BigAir - an MCC can be had for under £2,000 and nobody gives a toss where you got it from quite frankly. Hmmm, mini self funded JOC courses are a total waste of time in my humble opinion.
Unless they are tailored to certain SOPs and certain flying philosophies they can be detrimental. No airline is going to accept one as being equivalent to their own. And don't go thinking that its a 737 Simulator because it isn't, just like a Nova GTE in full skirts, blacked out windows and dustbin conversion exhaust isn't a sportscar.
When it comes to large FTO training I know a bit as I was an instructor at one. Believe me, its much easier and much less political at a 4 man band outfit to 'iron out' any difficulties. Like being double booked, always getting the duff aircraft, a distracted instructor, too fast/slow a pace etc etc. In a large FTO your instructors are always up against 'the system' which consists of the CFI, Deputy CFI, Standards Dept, Ops and Marketing. Who all have differing priorities. Each has their own pet mission on which course needs to finish when and what resources are going to be allocated to whom and how.
Trust me you are but a number in a big machine and compared to the clout of say - an airline sponsored course - you play second or third fiddle.
I've seen individuals get bolshy and its done them no good. I've seen courses of self sponsored get bolshy for ditto effect.
Whereas at Little Piddlington-on-the-Marsh School of flight training if you and the other 6 students get seriously hacked off you can march into the CFI's portacabin and damn well dictate terms. Fact.
Cheers
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