SAS Flight Academy

[George_08]

Hei til Dere!

I have decided that I want to be a pilot as career choice, and have decided that I would like to do my ATPL course in Scandinavia.

I have looked at two so far: One being NEAR in Aalesund, Norway, or the SAS flight academy.
I would like to do the SAS one, but a) is it completely necessary to be fluent in at least one Scandinavian language (my Norwegian is acceptable, but with a Bergen accent). B) What is the cost of it all, c) What is the reputation, and d) How much does it all cost?

Tusen takk!!

[Crossunder]

First of all - by SAS Flight Academy, do you mean the Norwegian Aviation College? SAS Flight Academy in Stockholm or Oslo is just a TRTO.
As for which is the better school - please let us not have that discussion again. It all really depends upon the person taking the course. If you have the right attitudes and am willing to work hard, you could do this anywhere, at any school.
As for NAC; no, you don't have to speak a single word of Norwegian/Swedish/Danish, except "Hvor i helvete har jeg havnet nå?" and "En stor øl takk". They've had people from non-Scandi countries who got along just fine on english alone :) (I actually had a class mate of mine who also spoke kinda poor norwegian, with a Bergen-ish accent, and he turned out just fine! :p He also reads this forum, so now I'm in trouble...;) )
The cost varies a bit, I guess. You should give them both a call, and if you want to know first-hand about the ATPL-courses, you should visit the NAC (http://pilotsamfunnet.no/phpBB2/index.php) student forum, or NEAR (http://www.nearas.no/default.asp?menu=56) info page on modular ATPL (couldn't find any forum).
However, since NAC is currently in the process of starting a joint programme with the University of Tromsø, I don't know if they will start any courses this summer. So perhaps NEAR is your only choice... But if you wait it out until this is all sorted out, you'd probably end up saving quite a few Kroners by choosing NAC, since the Norwegian Government will fund part of the education. You would also get an official title/degree (Bachelor, I think), and have a more thorough and solid background in case you should ever want to pursue a career as admin. pilot (Chief pilot, CFI, CGI, HT etc...). You would also have something to lean on in case of a so-called Loss-of-license as opposed to the rest of us, who would have nothing to show except an out-dated ATPL and a "russelue"...

[George_08]

With regards to the SAS flight academy, I mean the one that is based at Arlanda airport in Sweden - Does anyone know anymore about this one?

Also, I am looking at the NEAR one in Aalesund - What is the reputation of this one??

Takker :)

[PropsAreForBoats]

Hello George.

As Crossunder mentioned, SAS Flight Academy at Arlanda is a TRTO, which only offers typerating training on commercial aircraft. They do not offer any type of CPL/ATPL-course.