CMC Flying School-Kenya

[Ndege-5Y]

I am planning on taking an intergrated CPL with ME/IR in Kenya's CMC Flying school. The course has 200hrs. Am told i will need to add 50hrs more for full lincence from KCAA. Anyone with experience of the CMC Flying School in Kenya? How is the school compared to Kenya School, 99 etc. How long does there Intergrated course take? did you trusted there fleet and instructors? how many flight hours were you getting a day? Kindly share more of your experience or knowledge i will appreciate.Thnxs

[rigs]

hi
I know an instructor in cmc who is a friend, p.m for more info.

[Ndege-5Y]

Shed some more light on this school if you have. I will appreciate. More on how long it takes, flight hrs available per day, quality of training etc

[AirTanzania]

hi there.
i saw your posting n thought may be i could suggest something.

i did my ppl at cmc flying then moved to canada to do cpl just sometime back. i would HIGHLY suggest if you have the budget then go to canada (it might turn out to be 10-15k dollars extra) but it is worth it.

or else you may even try south africa.

the weather was okay okay in nbo but the standards and quality of training sucks. and i remember while doing ppl in nbo and guys used to say those who trained in kenya were the best pilots!. i cant believe everyone believed that and when i really got to canada i realized how bad it was in nbo. NO wonder even KQ doesnt prefer and infact discourages locally trained (kenya trained) pilots.

all in all i would not want to train at cmc nor the other kenya school or 99.

the canadian or south african license are highly regarded world over. talk to any1 who has trained there and they will tell ya.

good luck

[Nightfire]

Yeah, I confirm that previous post.

The training standards are arguable, but will do nothing more than get you through the exams. You'd never pass any major airline's interview with that background, however.
The technical equipment and the school's facilities at CMC, KSA and 99s are absolutely below any modern standard. Just look at their classrooms and their "simulators".
Old junk-airplanes, as well as the ever corrupt and inefficient KCAA, won't help either. Totally ridiculous.

If you already have a job offer in Nairobi (perhaps through some connections of your family), simply pay your way through the KCAA (they won't do anything without kitu kidogo). In this case you probably only need to get the papers and some basic training.
If you have no connections, you'll never find a job in Kenya anyway.
Forget KQ, if that's what you're thinking about.

But if you want to be a professional pilot, then don't start by being cheap (which won't save you any money in the long run anyway). Go abroad, to a proper flight academy, and get some professional training.

It will be expensive, and you will need a lot of energy.

By the way, why don't you go and visit a few places, for example the Aero Club of East Africa, Bosky's, or the Seaton's hangar at Wilson Airport. See if anybody has some time to chat with you, and get their advice.

Good luck!

[Ndege-5Y]

Thanks alot. AirTanzania and Nightfire for your advise. Its true i have realised that even KQ avoid Kenyan trained pilots. If as Nightfire is saying that even simulaors are not modern, then the option is to try in SA or Canada. I have started searching for flight school in Canada and i have narrowed to three ( Harv air, Mocton flight and Langley) but would appreciate if you can let me knw the one you attend and the experience. Am also considering South Africas 43rd and Progress Should it turn a nightmare gettin the Canada student visa. Thanks alot guyz

[romeo2die4]

hi i trained in canada at harv's air and the training is very good when i did my conversion in kenya i could see how bad those pilots trained in kenya were they could not even do an ils. talk to adam at harv's he will help you out. any more info just pm

[congoman]

Flight Training College - George Garden Route South Africa (http://www.flighttraining.co.za)
If you can, speak to Habil Kadida at KQ. B777 F/O about to get his command on B737-8. Did his training in SA at FTC in 2002/3.
Lots of good flight schools in SA.

[B777Heavy]

QUOTE: If you can, speak to Habil Kadida at KQ. B777 F/O about to get his command on B737-8. Did his training in SA at FTC in 2002/3.
Lots of good flight schools in SA.

Hehe Im sure Habil will not appreciate his name being on a public forum in his manner..LOOL

I do agree with the rest quality of Flight Training in Kenya...is not very good...

[Foxcotte]

Ndege

I hope you've taken the advice already given but in case it helps make a final decision here's another view... I'm kind of on the periphery of pilot hiring at Wilson, and we get literally dozens of applications each week from people being churned out by the various flying schools at Wilson. All the candidates are just on the commercial limit of 250 hours - and all have impressive certificates for ratings & standards far above what their 250 hour experience would ever support - such as gas turbine/multi-engine/performance A etc.

Most companies at the starter end of the pilot market would really rather see someone who has genuinely done some serious experience - even if it is only at PPL level. Rather than these production line pilots who have 250 hours of hand-held training and with no single pilot, out the in bush, real-time "having to-make-my-own-decision" type of experience.

Experience shows that most of the pilots being produced lack actual real time experience, knowledge and basic understanding of aviation/aeronautics etc. Being pushed through a regimented training system that only cares about smart shiny uniforms, student fees and numbers does not produce a proper, safe, well-trained pilot. Less paperwork, more experience and more common-sense would be far better.

The only way to get real experience of flying in the real world is to do your training out of this small corner of the world. Learn proper radio calls (instead of the local variations), experience high pressure ATC environments such as in Class B airspace, fly parallel approaches to a 737 or Citation into an airport with more than one ILS, learn what real weather can do to a flight and most of all get proper, professional experience beyond this region. It will make you a far better pilot in the long run, will keep you safe, make you more employable, and be much, much more fun.

Good luck:ok:

[romeo2die4]

great post foxcotte and good advise, i was there with 200 hours in wilson looking for a job lucky enough got a job but now i realize how much i did not know and experience is the best teacher, even now im still learning will never stop and that is the attitude you need to have as a co-pilot. happy landings

[Robert kenney]

Hey Night fire,
This place sounds like a school I once worked for in Australia :O
I will choose not to name them. At least not publicly. Ok I will they were called :mad:

But on a serious note however, What would the seen there be like for an Aussie ATPL Multi-engine IFR instructor over there?
I went over ther and fell in love with the place and I would love to go back. I would look forward to sipping on a Java house coffee and even trying to walk up Mt Kenya agian (with out dying :eek:).

[lady flyer]

Hey guys,im new at this...also a beginner in this industry should i say and i found ur posts on avaition training in kenya very interesting.
I myself have just finished with grounds and passed my exams now waiting to do my flying training but the system seems to be so slow...ive been sitting without anything to do for a while now and my flight training institution seems not to be bothered in trying to help me out...apparently i cant go out of town where they recently moved their training grounds to because there's no living arrangements for women...im getting frustrated honestly,would any of u guys have advise for me on a next step???
Also is it possible to just go do my hours else where without having to go through the whole process of grounds and exams again!!!!
I wouldn't want to end up sitting for months on end without anything to do...:uhoh:

[Robert kenney]

Lady flyer,
Trust me I know how you feel. Slow system and flying schools not being bothered. It is the same here in Aus. I stated my lessons in 1985 and I still find myself waiting for regulators and operators alike to to things. I know it can be very :ugh::ugh: (I love these little face things)
My best advice to you is to stick with it. If you training institution isn't helping you (unless they are the only place in town) you are not forced to train with them and if they don't realise that you are the one paying their wages - look for some one who will help you. And when that day does come when the examiner congratulates you for passing your flight test it is all worth it. I remember the day I got mine and it was the proudest day of my life.
And then when I stared working a it dawned on me that I was getting paid to fly, well that was one of those "wow" moments.
Stick with it it is worth it.
I am not sure what the scene is like over there but have you considered South Africa? I know it is a bit pricey but I have heard good things about the training there. And I have flown with some one who did train there and he was very good (that could have been a reflection on his previuos proffesional back ground mind you).
Keep going with it.

[Ndege-5Y]

Anyone with experience of the JAA modular programm offered by both Progress Flight Academy and 43rd Air school? Do they finish this course in the months they say. Ie 5months on 43rd and 4 months in progress? Does the program run well? how is experince of this program in general? How many hrs for a student in this program per day? Is this program with many students? If you are a student in 43rd or Progress and know how this program is run? kindly share the experience. Will be very much appreciated.

[Ndege-5Y]

I dont know whether you would mind training for hour building outside of Nairobi. My advise is that you contact Nairobi Flight training Ltd. They have a base in Nanyuki Airstrip. Its a very modern airstrip. They have a PA 22 Colt for hour building. There target is the white farmers in Nanyuki but most of times the aircraft is idle. There are more than 30 aircraft that uses that airstrip including Safarilink, AirKenya etc and most of the aircraft are serviced there. This would be very ideal for you. You can have many hrs a day as whether in Nanyuki is not bad. Try this. For more you PM me.

[Elpheba]

@Ndege

So which school did you decide on? Are you at CMC?

[Ndege-5Y]

@ Elpheba

Am not in CMC. We are exploring school in Port Elizabeth & Alfred in South Africa. Then am soon joining the one that will be most appropriate

[perceval]

Question for those of you wanting to do JAA licences in RSA : Have you considered actually doing them in Europe ? With the extension of the JAA member states , you have a lot more options at reasonnable prices . Poland , Czech Republic , Slovenia ...to name a few . They are quite agressively looking for students , definitely cheaper than the UK , Ireland ... and you get the same licence . (Oh , and the living cost in those countries is quite OK as well ) .
Most of the Bigger institutions will help with student visas ... and offer tuition / exams ...etc...in english .
Just a thought ....

[skyhawk_heavy]

I completed my ppl and cpl in cmc in under a year with 250hours hands on experience, bush flying(solo hours) instrument approaches, and having well passed all exams. Having studied in different countries before flying I have come to the conclusion you need to find the motivation within yourself and you need to apply yourself completely, no school can do that for you, wherever you end up starting your training, only you can make it happen. I've seen people coming from other countries complaining about the studies there, and I've seen kenyan trained pilots shining in other countries. Granted, the facilities may not be the very best, but they are adequate.
.............although if you are able to meet the costs abroad then I guess it's okay, because you'll have better facilities, but when you're in the air you will realize flying is flying when you get down to it. It's like a friend once told me that kenyan's who studied under trees in the 50's and 60's became the greatest economists and doctors the world over and the kids who they now send to harvard are becoming.........drunks.
.......on a more sober note, move around, talk to people, weigh your options and make a decision(I know a guy who has been THINKING about flying for about 5years now), and once you get started things will become clearer and you will make more informed choices as you go along, because flying is a never ending college degree and experience is your lecturer.

[Ndege-5Y]

skyhawk_heavy (http://www.pprune.org/members/343006-skyhawk_heavy)

Thanks for your comments. Surely not everyone can train abroad and not every one who train abroad have an automatic surelity for success in aviation. The main reason for Kenyan flying abroad i guess is the facilities and sometimes exposure to difference classes of of Airspaces. But i guess you can also make it in Kenya. Thanks Skyhawk.

[Rubanimkenya]

Hi guys! Just a quick note to say how grateful I am for all your contributions in this forum. Please keep posting and as a result, you'll be helping many others.
My dream is to fly as an airline pilot and still keeping it alive, until it becomes a reality. I'd like to return to Kenya and fly for KQ ( si you jua that kafeeling of rudi-ring nyumbani...LOL!).
Based on what I've heard and now read, KCAA poses a great challenge for pilots trying to get licensed in Kenya, but we have no choice. Can someone expound on this issue in the lines of what amounts are expected, is it just some guy you'll be giving the 'TKK'? or are they several? KQ, what's that I hear about you getting 'connez'(connections)???? I thought they jump for foreign trained pilots???How hard is it to get into KQ?
Anything you feel that can explain those issues better, please let's hear them!:):)

Asante sana!!!!

[Nightfire]

I thought they jump for foreign trained pilots???

Not true. In fact, the opposite - I've tried for a couple of years to get into KQ, despite command time on a 737 and heavy-jet experience, despite knowing about half a dozen of KQ-pilots. If you're not Kenyan, KALPA will prevent you from being hired. End of story.
I'm in the middle east now, so I no longer care about it. But I doubt things have changed during the past two or three years.


How hard is it to get into KQ?

Well, you're Kenyan, so you should know how it goes... know someone important who can get you in. Otherwise, no chance.

[Rubanimkenya]

Nightfire niaje?
Many thanks for your responses to my queries! It actually makes it seem like flying for KQ is just a dream no matter what. i.e hata hizo connections make it a bogus affair- aiiii haya mambo ya ufisadi jo!
Anyway, on a brighter note, can you please share your thoughts about flying in the Middle East, advantages na any disadvantages? You sound like you don't care for flying for KQ anymore as they have highly ignored you and your wealth of credentials( their loss), so is it better to fly for the M/Eastern airlines? And importantly, do they require any knowledge of Arabic? What would make you leave your currnt job for KQ, if anything????
Pole for the invasion, but thanks for the advice!

Asante!:ok: