Flying schools at archerfield??

[jet2000]

I am looking to do my CPL training soon and was wondering if you pros out there could give me some advise on the right place to learn at.

I hear FTA is expensive but is a good school, is that true? What about Arena? RQAC?

Any advise would be great guys!

Cheers

[flichik]

Depends where you want to go.

RQAC are very formal but do good training.

Aerena are OK, what about some of the smaller ones, like Sunland. Better atmosphere (in my opinion of course)

Give AOPA a call, 02 97919099

Shirl

[jet2000]

Flichik

Thanks for the comments, although I have heard bad things about Sunland and RQ.

:confused:

[huntsman]

also suggest you make a call or visit to redcliffe and/or maroochy.
can't hurt to get a fuller picture.

[C172Driver]

I train at FTA. The school is pretty good in comparison to Arena, Sunland. Instructors and aircraft are plentiful, and the school holds a pretty good reputation. However they are by no means a perfect school. Arena's problem, according to student I know, is their organisation and limited aircraft avaialble. I also know a couple of people at Sunland and they have availability problems with aircraft.

[Mr. Hat]

My advice having been there and done that would be to start your career now before you even start training. What I mean by that is pack your car and head off to somewhere that has a real charter company with a bit of instructing on the side.

You will learn a lot about the real world of GA and enhance your employment opportunities by 10.

Sausage factories like those you mentioned are over priced and overated.

[Propjet88]

IMHO - There are a number of issues to look at:

The first - you started along the way by asking others' opinions on this forum and that is the ability of the school to deliver quality training to a consistent standard. That includes the availability (and continuity) of instructors as well as the availability and seviceability of aircraft.

Next - don't forget the groundschool. Too many schools who are supposed to be running CASA "integrated" courses, palm off the groundschool to third party service providers. These may be good but maybe not - in any case they are not responsible to the school for the progress of students or the quality of their groundschool training. I would not go near a school that did not have its own specialist groundschool staff - with a proven track record.

Another is the issue of culture. As a student commercial pilot, you will be spending a lot of your time in the company of the people at your chosen school and you must choose a balance of what suits you AND what meets your needs in terms of "programming" for a future professional pilot. The law of primacy rules. The way you are taught to do things in training is the way that sticks with you for your career.

There are previous posings here which say things like "XXX are very formal" or words to that effect. FORMAL IS GOOD - when it comes to commercial training. Look to see whether a school is "formal" in the professional aspects but friendly and fun off duty - this is the joy of truly professional aviation.

I am not pushing any particular school, but would suggest that you look at track record, student results, instructor turnover and how long that school has been around.

My advice - go along and talk - to the staff - to the instructors - and to the students. Spend a few hours at each school and don't only listen to the "sales pitch" - talk to the real people and make our own mind up.

Its a big commitment - go for it and ENJOY the experience.

PJ88

[Mr. Hat]

Keep in mind that when you go and see these flying schools that they are trying to sell you something and they will tend to say what you want to hear and make you feel really special and so on. Its no different to going down to your bmw dealer and saying mmm I'm thinking about a 3 series maybe a 5.....

[jet2000]

:confused: :confused:

Thanks guys, went to RQ yesterday and also Arenaaa, both of which I was ignored for about 10 minutes by several instructors, just looked like they couldnt be bothered talking to someone off the street. Secondly, at RQ i was talking to a Grade 1 instructor, name I will leave out, and I was questioned several times on my financial background and how I expected to pay for my training.
Surely, that is my problem as I have been advised that all schools make sure you have a cash surplus with them before you commence training.

Secondly, and this really blew me away, at the other school mentioned above, I was told by the big cheese that the school boosts high student moral and they have more and more students every year, when I questioned him on his aircraft I could not get a straight answer out of him as to how all these "so could students of his" could be scheduled as there didnt seem to be many aircraft in there fleet. He also advised that charter was a major strength and that students got to go along when and where they could, yet where are their charter aircraft....

I may have no experience flying aircraft but I have a strong management and business background and have been around aviation all my life, but do these guys reaaly blow that much smoke up potential customers backsides all the time.

Anyway, anyone with anything else to mention, what about FTA?? Will visit them next week and see how busy they are, see what the students say about the place and is there a particular person I should talk to out there or just ask for the sales man.

cheers guys, I respect your comments dearly as this is not a cheap career move!


:ok: :ok: :ok:

[C172Driver]

Jet2000
Gary Young is the marketing guy at FTA, he's a nice bloke, and was quite honest when I wanted to know more about the school. So far everything has lived up to what he has told me. FTA's fleet is plentiful and they have two hands full of instructors so you can see who you like and who you'd like to stick with.

As mentioned above, the school may be a little more pricey, but I don't believe in comprimising flight training.

It's too bad you are coming next week, as I won't be there.

[The Chef]

Don't be sucked in by flashy buildings, aircraft painted in company colours, and size of the flying school. With each school, ask yourself:
How is this school going to get my career going???

Do they employ ex students?
Do they have a charter devision? (a "real" charter devision, not the occasional charter in their multi trainer)
How good is their reputation within the industry? (I regularly hear "i wouldnt employ him/her - they were trained by .....)

I did all my training with a school (on the sunshine coast) who operates multi IFR charter all over qld. Got my CPL in 2001 and have been working for them since. One of the best GA jobs in the country. PM me if you want to know more.

Also make sure they have a decent social scene - you are supposed to be enjoying flying!!!

Any questions, PM me.
The Chef

[Mr. Hat]

jet2000.


Mate you seem to have your sh!t in one sock so I won't ramble on too much about what I've learned in myt career and so on.

The whole lot of them they are all the farcking same. Honest to god buddy do yourself a favour - talk as many blokes in GA as you can and you will start to get an idea about where to go.

Those places at ARCHERFIELD that start banging on about charter being a big part of their buisness are kidding themselves and trying to pull the wool on potential students. You have more of an idea than I did when i started so you might be able to save yourself some time and money yet.


A word of warning - one of the big companies up there have produced some famous GA aviation disasters and are fairly blackbanned up north. Keep doing your homework.

[bugsmashing]

jet2000

From may 2002 until feb 2004 I was a part-time student at FTA, working towards a PPL. Just some of my thoughts:

1. Attitude - I have to say that everyone I dealt with at FTA, the instructors, the admin staff and the chief pilot were extemely friendly, eager to assist and thoroughly professional. As one poster mentioned above, having a good mix of friendliness, and formality is important to provide a good product. These guys (and girls) had that.

2. Price - Yes the hourly rate at FTA is higher than those I have seen elsewhere. But one caveat I would add. FTA includes landing charges in their price, which isn't always done. I have flown elsewhere for about $30-40 hour less, but ended up paying the same when landing charges were taken into account.

3. Training - I cannot comment on the training specific to the CPL, but as far as GFPT and PPL go, these guys do a very good job. I was always confident that they covered everything before each flight and was taken through everything until I was happy with the result.

I can't comment on the groundschooling, as I did my study through text books at home.

From what I have read and learned from discussing with others, they may move a bit slower than some schools, but I don't know how accurate this is. As an example, I didn't land the plane myself until I had about 8 hours up, while I have spoken to others who have done this shortly after a TIF. Having said that, I still completed my GFPT after 26 hours, so they weren't exactly dragging things out, as this same person had over 30.

4. Planes - The planes are in good condition, and there are plenty of them available. I did training on weekends and weekdays and never had trouble getting a booking. I did have to occasionally move a lesson to the next day, but never got bumped entirely. FTA has its own maintenance area, so you can be confident that the planes are in good shape, and I never had any problems in this respect.

Overall, I was very happy with the training I had received. If you want any more info, just PM me.

Cheers

[suspicious]

suggest you go here (http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?threadid=123160) before you consider going to Arena. :yuk: :yuk: :yuk:

have a look at Redcliffe, much better there. :ok:

[bugsmashing]

I like Redcliffe, a lot. Great little airfield. Just a quick word though. Areana has taken over one of the flying schools there recently, so do take that into account.

[oldschooljenko]

G'Day chaps,
On a similar note to the original question, I have just completed a CPL and want to move to Brissy to do an instructor rating. Does anyone know of, or work for a good school that might offer some employment on completion.

Cheers

[newbe200]

Good call mate!

Maybe that is the answer. Give a couple of the bigger GA charter companies a call and see where they got there pilots from or if they have had any pilots from Briso with good abilities. I think you'll find there is only one 'charter' company in Brisbane to call.

Also, give some companies a call in Darwin and maybe Kunnanurra(?) a call and ask the same.

Your business degree is a godsend mate. The bullsh1t that comes out of those doors is incredible. The problem is that they are all like that in some way or another. Problem is, you only find out after 6 months there. Dont forget, you can always change schools!!

Good luck
Nb20

[Manwell]

Anyone out there have any info about Hempels?

They're a small school, pretty relaxed, and I'd like to hear any info about their product if any of you have experienced their work.

Thanks in advance.;)