CaptEdmund
6th Dec 2021, 13:24
Does anyone have any recent experience with Ravenair or Cranfield for CPL/ME/IR? I'm looking to do the courses part-time over the next few years and they both seem to offer a combination of availability, cost and facilities that fit my needs. I'm quite happy without SLPC and G1000s although the Ravenair Senecas do seem to be a bit more advanced than Cranfield's Seminole.
Genghis the Engineer
7th Dec 2021, 10:58
There are three flying schools at Cranfield.
Azure Flight Training
Cranfield Flying School
L3 Harris
I don't think that Azure could do CPL or IR right now, although I'm aware they've just changed ownership and the new owner is trying to sort that out. I do like the attitude of the instructors there and the aeroplanes are well looked after.
L3 Harris are integrated, and you can find a lot of public discussion about their capabilities. The capability at Cranfield is large, but presumably they won't do a part time course.
I'm not personally a great fan of the attitude and aircraft management of CFS, and would be reluctant to use them myself. But, my experiences aren't recent, so they may be much better than my recollections. I would certainly encourage you to get recent experiences and visit yourself before making any decisions.
You might do worse than look at Booker Aviation at Wycombe Air Park for your wishlist, they're not that far away and do everything, with an excellent reputation. (Not been there myself for a couple of years, but heard nothing bad since.)
G