Phoebus Apollo at Rand

[birdlady]

Hi All

Has anyone had any experience with Phoebus Apollo at Rand? Im thinking of going there for my Cpl and instructors rating. Any advice or comments?

Thanks
BL

[Whenwe]

Better check up first and find out what has happenned to the boss!
Does anyone know?
ww

[birdlady]

Have I missed something here. What on earth are you talking about??????



BL

[lostINgp]

Is highway Hennie still under the scorpions eye ( local police ), 100million fraud.
Are there aircraft airworthy, flew one 3 months ago piece of junk.
Do they still take your money and then you have to fight with them to get one hour?

word of advice stay as far away as possible, if anyone has something posotive to say im all ears.

remember, rumour network and bird lady you have been warned

[Whenwe]

Birdlady, we are all trying to give you some sound advice.
There are other good schools around, go else-where

[Rhodie]

Sheesh...!!

I know we all have good, bad and ugly experiences around..

A good friend sent his son to do his Ab Initio to Com at a flight school I and many others recommended, but at the end of the day paid 1/3 more than quoted in arbitary costs.. I hired planes from said school on many occassions, before a number of 'hidden' costs began to creep in - an 'all-in' rate suddenly began to exclude landing fees (even at the 'home' field..!), pax taxes, overnight fees (even when minimum hours had been flown) etc.

Excess insurance requirements suddenly increased, aircraft were double booked or suddenly in for MPI's and so on.

Whilst I know of the stories around Highway Hennie, I haven't heard of any broken hands..?, but will state that his instructors are all great guys AND professionals..! The planes are well maintained and the benefit of flying from Rand (training) are that it is a controlled field and the ATC guys are amongst the best in the business.

All said - there are the FTC's of the world, then there are the others.

My only other advise is to go in, ask questions, look around, get something in writing (it is, after all, your money), and weigh up the pro's and con's of each.

Good luck..!

R

[birdlady]

Thanks for all the replies. I wont be going there. Ive been bitten once before and dont plan to go through the heartache again. Thank goodness for pprune.

Rhodie that school you talk about is'nt by any chance at Lanseria??

[ANVAK]

Go and speak to CFA at Grand Central - I can reccommend them.

[kennyd]

birdlady
I can reccomend APTRAC, did my PPL there 2 years ago, needed to do it in 4 weeks and got it done in 4 weeks. Speak to Brett if you need any info, good planes and well serviced equipment.
KD

[Chuck Ellsworth]

What ever happened to the PBY we left there?

Chuck E.

[crazy medic]

Read small print if you have money left over in ur account and want it back they take 25% as a service fee!!!! I still have money left over which I hope to use one day.

Otherwise my instructor Anthony Brown was good, the plane however did pop seal on the CS unit other wise cool.

[Tzar]

Hi Birdy

Do you know if Vicky B left the planet. No new JAR schools opening up.

Tzar

[VivB]

Vicky B is still around... opened another school at Rand Airport, not too sure of the details though.

[birdlady]

Hi All

Vicky B Last I heard she was operating out of Rand at Global Flight Training. The company has since gone bankrupt. There was an auction for all their aeroplanes and apparently they went for a song. Any one got details of the prices???

[Deanw]

From another forum:

The bidding was as follows;

1968 Cessna C172I Skyhawk R100,000
1970 Cessna C172K Skyhawk R190,000
1974 Cessna C172M Skyhawk II R155,000
1978 Piper PA28-161 Worrior II R250,000
1981 Piper PA28-181 Archer II R35,000
1973 Piper PA28R-200 Arrow II R250,000
1969 Cessna C172K Skyhawk II R170,000
1977 Piper PA28-151 Worrior R145,000
1971 Cessna C310Q R340,000
1975 Piper PA34-200T Senecca II R375,000
2000 Piper PA28-181 Archer III R425,000
2001 Piper PA28-161 Worrior III R570,000
2001 Piper PA28-161 Worrior III R400,000
2001 Piper PA28-161 Worrior III R350,000
2001 Piper PA28-161 Worrior III R480,000
1971 Piper PA28-140D Cherokee R200,000
1968 Piper PA28R-180 Arrow R290,000
1974 Cessna 421B Golden Eagle R900,000
1973 Aero Commander 112 R410,000

I understand 4 of the bids were rejected...

1974 Cessna 421B Golden Eagle R900,000
1973 Aero Commander 112 R410,000
2000 Piper PA28-181 Archer III R425,000
1968 Piper PA28R-180 Arrow R290,000

[birdlady]

Thanks DeanW

Gosh Im sorry I missed that one. Were you actually at the aution??

[tongwe]

PPL - CPL

I have the names of a few schools that come highly recommended. I did promise the moderator once before to never advertise them as I was banned for a number of weeks due to "advertising". seems to be a bit of a free for all these days though. PM me and I will gladly assist if you have not come right.
Dean

[SpringbokDreamer]

Phoebus Apollo

Excellent Instructors(at least when I was there), Good planes, Great Airfield and ATC.

Just watch out for the management (Singular). Malignant Gnome
(Or so it has been said...... )

Full of promises but just after the cash.

LFC is the place to go i my opinion, I had a very enjoyable MECR there.

Enjoy!!