Anybody flown in South Africa (esp CPL)

[Gazeem]

Hi,

JAA Training


I am thinking about going to South Africa to train for my JAA CPL. I know a few guys should have just finished. I would like to talk to one of them!

Also if anybody else has any experience or advice about flying in South Africa I'd love to hear. I'm all ears!;)

Cheers Gaz

[Aircart]

One thing I do know is that FTC are the only JAA FTO in SA.
Hope to go out there myself next year, so would also like to here some reply's

:cool:

[Megaton]

Just for info: http://www.ftc-sa.com/

[skeet surfer]

If you must go to ftc please please save yourself any problems and don't pay it all up front....... the new company seems to be a little more financially respectable than their previous incarnation - remember you are the customer - you are in charge.....

And even more importantly - speak to ftc direct - do not go through their so-called uk representative......unless you want to be waiting for several years for any money you're owed.....

Other than that, SA is a great place to fly and good socialising too!!

[Speedbird056]

Hi there

I have done most of my flying in SA and I'm currently doing my JAR fATPL but doing that by distance learning due to personal circumstances.

As far as I was aware the JAR course offered by FTC was just the ground school for the theory (as well as the initial PPL and hour building), the CPL training/flight test as well as the IR had to be conducted within a JAA state. Things may have changed so don't bite my head off if this info is not current.

I did my PPL at FTC in George and thouroughly enjoyed it. They obviously aren't the biggest school in SA but I learnt everything I needed to go off flying all over this great country.

If you guys have any questions please let me know and I'll do my best to answer.

[Aircart]

yeh, you can now do ur jaa multi, h/building, & cpl out there,
the only thing u can't do is the IR, In america they do some initial training for ur IR out there but u still have to come back here to do the test!!!!!

[Tubbs]

I've heard that most of the JAR ground instructors are very good at FTC.

Just make sure you drink at Guiseppe's.

x

ps don't pay up front

[pugzi]

Skeet Surfur and Stubbs.

Well said, hold back the cash and you control it. I can't emphasis enough about not going though thier UK representative.
Go there as a local and walk into the school as if your from S.A.
Otherwise, you'll come out shorter in the pocket than the locals.
It was a ball, and dont drink too much, they think all british people have a drink problem, mind you, South Africans can drink us under the table. Try it on your first day, you wont survive 2 beers before your a gonner.Best of luck

[Biz]

Hullo everyone.

Ok, with regards Ftc-SA. As I understand it, if your are only going out there to do your PPL then you will be issued an ICAO license, which means you will have to undergo a conversion upon your return to the UK. What exactly this entails, I don't know. Perhaps, merely a check-ride by your UK school?? Anyone have any clues??

However, if you are going to participate in their ab-initio f(ATPL) license programme, the conversion is included in their overall price, and the conversion training is done by Atlantic in Coventry.

Remember, this is how I understand it from Peter Volland at Ftc.
I will prepare to have my head bitten off!!! :D

[pig on runway]

Make sure taht you check your bill every week at FTC. Compare your log book to the office records. I was nearly caught with an extra 4hrs flying cost due to a few extra points being added on here and there.
Be insistant with the instructors you want, there are many instructors at ftc with a total time of 210 hrs, which is fine for PPL training but there is a little more depth and experience needed for the atpl training.
Otherwise SA is a butifull country full of the best beer and people, exchange rates are in your favour so go have fun and study hard