LFS .. satisfied customer
Since this thread has become a bit of a visitors book, I feel the need to add that I did my PPL with LFS last year and I was a satisfied customer. I chose them because they were a well regarded commercial school and from my first contact they had a friendly, affable, down to earth, yet professional approach. Most of all the people there were willing to give freely of their time, and to talk over my many and varied questions about the industry generally. I used to work for a big corporate so I liked the idea of a smaller, family run FTO for my flight training!
I learnt a lot from James, Stuart, Geoff and Jon who instructed me at that time and I credit them with preparing me well for my further commercial training. It was also a good laugh.
It seems to be a fact of life that all organisations (from the smallest to the biggest) have their politics. People have character (I think I've worked out who you all are!), they move on, and change is often inevitable when faced with external pressures outside one's control. It seems that aviation is no different. A good sense of humour and a bit of humility seem to be prerequisites.
Despite the commercial/operational constraints LFS were under at the time in offering PPL training from LBA, I was promised that as an existing customer they would get me through. In the event my deadline for leaving the country was brought forward, and thanks to the infamous Yorkshire Wx it was a close run thing... After being rained off right up to my last day, Tony Denson met me early doors the following (Saturday) morning for my Skill Test, and I left the country with a PPL and a smile on my face.
So, thanks LFS. It was fun. I would come back.
On Multiflight's FTO, I cannot comment other than to say that their main focus at Leeds is also on more advanced training (in fact they encourage ab-initio people to do a PPL with their partner FTO in the US), and that they did in the end make me a highly competitive offer for my business.
I spent many a frosty winter morning on Multiflight's apron, checking over and preparing my LFS aircraft, and I found their ground staff in particular to be friendly, helpful, and good humoured.
Kind Regards to all at Leeds,
George.
Last edited by George Foreman; 14th March 2004 at 11:30.