Fligh training in Ireland

[EI737]

hi all,
I am new here, great website you have going...
I am thinking about doing an integrated course here in Ireland and just wanted to know if anyone had any experience with the national flight centre in Dublin or Atlantic flight training in cork?? any info on selection assessments and general info and anyones experience would be great. i have done a search on this site and cant find any information apologies if i have missed it....
feel free to close thread if this has been already covered.

[EI737]

Any fellow Irish or otherwise have any experience with either of these schools surely some has been to either :confused:

[G-HALE]

First of all, selection assessments are a pile of crap. They are a marketing tool (They somehow make a school look good to the un-trained eye).

Really mate, there is only one question that needs to be asked here ! HAVE YOU GOT THE CASH? Can you afford the course?

If you can afford it, then go of and do it.

Atlantic in Cork is a great place to do your ATPL ground school & Instrument Rating.

Usher Aviation in Sligo Airport or Newcastle Airport is a great place to do the PPL.

DONT PAY UPFRONT FOR ANYTHING! NEVER MAN.

Treat this like learning to drive a car, ONLY pay per flying lesson. NEVER, EVER PAY €€€€€ UP front or you are only a big eijet if you do.

Very hard to get a job as a pilot.

Goodluck.

Cheaper to do JAA CPL in america!

p.s If a School tells you there is a pilot shortage or they predict a pilot shortage they are only talking pure :mad: to you and ONLY WANT YOUR MONEY.

[corsair]

The NFC only just started their integrated course. So the only people with experience of that will be the current students. So I doubt you'll get much information on that situation.

But they've trained many a pilot over the years, including me, (partially). I never had any real problems with them.

Don't know anything about Atlantic. Their integrated course is brand new too. But the have a good reputation.

If it's a choice between the two I would pick the one you're closest too.

You didn't mention PTC and I won't either.

Agree on the selection tests. They're a marketing tool for one thing and for another they're a way of eliminating complete duffers who would make the school look bad if they got onto an integrated course. I spoke to one senior Instructor at a school and asked him why they had introduced a pilot assessment. He told me it was just because the other schools, sorry 'Flying colleges' had them and they had to compete.

[EI737]

thanks for the replies

I echo both your thoughts on the pilot assessments i am sure there are many successful and competent pilots out there that have never taken these tests.

G-HALE i hear you on the no money up front and if a schools talk about pilot shortages etc.. i have been researching this for quite a while now its just coming near the point where i need to act. both mentioned schools seem to keep advertising and marking ploys to a low which seems good and both schools only take 8 students a year which is a big difference from our pilot processing factories across the water..(no disrespect to anyone who has trained across the water)

Corsair i understand both are new to the integrated scene but both schools seem to have what looks to be valid testimonial of students from the school who have gone on to fly with some of the well known airlines i suspect these would be modular students??? with out opening a can of worms on the whole modular v integrated debate can you say how they would of went on to gain their employment i.e would the have just got their necessary licenses and applied for vacancies or would the college themselves recommend them to airlines or open certain doors for them?? is it a case were airlines either in a direct or indirect way contact such schools and say give me your top 5 for interviews??

[Walk the line]

Suggest you visit NFC in Weston...they're Integrated Course has been on the go for longer and the school has been around for a LONG time...good reputation with the airlines too

[grafity]

Read the integrated versus modular tread.

Otherwise if your looking to throw away money pm me and I'll give you my bank details :ok:

[Cows getting bigger]

Go to England.

[AlexanderH]

From experience I cannot really rate the national flight centre in Dublin.

Their integrated stuff might be ok but I wasn't impressed with the modular training.

I actually ended up going to Iceland to do my IR conversion and was very impressed with the training, the cost of the training and the beautiful country itself.

[paulslats]

Hey all, anybody sat the assessments for Atlantic Flight Training in Cork for their integrated coarse??

[oneinthemirror]

EI737,

Any particular reason why you want to do it in Irl? Why not pick somewhere sunnier and cheaper?

[paulslats]

Has anyone done the intergrated coarse with Atlantic, would appreciate the info!

[paulslats]

Anyone even been to Atlantic Flight Training recently doing any of the coarses??
Thought Atlantic was more popular than this!

[Sovi3tskiy]

Hi, I have an associate who just did IR/ME/MCC in ATFA. He recommended it VERY highly, the guys seem to be genuine, helpful, none of them have a stuck up attitude at all, he said it was a great place to learn! Also the positive is that apparently all of the guys he flew with are airline pilots and do the training in spare time. So in all a very good :ok:

I'm playing with the idea of going there, but moving to Ireland im not sure if it will effects me in terms of licencing and so forth (im near london should prob pop down to CAA but never have the time).

But this is all perspective from one guy, one review, i havent seen it personally and also this place doesnt say much about AFTA too... So would be good to get some ideas and comments!

[pilotbear]

Atlantic in Cork have some recent additions to the staff that improve an already improving company, I would give them a serious look if I was training again.
Avoid like the plague, Clearsky or anything at Waterford. See the PTC florida ops closure thread so you are fully informed.

Good luck

[paulslats]

Anyone sat the integrated assessments for Atlantic Flight Training, Cork. Heading over to do the assessment in Feb, and would love to talk to someone who has been through it.

[mutt]

EI737..... try reading this thread as it paints a picture of the other side of the situation, especially for older people who may have family/housing commitments. It's worth reading all 7 pages.

http://www.pprune.org/professional-pilot-training-includes-ground-studies/505432-dreaming-flying-jet-specially-you-older-guys-1.html

[gordonquinn]

EI737, what is your current experience of flying? Do you have a PPL or are you working towards one?

You just seem very set on committing to it, do you have a backup plan in mind?

[rankace]

I have recently seen a picture on a magazine and it shows a certain (sneaky) Captain that was at PTC, now playing a big part at AFT. Any thing he say's, just think the opposite and that is more correct. Enjoy if u go there, they have nice planes up there.

[PigeonVoyageur]

I think you are mixing up AFT (Atlantic Flight Training in Coventry) and AFTA (Atlantic Flight Training Academy in Cork - which is mentionned in this thread). Unless I'm mistaken, the place where "the certain (sneaky) captain that was at PTC" is now is AFT in Coventry, and not AFTA in Cork.

[rankace]

Thanks for correcting my mistake PigeonVoyageur. Did not know about the one in Coventry and am also relieved that the Captain mentioned is not in Cork. What would they be thinking of taking that person on.:ok:
I still stand by what i said about the aircraft that AFTA have

[kazzer]

I would say go to a CAA school in the USA. There is no point in doing an integrated course in Ireland unless you live in Ireland might be good to study for written. Better off with CAA licence everything is cheaper and easier to renew if its CAA.

[carsonEGAD]

Apologies for being so late but have you tried the Ulster Flying Club in Newtownards, County Down, Northern Ireland or is that too far away?
It's got a good reputation and I'm doing my PPL there.

[talltree101]

Hi,

I live in Wexford and looking to do my PPL. Can anyone tell me where to do it in Cork? If so can you tell me a little about the School and instructors. Also If you know of anywhere around Wexford that would be great?

Thanks.

[VORTIME]

Certain school in Dublin invest nothing in their aircraft (ancient) with instructors who seem more interested in chain smoking & cursing. It's quiet far from professional US standards and they don't know the difference to change. If you pay for flying, demand service or walk.

[alphaLaura]

Hi talltree101 - if you are from Wexford, I strongly recommend Waterford Aero Club for the PPL (and night rating + hour building if you are heading towards CPL. Not only are they closer than Cork or Weston, they have more competitive prices and a fantastic bunch of instructors and Club members.