History and Background: Prairie Air Service, Inc. is a small family business. It all started in 1979 when Herb Pello was a design engineer at Cessna. He happened to be a multi engine instructor and also owned a Piper Apache. When several of his fellow engineers wanted to obtain their multi engine ratings, he started to instruct part time and Prairie Air Service was born. The business was incorporated in 1980, and went full time in 1986. Since that time Prairie Air Service, Inc. has been specializing in advanced flight instruction for multi-engine, multi-engine instructor, and multi engine instrument ratings, as well as ATP certificates. Herb is the principal instructor teaching the above ratings here at Prairie Air Service, Inc. He holds an ATP certificate and has about 22,700 hours, 21,400 multi-engine and 18,500 as instructor. He is also an aeronautical engineer with several years experience in aircraft systems design, holds an A&P mechanic certificate and has also worked as a simulator instructor for Flight Safety International.
As of November, 2002 we have recommended almost 1900 pilots for various multi engine flight tests: 1066 multi-engine ratings, (either add on ratings or multi-engine initial commercial) with a 97% passing rate at the applicants' first attempt, 464 ATP's (95% passing rate), 200 multi engine instrument ratings (94% passing rate), and 150 multi-engine instructors (95% passing rate).
In 1992 Herb, his wife Kathy, and their partners Ed and Bernita Heim founded Benton Airpark, Inc. and purchased the Benton Airport. Since that time Prairie Air Service, Inc., in conjunction with Benton Airpark, Inc. has also been offering single engine flight training for all certificates from private through flight instructor.
Location: (click for pictures) Prairie Air Service operates from Herb and Kathy Pello’s house in a residential development adjacent to the Benton, Kansas airport (click for map). Benton is located about 20 miles north-east of Wichita, and the airport has a 2600 ft. lighted asphalt runway (16/34), and a GPS approach to runway 16. Airport elevation is 1364 ft., pattern altitude is 2200 ft. Runway 16 uses a right hand pattern to avoid overflying the town of Benton on base leg.
Equipment:
The aircraft used for all multi-engine instruction is a Piper PA23-160
"Apache" (click for pictures) which
has undergone a Geronimo airframe conversion, as well as installation of a
custom instrument panel with an upgraded avionics package (Bendix BX-2000 system
with RNAV and an HSD 880 HSI/RMI system, an ARNAV R-40 Loran, and intercom).
An ATC-610 "flight training device" (click
for picture) (that's the official FAA term for a basic simulator) with
plotter is used for part of the instrument training.
An IFR equipped Piper PA28R-180 “Arrow” (with DME
and Loran) (click for pictures), an IFR equipped
Cessna 172 (with VFR GPS) (click for pictures)
and an IFR equipped Cessna 150 (with Loran) (click for
pictures) are available for single engine training. The Piper Arrow is
used for initial single engine commercial, instrument and flight instructor
training, and all three planes are available for rent if you need to accumulate
additional flight time toward the FAA experience requirements for the instrument
rating or commercial pilot certificate. All single engine flight operations are
conducted at the FBO facilities of Benton Airpark, Inc., located at the north
end of the airport.
In addition to the above four planes which are owned by
Prairie Air Service, all of the rental airplanes operated by Benton Airpark,
Inc. are also available for training, time building or cross country flights.
Presently the rental fleet at Benton Airpark consists of an additional 2 Cessna
150s, 1 Cessna 152, 1 Cessna 172 XP and 1 Piper PA28-235 “Cherokee 235”.
Accommodations:
(click for pictures) If you come to Prairie Air
Service, Inc. from outside the Wichita area and need housing, you may want to
stay in one of our guest rooms. We live adjacent to the airport and have 3 guest
rooms at our house. Kathy’s parents’ house is immediately next door, and
they also have 3 guest rooms available. We also have a 1995 model 35 ft. travel
trailer with 2 bedrooms parked next to our house for additional student housing.
Due to the concentrated nature of the training most of our out of town customers
find staying with us to be the most convenient and least expensive solution.
This also allows for maximum flexibility if the schedule changes due to weather
or other delays. Our guest rooms and also the trailer are equipped with TVs and
VCRs so you can study training videos (click for
picture) in the privacy of your own room. We charge
$140.00 per week for a room and meals, which also includes the use of our washer
and dryer to do your laundry. Three of the rooms have two beds. If you and a
friend want to share a room, the cost will be $ 105.00 per week per person. If
you prefer to stay at a hotel, there are a large number of hotels of all price
ranges in Wichita, about 15 miles away.
Meals:
If you are staying in a guest room or the trailer your meals are
included. You will receive a "kitchen check-out" and usually eat cold
cereal, toast or microwave pancakes with coffee and orange juice for breakfast.
For lunch we carry a large inventory of microwaveable frozen convenience foods
in our freezer. Kathy cooks dinner for everybody and our students usually
join us at the table. If you are staying at a hotel in Wichita you'll
find numerous restaurants nearby, ranging from McDonald's to top quality
establishments.
Airline
Service:
The nearest airport served by commercial airlines is Wichita Mid Continent (IATA
identifier ICT). It is 25 highway miles from our facilities and is served by
most major US air carriers (American, Delta, Northwest, United). Recently the
discount carriers AirTran and Frontier also started service to Wichita.
Ground
Transportation:
If you fly here in your own plane you can tie it down in our back yard.
If you are taking the airlines to Wichita either Herb, Kathy, or one of
our instructors will try to meet you at Wichita Mid Continent Airport, and drop
you off again after completion of your training. If we are unable to pick you up
at the airport due to schedule problems you will need to take a cab, the fare
for the 28 mile trip is about $40.00. We also have a free courtesy car available
for your local transportation needs like going to a doctor for an FAA medical
exam, shopping or going to the movies.
Study
Materials:
If you'd like to start studying multi engine procedures before you begin
your training we'll be glad to send you a copy of our multi engine study guide.
It consists of photocopies of the Apache Owner's Manual, a detailed description
of all the maneuvers required for the multi engine flight test, copies of
several magazine articles and FAA publications on multi-engine safety. The study
guide is provided at no additional charge in conjunction with your multi engine
flight training. We also have large video library, which includes a set of all
King single subject "Take-Off" video tapes, most of the Jeppesen
"Flight Time" video tapes, the complete Jeppesen Private, Commercial
and IFR video series and the Sporty's Instrument Rating video course. You can
watch these tapes free of charge when you are not flying.
Knowledge Exam
Preparation:
(click for pictures) The following materials are
available here to help you study for your knowledge exams: Gleim knowledge test
prep books, King Schools Private Pilot, Commercial Pilot,
Instrument Rating, Flight Instructor and ATP (Part 135) knowledge exam
video courses and exam review software on the computers in the study room. There
is a rental fee of $ 25.00 for the use of a written exam video course and test
prep software. If you should require additional ground instruction in
preparation for your knowledge exams it will be billed at $30.00/hour.
Knowledge
Exams:
If you plan to take a two or three day course requiring a knowledge exam, such
as ATP, you need to have the
appropriate knowledge exam passed and the results with you when you arrive for
your training. If you plan to take one of our longer training programs, such as
IFR or commercial, you can either take the necessary knowledge exams before you
arrive here for your flight training, or you can prepare for your knowledge
exams here and take them at the Lasergrade computer assisted testing facility
located at the FBO office at the Benton airport. The fee is $ 80.00.
Aircraft Type |
solo |
dual |
CFI dual |
Piper PA23-160 Apache |
N/A |
155.00 |
155.00 |
Piper PA28R-180 Arrow |
84.24 |
114.24 |
119.24 |
Cessna 172 Skyhawk |
71.60 |
101.60 |
106.60 |
Cessna 150 |
47.39 |
77.39 |
82.39 |
ATC 610 Flight Training Device |
N/A |
40.53 |
45.53 |
Due to the recent volatility of fuel costs the above
prices are subject to change without notice. The above prices include the
applicable sales tax. |
Ground Training,
Preflight Briefings, and Oral Exam Preparation:
Type of Ground
Training |
Flat
Rate |
Hourly
Rate |
Multi Engine Rating or ATP |
100.00 |
|
Multi Engine Instructor |
150.00 |
|
Single Engine Commercial |
125.00 |
|
Multi Engine Initial Commercial |
175.00 |
|
Instrument Rating |
125.00 |
|
Refresher Training or any other type ground training |
|
30.00 |
CFI or CFI-I ground training |
|
35.00 |
Note:
The above flat rate prices for preflight briefings and oral exam preparation are
based on average aptitude. If you should require additional tutoring and ground
school it will be billed at $30.00 per hour.
Documents to
Bring:
Please be sure to have with you your pilot's certificate, current medical
and all of your logbooks, as well as
any necessary knowledge exam results. If we have mailed you a study guide,
please be sure to bring it with you. Also
be sure to have in your possession a form of identification that incorporates a
photograph, typically a driver's license or passport. You will have to present a valid picture ID before you can take your
flight test.
Flight Tests:
Private, Multi-engine, IFR, and
Commercial: There are four
designated pilot examiners in the area who can administer the necessary flight
tests. They are usually available on one or two days' notice, and charge $
200.00 for a flight test.
Flight Instructor
and ATP:
Two of the local pilot examiners have been designated by the FAA to
conduct flight tests for additional instructor ratings and ATP. They are usually available on one or two days' notice, and
the fee is $ 200.00 for an ATP or additional instructor rating flight test.
Initial flight instructor flight tests are conducted free of charge at
the Wichita FAA FSDO.
Scheduling:
At the present time we need about 2 weeks advance notice for multi
engine, commercial or ATP training and about 4 weeks notice for instrument or
flight instructor training. We do not require any advance deposit when you make
your appointment.
Method of
Payment:
Unless prior arrangement has been made your account is payable in full upon
completion of your training. A payment of $ 1000.00 on account is due at the
beginning of your training, and again when your account balance has been
depleted. If at that time the estimated cost to complete your training is less
than $ 1000.00, payment of the estimated cost to completion will be required.
Your final balance is due upon completion of your training. We accept cash,
personal checks, traveler's checks, cashier's checks or money orders.
We also accept Master Card and Visa.
Guaranteed Pricing: Prairie Air Service does not offer guaranteed pricing for any flight training programs. Neither do most other flight schools, even those who advertise guaranteed prices. Usually their advertised “guaranteed” price will only entitle the student to a limited number of flight hours, and the student will have to pay extra for any additional training he or she may need. The lower priced “guaranteed ratings” offered by some of our competitors include considerably less flying hours than our training programs. The training packages described below have been developed over 25 years of instructing experience, are based on average student aptitude and progress, and work for about 90% of our customers who are current and active pilots. Students with above average flying skill and aptitude may be able to complete their training at a cost lower than the advertised package price.