NZ TRAINING

[borderlaw]

A mate of mine sent his kid along to Flight 2000. He was told that his boy would have his training fully funded by a Government Training grant via a Waikato based Polytech. But when we added up the cost vs the Pt 61 training syllabus requirements we found the whole programme outlined by this Training College was a load of crock! They had all their multi training arse about face and limited PIC. To meet all the actual CAA requirements the student would end up being trapped by a student loan that did not fully cover the cost of what he would actually need if he were to complete the training in a manner decreed correct. Has anyone else looked at this? It's weird! The place is run by a retired ANZ767 driver. He's really living in dream land and christ knows what it will do for the poor students that get trapped -- because one thing is for certain, they'll have very limited competencies and a high debt level. . .Beware Flight 2000

Borderlaw

[Kermit 180]

Shopping around is the key. Seen the ad, you get what you see nothing more, no tricks, seems the course is just not strictly in accordance with Part or AC 61 minimum requirements.

Anyone see the Massey Seminole crash at Ardmore on Tuesday? Hard hit apparently, crushed the nosewheel back into the fuse.

Kermie

[Sqwark2000]

Ardmore is in itself a very cut throat place for flight training organisations. The smaller places trying to offer what Massey started (fully funded flight training) have to (because they are not a tertiary institution) take some short cuts. Get away from Ardmore and you'll find some good set ups. The International Academy at CHCH and Air Academy Hawkes Bay spring to mind.

S2K

[Kermit 180]

Good advice from the Sqwarker if youre looking for a full time institutional diploma or degree in aviation. Otherwise do a degree in something useful other than in aviation as a backup just in case it all turns sour or you change your mind. In which case try an aero club or 'standard flying school' for size.

Kermie <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

[borderlaw]

Thks for your replies but my friend wants to keep his kid in Ak. FYI his kid got a letter of confirmation back from Simuflight on FRiday. Apparently if you pull off the course or fail a few checks you get chopped and lose your money.????? Please note that we are taking about some serious dollars here like 10 to 20 K$. He phoned this outfit to query the credit rule and was told that this is a standard practise at Massey and was approved by the Education ministry. All sounds like one big rip to me.

[fly real fast]

Borderline- Sounds like one BIG ripoff. My advise to you as someone who has flown at organisations in Ardmore, Hamilton, Napier and Tauranga , get out of the big city. Ardmore is a meat market.

If simuflight and flight2000 are treating your mates son, the CUSTOMER like that and he hasn't even spent a dollar yet, imagine how he will be treated once they have his 10 or 20K in their grubby little hands.

It's good to see you doing your homework on flying schools though.

Dont let him get shafted

No offence intended, but let the kid grow up a bit, send him out of Auckland. (dependant on age of course) There IS a sea of opportunity below the Bombay hills.

Good luck

[A Very Civil Pilot]

Looking over from the UK, over the years several training companies have gone under, taking tens of thosands of pounds of students money with them. Remember that you are the customer and you can spend your money where you like. Don't get smooth talked by the sales people.

I recommend the International Aviation Academy of NZ/ Canterbury Aero Club in CHCH. I did my CPL there back in 93-95. Now turboprop FO for KLMuk.

[Kermit 180]

The bottom of the Flight 2000 site homepage says:

"20. ARE THERE ANY TRICKS THAT I SHOULD WATCH OUT FOR AT OTHER SCHOOLS?

Things that you need to be wary of with other flight training schools include things such as:

...Being asked to put a lump sum in your account, and not being able to get it back if you need to.

Keep an eye on the flying syllabus against what you are doing, if there are large discrepancies you want to know why. It is possible, in the larger schools, that you will be taken flying more than necessary, as this is a way of increasing income. Instructors generally get paid for the hours that they fly, plus they are doing the job to build hours and get to their next goal sooner. Make sure they do not do this at your expense, which is why we have a detailed syllabus...."

. .Enough said.

Kermie