Reviews

What pilots have to say.

I just finished up the two day course offered by AST and I have to say it was the best simulator training I’ve ever had. First of all, the equipment was the best I have trained on, it’s a new, full motion sim that’s clean, comfortable and more realistic than the others I’ve used and I’ve been to the big schools, the small schools and everything in between. The big plus really is Rick McGuire with not just the ability to teach, but his unique and varied aviation experiences that gives him so many different points of views that he conveys to his students so effectively to help keep us all out of trouble. Those different points of views I’m talking about are from private, corporate, charter and some airline pilot experiences. Also from the maintenance perspectives of an A & P, IA, aviation attorney and most importantly, from a consumer of maintenance services as the current owner of FOUR airplanes! Rick does possess the gift of teaching and I found myself enjoying the experience and dare I say it, having fun learning once again! I was learning so many helpful things that I had never heard before even having been a pilot for 25 years. Whether you’re a low time pilot or an airline captain you will benefit from your AST training as this is so much more the the typical show up and “check the box” experience. Rick, Staci, Trisha and the entire staff are so professional and helpful that I am already looking forward to going back to AST in six months to learn more and experience some more of that Central Texas hospitality.

Just wrapped up a 3 day initial for the 310. I learned more than I thought I needed to know. They definitely cater to you, it’s not a canned course. There isn’t a syllabus, per se. They just talk to you, and fly with you. They can tell what you need.

I’m pretty sure they were both expecting a pretty difficult student when I walked in the door. I might be the first guy to do so with absolutely zero multi time in my logbook. I mean zero. I’ve ridden in a twin exactly twice. 😯 They were patient, and let me make mistakes, and then showed me why I made them. By the end of the third day (today!) I feel extremely confident I can handle any emergency my new plane can throw at me.

Thanks Rick & Mike! I’ll be back soon!

Outstanding! I needed a straight forward review of systems operations and emergency procedures that focused on a few individual requests while providing an abundance of hands on practical training (sim time). Mike and the AST team provided that and more. The one on one instruction tailored to my individual requests, combined with a full systems review that highly focused on simulator time, allowed for direct application and fortified the procedures and concepts that were taught. Only one thing to say – If you want years of operational experience and knowledge backed up with an abundance of hands on sim time! GO NOW!

Well worth your time, expense, and livelihood! Thanks to the AST team… well done.

Thanks to those who have previously posted reviews about Rick McGuire and AST in Burnet, Texas. As I frequently visit the Texas Hill Country, I read those favorable reviews with interest and elected to schedule my recurrent training this year with Rick at AST. I’m glad I did. It was the best two days of training I have received in 40+ years of flying; and after owning a C340A for 18 years and attending annual recurrent simulator training over 15 times at 3 other facilities across the country. Rick and Mike are both excellent instructors. I was very pleased with the motion simulator. I intend to return to AST for all of my future recurrent training.

I just returned from 2-day recurrent training with Rick and Mike at AST. I agree 100% with what has been said about the training. My first time in a simulator and it was humbling to learn what I didn’t really know about engine out performance and procedures. When I left AST
yesterday I was confident I could handle an engine out. If there are certain situations or airports you want to explore Rick will help teach you how to handle the plane in those situations. If you are a little rusty hand flying approaches, they will get you tuned up and have you flying single engine approaches with confidence. As Rick likes to say he will help eliminate the pucker factor. I am already looking forward to next year. I learned a lot and I highly recommend AST.

I just got back from C340 recurrent training at AST with Rick McGuire and I have to agree wholeheartedly with the comments everyone has made. Rick reads these comments and I think he is a little embarrassed with all the accolades that he receives but they are well deserved. It was clear to me that he isn’t doing this for money but rather he thoroughly enjoys making people better pilots. Here is what Rick brings to the table:

Very current Twin Cessna Pilot– he truly loves flying, flies a lot, and always has since he was a kid
Twin Cessna owner (has a 340 and 421) Knows both the pride and pain of owning these birds
Aircraft Mechanic– has deep understanding of how all the systems work (I think I lost every argument)
Attorney–Clearly not intimidated by the FAA or ATC and has a healthy perspective of how they should work for you
Has a first class Twin Cessna Full Motion Simulator–He has invested a lot in this with plans to make it even better
Instructor–Its hard to say enough about this. We have all worked hard to be the pilots we are and are proud of our accomplishments. But when we go for training we are vulnerable because our weak points become obvious. Any instructor can make you feel stupid or incompetent by making you repeat the same thing over as you attempt to get it right. A great instructor like Rick will have insight on why you are failing and offer suggestions to help you improve–and you do! Very patient too–in order to improve you must have a certain amount of latitude to deviate (off course, off glideslope, off speed, etc) or you’ll never learn. He has a sense of humor too–somehow he suckered me into believing I should bust the minimum on an approach and continue on down to the runway when I could never see it. I ‘m glad I could provide the entertainment.

Rick claims to be married to a woman named Staci whom I didn’t get to meet. She set up this class at the very last minute, made sure I had a hotel, lent me a Jeep, made sure we didn’t forget to eat lunch, made Rick to respond to my emails, and called to remind me (very tactfully) to close my flight plan. I think she is actually in charge.

Anyway, this was a great experience for me. I am sorry I ducked recurrent training in the past.

Just got back from initial training for the 340A with Rick McGuire at AST in Burnett as well. I agree with literally all the comments I read here. This is a first class operation. The sim is top notch – no squawks, literally everything works like it should in a real airplane and the X-Plane core flies exceptionally well. While I don’t have SimCom or RTC experience, I have flown the full motion RedBird quite a bit and found it incredibly frustrating having to work around the limitations of the RedBird simulation. So I really wanted to find the best sim out there. This unit is that sim, I’m sure of it. It just goes and you’re not spending a bunch of time trying to get “used to the sim”. It’s a very solid platform, so you can be assured your time won’t be spent working on glitches. Rick also has a nice G1000 simulator (non motion) which I found extremely helpful to put time in behind the glass if you’re transitioning into that from steam.

As has been said before, the class is taught by Rick personally and honestly that was the deciding factor. Rick is very much like all of us. He’s a business owner, an attorney, and has a 340 and a 421. He has flown many hours cross country for business and pleasure and dealt with all the same maintenance issues we all face. His experience is relatable to the mission of flying friends or family but his airline experience would resonate with corporate pilots as well. As an A&P he has an up close and personal take on the mechanics. He can really take a deep dive when you want to know the details behind something. When I looked around I did not find that same experience in any other program.

In addition to providing what I would consider your core curricula, Rick provides a wealth of collateral knowledge. You’ll talk about insurance, spares, ramp hacks, etc., just like you would with a pilot buddy.

I can’t wait to build some time in the 340 and get back there for a recurrent.

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.

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.

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