The truth about Oxford Aviation Training
Hi all,
This is for anyone considering using Oxford Aviation Training to complete their modular flight training. This is for information purposes only and comes from a current OAT student.
For anybody who has researched the flight training at Oxford will know that they complete hour building and CPL in Phoenix AZ, so I'll start there.
The training facility is shared with Sabena and there are a mixture of well equipped Warriors, Archers, Arrows and two Seneca 5's. The US branch of OAT is poorly run with schedules constantly changing with certain instructors and students taking the wrong A/C. However the instruction was excellent and I completed my CPL in the allotted 4 week time.
Coming back to Oxford to complete my IR I was sure that the organization would be better and I would complete the course in the 6 weeks. However this is the start of my 8th week and the finish is still approx' 2/3 weeks away. The main cause of this is due to the demand on the simulators.
Simulators
Oxford have 3 Beech King Air simulators which are run in Seneca mode. While this provides a representation (please note the lack of the word 'accurate') of the aircraft performance the cockpit layout is completely different which can not aid the transfer to the aircraft.
The 3 simulators are shared by 90 students, so availability is scares. When the weather is bad there is 1/2 students on standby for every simulator slot. To resolve any conflicts Oxford us a priority list is based purely on the date started, so you may think you have a slot until you get bumped 10 mins before your slot! Also having been there for 8 weeks I'm still only 60ish on the priority list.
The simulators are also prone to regular crashes (of the computer kind) part way throught a flight and you have to wait for the instructor to reboot to carry on the flight. This isn't so much of an issue until you realise that you're still getting charged for the five or so minutes for it to reboot, and at Oxford rates that's expensive.
The other thing that for the life of me I can't understand is they charge 15 minutes for taxi in a SIM? If anyone understands this please let me know.
Aircraft
The Seneca 2's a Oxford are well equipped and well maintained, having said that an aircraft went tech on my 10 minutes into my flight so we returned to Oxford. I'm currently protesting being charged for that flight. Oxford's explanation is "you still learnt something"....
Attitude of it's employees
The general attitude of OAT employees is to treat students like recalcitrant children. They seem to have forgotten that these same children are customers and pay there wages.
Summary
I went to Oxford because they have a good reputation. The instruction I have received has been excellent. If you decided to go to Oxford then be prepared for it to take longer than you originally planned and also to feel like you're being ripped off!!!
Good luck.