Reviews

What pilots have to say.

I promised I’d write a review on my return. Just landed back in Birmingham and couldn’t wait to get to my office to communicate with y’all.

I just returned from Rick McGuire’s amazing facility and believe that in nearly 25 years flying simulators there is no better training facility in the country. AST’s sim is state-of-art, Rick’s training technique is derived from decades experiences flying and teaching in a variety of twin Cessna airplanes. He trains in his own airplanes if you need that kind of experience from a glass cockpit 172 to a 421 (as well a 340 is part of his stable). Rick owns and operates these airplanes from his hanger in Burnet, Texas. Rick had me in situations I never imagined; and the “wow: factor of learning how to not only survive but have confidence in our airplanes and our ability is rewarding beyond the entrance fee (which is fairly priced…and don’t try to pay for lunch…Rick insists it is “part of the deal”.) I have flown as a King Air 350 captain in a Part 135 operation (along with and at the same time my 402-B) so I have the simulator experience to boast of AST’s exceptional course and Rick’s teaching technique. Further, the sim is the closest I’ve ever flown to that of a real airplane. It took no time to get acclimated….and because it is full motion…the reality is remarkable Hard to find a real full-motion sim for our airplanes anywhere especially at this price point. As an A&P, Rick’s textbook knowledge of these airplanes is like having Tony Saxon in the right seat, in the sim and during ground school. I lost count, but believe we did 40 engine failures in a multitude of configurations….heavy, high/hot, etc. He alternates the ground school and sim training so that neither becomes fatiguing. It is just the right mix over the two day recurrent course, though I left exhausted but exhilarated. We live in Birmingham, Alabama but made it a weekend adventure touring nearby Marble Falls, Austin and the wine country. Please give Rick every consideration; he is a treasure, a remarkable multi-talented professional who gives it his all. He is not trying to build time, has nothing to prove and that makes him an extraordinary instructor and pilot mentor.

This is the best training investment I’ve ever made. Any questions I can be P/M’d via Ericland402@aol.com or by cell: 904-874-0755.

I had an excellent experience flying with Rick and AST. Even though I’m an MEI, I was excited to try out the sim and was not disappointed. Rick is an excellent teacher and I would highly recommend spending time with him. I was out of twin flying for many years and this was what I needed. It was great to be able to put in the exact scenarios I felt I needed work in, in my type airplane, at the airports I regularly fly out of. If you are going to the convention in Marble Falls, I suggest stopping by AST in Burnet and checking it out.

I used AST as well in November. Rick is a great guy and did a nice job tailoring an initial check out program to fit my needs. Will definitely return to AST to do recurrent training.

I was privileged to spend two amazing days of learning with Rick McGuire, at Aircraft Simulator Training, in Burnet, Texas. I can confidently say that I learned more in those two days than in the last decade of flying with multiple instructors.

Rick has been flying twin Cessnas for decades. His tips, tricks, and suggestions come from personal experience, and real-life situations he has faced during these years. He is also an A&P, so when he teaches, he also covers the mechanical angle of a particular maneuver.

The simulator experience is second to none, based on X-Plane Pro. Rick masters any and all situations that you can face, and even some that you hope that apocalypse is near if they were ever to happen. How about hitting birds, on takeoff, at gross weight, on a single engine, with a busted airspeed indicator? Had that scenario happened in the early part of the first day of training, I would have certainly crashed the sim. On the second day, though, I was able to get back to the airport safely.

Rick tailors your training to the type of flying you actually do. I fly regularly in and out of Big Bear City (L35) in the mountains of south California. It is a very challenging little airport. Rick had me do approaches into Big Bear down to minimums. He failed an engine on takeoff several times, under different loads, wind conditions, density altitudes, etc.

You will be exhausted at the end of your days of training. But you will leave AST’s state-of-the-art facilities smiling from ear to ear.
If you are anywhere near Texas, the choice is completely clear. Heck! If you are anywhere in the world, book time with Rick. It’ll be the best training experience you’ll ever have.

During the aborted takeoff, the checklist fell somewhere and we couldn’t find it. Dan got pissed and was ready to taxi back to the FBO and shut down to find it. I told him that wasn’t necessary and to grab the piece of paper that was folded up on the dash; it was the Xerox copy that you made me. Not really sure why I put it in the plane, but he was impressed that I was prepared. The only other thing I thought I was messing up was the single engine approach. He told me to put the gear down. I said since we are single engine, we will not put any flaps or gear out until we were 1/2 mile out or we broke out and had the runway made. I said altitude and speed are our friends right now. He was glad that I didn’t drop it. Thank you so much for your help! It gave me the experience and confidence needed for this!

Randy

After a nine year absence from flying, due to family and work obligations, I decided if I was going to get back into flying multi engine aircraft, most notably 310, Seneca, or Aztec, I would seek out a facility that offers realistic flight simulator training with an experienced instructor. I contacted Aircraft Simulator Training’s Staci McGuire, who put me on the schedule and got me in contact with her husband, Rick McGuire, an instructor with over 50 years of flying experience. Upon arrival and after reviewing my experience, we got to work. We started on engine loss at take off, loss of directional control at take off, go/no-go decisions with various runway lengths, takeoffs with low ceilings, and engine failures. Upon completion of each simulation, Rick would debrief my flight. The next day the work got a lot busier, with engine fires, emergency descents, standard IMC single engine approaches, partial panel, dual engine failures (IMC, and partial panel due to vacuum failure), and high altitude airport engine out scenarios.

The experience acquired here is invaluable as there is no way a pilot can safely perform some of these maneuvers in a real airplane. This opportunity to work out the problems, in a simulator, gives one an advantage over a pilot who has not had this level of intense training. The main takeaway I got from this is how and when to use carefully and methodically placed inputs, and more importantly, what NOT to do to prevent the aircraft from getting on the ground safely.

I would like to say thanks for recommending Aircraft Simulator Training, and I fully endorse this facility. Rick, Pat, and Staci do a fabulous job there, and the experience gained was worth the relatively small investment.

Rick McGuire knows these Twin Cessna aircraft from nose to tail. He will teach you not only how to properly fly them but how to maintain them and what to look for emergency wise in the air.

I am a female flight instructor who flies a corporate 421C. I trained with AST for my initial 421C insurance qualification.

Rick drilled over and over low altitude engine loss and his procedure of ‘stabilize the aircraft’ first.

I left KSVE (4,100 feet MSL) and at 200 feet AGL the right engine begin to fail.  The aircraft yawed – manifold and rpm began to drop.  I feathered the right engine and worked 0 VSI and stabilized speed at 90 knots.  I slowly turned back to airport into dead engine (yes dead engine as turning engine makes the turn) using no rudder.  My passenger and I landed safely.  I just kept remembering what Rick had taught me over and over during the failure.

I wanted to let you know how much fun I had. Thank you for taking the time to tailor your training to me and my inexperience in the airplane. I look forward to training with you again next year. I hope you are still in Santa Rosa, because it’s stinking hot here in Texas where i write this.

I was able to fly my plane back at the end of July. My medical is still be being processed, so I had to have an instructor with me. We flew 11.3 hours in the day, with a minimums approach at an airport south of Atlanta. The training you gave allowed me to do it without a second thought.

Thank you for all your help yesterday. Training, advice etc. SO helpful yet so much to learn. Only regret I have is that I only had a one day to spend time with you. I am rewriting my notes so that I can remember as much as you taught me.

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