Greetings
I am in the throes of applying for ATPL training and have learnt that one has to either go through the FTO's pre-selection or take the Guild fo Air Pilots and Air Navigators Pilot Aptitude Assessment test as an alternative. I am booked into to take the test at RAF Cranwell next Thursday. Is there anyone out there who has taken the test and could share with me what I am to expect... Also, I have heard that one can not prepare for this as it sniffs out those inate abilities, but are there in fact preliminary preparations one can do eg. better eye-hand co-ordination by spending a few hours with a Playstation/arithmetic exercises?!
Lastly, I have selected BAE in Jerez for the training after much scoping out of the other FTOs and what they offer, and would appreciate any thoughts and feedback to the below questions from those fellow aviators who have gone before:
1) Has anyone gone through BAE and could tell me how you rate them, the training/instruction, their key selling points, facilitiesadvantages and disadvantages, and do they have credible Airline Recognition in the industry
2) At age 31, am I already becoming 'old' for the airlines, given that if I commence a 60 week course in Sep '03, I will qualify at the end of 2004 at age 33?
3) BAEs simulated training appears to take place on a Hawker 800 Simulator. Oxford for example do this in a 737-400 Simulator, as well as the MCC + JOT, and say the reason for this is to recreate the most realistic environment that one would experince in the airlines. As most of the airlines of today's fleet is made up of 737 aircraft, is one not hindered by the fact that you are receiving simulated training in a simulator that pertains to an 8 seater jet? Or does this achieve the same outcome?
Any thoughts and feedback would be most appreciated.
Regards,
The Rookie
