|
Sheffield
School's 6 week Dispatcher program
|
Some
others who claim to be "competitively priced"
Here
is what they offer (subject to change). This column does
not apply completely at all schools (please
read their fine print) |
| Registration
& Tuition = $4,600 |
Registration
& Tuition =
approx. $3,000 - $6,000
[this
excludes the cost of attending Sheffield AFTER
they've already attended another school. Yes, it happens.
Some students pay TWICE for their education.]
|
| Each
student has access to an individual computer workstation
for computer flight planning, weather briefing, unlimited
Internet access, FAA test prep, e-mail account setup,
résumé writing and printing, aircraft situation
display, etc. |
Just
ask what they currently provide for each student.
Now
that some schools are downsizing, what you see in
their old web site pictures IS NOT what you
receive when you arrive.
Some will crowd you around a
conference room table!!!
|
|
Clock
hour approval: 200 hours |
Clock
hour approval: 200 - 225 or more hours |
|
Lunch
break IS NOT counted as
a clock hour.
|
Lunch
break IS counted as a clock
hour at some schools. Sheffield won't charge you for eating
lunch.
You
can do the math based on the school's published schedule.
The results are enlightening. This
is also a Certification legality issue that you do not
want to chance.
|
|
Actual
clock hours you'll receive is 200 - 225 hrs, this excludes
lunch, FAA testing, tours, computer workshops and tutoring
Since
we provide our students with over 200 hours of instruction,
which excludes FAA testing time, field trip time, lunch
time, etc., our graduates have no fear of FAA
retesting or license suspension due to school certification
violations. Yes, it has happened at other schools.
|
Typically,
the approval amount; however, if lunch is counted as an
instructional hour, true clock hours may reduce from 200
to approximately 170-175. |
|
Tuition
refund policy - extensive details are enclosed in our
online catalog |
No
full tuition refunds
at any time at some schools. |
|
Tuition
refunds are prorated
through the 60% point (120th hour) of our course;
however, see our online catalog for updates.
|
Tuition
refunds are prorated
from the 1st day (no full refunds) and cease at the
end of the 2nd week of class. (50-60 clock hours for
some) |
|
Our
least expensive housing is approximately
$1350.00
for the full 6 week period. If your assigned roommate
does not show or drops out, you're not charged additional.
The
maximum number of students in each of our housing units
is 5.
Also,
our housing is WITHIN walking
distance (5-20 minutes) from the school!
|
The
least expensive housing may be about $1800.00
for the full 6 week period.
The
maximum number of students in their housing may be more
than 5-10 students. Some schools may stick you in a
dormitory or "frat house-like environment."
Some
schools offer NO housing options
or options that are NOT within walking distance.
You'll rent a car or require public transportation.
|
|
Tuition
includes
all exam fees.
No extra charge for FAA Knowledge test exam.
No
extra charge for Practical exam.
No extra charge for FAA Knowledge test exam initial
retakes.
No
extra charge for immediate Practical exam retakes.
All
FAA examinations are conducted by the Sheffield staff
- people you know personally. You will not be subjected
to an "outsider" conducting the exams.
|
Tuition
may include exam fees; however, you may be charged
$50-$80 extra to retake the FAA knowledge exam if you
are unsuccessful and $200-$300
if you must retake a practical exam.
The
FAA examinations are not usually conducted by the School
staff, but rather individuals who do not know you on
a personal level.
|
|
Materials:
Sheffield
produces their own popular comprehensive manual - a
multitude of small books. In addition, Sheffield GIVES
each student a 400+ page electronic set of bookmarked
Jeppesen pages & charts - pages that ALL airlines
use. The only book that we issue that is returned to
us is the FAA test prep book since it is of no use to
a dispatcher graduate.
|
Some
schools claim that tuition includes all books. Be careful,
it may turn out that the school loans you a set of USED
books, then collects them at the course conclusion -
say good-bye to ALL of your books. In addition, some
schools DO NOT teach any non-Government material. Good
luck during Initial airline training when you are presented
with a review and quiz on material you've never seen.
[Airlines
not only hire graduates, but FIRE them as well.]
|
|
Field
trips are taken outside
of valuable class time, if at all. With the technology
we've placed in our classrooms, they are a virtual dispatch
office. |
Field
trips, if offered, are taken during
class time, according to some catalogs. This is an easy
marketing ploy for schools which do not instruct details
and specifics, yet need to fill time. This was recently
confirmed from one of our students. A
student who already graduated from another school.
|
|
Many
videos are after
the official class ending time. (After 4:00 p.m.)
|
All
videos are during the official class time, according to
some catalogs. (Prior to 2:00 p.m. for some)
|
|
Much
FAA Knowledge test instruction (workshops) are after
the official class ending time each day and for a limited
number of days. We focus more on Sheffield material
and real-life scenarios.
This
produces graduates who are prepared for the Practical
examinations AND airline training.
Many of our graduates consider the Verbal phase of the
practical "thorough, yet enjoyable and a learning
experience."
|
Much
FAA Knowledge test instruction is during the first 3-5
weeks of the course. Some schools "test-prep" you for
the full course-this is one of the many reasons Sheffield
is not, and will never be referred to as a "License
mill."
This
produces graduates who are under-prepared for the Practical
examinations; therefore, many graduates of other schools
may consider the Verbal phase of the practical "nerve-racking."
|
|
Tutoring
is everyday if requested, is provided by an instructor,
does not require scheduling and is FREE.
|
Tutoring
may be:
"whenever
we can find a tutor for you", is done by a "part-timer",
and may cost you some cash. One recent tutor from another
school applied for employment with us. That person "saw
the difference" in the Sheffield grads in the industry.
See our testimonials.
|
|
A
$1000 refundable/transferable
deposit reserves a slot in the class. |
A
$500 or
more Nonrefundable
deposit reserves a slot in some classes. |
| Unless
there is an emergency, our class schedules are firm! |
Some
class schedules are "ON
Demand." Some course operators cancel
class at the last moment, leaving students, especially
those who've taken loans, in a bad spot. Sheffield knows,
since we helped these students out! |
| No
weekend classes! A true FAA-approved course requires FAA
oversight, which typically occurs during normal business
hours; therefore, you're not in danger of having
your Certificate questioned by the FAA. |
Some
operators may conduct weekend classes or night classes.
Is there adequate FAA oversight? You may be in danger
of having your Certificate suspended by the FAA. And if
it's a "quickie" course, you've just added a risk. |
| Finally,
included in our cost is "time."
Whether you need advice, help, or someone to talk to,
we are typically in our offices from 8-9:00 am to 5-6
pm on weekdays. We occasionally conduct optional tutoring
sessions during weekend days. Whether you are a student
or a graduate, we try our best to maximize our schedule
for you. |
Some
Administrations are only in their offices a few hours
a day, if at all. |
Registration
& Tuition = $4,600
receives
an education, tech support, job assistance, refresher
training for life in EVERY course attended. And typically,
the FAA Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate. |
Typical
Registration & Tuition =
approx. $3,000 - $5,000*
*some
tuitions approach $6000
after converting their "Euro" value to USD using
http://www.xe.com/ucc/convert.cgi
[this
excludes the cost of attending Sheffield AFTER
they've already attended another school. Yes, it happens.
Some students pay TWICE for their education.]
Be
wary of schools with no printed documentation, or unclear
enrollment/refund/payment policies.
(If
you're paying in non-US currency elsewhere, you will NOT
receive an FAA certificate!) FAA
Part 65 Certification must be within the USA. |
