Glad I came across this thread as I'm looking to ask a Flight school abroad a couple of questions. I've not read a bad word about them on this forum or the US forum but I'm taking precessions as I'll be over 4,000 miles from home for 4 to 5 weeks.
From the posts above I've come up with these;
PPL Statistics
- How many PPL passes have you had in the last year?
- How much ground study is included and what facilities are provided?
- What is the average number of hours to the skills test at your school?
- Describe the way you track students progress / how is the course structured from flight lesson to flight lesson / can I see the lesson plan?
- How long on average does the PPL course last? (I’ve seen many US schools quoting just 21 days for a PPL course).
Price
- What’s included in the price - course material, licence issue, skill test fee, landing fees etc?
- Do I need to pay upfront?
- Can I pay by credit card? If so is there a surcharge?
- What is your lesson cancellation policy?
- How do you charge? (Hobbs, tach, block time or other?)
Aircraft
- What is the aircraft/student ratio?
- What are the chances of flying just one aircraft ‘type’ during my course?
- What are the chances of flying the same aircraft throughout my course? i.e. sticking to the same frame?
- How is maintenance organised so that "my" plane is available when I need it?
- What is your plan for your fleet? (i.e. is it going to be replaced half-way through my training)
Instructors
- What is the current instructor/student ratio?
- What are the chances of flying with just one instructor almost all of the time?
- Are your instructors hour builders or career/freelance dedicated instructors?
- Are your instructor paid by the flying hour?
- Will I be receiving briefings/debriefings throughout the course?
- What is the instructor availability?
... Feel free to add more
