PAT / Bristol Flying Center

[DR221]

Hi ,

I have to wait untill September or December to start taking a CPL and I am hesitating between PAT in Bounemouth and BFC . Both schools seem to be serious although they are not the cheapest on the market . Has anybody done any training in one of them . Also feel free to recommend me another school bearing in mind that I'd rather stick to the South because of the more frequent fog up north . Thank you all .

[Flypuppy]

I know you may not be British but....

[quote] I'd rather stick to the South because of the more frequent fog up north <hr></blockquote>I am not too sure where you get this idea from <img src="confused.gif" border="0"> <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

. .If you are looking for a good school I can recommend this one <a href="http://www.tripleaflying.co.uk/" target="_blank">Triple A</a> They are based at Humberside, which doesnt have a poor record of being fogbound as far as I know....

[ 19 February 2002: Message edited by: Flypuppy ]</p>

[OscarTangoRomeo]

and also at Humberside is Humber Flying Club with whom you can also do cpl and ir. Lost less than eight days flying since october due fog

[boxjockey99]

I trained at PAT last summer and felt that they were the best school for me (not that I had much choice where I went!!) Their aircraft are in excellent condition and they have enough of them now to allow everyone to go and play. Their Duchess' are all equipped with Garmin GNS430 no that you are allowed to use it for the GPS part anyway!!

All their instructors seem very good with most having masses of experience of both military and commercial flying. Thier current sim instructor is second to none also, anyone who knows him will vouch for that!!

As for Bristol well, I've not been there but they also seem to have many good write ups and their ground school seems to be excellent from what I hear.

The other option is Bournemouth Flying school who also do commercial flight training and so do a few schools at Southampton although I'm not sure of the names. Of course according to one PPRUNE member Bournemouth Flying school also has 'the 10th most qualified pilot in the UK' flying as their CFI but I'd take that with a pinch of salt if you hear it bandied around!!

All the best in your studies

Box :)

[Matthewjharvey]

Try Carill Aviation, Southampton - excellent school.. .<a href="http://www.carillaviation.co.uk" target="_blank">www.carillaviation.co.uk</a>

[Dutchie]

Hi there,

Can only respond on PAT as I did my CPL and IR there. Very good. Bristol has a very good reputation too so it is a gamble between two good schools.

Good luck!

[Polar_stereographic]

Did my IR with PAT in Jan. Happy with it all, got me throught first time.

Get down there before Steve on the sim goes back to flying full time. He has the ability to teach the most chalenging part if IR flying and make it look easy, ie holds, ndb approaches become a doddle. The mans a star, and a really decent bloke too.

PS

[Send Clowns]

I trained at SFT, so know Bournemouth and it does have relatively good weather for Britain. I also worked for SFT, and some of my students from that time went on to fly at Bournemouth Flying Club and are very complimentary. Their first-time pass rate for the IRT is also excellent, up there with the best. I have heard they are considering changing the name, to sound more of the professional training organisation they are. However they have the advantage of the club atmosphere available to (decent beer and a great fried mushroom and onion baguette, and aparently excellent hot chocolate too).

Having said all this, I have also heard many positive things of PAT from an acquaintance who is a student, so I recommend visiting both, see which suits you better.

[ 01 March 2002: Message edited by: Send Clowns ]</p>