Hi Yoda, can you please let me know the reasons of why you choose Egnatia Flight College in Greece to a college in the UK? ... is it the weather?
I'm putting my research together at the moment and half of me is saying it could be risky learning to fly at a college with no history at all, on top of the normal challenge of obtaining a job at the end; while the package does seem rather good.
I'm considering doing hour building at Egnatia (as I fly the DA40/PA28/38), but looking at doing my main CPL/IR in the UK at a well known college recommended by the CAA
Hi M8,
First off Egnatia is a greek registered FTO and thus part of the JAA network. Although the school does not appear in the UKCAA approved FTO's it is registered under the HCAA and i confirmed this by phoning them and asking (HCAA). Any license earned is given you by the HCAA but is JAA and is easily transferred to UKCAA. I know this because i asked egnatia and i phoned the ukcaa. Once any licenses are obtained, if you want to change the state of issue from HCAA to UKCAA then you need to complete the following form:
http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/FORSRG1136.PDF
I have been researching flight training for about 6-7 years and have consequently looked at all options (integrated and modular). If you have a look at my
blog i always wanted to go integrated however careful research and advice from 'pruners' such as scroggs, pilot pete, mike cr etc made me look at the modular route from a fresh perpective. Basically i decided if i did not get into a mentored scheme i would go modular.
Looking at the
financial implications off going to egnatia against other ftos (that i was considering) it makes sense. Secondly off course the weather helps as i want it done as quickly as possible. Now if all goes according to plan and i don't need to retake anything or add any extra lessons potentially i can have my cpl/ir in 317 days.
Yes it is a risk going to a FTO with no history i am prepared to take the risk for the following reasons:
1) Reading
wbryces thoughts about the school. (click on diaries and choosing flight school links)
2) Egnatia's professional attitude in answering all my questions (trust me there were many and i am sure dave and george are sick of me now lol
)
3) The structure of the course.
4) The flexible 'pay as you go' approach.
5) Talking to them at the flyer show.
6) Reading other students accounts of the place.
7) The facilities such as new aircraft, accomodation offices.
8) Reading the flexible terms and conditions.
9) Price.
10) Quality of training
11) Accommodation included in the price.
12) All training been conducted in one place as i don't want to move around from school to school.
13) And last but not least being in greece!
Now i know some of you are proabably thinking that i should have gone and visited the place as young William Bryce did however i go on 'gut' instinct. My sixth form, university were chosen this way and i had no problems. But i recommend anyone else visit the place as i just want to get on with it now after most of my twenties being spent on my ass earning the money to train as a pilot.
I did consider other schools in the US but i decided against it because after working through the costs it works out the same and in some cases more expensive than egnatia. Also i want to stay in european airspace with the uk being round the corner just incase i need to get back.
I am not worried about getting a job yet but i do have a strategy which hopefully will enable me to get a job once i complete by training without anyform of nepotism
Keep an eye on my
blog as i will be updating it daily with my flying adventures when i start early next year.
Good luck with whatever you decide and if you come to egnatia look me up.
+Yoda1