What sort of questions should I be asking?

[Evilbob]

Hello,

I have recently passed the ATPL exams and I am now thinking about the next stage (Modular route). I still have a few hours to build but I do want to start looking at schools providing Flying training soon.

I thought it would be useful to find out from those who have already been there what sort of questions I should be posing when visiting/contacting schools.

Examples such as who pays landing fees (ie are they included in the quoted cost of the course)? Instructor to Student ratios and things of that nature.

If anyone has got any questions they asked or wished they had asked that might be of use to myself and others I would be grateful to hear them.

Cheers

Evilbob

[stewpot007]

Evilbob,

This is a list you could use, some other kind chappy posted it on this forum some time ago, i saved it for use myself: -

Location
Ø Availability and cost of suitable local accommodation
Ø Car parking and other associated costs
Ø Distance and travel costs from home

Base Airport
Ø Number of runways available - always into / out of wind
Ø Frequency of commercial / scheduled traffic and potential for associated delays
Ø Proximity to controlled airspace and other IF training locations
Ø Landing / approach training fees, costs, included or extras

Training Aircraft
Ø Sufficient to ensure continuity
Ø Maintenance arrangements in case of unexpected tech’s
Ø Turbocharged for rapid climb to airways during IF training
Ø De/Anti iced for all year round training (icing at FL060 in summer is not uncommon)
Ø Instrument fits and conformity between fleet.

Documentation, Facilities and Training Material
Ø Training manuals – Lesson plans for ground school
Ø Quality manual, ask to see the feedback forms from previous students
Ø Ground school / Briefing arrangements
Ø Additional study material supplied
Ø Access to synthetic training devices, availability and cost
Ø Briefing rooms / adequacy and sole occupation
Ø Security of facilities owned or rented / borrowed / shared

Instructors and Training methods
Ø Professional Instructors (3000+ hours) or recently qualified and hours building
Ø Instructor daily workload, students per Instructor per day / week
Ø What happens if you, or another student in your group is ill for some days ?
Ø Ratio of airborne hours to briefing / debriefing / ground school.
Ø Number and type of approaches / departures flown during course
Ø Who would be your Instructor, meet him/her (you will be in intimate proximity in a stressful cockpit environment for what seems like a long time – can you respect this person?)
Ø Instructor training record, not just first time passes – were they achieved in minimum hours ?

Costs
Ø Payment arrangements
Ø Contingencies – any hidden costs
Ø Training over-run costs (you might get a partial)
Ø Overall anticipated cost.

Good luck
Stewpot007

[Evilbob]

Stewpot,

Thanks for the reply, it was exactly the sort of thing that I was looking for. I would probably never have thought about asking most of the things listed, though the relevance is obvious!

Thanks again
Evilbob.

[African Drunk]

stewpot007 agree with all the above only a couple to add.

Base airport - is there a ILS/NDB
- does ATC offer radar services
- are the opening times restrictive to training
- is there a CAA test centre

Training a/c - are the simulators same as the a/c in performance and cockpit layout

Costs - Can you pay as you go or do you have to pay all up front (remmember SFT etc )

Only point on instructors I have come across many good IR/CPL instructors with 1000-1500 hours who are on their way to the airlines but are superior to some bitter 4000 hour pilots who have become career instructors not by choice.