Questions regarding flight training interview

[C1five2]

Hi,
I'm new here, so if I have posted this in the wrong section I do apologise.

I have recently applied to a flight training school, here in New Zealand, to hopefully do a Diploma Of Aviation (Flight Instructor) next year, and have been accepted for an interview.
I have been looking through forums looking tips, advice and answers for a few questions I have, however there are a few things I cant find answers to.

I have been told told by a family friend/pilot that when it comes to the selection interview that I should focus on practising my algebra and trigonometry, is this true and are there only aspects of mathematics I should be practising for?

Any info is greatly appreciated, thanks

[pineappledaz]

Can you PM the place where you intend on studying? I may be able to point you in the right direction

[C1five2]

Will do, thanks

[Pastor of Muppets]

Young man,
If you are paying the bills then YOU are interviewing the flying school. Don't accept any bull****, pay up front scheme. Pay as you go and tell the crooks that you would like white coffee with one sugar when you arrive each day!!!

[smiling monkey]

Since when do flight schools in Australia/NZ run entrance interviews? I know they do that in some parts of Asia because demand for flight training out weighs supply, and a slow performing student would slow down the sausage factory production line. But in NZ?

[wishiwasupthere]

My thoughts exactly!

Why the hell are they interviewing you, when you'll be the one handing over the big $$$. You should be interviewing THEM to make sure they are going to provide you with a level of service that you desire.

And NEVER EVER EVER PAY UP FRONT FOR ANYTHING FLYING RELATED. Only pay for it once you've received it (I.e lessons, only pay for them once you've finished the flight).

[plucka]

I am an instructor and provide specialised aviation training in a specific field,
Could someone please explain to me what's wrong with paying up front....

[wishiwasupthere]

Flying schools have a habit of going bust and taking the hard earned of eager wannabe's with them.

[Mr.Buzzy]

Exactly the same reason you don't pay a tradie up front. (Entirely)
Once the money has changed hands, the incentive to deliver the goods diminishes. Simples!

Bzbzbzbzbzbzbzbzbzb

[plucka]

We run a minimum 35 hour course that usually takes between 2 and 3 weeks (weather depending). We get 7 days trading on the fuel so we charge half up front and the other half on completion. i don't see anything wrong with that to be honest.

[27/09]

Settle down guys.

I think you'll find the OP will be hoping to gain a slot at a school that runs courses eligible for student loan funding.

It's not uncommon for the better schools in New Zealand to interview prospective students with the hope they pick students that will complete the course. The funding (number of student loan slots) they get each year is affected by the completion rate the school has.

There was a time when just about anyone could get onto these courses, those days are gone. Though it might be different in Oz which is where most of the replies to this thread have come from. Seems like there might be plenty of shoddy schools over on the West Island if the Muppet Pastors and other comments are anything to go by.

[plucka]

Thanks 27/09. That makes sense, I found some of the replies to this thread extraordinary..... Hence the questions👍

[Centaurus]

That makes sense, I found some of the replies to this thread extraordinary..... Hence the questions��

I don't find them extraordinary at all. On the contrary, these are ppruners who sound like they have had their fingers and their wallets been burnt and are trying to help you from going through the same experience. Once burnt - twice shy.

[C1five2]

Well thanks everyone for the many view's, but 27/09 is right. The school has a limited number of spots available, and I'm sure that they want the top students so they stay right through to their CPL so the school can get as much money as possible.
As for payment, essentially the government pays the flight school through the student loan scheme and then I pay the government back, and the government only pays them as I go, not as a lump sum up front, so hence the reason they would want to get the top students who are likely to succeed and not get the one's who will drop out. And as for the school itself, It has a good reputation and has been around for a while.

Thanks for everyone's input

[RHSandLovingIt]

What 27/09 said...

Back in the "Good ole days"™, schools could just sign up anyone and everyone. A few bitter parents kicked up a fuss when they discovered their precious boy/girl wonderkinder now had a student loan north of $100k, a relatively worthless aviation diploma, a cpl, an MEIR, ATPL subjects, 250hrs TT and pretty poor job prospects...

There were also a large number who joined up, did the flying and didn't bother with any of the diploma coursework...

The govt, then decided that aviation placements that qualified for full funding would be limited to a set number of spots each year, and a schools allocation would be dependent on previous years completion rate (including diploma course work)... Ostensibly, to fix the imbalance between supply and demand of pilots.

Around this time, the bigger schools realised it was in their best interests to ensure that anyone signing up had a better than average chance of passing so they wouldn't lose any of their allocated positions (read as: easy income). Thus, the concept of "interviewing" for flight training was born.

It is really just an evaluation exercise no different to interviewing for a cadet scheme or even for a job. Probably even helps expose the prospective student to the ongoing evaluation that one can expect from a career in aviation.

My advice, basic (mental) maths, some of those "next in the sequence" type logic puzzles and also have a think about your motivations for wanting to be on the course. Chances are there will be a few "so, why do you want to be a pilot?", "why do you want to instruct?", "where do you see yourself in 10 years?", ":what are you hobbies?" Type of questions as well. It isn't just all about the maths ;)

Good luck :ok:

[havick]

The interview will most likely be along the lines of "the course is approximately this much, how will you be financing that?"

[27/09]

The interview will most likely be along the lines of "the course is approximately this much, how will you be financing that?"Quite obviously some posters can't read