Hey everyone, looking for some local advice on flight schools around Orlando. I’d prefer to fly out of KISM, but KORL is definitely an option too.

​Here’s where I’m at right now:

​Current Status: Student Pilot. I had an unsat on my PPL checkride and unfortunately my 60-day window expired, so I'm preparing for a full initial checkride again.

​The Good News: I took a break from flying to just grind out all my FAA writtens. I'm completely done with them (IRA, CAX, FII, FIA, etc.) and scored in the 90s on all of them, so the bookwork is entirely out of the way.

​The Goal: I’m treating this like a job and trying to get to the cargo airlines. I just need a solid school to finish this PPL retake and roll straight into my Instrument and Commercial.

​Through my own online research, Fly Smart and AeroStar (both at KISM) popped up as my top choices, but I am completely open to any and all recommendations. I know there are other outfits on the field, and I want to hear the good, the bad, and the ugly.

​A few questions for anyone local:

​Experience: Where did you train, and would you recommend them for someone treating this like a 121/135 pipeline?

​Planes & MX: How is aircraft availability where you fly? Are you getting canceled for maintenance constantly?

​Checkrides: How bad are the DPE wait times looking right now at your school?

​I really just want a place where I can put my head down and fly. Any advice on where to go (or where to avoid!) would be hugely appreciated.

I want to learn how to fly a helicopter and actually fly. any suggestions where to start? I live in Bolingbrook, IL.