kinda busy but i have time to make a post with some info regarding australia!
Stratocruiser377
I know somebody on the programme and can assure you that AAG doesn't do anything on the cheap. The Ground School uses world class materials, the flying is carried out in conjunction with a first-class training school in Australia and the FNPT II and FFS are state of the art.
The ground school is first class?! In which dream world are u living in?! I have completed my ground school which is a converted hangar. When i joined we did not even have decent toilets! Our ground school was closed for a day of two when they upgraded the toilets. Which first class company allows for that to happen? Secondly the captains who teach us are good yes but the facilities they get are below par. They found it difficult to teach us stuff in AGK since they did not have prototypes for certain items. They always said that a turbo prop which is no longer in use would be useful for teaching purposes! They asked the alpha management for it but it was never provided.
Taras B
2. Alpha was asked to organize travel insurance for the MPL cadets before they arrived in Australia. However the majority of these MPL cadets going to Australia for training are arriving without any insurance, which makes it very expensive when they have to go to the doctor. The students who have arrived with insurance, have done so at their own expense. If those uninsured are involved in a barroom scuffle or a slip on a banana peel and break a bone, is Alpha going to pick up the hospital bill? Not likely. It is also unlikely that Australian Immigration is unaware of the students' uninsured status--and they are very strict about this sort of thing.
and
3. Alpha was also asked to organize formal winter uniforms for the students when they arrive in Australia. However this was not done, and the students are arriving in the cold weather, and expecting to be issued winter clothing from AAPA. And I can tell you, decent winter clothing is very expensive in Australia.
I can agree with that! Especially the latter one. The students from the first batch mentioned how Alpha never gave them winter clothings when they went to Aus. Alpha promised it to them but never got one. Then when they went to Aus with their own winter clothing they were all banned from wearing it since it did not match the uniform! AAPA ended up giving each of them coats and jumpers which only makes AAG end up paying more money. BAD BAD planning. If AAG had given them jumpers in the first place they would never had to pay extra to AAPA.
Lastly Taras B
4. Alpha recently received a phone call from a student in India who has already done 40 hours of C172 flying in India, and wanting to join the MPL course. They told him that he could join the MPL program in Sharjah and be exempt from flying 40 hours due to his previous experience (which is not true), and also told him that he can continue his training in Australia in the Cessna 172 with AAPA (which again is not true – AAPA have a fleet of all Piper PA 28’s). Furthermore, they also told him that when he finishes the training in Australia, he can work for AAPA or Regional Express in Australia if he wants to (again, if he is not an Australian resident – no chance).
Yes, AAPA does not have any C172 and some 25 Piper PA 28's but the flying school next to them has a Cessna 172. I am guessing that this student will have to pay to hire that aircraft which will only be more expensive for them And Rex will not hire him. From what i know (and i know that i am right, asked the AAPA students) Rex makes the students which they select to join AAPA sign contracts to make them work with REX for several years. The student only pays 2/3 of the total fees and the final 1/3 comes from their wages. Since this student has not signed a contract with rex from the very beginning he will not get a job.