A little due diligence would seem sensible before anyone parts with a sum of money (by way of advance payment) to any flying school for a course.
The most obvious question is of course is the school able to offer (In its own name and right) the course that is requested. A school requires approval from the CAA to offer training. A quick online check this morning shows Westbeach as not listed on the latest list of CAA approved FTO's to offer CPL and MCC courses. When you google Westbeach Aviation you get taken to a webpage for Halfpenny Green Flying Centre. If you look at their registration with the CAA it shows as Jetstream Executive Travel (Leasing) Ltd with Halfpenny Green Flying Center as a trading name.
The obvious question is why another change of name to Westbeach aviation? A look on The Companies house website shows the date of incorporation of Halfpenny Green Flying Center Ltd as 26/08/2011 and Westbeach Aviation Ltd as 28/06/2011 (before the other company) Its hard to understand why that is the case? Why pay for all of the branding (letterheads, paperwork, website) to be done twice in such a short period of time?
A further search on Google finds the name of the CEO on his self promotion webpage. A quick check of his directorships shows him to have been a director of 37 companies, some of which are Aviation / Flying school related, including Flight Acadamy (Wolverhampton) ltd - where did that school go?
A google search gives a link to:
http://www.pprune.org/professional-p...erhampton.html
In view of these few facts I think Pprune towers advice is sage advice and caution would be sensible.
Whilst checking the register of directorships held by the CEO I could not help but wonder if this was all just a very wierd and unfortunate coincidence. However - based on the directorships it would make me very cautious if I wanted to purchase something from the company. It seems that a lot of effort has gone into creating a number of similar trade companies, rather than concentrating on making one company a sustained business.
Jabber Mir - United Kingdom | LinkedIn
Jabber Iqbal Mir - free company director check. Companies House Information
Jabber Iqbal Mir - free company director check. Companies House Information
Jabber Mir - free company director check. Companies House Information