Cpl/meir modular schools: Recommendations & advice needed

[Tiernan2015]

Good evening All,
I'm looking to start my CPL/MEIR (in the UK) in the next couple of months and need some update opinions and feedback in regards to what the best schools are ( I've initially looked at Aeros , AFT Coventry and Airways-Exeter) and also the best/most beneficial module order to complete in. Looking ahead I intend to pursue a career within the airlines.

I have already completed my ATPL's and most of my hour building.

I appreciate any comments and words of experience and I'm aware this is something already covered here in the past but also that schools change as instructors and CFIs/mgrs move around.

Thanking you in advance for your time in responding.

[EC DKN]

Professional Air Training, Bournemouth. I've been there personally, not for training, just visiting. Great atmosphere and really nice people. I will train there. ;)

[byrondaf]

Looking ahead I intend to pursue a career within the airlines.

No doubt someone will have their say against this and how much they hate them, but a lot of mod guys that have been through CTC are getting into Ryanair reasonably quickly, because the Wings guys tend to hold out for Flybe or easyJet, although both those airlines have also taken mod guys in the last year. It ALL depends on ATPL performance, CPL/IR passes, AQC result. If you screw up AQC, then yes you'll find it tough to get placed, but work hard and you'll be fine.

And yes I know there's a lot of debate about the cost of CTC takeoff against other mod courses, but then getting into a jet seems to be much quicker than going through another school. One guy on our AQC (I'm on Wings), he did his ME CPL/IR training at BCFT at Bournemouth 3 years ago...I guess it depends on priorities and how much you are willing to go on the "save money vs getting into a jet" curve.

Just my two cents, now for a CTC-hater to come along...

[EC DKN]

Plenty of PAT guys are being hired by Flybe! MUCH MORE THAN CTC GUYS! Personally, I prefer a small but well established school as I prefer to be treated as a customer not like a number!

[CaptainCriticalAngle]

Not a CTC hater at all, but you will be a second class citizen there if you choose their Takeoff programme.

The UK has the best modular flight schools in the world - best go to an outfit dedicated to the modular route.

Aeros, BCFT, Stapleford, Tayside etc. etc.

[Robthestudent]

CCA,

Spot on with your comments and a nod towards PAT

[octavian]

If you are looking at going along the modular route it would be worth your while checking out JD Aviation at Hawarden (EGNR). Small specialist operator with a lot of experience. Former students now in significant positions at EZY, RYR, Jet2 as well as many biz jet operators.

[pilotatlast]

Try Airways Aviation at Coventry, good outfit completely different to AFT.:ok:

[JUST-local]

I would take a look at CFT they are a great bunch, I recently did my MEP/IR/FIC renewals with them and they were very accommodating and good value.
I saw a steady flow of happy customers on my visits to the school. :)

Central Flight Training (http://www.centralflighttraining.com/)

[HeartyMeatballs]

CFT were really great. Good good friendly set up. Small but adequate facilities, aircraft fine.

They're really ground breaking in that you are treated as a customers. Something that is lost in training today.

[Lew747]

Not a CTC hater at all, but you will be a second class citizen there if you choose their Takeoff programme.

I've just finished their takeoff modular course and found it nothing short of being excellent with absolutely no bias towards us modular guys or the wings cadets?:confused: Ok maybe if you end up doing the AQC you are put in a different hold pool but still i've found the course very good indeed.

[DirtyProp]

Not a CTC hater at all, but you will be a second class citizen there if you choose their Takeoff programme.

The UK has the best modular flight schools in the world -
Really?
Did they win a trophy or something?

[EC DKN]

No, but they have a good reputation , high standards and some links with airlines! Trust me I know why UK is the best place to train in favour of Spain, France etc... I used some flight schools...

[DirtyProp]

Those claims can be made by other flight schools as well.
A search in this forum will bring out some.
But they don't pretend to be "world's best", just to do their job professionally. And their students don't have to cope with the very high cost of living of the UK.
Big claims need big proofs...

[flyboy1818]

I did my training at a variety of modular schools, but the one which really stands out above the rest is Stapleford! Great people, great instructors and reasonable prices! They helped me get through the hardest of times and I made it! Now I'm flying a lovely business jet, no complaints!

[CaptainCriticalAngle]

Ask the top airlines. I bet they put the UK at the top of any list, league etc.etc.

A long list of top international airlines send their cadets to the UK for training.

Sure it's subjective, but historically the UK has a long history of high training standards. Especially modular.

The higher costs will pay dividends in the long-run for having a UK school on your CV.

[DirtyProp]

And again, the same claims can be made by other flight schools as well.
Before 9/11, flight schools in the USA had to work overtime to satisfy the huge demand by foreign pilots.
Which, later on, got hired by those top airlines and national carriers. All of them without ever setting one foot on UK soil.
Guess they were all wrong, right?

[EC DKN]

UK has a great aviation culture!

Spain 150 airfields!

UK +400!

So if you want to instruct better to train to be an instructor in the uk (more PPL culture, etc).

Spain: Vueling, Iberia, Swiftair, Air Europa (all don't hire very often), few small operators!

UK: Flybe, Jet2, Monarch, thomson, Thomas cook, British Airways, Loganair, Virgin, Eastern, Bmi regional, And all the small operators!

It's simple in the EASA world UK is the best (words from spanish PPL) !

[DirtyProp]

And there you have it.
Capt. Blowhard strikes again. Carry on!

[CaptainCriticalAngle]

It's probably no coincidence that the word 'dirty' appears in your name.

Dirty by name ...

[EC DKN]

By the way, you can train in the UK and being issued a Spanish EASA licence!