PDA

View Full Version : Only Integrated?


jau
5th Jul 2004, 19:42
Hi all,
Well, I've just been up to visit an FTO to ask about their integrated scheme, fully expecting the normal marketing talk, 'pilot shortages' etc.

What I was told is that most of the major carriers only take integrated students. Now from reading these boards I think that this is rubbish, but it would be nice to be reassured (or corrected). Which carriers only take integrated?

I was also told that the days of people working their way up via instucting, charters, regionals etc was gone, and that these days its all about integrated schemes.... again, any comments?


One last thing, how much of an employment advantage do these integrated students really have over modular.
I was told that airlines look for more than the basic licences, and only an integrated course can provide all these things. Not too sure about this either :hmm:

Slightly put off/depressed by all this :*

flystudent
5th Jul 2004, 19:57
Remember at this point want your money, as much of it as they can get......sell sell sell

Read these recent threads

Oxford LPP (http://www.pprune.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=136143)

Why is Integrated preferred (http://www.pprune.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=135203)


Oxford APP v's Modular (http://www.pprune.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=135008)

Which FTO did you go to ? No Harm in naming them, feel free to PM me if you prefer.

Flystudent

hifive11
5th Jul 2004, 20:35
Jau

Why Are Integrated FATPLs Preferred?

This is a thread still running on the first page of Interviews, Jobs & Sponsorship. If you havent already done so it is well worth looking at and probably answers your questions and it might cheer you up.

Happy reading

hi5 :)

BillieBob
5th Jul 2004, 21:08
What I was told is that most of the major carriers only take integrated students. A blatant lie!
Which carriers only take integrated? None, not one, nada!
I was also told that the days of people working their way up via instucting, charters, regionals etc was gone Another blatant lie!!
how much of an employment advantage do these integrated students really have over modular. If current recruiting profiles are anything to go by - not a jot. In fact, if you look at the two UK operators with the largest current recruiting targets, neither has yet taken one integrated student
I was told that airlines look for more than the basic licences Yet another blatant lie!!!

Jau, you would do better to avoid this unprincipled organisation (and I have a shrewd idea which it is) and spend your money with someone you can trust.

jau
5th Jul 2004, 21:25
Thanks for your replies. That, and the other posts, have certainly put my mind to rest! Well, 3 days before I start my PPL and I feel like a little boy on Christmas Eve again ;)
Jau

flystudent
5th Jul 2004, 22:38
Which FTO was it Jau ?

If other people are being told same then you really are entitled for the statements to be quantified. Write to them and ask for it in writing. Bet you don't get the same direct answers then !

Suggest you go back to them and ask them for some hard numbers on placements, graduates, job placements (not just , how many this year, but the ones placed this year are grads from when etc) and not to mention backing up what you were told.

A real important one is on the flying side of things. Student to instructor ratios and expected hours per week etc. These are the sort of things that could set you back at any FTO and if you get set you back due to any other reason than weather then something is wrong. You will incur more living costs (.e.g rent) whilst getting your training completed, not to mention climb the wall if you don't get regular sorties.

As the other threads say I would if I was you visit as many FTO's, as possible and speak to the other customers (often referred to as students, no longer customers ). You don't need to make an appointment at many of them, just arrange to go up there around lunch time and have a chat with handfuls of students that have been around there a while. You will get a true picture rather than a sales pitch .


Best of luck

Half a Mexican
6th Jul 2004, 09:13
Hi Jau,

Recently a lot of emphasis has been put on the fact this forum is one of the very few places that wannabes can “hear it like it is”.

So why don’t you help out some of your fellow wannabes and name and shame the organisation in question. If nothing else it might make them think twice about giving out misleading advice to other wannabes, some of whom will not have access to this forum to put them straight.

Any FTO that gave good honest advice would have no problem with them being named as the source on a public forum.

Cheers,
HaM

African Drunk
22nd Jul 2004, 19:54
Totally agree with BillieBob. I work for a large modular school and of the guys who finished there IR in the last year 20+ in jobs from low cost to regionals and more have had interviews or positive feedback. Most of us know which FTO comes up with this intergrated cr*p and most of it is marketing.

AJ
23rd Jul 2004, 09:26
I work for easyJet (still only as cabin crew) and can assure all that after having flown & chatted at length (on the flightdeck down to Athens or Budapest :} ) with many of our pilots (including Trainers from CTC) there is absolutely NO preference as to which training route a potential employee has followed on the way to landing a job at the above co.

The only relevant piece of advice that I kept getting was: 1) Start training/flying now (or as soon as practically possible) 2) Choose a form of training that suits YOUR personal circumstances. If you're financially/familiarly tied at this point, a modular might be better. If you're young, single & not financially tied, don't mind getting out a huge loan and prefer someone else to prepare a training course for you, go for integrated (and only then did a couple of schools' names get recommended - I expect everyone has their own recommendations for various modular routes/schools too).

regards

Send Clowns
23rd Jul 2004, 10:04
AJIf you're young, single & not financially tied, don't mind getting out a huge loan and prefer someone else to prepare a training course for you, go for integrated Why? I could tell you at least 4 schools, two of which also offer integrated (and as far as I can see are the worst at trying to market them inappropriately) who can prepare you a training course from zero to CPL/IR by a modular route. There is added flexibility, but you don't need to take it. No need to pay up front, the option to change schools if you decide you don't like your first choice. The cost is reduced by at least £10,000 even if you are comparing the same school. This is just not a sensible reason for choosing an integrated course!

AJ
23rd Jul 2004, 13:14
OK, Send Clowns, I see your point & agree.

I don't claim to speak for everyone else, but there are different reasons why people opt for different methods - the example I quoted was perhaps just part of the overall reason why some people continue to go for the big name schools. Others are because of the well-known name, and perhaps the fact that airline X once trained some of its cadets at that school.

Sometimes laziness & ignorance play a part too. With so much at stake, some people want to believe their version of the truth/that their choice is the "right" choice etc. etc.

I'm about to start on my PPL (before committing any further), so I don't think I'm biased either way (yet).

Send Clowns
23rd Jul 2004, 14:16
Good on you, AJ! Use your time among pilots to find as much as you can about the business and the training system. Don't let any one person (even me! I work for an FTO :E ) bias you, get a broad perspective, visit some schools. Enjoy finding out what is out there.

It is actually quite true that what you put is a reason people go integrated. I was like that, but no-one told me the difference so I ended up full-time modular at one school, with which I was very happy, until they went bust leaving me down £2400 and a job (was working for them by then!).

However you do it, best of luck!

flystudent
25th Jul 2004, 20:14
Also Having heard rumours for a long time I hear that a number of the ground Instructors are leaving a well known FTO and setting up their own ground training organisation.

Anyone weighing up where to study the ATPL subjects here is the link Pilot Ground Training (http://www.pilotgroundtraining.com/)

Flystudent

Send Clowns
27th Jul 2004, 14:23
Well the person I heard the rumour from used to work for the company in question. That friend found out from within. I think it can be upgraded from rumour to news item!

P.S. Looks like we might have a name change for a regular PPRuNer!

Phil Brockwell
28th Jul 2004, 12:30
I have employed literally dozens of pilots to fly light twin charters over the past 7 years. 90% or so were from the self improver route, and all the ones that have moved on, have done so to pastures more shiney and jet shaped.

On a slightly parallel subject in my opinion, from a operational viewpoint self improvers make better ad-hoc air taxi pilots.

Phil

Send Clowns
29th Jul 2004, 11:51
You need another, Phil? :D Good flying currency, no desire to fly big aeroplanes at the moment, love of Bristol.