CPL Flying Training at Lilydale...your experiences??

[Gearupandorrf]

Hi Guys,

Currently trying to finish off my CPL Flying at one of the bigger Scools at MB, and am getting disillusioned with Instructor/ Aircraft availability.

Lilydale are closer to me, and prices seem to be very reasonable.

I'd love to hear from anyone who's trained at YLIL- what was the quality of Instruction like?? I'm happy to stay at MB and pay the premium for the standard of Instruction I've been getting- as long as I can actually fly when I need to.

If the quality is good at Lilydale, it's a no- brainer for me.

Cheers,
Gearup.

[PlankBlender]

Mate if you're closer to LIL anyway, it's seems like a no-brainer in any case.. much more economical, less traffic, and they're following the same syllabus as everyone else..

Go up there and meet the guys, I've been in and out of there a couple of time and they seemed very approachable and knowledgeable. Grab an instructor and do a flight and see if you gel with them. You'll certainly learn a thing or two about grass strips you wouldn't learn at MB, and if you're looking at a twin rating, they've got a beaut TravelAir there that the owner (who's a great guy BTW :}) rents out for training..

[flog]

Ask for Ed.

[Gearupandorrf]

Thanks for your replies guys.

I'm going to head up tomorrow and have a chat with the CFI, and get a feel for the place. Maybe even do a couple of Circuits to see how it goes.
And I'll make sure that I ask for Ed!

It would be nice turning for a flight without having spent an hour battling traffic on the Roads. Plus, the hourly rates mean that I'll be able to do a NVFR post CPL for the same price that I was budgeting for the CPL only at MB.

Cheers,
Gearup.

[kevineggsandbacon]

Hey gearup, Im currently at the end of my CPL training at Ylil and just about to sit the flight test. Ive done all my training from scratch at lil so i haven't had any real experiences with other flying schools. But I can happily say that i haven't had any problems during my training, the people down there are great and are always willing to help, the only thing that i can think of that may be a problem is their commercial training plane is a bonanza and is a bit costly. Defiantly head down and have a chat to either Matt or Ed.
By the way i always thought you either needed a NVFR rating for CPL license or an instrument rating? so you will have to do this "pre" CPL... i think.

[VH-XXX]

Why is it that those that post to say how good certain flying schools are always have <5 posts? hmmmmm.........:=

[AirBumps]

People at YLIL are lovely. Aeroplanes at YLIL are terrible.

[PlankBlender]

Hey AirBumps, not that I've got any connection with the YLIL folks other than my acquaintance of said TravelAir owner (whose aeroplane is in excellent condition, by the way, anyone who can train in that can consider themselves lucky!), or that I have a lot of time for owners who do minimal maintenance on their machines, but I'd be interested to know how the training machines in YLIL are so much worse than the other clapped out 150's, 170's, Tomahawks and Warriors that one can find at similar prices around the country..

And if you would, please, compare like for like, I know MFS and GFS have brand spanking new glass cockpit machines, but then look at the hourly rate for those :eek:

[Cloud Basher]

kevinegssandbacon,
The CPL is purely VFR, no requirement for NVFR or CIR. NVFR is required for the Instructor Rating.

Cheers
CB

[tmpffisch]

Adding to what Cloud Basher, the only requirement for CPL is a CSU endorsement.

[PlankBlender]

Martin, fair enough, I probably would look back on the usual training aeroplanes with a bit of disdain if I were now flying the flash new machines at MFS. However, as I said, comparing apples to apples I'd be interested to know why the ones at YLIL are so much worse.. given their rates would be lower than MB due to the location and setup of the club, I'd be surprised if their machines are much worse than average..

Hey AirBumps, depending on how long you've been with MFS you might have flown the older (silver grey) Archer that used to be online there, I now call that mine and a few 10 grand later it now has a Garmin 530, two VOR/GS/markers, Stormscope, digital ADF, the autopilot and everything else on board works (bar the sun visors :} that's next on the list) and it still flies like it's just come out of the factory. Once the paint job is done and it's got a bit more TLC it'll be as nice (in some ways nicer, and with more character anyway) as the late model ones you're bashing bugs in now :ok:

Cloud Basher, almost, instructors in Oz need either a NVFR or a current CIR to instruct. Most opt for the NVFR as it is perpetual (doesn't expire, recency is not relevant for instructing unless of course you want to fly or instruct at night..), whereas the CIR of course must be current (again no need for recency for non-IFR instruction) so you can instruct..

[Rich-Fine-Green]

Never trained at YLIL but landed there several times.

They operators were welcoming, the school looked small but professional, the aircraft looked old but in good nick. - No worse than most at YMMB.

At least one 'modern' Archer but pre-glass cockpit.

Close to MB for GAAP flying, Close to EN for ILS.

Looked to me as an ideal location to learn to fly.

[CirrusSR22T]

Just look out for the Cat "Prop Strike" , his ghost has haunted a few at YLIL.:eek:

I haven't been there for over 3 years now but they were always were helpfull, and would bend over backwards to please.

Great social scene if you want to do flyaways etc, JM and NM are always looking to improve the overall experience for students. lots of female pilots out there also (improves the already stunning scenery :})

[PlankBlender]

Hey Martin, no worries, was being a bit slow :O

Cirrus, interesting observation re. the sheilas, I always wondered why they were only ever represented to around 5% at MB.

Anyone know what their chosen hang is out around BN? Just asking for a friend of course :}:E:cool:;):O

[AirBumps]

Hey guys,

I've never flown or trained with MFS, my observations about the quality of Lilydale A/C are from having trained and flown from the flying school out there.

While there are old and worn out A/C at every airfield Australia wide, with the exception of the Archer III, VHRCR, the Warriors and Archer II at YLIL are not, in my opinion, anywhere near the standard of aeroplane one can get at MB. Having said that, the rates are cheaper at Lilydale.

I guess it all comes down to personal preference. I would rather pay a few extra $$$ and fly an A/C that is more comfortable, more reliable and performs better than save a few $$$ and fly something that isn't.

To the OP, if you can complete your CPL in the Archer III which does perform quite well, go to YLIL.

As I said, the people out there are first rate :ok:

Take care,
AB