Gud'Day Boys,
I agree and disagree with what has been said above about AWA, but going back to the original question, I believe with flying schools, there will always be problems anywhere we go.
In the same AWA, there are students who achieved their goals in 11 months and there are students who are on their 3rd year without a CPL licence! So, in any academy, it all depends on how focused and determined you can get with your training. The harder you push, the faster you get through!
Training Manager does not have all the flying qualifications but why does he need them anyway? He is ground based and runs the show from his office, with many years of experience in what he does, you don't know what he does because he does not work for you, but if you fellas recall what was happening from 2007 till Apr 2009 before the training manager arrived, hellow!!! Go Check the archives and see for yourself!
I'm not defending AWA and I'm not recommending it, this is what I think of AWA and its departments, rest be on you!
Ground School- Is very very poor and CPL+IREX+ATPL will cost you 10,000 and abit more, you will be kept in the hangar with all the noise and the GS Manager will kick you out of class whenever he feels like it as if he pays for it, so do not apply for their GS/Theory!
Flying/Instructors-you will get high standards and airline operation-like training from great instructors who will break rules inorder to assist you getting faster through and minimize your dual hours! But make sure you do not let anyone else know of your relation with your instructor otherwise he/she will be out of AWA before you know it!
Fleet-Amazing Cessna 172's, well maintained by Air Gold Coast and DA40's by the internal engineering department (but due to the poor Beechcraft they have, do your Instrument rating somewhere else unless if they change their Twin and RG which might never happen)
Accounts-We will give Dean his own department, this man(if he is one) knows what he is doing but thinks that us(customers) are fools! His invoices never undershoot! They will always be more than what you have to pay, so, make sure you go through with him and be hard on him, he seems to be softer when you show him a real man's face! You'll pay Less!
Admin/Management-here I'm talking about the top management team, they do not know and are not bothered to ask on what is going on, all they want to see if money flowing and Phil will respond to you within minutes if you write to him about applying, do not joing until you are satisfied otherwise you will be just like everyone else complaining when its already too late!
1. Your ASIC, Student Pilot Licence and Medicals are with you.
2. You are aware of what you are shceduled to do throughout the course.
3. Do not just fly duals without doing your maths, these over runs are all dual flights!! You need your solo hours so don't worry about them.
Have your 150 total flying hours, with minimum 20 cross country hours and minimum 70 hours PIC and do your CPL test!
If Dean invoices you on the over runs right after GFPT, tell him to keep his invoice and you will adjust your flying hours later on your course because they are all HOURS!!!
Talk to people who have been there and learn from them!
I'm not here to argue, defend or offend anyone, I'm here to help the new comers and guide them through a better path! I'm still an AWA student and I'm taking the challenge, avoiding what others did wrong and guess what! They Can't Catch Me!!!
Your Pilot In Demand!!!
