Stapleford

[littco]

CPL

I can't comment on the IR as haven't started it yet but with regards to CPL.

I started my CPL mid November and had pretty much done it all and ready for 170a in 3 weeks. However, the weather has been against me and and it's been another 3 weeks waiting for my 170A and now the test. Obviously this week has been a write off and with Christmas coming up puts it back further, but this is no-ones fault.. I can't complain and have pretty much had an instructor to myself for the course of the CPL and even when a plane went tech they still had plenty to cover.. Frustrating? not at all (Wx maybe...but you can't control that)

[rwhites]

Well its about 8weeks for you CPL, 1 Week for multi (but has been done in 2days) and 8-9weeks IR(full time). All weather dependant. but if you have done all your training with them you'll probably be able to do you CPL in 2-3 weeks(weather dependant again). oh and the seem to frown upon people doing conversions from foreign licences (FAA etc) 'they always go over hours' i have heard some instructors say.

[badboy raggamuffin]

R whites, have you actually done your CPL and IR with them?

You say 8 weeks for the CPL, 8 weeks for a 25 hr course? Is that figure a worst case scenario, taking into account bad weather?

Also, why should it make any difference whether you have done all your training with them? That part of your post doesnt make a lot of sense to be honest.

[wbryce]

quick question to the SFC guys,

The IR course on the DA42 says 15hrs DA42 time and 2 hours for test and 35Hrs SIM time...

Most IR courses give around 25hrs flying time....is 15hrs not a bit on the short side?

[badboy raggamuffin]

so how many hours a day do you get on the CPL and IR training. Only about 1 by the sound of it, that is not enough in my opinion.

[Gulf Julliet Papa]

Usually CPL / MEP you can get 2 flights a day (booked in 2 hour sesions) flights lasting 1 - 1.5 hours each.
IR usually 1 flight a day (again lasting 1.5 normally) with plenty of time to backseat...or revise...

Price wise £18800 bought me CPL (28hrs) MEP (minimum) IR (minimum) + accomidation for 3 months + approach fees

[rwhites]

Golf Juliet Papa is about right, same ish for me, but i don't think many people go over hours on the IR at Stapleford(except for canceled tests from weather etc).

[planeshipcar]

hi,

at a house part of a Jerez grad and noticed he had really nice certificates and graduation photos from graduating as a commercial pilot at Jerez.

I was wondering whether stapleford gave a graduating doo/ certificates out?

I get the impression some schools think this is a load of crap and others really importent.

[planeshipcar]

p.s i know they did something for ppl at their oscars but never heard of anything for cpl.

[jayc004]

Structured Hour building and SFC

Originally Posted by hedges81

Yeh, but what is "structured hours building"? What exactly are you looking for in your hours building. If an instructor tells u to fly a particular route solo, or if you pick it yourself, what is the difference?.

Hey guys. I have finished all my training, and went from zero to hero at stapleford. Im now half way through my B737-800 type rating.
I personally cant speak highly enough of stapleford. The training i had there was exellent, and as mentioned in my other posts for here, I know people at other training centres, and thier views of those places.
The level of training is exellent. I passed everything first time, and within hours, but bare in mind, the instructors and expecially CFI's wont put you forward for a test if you arent going to pass it. Thats as simple as it gets.
Hour building.....when i was there it wasnt structured, and i have spoken to various people there about that, as personally i thought that was the only thing that they could improve on.
Being a PPL, you may think that you should be left to do what you want. In some respects i agree with that, but in others very much disagree.
I was lucky enough to have know someone who is did a BA scholorship at oxford. He told me all the things that i would need to know for CPL and IR. Therefore i practiced these things.
What you want to be doing is every 10-20 ours, go up with an instructor just for half or a whole hour, and ask them to make sure you are not picking up any bad habbit. Do this early, because when U get onto the CPL, it gets alot more expensive bashing about in an arrow and making mistakes, then being in a C152 for 30mins with an instructor!!
No one is saying that structure means "Do this route and this one....never do anything yourself". Of course do the routes that you want to do, but make them difficult.

For example:-
Do a route completely visual that isnt feature crawling
Do a route around london using VOR clockwise
Then VOR anti-clockwise. (believe me, one is easier then the other)
Do a route using only ADF and NDB
(this is very very useful because all Ur IR will be using NDB, and on your CPL test, some of the examiners love NDB tracking)
Talk to the CPL students and find out what routes they are doing in CPL nav lessons, and do those, so you have abit of a heads up.

All these sorts of things are very useful, and believe me they help massively!!
I will tell you now form my experiences since leaving. Every place I have been regarding aviation, everyone knows Stapleford and comment on the standard of pilots coming from there. This is due to the amazing instruction, and especially Colin and his high standards. He knows what is required to not just pass the IR, but to breeze any course or sim selection that you go too. I have met some people at MCC that didnt even know how to do a hold. (Lesson No.2 of IR)
At SFC you will be the most prepared person out there. You will have the same piece of paper as everyone else, but the only difference is durring your training you had a good time, and a life!
Like is said about 3 hours ago when i started writting this. I cant speak highly enough of SFC. Its cheaper then everywhere else, its got one of the highest pass rates of ANY flying school, and the atmosphere is brilliant. I dont regret going there in any way shape or form. And if it wasnt for that flying school, i wouldnt be bashing about in an NG sim at the moment.
Good luck guys.....and most importantly, dont believe all the negative things on here. People that speak badly of places 9/10 times dont know what they are talking about. Spend the £50 it costs to go and check the flying school out yourself adn TALK TO THE STUDENTS!!! They have parted with their £30,000+ and are never going to lie.
Enjoy.

[jayc004]

Originally Posted by badboy raggamuffin

so how many hours a day do you get on the CPL and IR training. Only about 1 by the sound of it, that is not enough in my opinion.

Just a quick one on this aswell. I did normally 2 sessions a day on the CPL, and when in the sim a 1.5 hour session and debrief, then back seated my sim partner.
Dont under estimate the importance of backseating. It effectively doubles your time.
You do 35 hours in the sim, (going onto the plane after 28 hours), then you do 15 hours in the plane. This is more then enough time to get to grips with the dimmond as its like flying a computer. Lovely plane to fly.
I initially started with one plane and sim session a day, but then towards the end moved onto 2 sessions. Believe me, that is overload when you start. Dont foget to plan a route and do all the blog and things you need to do will take an hour before the off blocks time. Then you have to fly and concentrate for over hour solid looking at a computer screen. Land, and then immidiately start planning your next flight. You have no time to think about what you have just done in the previous flight, so you'll most likely make the same mistakes in the second flight....effectively wasting £400 and 1.5 hours plane time.
My opinion....stick with what they suggest. They know what they are doing as they have been doing it alot longer then you. You'll end up doing 8 hours a week, and then another 8 hours backseating. That is a good ratio.

[PlaneHomerS]

Well i am very impressed with what i have heard and read about Stapleford. I will be visiting them at the end of this month with a view to starting with them soon after (if everything goes well that day). Will post on pprune and on my blog after the visit regarding my thoughts

[0-8]

My IR at Stapleford took around six weeks from start to test pass. This was with me training around six days a week.
This allowed for one session in the aircraft/Sim a day with the rest of the time spent backseating, revising or planning for a subsequent flight.

The IR course on the DA42 says 15hrs DA42 time and 2 hours for test and 35Hrs SIM time...
Most IR courses give around 25hrs flying time....is 15hrs not a bit on the short side?

I found 15 hours to be plenty of time.
The Sim used for the course is a really outstanding representation of the aircraft. All the students I spoke to found the conversion to the real aircraft to be a non event. Remember, you have the exact same G1000 panel in front of you in both the aircraft and the Sim and the handling and performance difference between the two is negligible.
Feel free to PM me or reply to this post if you have any questions.

[pilotbadshah]

Transport

Hi guys
I'm a student at Stapleford doing the abinitio program. Well all was fine until now> As i'm not yet licensed to drive cars i have no means of getting there except using public transport. The bus route 500 that passes through stapleford is closing down, and i'm completely stranded.

I live in newbury park and commute daily to SFC, first with a tube to theydon bois then take the 500 bus.

Now with no means of other transport i was looking for other options. My next best bet is taking a taxi but doing that daily is well expensive and off my budget longterm. Any suggestions anyone?? I really need help and advise from current and past students.

I've been looking for a car share with no luck. Maybe i'm not looking too hard! But if any students/instructors/employees are willing to give me a ride there and back again i'd really be greatful big time. I'm willing to share in the costs and picked up from any nearby tube stations. If you can help me out please email me or reply to this post. I dont want to halt now, wait to get a driving license and a car than go back. Please anyone who can i'd appreciate your help. Thanks

[badboy raggamuffin]

get urself a motor bike. All uve got to do is the CBT (compulsory basic training) which I think takes about a day and you can ride on L plates. Sorted.

[Dct_Bombi]

How about living on the airfield and perphaps do some work in the bar or radio room to pay your way.

[philltowns]

pilotbadshah,

May I suggest liftshare.com. Its free to use, and has an enormous database of lifts being offered. You may get lucky with the particular route you need.

PT

[planeshipcar]

MCC

Stapleford is to start an MCC course in April. I was wondering whether they will have the same connections like parc had with Ryan.

I hoping they may start having links with other airlines soon.

But it is great to have a continuity in training!

[macflea]

hi lads,

i am due to start with stapleford soon hour building and then i want to do the cpl/me/ir with them as i was impressed by the school when i visited it. with all this bad wather at the moment i am starting to wonder if i would be better off heading off state side just to finish off my 40 hours of hour building .cost wise i can see no advantage only better weather and i would have it done in three to four weeks.i would like to hear from students at stapleford if they were back again what would they do and also advantages and disadvantages of either option.

cheers macflea

[littco]

If you have the choice then I would suggest that you at least consider doing some of your hour building at SFC. Reason being that the airspace around the airfield is very busy and complicated also when it comes to doing your Navigation in the CPL you will be well adapt to the area and the terrain and possibly local airfields which to be honest is invaluable. Admittedly the weather can be an arse, then it can be anywhere but I guess.. 40 hours in the states can be done in 3 weeks, where as it might take you 4-5 in the Uk but you could end up spending the time you saved on getting used to flying around the SE England on your CPL.
I don't think anyone can tell you what to do especially when you could sit around SFC for 8 weeks trying to do your HB but in an idea world I would say do it at SFC and learn something from it rather than burning holes in the sky in the USA and not really doing anything constructive other than racking up the hours an avoiding other aircraft!