simon2014
23rd Jun 2017, 06:46
Hello my fellow pilots,
Out of my experience in Czech Republic (recently been called Czechia, but no one take it seriously yet), i would like to say some core facts you should know before you signed any contract or start training. its important to go and check the school by visual...take a day-off go to the airport stay for a day eat dinner, smoke & chill and see hows the general feeling around, catch the foreigners students and ask them how do they feel about the school.... DON't be fooled by the website and the beautiful girls on the front desk, its only marketing ..... its also important to check if the school has many locals, it means the price is good and trusted one. some schools here are targeted for only foreigners. iam not saying its bad but it means a lot of extra money you should pay that you can save if you another school...also check the buses lines and the trains to Prague and how can you reach theere ( remember that every school wanna all the money you've got) if you wanna party in the weekend or so,
Once you accept an offer BE AWARE of the hidden cost !! no school wants to show you such thing but a good one.
let us check a PPL license for example.....the offer will be for flying hours + ground school + instructor time + VAT(21%)..... and the hidden cost is:
-Theory exam fees at CAA (5000 czk)
-Insurance( don't take the one school offers you check ERGO PILOT online and use google chrome to translate to english)( at least 2000 czk than your school)
-Landings+comm. fees(some airports are expansive( check this https://lis.rlp.cz/vfrmanual/actual/lktb_text_en.html press TEXT and scroll down its for Brno airport )
-Fuel surcharge( only BAD school asks you this)
-Checkride+ examiner fees (around 6000ckz for the examiner)
-Adminstration fees
-issuing license fees
-Radio telephony fees
-ICAO english exam fees
-some schools will charge you money for flying hours once you start the engin:, and that is PURE stealing. you should only pay from take-offs till landings, the start-up and taxi time should be free(you will write these time as a flight time on your log-book which is good).
Make sure the school is not crowded, they will not give you the attention you need at the beginnings, cuz you like a child that has many questions how's ever-things works, or how the wings lift the fuselage fully school will also make the aircraft booked all the time and you will fight to have a flight also the briefing and debriefing would not be enough....if you need to coup your mistakes and weaknesses.....
you will also fly and practice with many different instructors, be aware not all of them are friendly & cool if you ask them questions or the way to teach does not fit you..for me, i practice with many instructors but i only go with with 2 ! was really cool flights.... i still great full for Tomas who gave me an advice to simulate my flight on the real cockpit on the ground and practice the check list while the aircraft on the ground, was really smart idea...thnx captain.
I had some friends who flew hours more than required and pay money that should not be paid...if you feel such a feeling change the instructor immediately. i called the vampire instructors ! if still the same you should change the whole school by looking for another one and ask them if you can transfer you syllabus.. probably the school have been vampired.
i have some time now if any one need help in Czech republic we can visit some school and give you some advises... you can buy me a lunch in exchange.
Out of my experience in Czech Republic (recently been called Czechia, but no one take it seriously yet), i would like to say some core facts you should know before you signed any contract or start training. its important to go and check the school by visual...take a day-off go to the airport stay for a day eat dinner, smoke & chill and see hows the general feeling around, catch the foreigners students and ask them how do they feel about the school.... DON't be fooled by the website and the beautiful girls on the front desk, its only marketing ..... its also important to check if the school has many locals, it means the price is good and trusted one. some schools here are targeted for only foreigners. iam not saying its bad but it means a lot of extra money you should pay that you can save if you another school...also check the buses lines and the trains to Prague and how can you reach theere ( remember that every school wanna all the money you've got) if you wanna party in the weekend or so,
Once you accept an offer BE AWARE of the hidden cost !! no school wants to show you such thing but a good one.
let us check a PPL license for example.....the offer will be for flying hours + ground school + instructor time + VAT(21%)..... and the hidden cost is:
-Theory exam fees at CAA (5000 czk)
-Insurance( don't take the one school offers you check ERGO PILOT online and use google chrome to translate to english)( at least 2000 czk than your school)
-Landings+comm. fees(some airports are expansive( check this https://lis.rlp.cz/vfrmanual/actual/lktb_text_en.html press TEXT and scroll down its for Brno airport )
-Fuel surcharge( only BAD school asks you this)
-Checkride+ examiner fees (around 6000ckz for the examiner)
-Adminstration fees
-issuing license fees
-Radio telephony fees
-ICAO english exam fees
-some schools will charge you money for flying hours once you start the engin:, and that is PURE stealing. you should only pay from take-offs till landings, the start-up and taxi time should be free(you will write these time as a flight time on your log-book which is good).
Make sure the school is not crowded, they will not give you the attention you need at the beginnings, cuz you like a child that has many questions how's ever-things works, or how the wings lift the fuselage fully school will also make the aircraft booked all the time and you will fight to have a flight also the briefing and debriefing would not be enough....if you need to coup your mistakes and weaknesses.....
you will also fly and practice with many different instructors, be aware not all of them are friendly & cool if you ask them questions or the way to teach does not fit you..for me, i practice with many instructors but i only go with with 2 ! was really cool flights.... i still great full for Tomas who gave me an advice to simulate my flight on the real cockpit on the ground and practice the check list while the aircraft on the ground, was really smart idea...thnx captain.
I had some friends who flew hours more than required and pay money that should not be paid...if you feel such a feeling change the instructor immediately. i called the vampire instructors ! if still the same you should change the whole school by looking for another one and ask them if you can transfer you syllabus.. probably the school have been vampired.
i have some time now if any one need help in Czech republic we can visit some school and give you some advises... you can buy me a lunch in exchange.