Bartolini Air Flight School
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Europe
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Hello guys,
I have a few questions for who got through the 0-fATPL program at Bartolini.
-How long did it take to complete the first stage of the program, the PPL ?
-After the PPL, the next step is the ATPL Theory. I've read that the minimum allocated time is 5 months. It is manageable to work a full time job and study for the exams in the allocated 5 months ?
I'm in doubts if, for those first stages of training, I have to quit my job or I could manage to continue working.
Thanks
I have a few questions for who got through the 0-fATPL program at Bartolini.
-How long did it take to complete the first stage of the program, the PPL ?
-After the PPL, the next step is the ATPL Theory. I've read that the minimum allocated time is 5 months. It is manageable to work a full time job and study for the exams in the allocated 5 months ?
I'm in doubts if, for those first stages of training, I have to quit my job or I could manage to continue working.
Thanks
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Poland
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Well addressing your questions, PPL training will take you 3/4 months. I took 4 months from start of theory to passing the final skill test (12 Aug to 12 Dec). And I started flying in September so the weather was getting increasingly worse over time. At some point I was grounded for two weeks waiting for the right wx for a long nav solo.
As for the ATPL, I'm currently going through the exams, it will depend a lot on the kind of person that you are and how good you are are retaining facts, also at how much of that thing called "sleep" do you really need. I would say that passing the exams and working at the same time is perfectly possible but I would not bet on the 5 month mark. Allow some more time so you can properly prepare, unfortunately the way the ATPL examinations are structured end up being more like a memory contest, and that requires a lot of hours put into it as simply understanding the concepts and them being able to apply them over a wide range of questions only works for some of the subjects.
As for the points raised by Amarui, I'm pretty sure I know who he is and I'm familiar with what happened there. And he is right about some of the things he pointed out, however I must disagree with some others, the ATO quality has not suffered from the charter business he mentions, he did get unlucky that some of the senior instructors were away on citation flights at the time he wanted to complain, but that was over a small period of time.
Organization I must disagree too, things are well organized, you are however responsible for yourself. Any questions you have will, I'm sure, be diligently answered, but you have to direct them at the right people.
Think your instructor is not up to standard? Schedule a meeting with the head of training.
Need help finding a place to live in town? The girl at the reception will gladly help you (she is partial to Caramel Macchiattos, HEY, I didn't say it was going to be free!)
Got questions about your account with the school, direct them at the head accountant.
Basically, you wont be carried around, but so long as you can point out things and bother to read the student manual to know where to go and who to talk to I'm sure you will find any problems you may have do not get out of hand (This is not a stab at Amarui, his case was slightly different but if he did not want to go into detail I wont either). The instructor he mentions is no longer around however and I (and I'm sure Amarui will agree with me here) can assure you he is not a reflection of the other instructors.
As for the ATPL, I'm currently going through the exams, it will depend a lot on the kind of person that you are and how good you are are retaining facts, also at how much of that thing called "sleep" do you really need. I would say that passing the exams and working at the same time is perfectly possible but I would not bet on the 5 month mark. Allow some more time so you can properly prepare, unfortunately the way the ATPL examinations are structured end up being more like a memory contest, and that requires a lot of hours put into it as simply understanding the concepts and them being able to apply them over a wide range of questions only works for some of the subjects.
As for the points raised by Amarui, I'm pretty sure I know who he is and I'm familiar with what happened there. And he is right about some of the things he pointed out, however I must disagree with some others, the ATO quality has not suffered from the charter business he mentions, he did get unlucky that some of the senior instructors were away on citation flights at the time he wanted to complain, but that was over a small period of time.
Organization I must disagree too, things are well organized, you are however responsible for yourself. Any questions you have will, I'm sure, be diligently answered, but you have to direct them at the right people.
Think your instructor is not up to standard? Schedule a meeting with the head of training.
Need help finding a place to live in town? The girl at the reception will gladly help you (she is partial to Caramel Macchiattos, HEY, I didn't say it was going to be free!)
Got questions about your account with the school, direct them at the head accountant.
Basically, you wont be carried around, but so long as you can point out things and bother to read the student manual to know where to go and who to talk to I'm sure you will find any problems you may have do not get out of hand (This is not a stab at Amarui, his case was slightly different but if he did not want to go into detail I wont either). The instructor he mentions is no longer around however and I (and I'm sure Amarui will agree with me here) can assure you he is not a reflection of the other instructors.
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: London
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Alternatives in PL
There are new kids on the block in PL apparently - a new school still waiting for their ATO approval. It may be a good bet if you're at the PPL stage as they are planning to grow with the first intake of students - i.e. offer CPL when their cadets have done the hour building, offer IR/ME when their cadets have done the ATPL writtens etc.
They will operate out of EPZG which like EPLL is a controlled field, but with much much less commercial traffic, which some may see as drawback (no real "big airport" feel).
I reckon they're flexible on theory - can do it with them or study independently if you want.
They will operate out of EPZG which like EPLL is a controlled field, but with much much less commercial traffic, which some may see as drawback (no real "big airport" feel).
I reckon they're flexible on theory - can do it with them or study independently if you want.
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Poland
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Very good, lets not forget your debts :P
/Back on topic, No the ATPL is not one massive bet. The way EASA made the testing system is one big joke but some schools will help you more and some others less.
Some will allow you to sit the brush up course again on those tricky subjects some others will just ask for more money... Some instructors will gladly spend a few minutes with you if you come up to them with a question some others will simply move on. These things matter in the end.
I can't speak for other schools but in Bartolini I have that, I was struggling with part of Gnav for the ATPL and all I had to do was ask and I got a quick lesson on the parts I needed. Going great now.
/Back on topic, No the ATPL is not one massive bet. The way EASA made the testing system is one big joke but some schools will help you more and some others less.
Some will allow you to sit the brush up course again on those tricky subjects some others will just ask for more money... Some instructors will gladly spend a few minutes with you if you come up to them with a question some others will simply move on. These things matter in the end.
I can't speak for other schools but in Bartolini I have that, I was struggling with part of Gnav for the ATPL and all I had to do was ask and I got a quick lesson on the parts I needed. Going great now.
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: St Petersburg
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Is bartolini still around? Their domain registration bartolini-air.com has lapsed, which is also their contact email.
Also anyone know where one might check an FTOs credentials on the Polish CAA website?
Also anyone know where one might check an FTOs credentials on the Polish CAA website?
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Romania
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Bartolini Air EASA Flight Training Organisation - Fly in Poland Is the website from their Facebook page. Maybe bartolini-air.com is one older site that they don't use anymore.
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: St Petersburg
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Yeah I saw that that is their new website, but the contact email on that website is @bartolini-air.com, sent them an email a few days ago with no reply, so was worried they weren't receiving emails. Tried messaging them on Facebook, hope they'll reply there. 
Maybe they'll give me a discount if I make them a proper website)
Maybe they'll give me a discount if I make them a proper website
)
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: uk
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Hi
anyone here who has been on their CPL/MEIR course no how the paying for it works please?
I am a long way from doing this but just curious. As you should pay up front do you pay a deposit and then installments or is it some other way?
Thanks
anyone here who has been on their CPL/MEIR course no how the paying for it works please?
I am a long way from doing this but just curious. As you should pay up front do you pay a deposit and then installments or is it some other way?
Thanks
Last edited by Kevin31; 8th Mar 2017 at 11:31. Reason: spelling
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Ireland
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Deposit up front then you will be given a payment plan for each of the modules.
If you have money left on your account it will be transferred back to you.
I never had any problems when it came to money. I paid exactly what I had signed up for and actually had money left over which was refunded after I finished.
If you have money left on your account it will be transferred back to you.
I never had any problems when it came to money. I paid exactly what I had signed up for and actually had money left over which was refunded after I finished.