Commercial Flight Training

[mb2ai]

Sirs and Madames,

Before I start I must apologise for posting the usual 'I've read everything and searched, but Im different...' thread. But here goes.

I'm coming to the end of my ppl which Im doing at a certain companies 'sattelite' centre:hmm:. I now want to identify where im going to do my ATPL theory, ME CPL and IR. I want to do them all in the same place.

Until just recently I was certain to go to Oxford to do the ATPLs and then follow their waypoint program. I saw the benefit of this as; say when I do graduate, I'd have the benfit of going to a big well organised school, and the question as to my quality of training would have been good and consistant. (ie one school since ppl, and a big school at that.)

My backup WAS cabair bournrmouth, for the same reasons as above. However I went to see them recently, and it didnt feel right. They have 5 aircraft, 3 BE76s for ME IR and 2 Arrows for CPL. 2 pf the duchesses were broken, and I felt I was in a scrap yard. (But thats another story). The good bit was that they were about 10K cheaper that Oxford.

I dont know what to do, I can afford to do the Oxford modular, but is it worth it. Im reaLLy stuck and I dont know where to go. As far as I'm currently aware these are the two big players for Modular in the UK.

I know about other places like London Met and Bristol for GS, but then where would I do my commercial flying, as I want to stick with one provider. I could do it at my 'sattellite centre', but then I'd be one of 2 people doing it. I'd rather be in a class of 15 so we can bounce career ideas off eachother, or does this even matter.

So Im still quite stuck about my the modular providers for the rest of my training. Henceforth I ask you, with grattitude in advance....

Where should I do my Modular training and Why? :cool:

Im open to all sugestions.

[FougaMagister]

Oxford and Cabair are actually (with FTE) the big integrated FTOs in the UK. For one-stop modular FTOs (ATPLs, CPL, ME/IR and MCC), you could also visit Atlantic Flight Training and BCFT. There might be others doing "back to back" modular.

Cheers :cool:

[CAT3C AUTOLAND]

What you need to do my friend, is thoroughly research your question yourself. The ladies and gentleman that browse these forums cannot make a decision for you regarding where you do your training.

I appreciate that it is a difficult to make these decisions. However, on saying that we have all been there with a different story to tell. I would suggest you go to a number of different schools and get a flavour for what they are like. Talk to the instructors and the students. You will be surprised on what you can get out of doing this. From reading your post, it looks like you have done it at one school.

I am not sure where this idea comes from with regard to doing all your training at one school, I have never come across an airline that dictates this? As long as you have that little blue book with the ticks in all the right boxes, you are good to go. I think, and this only my opinion, what the airline will be interested in is you. When you sit there in that interview, you will be judged on the person you are and what you will bring to company. God knows why I was employed :p.

Work hard, make sensible decisions along the way, make contacts, and keep chipping away, and believe me mate, you will get where you want to be if you have the heart and determination.

All the best with it.

[mb2ai]

Thanks guys for the input.

I honestly thought that I was past the biggest of my decisions about what route to take, but it seems that the decision to go modular was only half of it.

I know its not a requirement to stay with one FTO to be employable, I only thought that it could only help prove that my training would be to a consistent level, or is this one of the FTO's (best of the best:}) stunts, trying to lure me into going with them?

Whats in a name? A license by any other name still smell so sweet?

[HappyFran]

I would advise a little caution in tarting around to many schools for flight training.
Flybe state a maximum of two training providers. I don't know about others but, persieved wisdom is that recruiters like to be able to get references for applicants without having to make to many calls :uhoh::uhoh:.

My training is commited to BCFT on there Jetline course. As you visited Cabair you really should have walked across the street and paid them a visit. Also around the corner is PATS who also have favourable reviews.

Would highly recommend BCFT and suggest you pay them a visit. But as with other posters recommendations, you need to check out other schools to see which one fits best with your personality.

Good Luck :):)

[mb2ai]

I've just been notified by a freind that BCFT do not have simulator to conduct an MCC course on. (It burnt down??)

Does anyone know if this is going to be replaced, and when and what type.

It would be a bit annoying to go somwhere assuming you could do all your training there, and be strung along and told; 'we will replace it soon'.

After all by choosing such an FTO, one factor involved in the decision making process was that they could offer PPL right the way through to MCC.

[HappyFran]

The Tristar simulator is no more :{:{ RIP

Apparently someone from the Hounslow Gliding School got confused thinking it was a 777 and could save a bit of fuel by floating it over the perimeter fence, sadly crashed and burned :}

All the schools use the sim facities of European i.e BCFT, Cabair, PFT.
I believe they are using the 737 sim at the moment, :suspect:
There are quite a few sims at BMTH so need to confirm !
I would check with Dena, to confirm they will run the MCC on the 737 or if it may change
:)