OK - this is what I've heard and/or know from experience:
Progress: it was about 45 mins from where I did my training, and the standard of training was pretty good (I did my Warrior conversion there).
HOWEVER; I feel I was overcharged for what I did there, the place is REALLY out in the sticks, you'll be flying from a grass strip all the time, and the accomodation was shocking - seems to be made up of trailer-park style caravans and dingy prefab bungalows.
43 Air School is supposed to be very good, but seems to exist in a bit of a bubble - ie the chief twin instructor type position tends to be treated like a sort of god - there seems to be limited interaction with the outside world.
Flight Training College (FTC) are supposed to be very good BUT very expensive. Very big, and I've heard that people can get 'lost' in the system. They also have a school in George (Garden Route - between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth).
Lanseria Flight Centre was the best I came across - I went there to do my C172 conv before coming back, and they seemed to have a very professional attitude combined with a one-to-one tutoring, and an interest in the service you get. They do their theory subjects through with Av-Ex, who produce excellent notes.
Wherever you pick, make sure you ask all the right questions before picking a school - especially about accomodation; it may not seem that big a deal in comparison, but it makes such a difference. Also, ask searching questions about the number of aircraft and instructors at the school, and the ratio to students, how easy slots are to get, ask about proper debriefs after flights - very important! Meals, transport expenses etc as well - costs like that mount up. Mind you, at around 40 to 50p for a beer (no exaggeration!), you can probably afford to splash out every now and again...
I've also posted some information at the following URL:
http://www.pprune.org/cgibin/ultimat...c&f=2&t=011658 - some of that may be some use...
The price isn't unreal though, it's just so ridiculously overpriced in this country...
Give me a shout if you want any more info.
AeroBatfink
