Flying Instructors & ExaminersA place for instructors to communicate with one another because some of them get a bit tired of the attitude that instructing is the lowest form of aviation, as seems to prevail on some of the other forums!
Hi Folks, Tried a search but "FI Rating" confuses the system, and no stickies I can see. I am starting to think about getting my FI Rating. Can someone give me the standard "short list" of training providers in the UK. I'm thinking along the lines of quality, full time, quick as possible, dedicated training organisations. Location not necassarily important as I live in the sticks and I know I cant do it within driving distance anyway, so would be looking to rent \ B&B \ Camp locally anyway.
Thanks everyone, Some very useful recomendations there, it is interesting how many of the (apparently) smaller outfits are getting the thumbs up, and it is obviously places like that which really rely on word of mouth rather than glossy advertising, so maybe wouldnt be such obvious contenders looking through the advertising sections in the mags. Cheers SF
as your location is egpx i can suggest tayflite at perth, Sid (ex tayside) is now instructing there and from memory he can do FI ratings. Might even be a job going there after, i understand they are recruiting for Perth and Cumbernauld airports.
Or you could try Steve Marples of Aerotraining Newcastle (try newcastle aeroclub to contact him), does the whole thing one on one if no other student, excellent course and first class instructor and nice guy. cheap to.
If you want to travel a little further south, try Alan Cooper at Retford Flying School (Gamston Airport). Excellent 1:1 FIC course in a 152 from a very friendly airport.
Again, Thanks for the replies, plenty of homework for me.
As for getting someone to pay for the FI Rating, I would have thought it was entirely feasible, as long as you have made yourself useful round the club for a while and they like you attitude and think you will be competant etc.
I have sort of been offered this already, but at the age of 31 I would prefer to pay my own way and keep my options open.
Also worth trying Craig Padfield at Halfpenny Green Flight Centre, Wolverhampton. I'm biased as an ex-student of his, but he's a practical man with a wealth of knowledge and experience.
Didn't know Sid had gone to Tayflite, I'd heard Loganair. He's also a pretty good alround FI, teaches a sensible course.
Fair point, the DEFTS course is pretty good - nice aircraft, SIDs and SRAs for poorer weather, etc... Not sure about the emphasis on RAF though (RAF BH and the CP/CFI excepted!) - JEFTS ceased existence a while back when the RAF left. The overall boss of the school is a Commander RN, for example.
Hi 18 Greens, That does sound quite interesting. I agree that coffee is probably one of the most dissapointing aspects of private flying. Are you sure they have better beans there?
Anyway how come they would teach a civvy? Can't see any mention of it on the most obvious google entry for it. I bet it costs a lot too?
It would be quite good if somewhere along the way they forgot you were the civvy and accidently sent you on to fly Hawks at Valley. Cant really see that happening though..
DEFTS is run by Babcocks on contract to the Navy and Army for basic training. The through flow varies. If they have spare capacity they take civvies. They are more than happy to take your money and give you a very high quality product in return. As for the costs its cheaper than a lot, if not all schools.
If you are any good its not impossible to get a job there afterwards.
Its also great to see how the forces fly, it will spoil you for flying in the future. (8.30 AM synchronise watches, wx brief, a man gets the ac out for you, fills them up, puts them away)
