
An entrance test may be used to determine any credit to be granted. The test should be equal to the subject exam and/or project assessment given to students who complete the corresponding curriculum content at the school. The results of the examination will be maintained on file in the student record until the student graduated and for two years thereafter.
Students may receive corresponding credit for each subject area for which their previous aircraft maintenance instruction has been approved.
Credit For General Curriculum
Epic may credit a student for completing the general curriculum if they obtained an FAA mechanic certificate with either an airframe or powerplant rating. Possession of an FAA mechanic certificate indicates the student has met the knowledge and skill requirements that would be required within the general portion of Epic Aviation’s curriculum.
The school may issue a Certificate of Completion for the applicable add-on course even though the student did not complete the general portion of the AMTS curriculum.
What does all of this look like here at Epic Flight Academy?
Our CFIs, CFIIs, MEIs, Airframe, and Powerplant instructors have met the rigorous requirements set forth by the FAA. They have also met Epic’s high standards of instruction. Our instructors treat you with courtesy and respect. They make sure you have mastered skills and concepts in your ground training before they ask you to apply them in flight maneuvers. Flying time is the most expensive part of your training. When a CFI sits next to you in a plane, he is logging hours in his logbook, and that’s fair. But that shouldn’t be the main reason he is flying with you.
Our instructors are patient and supportive. They encourage you. They never discourage you. Our motto is “Safety first!” If you are feeling tense and overwhelmed, you will be less safe. Therefore, we foster a caring environment where you receive rigorous flight instruction in a positive and relaxed setting.
A positive relationship with your instructor is the key to your success, so we build your skills while building your confidence. We boast a stellar safety record and pass rate for our students because we apply the simple principle of treating our students the way we wish to be treated ourselves. We share our knowledge and treat you with respect.
What’s next?
If you feel that you will benefit from the Epic environment, we encourage you to connect with us and let us answer any questions you may have. We have no sales staff here to pressure you into anything. We do, however, have a qualified admissions team who can answer all of your questions.
Transferring is different for everyone in terms of evaluating your knowledge and skills. The Transfer Evaluation Process includes the following:
- Epic will review your training record and evaluate your pilot or aircraft mechanic skills.
- Epic will conduct a final review of your pilot log book.
- Your flight skills will be reviewed.
- Some of the review will include ground and possibly simulator for pilots.
- Epic will determine your FAA minimums and provide a formal quote that is specific to your ability and experience.
- Epic accepts all FAA-approved licenses and ratings.
Regardless of where you left off in your flight training, whether right at the beginning or near the end, we can help you cross the finish line! For more information on each course, please visit the categories below or contact us today. If you are an international student and have earned a private pilot license, you will need to convert your flight training with the FAA.
So, if you’d like to transfer to Epic, contact us now, and we’ll help plan your next step.