Spain: Lost in training school!

[BClouds]

Good morning to all!

So I wish to start flight training (ATPL integrated) in Spain.
However, i do not know anything about spain.

There are few schools that seem great for training, please help me in choosing the right one:

AIRMED
http://www.airmed.es

TOP FLY
http://www.topfly.com


Very good day to all!

[ferny300]

is that fixed wing? in that case don't know much but i know there is one in Jerez very famous and with... how do you call it... work bag? or something, aerlingus and some other airlines takes pilots from them, check in google by flight trainning school jerez.

good luck.;)

[girolat_b]

Airmed man , airmed is the good one. Believe me. more than 1.500.000 € lost in the last 3 years as proved from their last financial balance, multiple engine failures, resulting in incidents and they have to pray a lot otherwise there was a victim without any doubt and a promise of just 2 years studing with them . But be careful to don't let them write a MAGIC word in your contract: "Mas o menos ".

Do you know the meaning of "Mas o menos" ? No?

It means that may be they will let you finish in about 2 years but guess in 99.5 % of the case what's the final result of that "More or Less" : from 4 moths to 10 months of delay. If you are lucky you will get a 4 otherwise enjoy the America's Cup!!! A by the way even if they don't write the Magic word pray a lot because just around 6 people ended their course in about 2 years as promised. It's a Great Score!!! :ok:

So don't be silly and book your place in the next course... :uhoh: And Hurry up because they receive students from all around the world :8!!! Ja,ja,ja even from the South Pole and it was a pinguing I saw him one year ago ... :}

http://www.fomento.es/NR/rdonlyres/6...2002_032_A.PDF (http://www.fomento.es/NR/rdonlyres/675B4482-D67D-40C8-8F8B-0CB5155F0CB0/8151/2002_032_A.PDF)http://www.fomento.es/NR/rdonlyres/7...2002_063_A.PDF (http://www.fomento.es/NR/rdonlyres/7433B1C1-57F5-44F8-ACFB-0C245ADE2485/8082/2002_063_A.PDF)

http://www.fomento.es/NR/rdonlyres/4...003_007_IN.pdf (http://www.fomento.es/NR/rdonlyres/43E3C84E-643A-4168-A443-4F5A680553DD/8592/2003_007_IN.pdf)

http://www.fomento.es/MFOM/LANG_CAST...5/061_2005.htm (http://www.fomento.es/MFOM/LANG_CASTELLANO/DIRECCIONES_GENERALES/ORGANOS_COLEGIADOS/CIAIAC/INVESTIGACION/2005/061_2005.htm)

http://www.fomento.es/NR/rdonlyres/9...005_065_IN.pdf


Good Luck !!!

[BClouds]

Any more feedback?

[fiftypercentn1]

hi man, jerez is good. extremely expensive but very good.

[LEVC]

Airmed provided training of a reasonable quality for little money a few years back, it's not the case anymore, stay away from them, or they'll make your life miserable, i am a former airmed student and i know what goes on in there first hand.

i know little about topfly,but there are other schools in spain, i guess Jerez does not match your budget (very good but very expensive too).
Aeromadrid and Adventia are quite good for the price you pay and all the former students i have talked too were happy with the course in both cases.

Check also Evora FTO, in Portugal, i've heard they are good too, a friend of mine is working for them as instructor and tells me they are a very profesional outfit, comparable to the Jerez FTO , apparently they also train cadets for flag companies around europe as does Jerez FTO
All the previous info is about Integrated courses, if you want to go modular check Aerofan in Madrid, they have very good prices and will treat you well.
Good luck
PS- if you can read spanish check www.pilotosdeiberia.com and www.extracrew.com, check their forums, lots of posts about spanish flight schools and other stuff

[despegue]

Hi LEVC! Are you in Easy?...

Airmed used to be the Flight Academy with some of the best instructors in Spain, even Europe. (ground and flight). It was a quality school for a quite low price compared with some Northern European academies.
HOWEVER...

This is not the case anymore, and Airmed is simply a school that wants your money but does not give you the expected quality in return.

Jerez is a good choice, together with Adventia (Salamanca) and Aeromadrid in ... Madrid.

Like I said, in 2001, 2002 Airmed was the best. We didn't realise it at the time, but our training then was top-notch, thanks to people like Jorge Tamayo, Colin , Tiziano ( you are not forgotten my friend),most FI's like Angel Salvador, Nacho Madrigal etc. etc.
None of them are there anymore, replaced by inexperienced people with no idea about the airline industry.

Learning basic IFR on an A320 sim (well, its NOT an A320, but an A3Microsoft FS)???!!!! My god! I am a TRI on B737 and would never do IFR training on a jet. Just not suited for it.

[ICING AOA]

training then was top-notch, thanks to people like Jorge Tamayo, Colin , Tiziano ( you are not forgotten my friend),most FI's like Angel Salvador, Nacho Madrigal etc. etc.


Hi despegue !

The ATC, Perf and Mass & Balance teacher was a good one as well :} :ok:


Regards.

[LEVC]

Check your PM's Despegue

LEVC

[BClouds]

So you're saying i should stay away from airmed.

I've just received a mail from them:

"We are Member of EAAPS. Association that groups the best and most important Aviation Schools in Europe (Lufthansa Flight Training, Oxford Aviation Training, BAE, among others), and we are also members of the AEFA(Agrupación de Escuelas de Formación Aeronáutica)


With our “Integrated Course ATPL” (Airline Transport Pilot Licence)”, our students will obtain just in 14 months, the highest official FTO qualification in the aeronautical field. This allows one to fly for hire or reward in any European (JAA) country."

I mean from what they are saying the academy sure seems good
Although i am wandering how it could all be done in 14 months only..all if not most of the flight academies offering ATPL integrated have at least 17 months!

Anyway, i guess i'll just visit and see myself.
Adventia looks great too..i am lost :{

[BClouds]

Message i have just received from aerodynamics malaga:

"Thank you very much for your e-mail and your interest in our flight school.
I am sorry , but we do not offer at the moment the course ATPL integrated in
English language.
We do the training in Spanish-"


Well, Adios then. :)

[girolat_b]

What were you expecting ? It's just a business for them. They just don't care about you and your needs, they just care about themselves.

Of course they don't show this feeling to you. What they sent is just MARKETING :oh:.

You are just a piece of paper with a Wallet from where they can take money.

Cheers.

P.S. by the way if you live in California why do you come here in Europe ?
Are you sure you are doing something correct? Stay in USA that it's the most advanced aeronautical country in the world. Even Beckam went to California, do you really want to waste your time in Valencia which is a city full of persons capable just to light fireworks and make noise ? :bored:

[BClouds]

Yeah i live in Calif, but i decided to train in Europe.
I do not want to fly in the US, plus do not want to spend my time converting licenses.

I prefer Europe for flying.

Finally, well i was expecting them to teach english..but they don't.
Anyway i was not really interested in aerodynamics, i just asked for infos.

Good day

BeautifulClouds

[Lightheart]

I've trained in California, Spain and UK. Believe me the flying I enjoyed the most was in USA.

Don't disappreciate what you have over there. The airspace is for everyone, whereas in Europe it's primarily for commercial/military use.

GA in Europe sucks compared to GA in USA.

[BClouds]

Gestair just answered me..the training is in spanish and portuguese, but no english :confused:


So that leaves me, in spain, between topfly and adventia..any feedback about these 2?

[Lightheart]

Have you tried Aerofan in Madrid (Cuatro Vientos airport)?

[BClouds]

Aerofan only offers ATPL modular course. I am looking for integrated ATPL training.

[LEVC]

I am from Valencia and sure i know how to light up fireworks, among other things, i take it you can't say as much of you.:=

Next time you want to talk crap about Airmed ( deserved, i agree) make sure you don't do the same with the rest of people from Valencia, the use of stereotypes you are making can be also used against you wherever you come from.

[BClouds]

Can anyone please tell me more about aeromadrid?

[papazulu]

Are you sure you are doing something correct? Stay in USA that it's the most advanced aeronautical country in the world. Even Beckam went to California, do you really want to waste your time in Valencia which is a city full of persons capable just to light fireworks and make noise ?

They also enjoy a great climate (as good as CA) and sparkling lifestyle. No mention of the cute faces around Barrio del Carmen...:E

Training-wise...Vox populi, vox Dei. Hence Airmed must be fairly doggy and judging from the amount of accidents they had I would say that maintenance sucks. Not a good start...

Regarding CA and US in general, I agree that the price-to-fun ratio you have over there is worth your money. Just be carefull on picking up the right school. Since I have been instructing in a school that had facilities in FL and trained under JAA syllabus I must say that conversion is an expensive process but it is still possible. On the other hand CPL training in Spain (if carried out by an all-spanish facility might be tricky due to the language barrier: you have already experienced with the feedback from some sales depts.

You best option would be the Brits in Jerez or the folks in Evora, but best of all would be to go there, talk to present and former students as well as you should do if you consider staying in US.

Suerte

PZ :ok:

[LEVC]

Didn't realize you are living in the USA, there are schools over there where you can get both FAA and JAA licences at american prices, what you get is a JAA UK issued licence, i remember seing it advertised in uk PILOT magazine.

If it is still going on it would be your best option

LEVC



PZ check your PM!!!!

[despegue]

Aeromadrid gives you the biggest Flight Academy of South Europe with some magnificent equipment, especially the Simulators.
Training wise, I believe that the groundschool is very good, but have heard mixed reports from flight-training. Again, like with so many schools, including Jerez by the way, most instructors have never flown an airliner...

Flight training is so important people. Learning the basics like attitude-power, power-speed, inflight-emergencies, airmanship and critical/analythical thinking and not to forget discipline are a prequisite to enter the airlines.
Too many schools don't teach their cadets to "feel" the aircraft anymore. A pity.

When I did my training, during the good Airmed days, my IFR instructor blinded almost all instruments and windows. I had to fly feeling and hearing the aircraft. And that is something that a lot of instructors nowadays can't.