distance learn or not to distance learn....

[Andy_20]

Hi, i was wondering how anybody who did their ATPL theory by distance learning found it? does it affect you in any way getting an airline job? im contemplating either residential or DL but getting 9 months off to do the residential might be tricky.... Your opinions please..

Regards

[darekw]

No diffrence. You still have to take the same 14 exams, residential or not.
I suggest DL

[Andy_20]

I know with DL you have only 18months in which to complete once first examination has been completed... once completed what is the time it is valid for, and what do you have to achieve in that time?

[pilotincommand]

A full pass is valid for three years in which you have to obtain a CPL and IR. Once you have these, it is valid for 7 years from when the IR expires, i.e. if you keep the IR valid, the ATPLs stay valid.

[DeA320]

Hi Andy20,

I've just finished a course that included ATPL study DL. I found it hard but once you stick with it you'll get through it fine. The other thing that I would suggest is to check to make sure that the necessary support is in place in case you need it. In my situation the support was minimal at best, but there is a lot of information on the internet that did help. Also if you know someone else that is also doing them via DL then it's a good idea to stay in touch as there maybe something that they can help you with and vice-versa.

If I had to do it all over again I would look to an organisation that has proper support or would think about doing it in a class room with an instructor. As I said it was difficult but through stubborn perseverance I managed to get through it.

Just my thoughts.

[gmac1977]

I did my ATPL via DL. Used cranfield aviation (CATS) online package. Came in at just under a grand including the groundschool.They give you the 1st subject for free. Why not start DL and see how you go

www.cranfieldaviation.com/go/demo (http://www.cranfieldaviation.com/go/demo)


;)

[Andy_20]

Thanks guys, you informaiton has really helped

Thanks

[Philpaz]

How many sittings do you get through DL?
By this i mean can you for example sit 1 exam a month or must you do them in 2/3 sittings as with full time?

Cheers guys

Phil

[Andy_20]

Is that 6 sittings over the 18 months? how come its restricted? Im thinking strating this summer too, where you getting your distance learning pack from? If your interested i maybe up for study partnering (that cant be a word! haha) make studying much easier....

[Andy_20]

I have been looking at Oxford / Bristol / Bournemouth and Londom Met.... not sure yet though think i need to organise more flying school visits. Probably will be Oxford though!

Yeh ive flown from Blackpool a few times and used one of the flying clubs there. Where do you fly from~?

Can you sit whatever exams you want on any sitting? How far have you got with your ppl? i am just coming onto the final stages of completion then hopefully cram loads of hours in.

[FlyingIsFun]

Main driver is having the self discipline to lock yourself away at home and study with all the normal distractions going on.

If you can do, then go distance.

[Andy_20]

PILOT CHICK Check your PM

[coodem]

I wouldn't make your decision on the look of the books alone, after all, there is nothing stopping you doing the ATPL with company A and using Oxfords books, it makes no difference, its the same exam at the end of the day.
Most DL courses these days don't include books, you do it all online and have an option to pay extra for the books, if you prefer studying that way.

I started my ATPL's last year mid October, took 6 exams in December. Met, AL, HPL, Ops, IFR and VFR. got over 90% on all of them, and the usual 100%'s in the Coms. Taking another 5 in March. Gnav, Pof, M&B, Perf and FP. Could have done them in Feb, but I took 1 month off for xmas.

I have not found them too bad so far, they all look daunting, when you see how much there is to do. I just do a bit everyday, and before you know it, you know everything you need to.

Not sure I would have done it as quick and with such good results if I was not doing it full time and in house. It really helps to be round others in the same boat, everyone helps each other out, and no one feels alone.

If you are able to motivate yourself and have the disapline, do it DL. Do it with the cheapest school, use the money you saved for flying and other training aids you can find, OAT do some good training DVD's.

No one cares where you did your ground, as long as you passed them all and have a good understanding of the subjects you will be fine.

[Finals19]

Having just completed the ATPL writtens, here are a few thoughts..

I did D/L...

- there will be many a day when you yearn for some peer group inspiration - the stuff you would get in a class room. When I was on the Bristol residential brush ups, I really enjoyed the idea of having fellow studes around me who I could bounce ideas off and commiserate with when we crashed and burned at something collectively (i.e. gen nav!)

- that said, the end result for me was that D/L, although pyschologically a rather lonely experience, did the trick. With D/L I would contend that you really have to be good at motivating yourself, as part of this motivation in the classroom environment comes from the people around you. You just have to try to remain focussed, which isn't easy at times! Undoubtedly full time class room will get you through the course quicker.

- Bristol Ground School are masters at their art. They will get you through. I have a friend who was using Oxford, and he had a few issues with their waypoint scheme, especially the time required to send in a progress test and get the required result back before continuing on to the next subject. Arguably, there is a fair amount of discrimination between full time OAT students and distance learners.

[Andy_20]

Thanks for the reply, do you know if you can sit any exams in any sitting?

[coodem]

Usually the break it up into 2 or 3 stages. You do the learning and when you think you are ready, you attend the compulsory groundschool. You apply for the exams, get the school to sign the application form and you send it to the CAA, along with the money.

The school should have progress tests for you to do, to make sure you are on track

[Finals19]

Additionally to what Coodem just said..

The progress tests are in fact compulsory tests that are submitted to the CAA as proof of having covered the material. Therefore, all of them must be submitted and passed before you can attend the brush ups. Progress tests, in my opinion, were often real bitches and sometimes harder than the actual CAA questions in the real exams! :eek:

[no sponsor]

Many of the chaps I fly with did DL ATPLs, so I don't think it matters. It is a necessary evil, and I don't really think I could remember much of what I studied. By the time my company sent me on a type rating I struggled to remember most of the 'important' facts. I do find myself digging into books every now and then to familiarize myself with general knowledge items.

I worked full-time and completed the 14 subjects in 12 months. Many did it in a shorter time-frame. Thank heavens I don't have to do that again...

If you can keep your job, then in the current recruitment climate, I'd hang onto it. I had the same debate myself, and often wondered if I'd have the sticking power, but I'd set myself goals for the week/month, and came up with a timetable to finish off each part of each module. I also booked up the brush-up courses according to the timetable, and it made me focus on the time left.

I went to Bristol Ground School, as did many of my colleagues. I found them pretty good, and the notes/computer program very helpful.

[Philpaz]

I worked full-time and completed the 14 subjects in 12 months.

Isn't there some sort of rule that says you have to spend so many hours studying, i thought that you had to declare working hours etc so they could work out how much study time you had available.

Am i off the ball here??

[Cpt.Petursson]

Has anyone done ATPL DL with other school. I'm turning 18 in February, wanting to start my ATPL as soon as possible.

Currently doing collage and have 2 years left of that, can get my PPL evaluated in to the school and thinking to use the extra free time and my current free time to do DL ATPL. Have heard Bristol are good. Thinking of starting soon on moudule 1 and do the brush up and first exams before I go back to school on the end of August.

[python 20]

Hi Andy 20.
I started off ATPL by attending classesat AFT. I was very disapointed. The number of students in the class was 42 and was not conduicive to learning. It's just a money spinner for AFT.
I am now doing all subjects through Secombe Aviation by dist learning. It's really good. You study at your own pace and Gavin is only an email away if you have queries.

Python 20

[Greg2041]

I am also going to start the DL route in September. Is it still distance learning or more blended learning these days?

Anyway, out of the 14 exams, how many exams do you have to take in one go?

Many thanks....

[no sponsor]

I kept a diary of the amount of hours I did, and it amounted to around 650. My routine was Mon-Thurs, 7am for 1hr, go to work, and around 2 hrs each evening after getting back from work. I studied all day Sat/Sun. I also had to attend 2 2-week brush up courses, plus the 2 weeks for the exams. The brush-up weeks and exam weeks were very very long days. I reckon we started at around 9am, got back to the B&B at around 6pm, and then worked through until midnight. The exams were a case of sitting the paper, and rushing back to study for the next day.

[no sponsor]

I went to Bristol Ground School.

Not tried that, but it all depends on what she looks like...

[lc_aerobatics]

"Isn't there some sort of rule that says you have to spend so many hours studying, i thought that you had to declare working hours etc so they could work out how much study time you had available.

Am i off the ball here??"

No one checked that for me and I started learning in August and finished my last exam last week.

That's working Mon-Fri 9am to 17:30 , was learning about 2,3 hours a day and about 5 at the weekends, it's not hard at all the biggest problem is volume of all the stuff you have to learn.

[Andy_20]

Well done mate that seems like some going!? Do you know if there is a limit to the amount of sitting syou can take to complete all 14 exams, some say you have 6 sittings to finish them all? any ideas?

[lc_aerobatics]

6 sittings is right, i went for 7x2 leaving my self 4 sittings just incase.

[Andy_20]

Jesus Christ, is there alot of questions on each exam? or is it similar to ppl? do you know if you have passed them all?

[lc_aerobatics]

I was passing them in PL and your result appears on the screen within second so you know your score immediately and there's loads more then PPL. I think in UK you have to wait approx. 2 weeks for result.

[Andy_20]

What is PL? can i ask where are you doing your DL?

[lc_aerobatics]

PL is Poland and I did it with FTO called Royal Star, pretty cool people.
:ok:

[mau mau]

I'm doing ATPL distance with CATS.

I have a question to who has already done ATPL with CATS: the questions at the examination are same than quick questions on CATS website?
Cause to me, seem few questions in CATS database respect all the other DL.