Full-time modular groundschool providers

[lm06]

i have a few atpl questions...

where is the best school to take the modular ATPL ?
is it doable in 18 months ?


i understand there is Cabair, Oxford....any others of note ?

[no sponsor]

Easily done in 18 months - groundschool can be done in 4 months full time, even doing the distance learning. I did mine in 10 months, but had a full time job.

Oxford, Bristol (distance learning), etc are all good schools. Have a good search here on the forum.

[lm06]

thanks No Sponsor

what kind of work did you put in on a weekly basis
every day ? or crammed at weekend ?

[Fastair345]

[quote=lm06]

CATS (that's Cranfield) by the Way,are quoting approx. 15 hours / week for the ATPL's to be completed in approx 1 year.....is this reasonable for those out there who have completed them...? I know ability will obviously play a part but I am interested to know different experiences......

Fastair345:confused:

[Con-Trail]

groundschool can be done in 4 months full time, even doing the distance learning. I did mine in 10 months, but had a full time job.

Wow, well done mate! I'm doing ground school in Oxford since November, finishing early June but the workload is quite heavy!

Can't imagine it being done in 4 months without turning grey :}

C-T

[no sponsor]

I kept a diary of my hrs, and it was around 650 for all work done at home, but not including the brush-up courses, or the (long) nights of the exams!

I got up early mon-thurs and did 1-2 hrs. I did around 2hrs each evening. I worked every weekend all day long from 9-6pm.

It was OK once you got into the swing of things. When you've finished, you really are at a loss knowing what to do to fill in all that spare time.

Fitness, hobbies, social life and work will be affected though.

Good luck...;)

[Con-Trail]

Fitness, hobbies, social life and work will be affected though.

I had to introduce myself to my wife last time I saw her :bored:

Yeah, your social life is on hold. Although I do go to the gym regularly just to clear my head for an hour...

C-T

[BlueRobin]

Hi, I'd like to brainstorm who can provide full-time (not distance-learning) ATPL groundschool available in the UK. I'm only awre of two off the top of my head so you're help if very much needed and welcome.

I'll start:

OAT
Atlantic



*yes I know this excludes me from such popular places as Bristol and anywhere abroad! :ok:

[mcgoo]

london uni

[combineharvester]

Cabair, both at Cranfield and Bournemouth
CATS Cranfield
Glasgow College of Nautical Studies

I trained with none of the above, so could not comment on them!

[smith]

www.gcns.ac.uk/aviation

GTS Bournemouth

[Sphinx]

Bournemouth Flying Club. I did my PPL there - very good instruction and training on that side of things. Didn't do my commercials there, though.

http://www.bournemouthcommercialflighttraining.co.uk/

There are plenty more.............Do a search for "flying training UK"

[Biz]

Hi all.
Would anybody know if a person has to complete the ATPL theory all at the same school???
I ask because I had planned to do it all with a D/L provider, but my circumstances have now changed and I find myself with some extra spare time available. The thought crossed my mind that I could (if possible) fit in the first module at a residential school in a shorter time frame, then complete the second via D/L.
However, somethng tells me that I may not be able to do this!

Any thoughts??

[Con-Trail]

No, you don't have to. A JAA exam is the same anywhere in the country. Think of it as doing your exam for your driving licence...

[nakbin]

Can anyone who's done Atlantic's full-time ground school make any comments about it?:

-the instructors
-the books
-did they use computer-based learning/animations etc?
-how much was the accommodation/living expenses?
-how many hours of lectures do they have per day?
-How many hours study did you do each evening?
-how many students do they have on each course?
-anything else

thanks!

[smith]

Biz

At Glasgow some of the students have done module d/l and one residential and vice versa.

[CVT Pilot]

Hi a-wing,
I have posted this response before but for everyone's benefit...
I have done my groundschool with AFT and am planning to do my CPL/MEP/IR with them too. The groundschool instructors are excellent and very approachable with a variety of different backgrounds, each having at least one specialist subject due to much experience in that area. The terms are split into three, taking exams in sets of 5, 5, then 4. It is much less intensive than some schools and gives you more time to actually learn the course than just pass the exams.
From the flying side, the fleet of aircraft is generally well maintained, with brand new DA40's and DA42 Twin-Stars being delivered regularly. The instructors are also well experienced here, with varied and respectable backgrounds. There are also two Frasca FNPTII DA42 simulators and plans for a CRJ simulator arriving this summer (unsure of exact dates) with a JOT course to follow.
AFT also have teamed up with Jeppesen to write their own training manuals, which are a lot more understandable and friendly for the student and use their considerable experience in the airline industry (Atlantic Airlines and Air Atlantique) in writing the books. They are also in the middle of a large operation to move to bigger purpose-built premises on Coventry Airport.
I do not know about accommodation as I live locally but I understand from my colleagues that it is very good with decent costs and is only a few minutes from the airport.
Groundschool is 9am to 5.30pm with tea breaks and an hour for lunch etc. Monday to Friday. The flying side from what I understand is pretty similar with the occasional need to come in at the weekend. They are currently only using a few elements of computer based training as there really isn't much need for it with the quality of the full-time groundschool, however I believe that for the distance learning students there is more of it distributed.
I have always been impressed with AFT since I first visited when I was thinking about the ATPL, and would happily reccommend them to anyone. Personally, I was less than impressed with Oxford when I visited as I found them rude and lacking in interest for the individual student. AFT as a result of being that bit smaller have the advantage of being more friendly and understanding for the individual and are better equipped to tailor a course to your timescale and needs.
Although trying to remain unbiased, I find it difficult as I have never been less than impressed with AFT and am honest enough to admit I am a difficult person to please!
Would definately reccommend to anyone thinking about the ATPL, CPL or even PPL.
CVT Pilot.

[wbryce]

Hello,

Am I right in thinking the following providers are the only ones in the UK at present:

GCNS
London Met Uni
EPTA / Cabair
BCFT
Oxford

Can anyone list what notes each provider uses? I understand a few will use their own but just curious to know.

Thanks,

[Mercenary Pilot]

Nope, you missed out Cranfield Aviation Training School. :ok:

[samluvsplanes]

hi all. going to book myself on a full time course for the ATPL groundschool,wondering if anyone can tell me if bounemouth is a good choice,am doing a distance learning course at moment but finding hard to commit myself to studying in spare time.i live in doncaster and could travel to oxford but been told they like your money and only specialise in intergrated courses.going to visit bournemouth next week to look round before i book but not sure if its the right choice.any advice would be great. bristol says they would give me back 400 pounds because i wouldnt be doing brush up which would go towards the other course,by the way the course fee is down to 2795.00

[BlueRobin]

brycey old chap, I asked the same recently here:

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=223632
*edit: mod has now I see merged onto this thread (233785)

You need to add Atlantic Flight Training whom I visited yesterday (Coventry). Seemed to be a small, well organised bunch of people.

[paco]

Based purely on the notes, because I've not attended any of them, I would put Bournemouth high on the list. I have noticed one or two mistakes in some of the others. They've certainly been very helpful and poitive when I have phoned them.

Phil

[EIDW RJ85]

Hi all,

Im toying with the Idea of doing a residental Course instead of my Planned Distance Learning, as I feel it would give me a better go at them. ( Scared about not having time at home to self study). Can anyone List the Establishments who do a full time ATPL course for a JAR CAA Licence. And maybe list any experiances of them.

Looking into NAC in Naples at the moment, but would like to stay closer to home ie. UK or IRL.

Many thanks :ok: :ok:

[EIRE-PLANER]

Hi
Ive found some info which might interest you, i dont however have any experience of these FTOs but a search should reveal any additional info you need to no. Check out http://www.bestaviation.net/uk/ its pritty good.


ATPL Ground Schools - UK:
Atlantic Flight Training (DL & Res)
Bristol Ground School (DL)
Cabair (DL & Res)
Cranfield Aviation (DL)
Ground Training Services (DL)
Oxford Aviation Training (DL & Res)
DL = Distance Learning, Res = Residential Course

:ok:

[smith]

London Met Uni

Glasgow College of Nautical Studies www.gcns.ac.uk/aviation I studied there, got all 14 in the 90's average.

They also have onsite halls of residence and Glasgow is a great city. Mods if link is construed as advertising please remove :ok:

[BlueRobin]

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=233785 (which may get merged with your q.)

[PPL152]

Anyone been to GTS (Ground Training Services) for the JAR ATPL(A) distance learning?