Industry Advice

[radiodude]

Hi all, this wouldn't really fit in the newbie advice thread and there doesn't seem to be any conversations regarding this. I have a PPL and have looked at joining Basair and using there vet fee help payment options. Now I don't really have to cash to pay for training on my own.

Im wanting to know is basair an ok school. The reviews ive read are 50/50 and posted a long time ago.

Would basair maybr hire one of their students after completing a cpl/mecir and instructor rating with them?

And last. Has any vet fee flying before AND will it have a big impact on me buying a house ect in 5 or so years from now? The total fee help debt will be around 98k

I look forward to advice and see people's opinions on thesr questions

Regards and happy flying!

[tail wheel]

You didn't find a thread on whether a specified flying school is "an OK school" because we discourage threads and posts of that nature. For some time prior to you joining PPRuNe we had a message at the head of this forum which included the following statement:

Similarly, and posts that unreasonably denigrate, libel or defame any flying school will be removed and the user will be liable for any action taken by that flying school owner.

Threads seeking advice on flying schools in Australia and New Zealand will be closed or removed.

You are welcome to access our significant archival information on flying schools - please feel free to use our SEARCH function.

Asking if a school is "an OK school" is a very personal and subjective question likely to illicit inaccurate responses. What is a great school for one person may be a disaster to another.

Some years ago one flying training institution had over 20 PPRuNe "personalities" registered, which gave glowing student "reports" on their own school and rubbished every other school.

Caveat Emptor! This is the internet - believe less than half what you read!! :E

The only way you will have an answer to your question that works for you is to go and visit the school, talk to the CFI, instructors and other students and decide for yourself if that is the place for you.

Looking at that school's web site, they define the flying hours, theory hours and the fee charged for a CPL. You could start by asking the other students if they are on track to achieve their CPL within the prescribed flying hours, training hours and cost?

Your decision. No one else!

Has any vet fee flying before AND will it have a big impact on me buying a house ect in 5 or so years from now? The total fee help debt will be around 98k

Financial institutions assess three factors in determining loan applications: Your assets, and a CPL is not a tangible asset: Your liabilities, what you owe including any VET FEE loan liability: Your income or capacity to repay the loan and your VET FEE repayments will be deducted from your gross income (in the form of additional tax), thus reducing your capacity to service an additional loan.

Yes, your VET FEE loan will be a consideration in any loan application you make.

[Cuban Eight]

The VET FEE-HELP arrangement is a very tempting proposition for the young PPL. I nearly took this option but after adding up the figures, I realised how hugely expensive the VET FEE-HELP courses are. Why these courses are so much more expensive when you're receiving the same endpoint licences isn't immediately obvious to me... so I steered well clear.

It is a matter of patience and your determination to succeed but if you choose the traditional route of funding yourself as you go, you will ultimately save yourself a lot of debt, money and future financial heartache! As the other posters have said, just think of it as a massive personal loan from a bank because that's exactly how creditors will view it.

Personally, I think I saved money and time by being at a small school, at a small airport, where I had my own instructor, a wealth of uncontrolled airspace whilst reasonably close to CTA and I wasn't just another number with a dollar sign walking through the door. In fact, I made friends and contacts who opened up opportunities for me to hour-build and fly different aircraft without getting the wallet out, something I couldn't imagine happens at the big, shiny-brochure VET FEE-HELP schools. I'm saving a lot more money, and I think having a lot more fun, than had I taken the VET FEE-HELP route.

Of course, it is tough pulling together each and every cent to pay for those initial lessons but it makes me appreciate and treasure every minute of my flying from preparation to debrief.

[radiodude]

Cuban Eight. THANK YOU. It's very nice to hear your story and to hear your love and passion for aviation. I'm very lucky to be in a similar situation and have saved a little bit to get the ball rolling at my little flying school with what I would say is one of the best instructor/cfi's in the country. The only reason I looked elsewhere was to streamline the process but as a 32 year old I would like to focus on gaining a CPL and then FIR for now. Baby steps and small achievements is the way I'll get this done.

[Flying Bear]

radiodude,

Your post above (#5) puts you on the right tram.

A business adage I was given when I decided to slowly start a small, niche flying training capability in the town where I live was "do not spend money you don't have".

This may mean your training takes a bit longer, but that's not a bad thing - as you will have more opportunities to do the extraneous stuff you have identified, which counts as good experience.

You will also own your qualification, and not be encumbered by a debt that you cannot service whilst trying to make a start in the industry.

Tailwheel's comments above all very valid.

All the best.