Airmed or Aeromadrid?

[thkib]

Hey,

I am going to start my Intergrated ATPL this autumn. I have been looking at all avail schools in Europe, and I am now down to Aeromadrid and Airmed. Do any know the status presence at these schools, and how is it possible to become a licienced commercial pilot in 14 months(Course duration at Airmed)? What is the passing procentege at these schools?

I know it's many question in one thread, but hope I can get som answers.

[heathrow hawk]

Within Spain there are alot of unemployed pilots including old BAE system trained guys, some work at Aerodynamics-Malaga as instructors, don't limit your chances of employment at the beginning. Try the structured modular route it might save you thousands. BCT/Aerodynamics and PGT groundschool do a structured modular training program for £32500 with PPL, 105 hrs PIC U.K/SPAIN, Full time PGT ATPL groundschool 6 months, CPL 15 hrs U.K and 65 HR ME/IR in Spain, and I know of two people who have already gone onto employment with a major directly on completion. try these websites www.pilotgroundtraining.com www.bctair.com www.aerodynamics-malaga.com

[Orvil]

My advice,

Is choose the school that you feel comfortable with.
Don´t pick a school just on price alone.

I have gone through the Modular route because of work commitments. However, the big advantage over Intergrated IMHO, is that you can change schools for the various parts. If you commit yourself to Intergrated your stuck at that school, you will find it very difficult to change. This is due to the syllabus (see Lasar ? I think that´s the name).
On a intergrated you don´t actually get a PPL but a straight CPL
and depending on the school different parts are started at different times. ie, Ground School first, and then flying or vice versa.

I did my PPL at PFT at Oxford, Ground with GTS in B´mouth, Hours/IMC/Night Britannia Florida.

I´m actually at BCT/Aerodynamics for the ME/IR/CPL.

I´m very happy at Aerodynamic´s very relaxed but they make you work hard. Malaga Airport is full IFR so no flying to get to IFR conditions. Great flying similar to the the UK and it does rain too. It can get a bit bumpy. Good night life lot´s of things to do. everybody speaks English inc ATC/Instructors/Barmaids.
Big advantage over USA, you can go home for a couple of days and for about 70 quid.


The Accomodation side was really disorganised but they have sorted this out in the last few weeks.
All in all, can´t recommend them enough.
I´d visit loads of schools first before committing, including the ones in Spain.
Anyway, there´s my two penny´s worth.

Orvil
I wish I could fly

[thkib]

Thanks for the info gyes. Most of the intergrated schools I have checked out have a duration period of 14 months. How intense are these schools, is it schools 7 days a week from you start to you finnish?

[judewatt]

Check your PM's
J

[heathrow hawk]

You fat little blighter I bet your nose is red again, can that Scot fly or is he stuck on the Seville NDB? Missing Club Selecta already Say hello to Elizabeth the big lipped night fighter of club lady. ahaha meeeeeemmmories

[GRANTS]

Hi Mate,

Aeromadrid looks like a great place, I have been there.
Airmed is in a very bad condition at the moment:
lost few good instructors recently, loosing the head of training...
not the best place to be at the moment...

[GRANTS]

you can bring any financial report you want, I would still recommend to go to a more stable establishment.
that´s is my opinion and my opinion only.

[Brock Landers]

The CFI from Airmed has just translated to OATs and several instructors have also moved to FTE - your school Grants, or not?

Hence it would appear the quality of instruction is on par for both the aforementioned establishments.

In light of your situation, it would explain the rather unsupported nature of your comments.

[GRANTS]

sorry if I hurt your feelings, mate.
take it easy...

[Brock Landers]

Why is Airmed unstable? Please embellish - I would love to know. Critiscism, or indeed any advice, should be based on fact.

[GRANTS]

Lets say I have done a lot of research before attending my course.
when I say a lot I mean that I visited 5 places in 3 different countries, as well as questioning as many people as I could, including former Airmed students, people in the spanish aviation industry and people who where involved with this place one way or another.
although some of them still tried to show some loyalty, their advice was my advice.
by the way, the fact that good instructors are leaving the place doesn´t add any respect to the establishment...

I am sure that there are advantages, which the price is the biggest of them.
what matters is that you are happy.

all I did was telling the bloke what I found.

cheers!

[despegue]

Airmed:

I did my Integrated at Airmed, and was very happy with the overall quality.
Some ground Instructors, like A. Smith, Colin, J. Tamayo and Tiziano were among the best in the industry (and I do know some schools, all specialised in their field of teaching. For example, mr. Tamayo is one of thelatin-worlds most highly regarded meteorologists.

The Flight-Instruction was also very good, once you were IN the aircraft. Bad planning did spoil this operation badly though, partly due to management decisions.
However, my instructors were up to par with the best anywhere.
The current CFI, who thought me the principles of both VFR and IFR recently moved to OATS ( hope you are fine Lamberto!), twin training was done by a guy with 3000h experience on Seneca and is now the resident JAA examiner. Very relaxed, yet doing the business. Also, the school is in the progress of replacing the whole fleet with brand-new aircraft, including Seneca V.

The MCC course can be regarded as almost a type-rating on the A320, shame that the sim. is letting this part down... nearly all instructore are senior Iberia people.

The major drawback with Airmed is its management, which is totally incapable of running an FTO. They have absolutely no clue and put earnings far above quality of life for both students as employees.

Aeromadrid:

I did not go to the largest Spanish FTO myself, but have several friends flying there as instructor (all ex. Airmed by the way). All of them agree: a great place to do your training.

Mayor drawback is the fact that Quatro-Vientos does not have IFR capabilities and that it is extremely busy.

Management does seem to understand there what is important in aviation, and it shows.
Try to have Sarah or Willem as a flight-instructor...


FTE:

Just got two new ex. Airmed Ground-instructors. They are the best, although Scottish:E
bit expensive though... but quality is guaranteed.


My personal choice, at THIS moment would be Aeromadrid, followed by FTE and then Airmed.
Anyway, all three will be better than a choice in cold Western Europe...

Hope this helped,

Despegue
FO B737 Islandsflug/ AAI


ps. Alan, you must teach this poor Belgian how to drink a whisky mate, based now in EDI!

Brock, I think we went out sometimes in VLC...?

[Suntour]

Airmed:

We have so far established the following from current students and alumni:

1. There are problems with the management of the school.

2. Respected instructors - both flying and ground have recently left and are now gainfully employed with OATS or FTE, and have not been externally replaced.

3. The MCC is on an Airbus A320 but despite the best efforts of the highly qualified Iberia instructors there are problems with the equipment.

4. The flying programme, when/if published, is an act of fiction.

(5. Flying in the VLC area offers a good training environment.) -this observation does not reflect on the internal working of the school.

As GRANTS wrote:
"I would still recommend to go to a more stable establishment."

Given the above I might be inclined to agree........

Happy touring.....

[despegue]

Thanx M80!
But I'm already flying the beast for more than a year...

Is Capitan Lamberto Sanz still around or has he already moved to the UK? Is Macu taking over? ps. Are you one of the 2 Dutch guys??...

[thkib]

Thank you for all the great responses gents, seems like airmed is having a hard time, and hopefully they will understand that when people wount sign up after have done the research, and maybe that will help them back on their feets. Aeromadrid seems good, but after carefully reading through both Jerez and Aeromadrid's home pages I am so far leaning over to Jeres for my Integrated...

/thkib

[Isaidleft]

I was a student at airmed and I have to say it DOES have its problems. That said this is the same for EVERY FTO!

I found the instructors to be excellent, notably Javi, Nacho, Alvaro, Ivan and Lamberto. As a non native english speaker I had no issues with the language, nor did the native speakers i knew.

The flying was excellent, challenging but fun. Flying ILS into Mahon with A320 behind is nice feeling. Mountains provide nice scenery and challenging flying. Valencia Airport is generally very good for training with IFR and traffic etc, shame about ATC there thopugh! They seem ti make a few strange decisions.

Aircraft are OK, old but functional (sometimes!). Programme does not run smoothly all the time but that just shows flexibility to work on the whole student body. 14 months, sceptical. Management can be a pain in the rear, they dont all speak English but there is always somebody who does, notably Azucena.

MCC...remember is MCC not type rating FNPT2 is fine for MCC. Not best sim but gets the job done.

All in all I enjoyed my time there, even if i didnt realise how much until afterwards. Has its problems like all schools, have heard bad things about OAT, Cabair and Jerez too! None are perfect.

Training standard is excellent, comparable to all others, even those that trade on historical reputation!

Would I go there now? No. Simply because the reality of this damn stupid industry is arrogance and contacts. For this Oxford is the best. If I could have Airmed course with OAT job assistance and reputation then I would but that is impossible. Some companies (especially over in the UK) will ONLY take from OAT. Sad but true, hopefully this stupid process will stop.

Aeromadrid.....never been there but Ignacio Cabrera is a nice and competent guy so should be ok!