Best Distance Learning JAA ATPL course....

[ShotOver]

What has been your experience with the following JAA ATPL distance learning courseware? Can you recommend any others?

1. Oxford -------------------------------- 2100 GBP
2. Western Australian Aviation College------- 1320 GBP
3. Phoenix (USA) ---------------------------- 940 GBP
3. Cranefield/CATS-------------------------- 1100 GBP
4. Jepessen courseware---------------------- 477 GBP
5. Atlantic --------------------------------- 1700 GBP
6. Bristol ---------------------------------- 2100 GBP

Thanks

*** Summary 1: The consences seems to lean towards Oxford if you want the full montey, and Bristol if you 'just want the facts'. I think someone without experience should definately avoid the fast track, and LEARN the info. I can see that for an experienced pilot, information designed at guiding them through the exams may be more important.

Does anyone have any experience with what is now BY FAR the cheapest? It is very reputable in the field of aviation, and aviation training material.

[coodem]

http://www.cranfieldaviation.com/uk/ I think its the cheapest as well

[Comanche250]

What about Atlantic Flight Training, Coventry? Cheaper than all the ones mentioned and they use the Jeppesen course material. Check the website but at last look it was about £1700.

C250

[gmac1977]

I agree with above.

In my opinion Cranfield Aviation (CATS) is best for overall quality and value.

Finished my studying with them a few months ago and really dont see the point of paying any more than you have to.

I paid £999 for the entire course including brush up groundschool.

Think they hold a groundschool in the states for students across the pond as well.

GMAC

[scooby79]

It is hard to get an answer when you ask this sort of question as almost everyone has only done one course and so cannot compare how it was with others. Anyone who does say one is better than the other is not basing it on anything other than their opinion of the course they did and very limited information about other courses they did not do. I went to Bristol and it was excellent, that is the only one I could recomend as I did it and it was very good.

[gmac1977]

Actually your wrong!

I know several friends that have been to more than one ATPL school.

Reasons for leaving vary from poor study guides, poor instruction, failing lots of exams down to general lack of faith.

Not knocking you but you'll be surprised how many students shuffle around the industry!

[Ops and Mops]

Bristol GS everytime.

Maybe not the cheapest, but you really do get what you pay for in this industry and Bristol ticked all the boxes for me!

:ok:

[G_STRING]

I agree with gmac1977 about people changing providers.

I've always 'shied' away from airing negative views on this forum, but nevertheless, I'm going to say the following.

Countless times, I've seen CATS at Cranfield receive good press on here; my experience with them is contrary to this. I've switched from them to someone else, the main reason being I can get no communication whatsoever with them to answer any queries at all. Nobody is ever 'available' on the telephone, and only curt emails have ever been sent from them.

I appreciate that I may be in the minority, and for those of you who have had a good experience with them, I mean no disrespect - merely this is my personal experience

[flightlevel1985]

Im at OAT, and the experience has been mixed. The literature and extra written sources are great. They are perhaps a little detailed, but without having something to compare them to, I am not sure if others are the same. Response times to questions sent via email have always been low. They now have a new online submission webpage for the progress papers, which ensures instantaneous results, which is good. The instructors on the brush up courses were very knowledgable and useful.

The negatives mainly revolve around the fact that at the end of the day, the school is just a business, and therefore the services seem a little impersonal at times. But then again, ive got first time passes upto now so they must be doing something right.

[Mikehotel152]

Another vote for Bristol. :ok::ok::ok:

[Another TD]

As a BCPL holder who has sat both the CAA and EASA ATPL exams using two separate DL schools I feel I can comment on the two major distance learning companies, OAA and Bristol ground school, as these are the two schools I used.

Bristol gs course notes are written with passing the exam in mind and no more, they are well written and well illustrated but are cut to the chase. If you want to have a deeper understanding you will have to look elsewhere but at the end of the day most people just want to pass the exams.
The brush up course is intense and will get you through that exam but you will work hard during those two weeks. Alex and team know how to teach what is needed for the exam but don’t ask too many questions as the time in class is tight. I was asked why I wanted to know ‘xyz‘ when I asked a question, I got the message so I asked no more questions. You can supplement your studies with Bristol’s online question bank, which is a must; it costs £50 for 3 months. As a Bristol student you should use this prior to attending the brush up course. The pass rate is very high and is perhaps one of the quickest and easier courses to do.
I passed all the CAA exams first time.

Oxford Aviation Academy course books are very comprehensively written and require a lot of time to read and digest. With in-depth text you can often find repetition, which at first I found irritating but then realised they are actually enforcing salient points. In depth articles can actually help with understanding a complex subject, it just takes longer to read. They have many multi choice questions at the end of each chapter, some of which can be actual ATPL questions and help with revising a particular subject. The Perf and Loading book is poorly written with much information missing but the other books are excellent and I often find I can’t put them down, just wish I had more time.
The two-week brush up course is preceded with a mass of practise question papers and subject summary, which gives you a head start prior to the classroom. The two-week brush up course was very good and sometimes quite entertaining, it is relaxed and questions were always answered sometimes with great humour attached Not many hand outs are given so you have to rely on your books and the questions in them. You should supplement your studies with the Bristol online question bank. I enjoyed the two weeks, which went too quickly.
I passed all the (Phase one) EASA exams first time.

In conclusion
Bristol gs are about passing exams and it does that very well, if you work hard you will get high marks, which may or may not help in getting a job.

OAA is about educating you to be a knowledgeable pilot but it only works well on their full time course. As a DL student you get 8000 pages of text to wade through and it is difficult to know what has to be read and what is unnecessary. This course is not an easy option but I learnt a lot and the books may make good reference material in the future.

Because I am a BCPL holder and a Licensed Aircraft Engineer with an Airline at LHR I have a big advantage over most and my opinion therefore must be taken as just that, an opinion.
Happy studying

[ShotOver]

Thanks for the replies, this is one of the first threads I've read so far that has consistant professional interaction. Thanks

If you're re-reading this thread, read the origional post as it's been modified to include the information the contributors here have provided.

[Cessna-172-Pilot]

I'm studying with Bristol GS at the minute, and so far they have been excellent. Good quality training materials and a very helpful Q & A forum.
They get my vote. :ok:

[moona]

My vote goes to CATS, £999 for the online course! :ok:

[Greg2041]

CATS for me too!

Greg

[Dane-Ger]

I'm doing distance learning with CATS, the online notes are great, easy to follow. So for £999 you can't go wrong.

[UAV689]

i am yet to start training but due to my job i need to split the training into 3 modules due to holiday time.

I think i am going to go with CATS and any addition material I require I will buy the oxford books.

Even if you go CATS and buy the entire oxford set of books as additional material you are saving money on most other DL providers :ok:

[ATIS31]

Is there anyone who is Distance learning with Atlantic Flight Training.
I am considering them for ATPL as the course is split into 3 sections which would be better for me. Anyone any info:confused:

Thanks

[SAA]

I did mine with Atlantic, They are very helpful and good people to talk to. Allround very good!!

[Lurking123]

As someone has already hinted, it is difficult to compare as there are relatively few who have studied with more than one. I would be wary of anyone saying that ABC are the 'best' because they are cheapest. Most/all of us have already discovered that aviation doesn't come cheap.

Personally, I'm studying with Bristol and I like the format. That said, I have a strong aviation background so I suppose I have a bit of experience to fall back on. Nevertheless, I'm finding Met a particularly hard nut to crack and purchased an Oxford manual; I find this book very useful. I suppose I will find out how good Bristol are when I pass/fail the exams. :eek:

[ShotOver]

Keep in mind that I wasn't asking anyone to necessarily compare DL programs, but to comment on your experience. I can compare everyone's response.

Great comments all.

[4y8_more]

Hello folks,

I just started a couple of weeks ago the bristol.gs course.

As said before the learning material from bristol is just about passing the exams with success.

but it's just fine for me as I don't have to much time to spend in passing my theory...

I would recommend bristol to those who already have a strong aeronautical background and just need to have their jaa theory to continue their career.

[EGHH]

Does anyone have any experience with what is now BY FAR the cheapest? It is very reputable in the field of aviation, and aviation training material.


I'd imagine that the £477 price you've mentioned doesn't include the compulsory groundschool element - you're just getting a set of course books. The 60 hour ground school element isn't compulsory when you already have certain other licenses already AIUI.

[ariel]

Bristol every time.

There is always somebody to help, from various sources; forums, email. or telephone.

Also, other students are a minefield of information on the dedicated forum - you feel you are never alone.

Granted, not the cheapest, but is does what is says on the box!

(speaking as one who DID try another provider first, and switched to Bristol after receiving short thrift from the first lot, who I won't name on on Pprune)

[ryancy]

Sat my first 8 with Bristol GS, and will the last 6!

From my experience:
"Bristol GS" prepares you very well for the Exams. Not only with the Computer Software, Books, Question bank etc..
but also with the 2 week revision course that gets you up to peak performance right before the sittings.

What i also find of importance are the excellent Ground Instructor that you can relate to, not only because they have credible backgrounds.
Even though very intense we still had good laughs on some quite amusing side stories.

Sored an average in the mid-90's. Maybe it helped that Bristol.Gs equips us students with the essential knowledge for passing the Exams without overloading with matter that isn't crucial for passing the written.

[bluenose81huskys]

CATS all the way for me, they have a great reputation, high pass rates and are very helpful when I have spoke to them, they have by far one of the highest pass rates in the uk (So Why Not?) I did my research for months to choose this school and in my eyes Bristol is a Rip Off price wise..........Yes ok, for what I have heard it may be good but it is far to expensive for what you get, Why pay that silly £1400 extra :ugh: than CATS at £999 :ok:, when you can use that spare money to fly and gain a night qualification and a few more hours general flying? After all CATS have V. High pass rates :ok::ok::ok:

[IrishStyle69]

The thing about not knowing what course is best / cheapest favours CATS as you can view the entire first subject for free www.catsground.com/go/demo (http://www.catsground.com/go/demo) which then counts towards your training
you can then decide if you like the style of the system

I have friends who were already at other schools who have just bought extra subjects at CATS for the quality and ease of use of the system

as for its price you really do save money and it all counts