£25,945 for a JAA CPL/IR frozen ATPL

[Kamil]

Hi,
im very new to the board and very pleased to find people who share the same interest
well i hope you folks can helmp me out a litl

This is what i saw in the Stapleford fyin club brochure...
There total professional pilot traning peckage doesnt sound bad at all...

well it says if the money is payed all together, meaning upfront, a discount is included and what i pay is £25,945 (only!?)
I added all modules one by one like how ud pay if if u were gonna pay bit by bit for each modules, itd costs £28668

Now, im sure the first price means that you pass all the tests at your first attempt and evrythin

however does this include all the hidden nuts and krany's like the caa fees, landing charges etc. ?

and would you ever make such a deal? is it safe to hand such a large amount of money before you even start the actual training? is it worth te discount?

I wud reatly appreciate your views or advise.
thanx a lot!

[spitfire747]

I am sure others will post this advice but ...

NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER !!

pay upfront for a course even if they offer a discount, always pay as you go, if the company folds like so many have, they will take ALL your money and you will have a 0% chance of getting any back. I learnt this the hard way my friend, don't do the same. Of course this is only and IF
But even the modules added up sounds a fair price

[CliffordAgius]

Hiya WannabePilot I am currently going through the stapleford route to be a pilot and I opted for the USA/UK package and paid in full up front.

They a re a very good school and the usa part was a wonderfull experience. The good thing about stapleford is that they own the airfield and as such all the planes. Therefore there is very little chance of them going bust or disapearing with your money.

I came back from the USA part early december with my PPL and 100+ hours and started my ATPL ground on monday this week at London Guildhall.

I must tell you though that although the club own the airfield and planes there are some hidden costs like Medicals and CAA/FAA fee's but only landing fee's when you leave the home airfield.

However if you added the modules up you would still have these bits and in the costing sheet they have said to allow about £3,000 for these items.

The saving they are giving you is almost the same as you would earn in interest for this amount to sit in your bank so it's up to you.

They are a great bunch of people and I would highly recomend them to anyone.

Please feel free to contact me by e-mail on 07956 842366.

[apple]

Hello

Try pay by credit card even if they do own the Field and Planes as they could have Loans made against them as collateral

[Kamil]

Thankyou very much
for replyin every 1

and especially DILLON,
i'll contact u via email soon....

[Easy226]

Where abouts is Stapleford anyone?? I am currently 16 1/2 and i desperatly want to start flying but im soo busy with work (A-Levels!), swimming, etc!! Once i have gained my PPL, i dont know what to do after that.?? I have been looking at some schools in America + Canada as i have relatives out there but i still really dont know what schools have the best reputations and at the same time, value! I would really appreciate some help from someone??
Thanx Dan

[Luke SkyToddler]

It's in Essex ... just south of the Stansted CTR. You can get there on the central line tube from London + a 5 minute bus ride.

It's a good school and I used it for my CPL and IR conversions from New Zealand.

And Dillon - this is not directed at SFC specifically but just a comment on schools in general, just because a school 'owns' its assets like planes and aircraft doesn't mean it's OK to recommend that people pay that kind of money up front. Businesses like that just have a different kind of fixed costs in terms of mortgage payments and council taxes etc. They might indeed own a sodding diamond mine, but once cash flow in becomes less than cash flow out then they're still at the same risk of going pear shaped at some stage.

[Wee Weasley Welshman]

Never EVER EVER pay up front in return for a discount. The risk/reward is too great.

If you work the sums and put the same lump into a mini cash ISA and take it out as you need to pay bills you'll find you can negate much of the up front discount anway.

Good luck,

WWW

[Flying Lion]

I think you will find with Stapleford they do not press for full up front payment and in fact are very aware and sypathetic to those students who have had thier fingers burnt elsewhere. (hence the number of ex-SFT students that have gone there to complete thier courses). They are quite happy for people to pay each module as they go and as Dillon says it still is a very reasonable priced package. Thier pass rate is quite impressive too.

[Send Clowns]

Ask them if they will set up an escrow account or a joint account that the money goes into. As your training progresses money is transferred to their account to pay for it, but until that time the money is legally yours. You can even accrue interest. SFT were always willing to do so, and this saved several people I know from major losses.

[CliffordAgius]

I understand that paying up front is very dangerous at present with the recent demise of flying schools but I felt personnal that paying up front ment that I could not spend it else where. I know quite a few poeple that use stapleford and did my research before hand and that is why i was happy. I knew that there was a risk and I took them but so far they have treated me very well and I think that it was a good decision. I am no finacial man so all these ISA and funny bank schemes went over my head and the easy option was to pay up front.

I do highly recommend them especially the USA part, they use a very very busy airport in Tulsa and you learn very quickly the RT calls and Radar stuff and wher4e else can you do touch and goes at an international airport at night! then return to base with full ATC control.

I uderstand the business side for the Cash flow but they have a lot going on for a small airfield and after my reseach I was a happy bunny.

BUT!!! if others are not happy I don't blame them I am currently at Guildhall with a few that lost out to SFT and I understand the way they feel. So each person needs to make up there own mind.

All i can say is Best of luck and enjoy the ride!! I AM!!!! <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

[Flypuppy]

Paying up front is always a very very bad idea ! Never ever pay up front. I am currently at a professional flying school and they refuse to take any monies up front. My training account must remain in credit at all times though, so I pay 500 pounds at a time. In the unlikely event of the company going under my losses will be, relatively speaking, small. While escrow accounts sound interesting, I keep my money in my bank account earning some interest for me until I need it.

£25,000 sounds like a tad on the lowside, check to make sure that all the other costs have been included. You can easily factor in another £3,000 for CAA exam test and general fees also up to £2,500 for Nav and landing fees. Also add your living costs as well, these can and will mount up to more than you ever thought possible, could be from £5,000 to £10,000 depending on how you live.

Whatever you decide, best of luck. It is hard work all the way, but hopefully worth it in the end.

[ 11 January 2002: Message edited by: Flypuppy ]</p>

[Atlanta]

Hi Wannabapilot,
I agree with those who say never pay up front.

However, if you really feel you want to risk bankruptcy in return for a mess of potage, at least ask the FTO whether your hard earned dosh will be held in a separate client account.

In addition, what insurance are they providing in the event that fraud should be perpetrated on your dosh by any of their servants or agents.


C'mon Puss, lets get the stick in the air. We've got to go and bomb Slough with wicked spells.

[Kamil]

I'll take you guyz wrd.....