Flight schools - pros and cons. Please help.

[Nedersaxon]

Looking for straight forward advice or views. My son has his PPL and after A levels is looking to secure his ATPL. He wants to do integrated as he thinks this will support him get through quicker but I’m worried this option ties you in and I’m not sure of the value over a modular route. We have been to a number of pilot live events and visited some flight schools. It is such an expensive investment that I’m keen to ensure he doesn’t 1. End up at a flight school that goes bust and ends up out of pocket with nothing. 2. He ends up struggling and being pushed back on the course or having to go elsewhere - heard lots of accounts of this happening.
I’m trying to look at positives vs negatives but would really appreciate peoples views and opinions as this is not my area of expertise.
- skybourne - with BA contract they seem to be at capacity and might be stretched. Don’t respond to calls queries quickly so might suggest they are lacking capacity at the mo. Positives seem financially secure, accommodation of site is in one location so able to study together set up seem good.
- leading edge rumblings they may not be financially secure - not able to clarify. Set up ok but some cadets saying Spanish phase not fully set up. Some cadets say split over accommodation so not all together.
- L3 - long time set up at Gatwick but have spaces immediately available - why? Is this a red flag. Accommodation at two sites but student accommodation and not just cadets there. Hard sell promising the world.
- FTE - hearing some positive feedback. What are the disadvantages?
- Stapleford. Cadets can live on site. Less glossy than others but has supportive feel although not recommended by 2 pilots who previously attended as they stated limited ground school trainer capacity.
Any views or guidance would be gratefully appreciated.

[paco]

One of the big problems with integrated is that you don't get any paperwork until the end of the course, no licence not anything, assuming they don't deliberately backcourse you to get more money as has happened to at least two of my students, (not in the UK I hasten to add).

As with any business decision, don't listen to marketing and visit them all. Certainly, don't pay up front. A good school would not ask.

[mikeindiatango]

There’s such a huge amount of information and opinion to wade through concerning flight schools and modular v integrated routes.

I’m an airline pilot and PPL instructor, I’ve worked at one of the big UK schools (as well as smaller schools) and have mentored lots of students through their training journey. If you want to have a chat around pros/cons of schools and modular vs integrated please feel free to drop me a DM and we can arrange a call.

ATB

[clarkeysntfc]

Local flying club for PPL and night rating, Bristol Ground School for ATPL theory and then a modular set up like Stapleford for CPL / ME IR and APS MCC.

[Climb150]

Flight schools are selling a product and will bend the truth to enormous degrees to get you signed up. Only go integrated if you have the money to spare. Try and do your training as close to home as possible so you save some cash.

Many schools harp on about relationships they have with BA/Easyjet etc using that to convince you to sign. They will advertise a much higher price for this privilege.

Go slow and go modular. Do it like Clarkey says.

[Beaker_]

Take a look at the fast track course from ACS in Scotland. It's essentially a fast-paced modular course that'll get everything done in good time.

[Tshell90]

I have been going through this exact journey. At a certain point I figured, screw it, let's just stump up the cash and go integrated. Especially as the BA self sponsored scheme seems to require one of a select list of schools (half of which have a terrible reputation - do BA care?). Also easyJet seem to tag a lot of these students and the path for external candidates is not quite so straightforward.

I actually put some of these accusations to the salesperson at L3 and instead of acknowledging the problems in the past and discussing how they have been addressed, i got a true politician's answer. That's all I needed to hear...... Along with hours of reading on here - I dread to think where I would be without the wisdom on this forum.
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In the end I've pretty much settled on getting the PPL and night rating quickly this summer at Academy Aviation over in Epping. (Living near Biggin Hill I was pleased to find a school near London that is reasonably priced). Then I'll go to a small airfield near my Dad's home in Florida and get some hours in whilst starting remote ground school.

Then I think I might do the IR and MER at Academy Aviation or Stapleford and to get around the BA issue perhaps I can do the final few bits at Leading Edge which might just make me eligible for the BA scheme. Not putting too many eggs in that basket but I just want to train in a way that gives me control and steers clear of these snake oil salesmen.

Any advice very gratefully received!

[alexandercurry]

Did you take the fast track course at ACS?

[Beaker_]

Did you take the fast track course at ACS?

I'm assuming that question is for me :) I didn't, but I do personally know a number of people that did and were very happy with it.

[clarkeysntfc]

I have been going through this exact journey. At a certain point I figured, screw it, let's just stump up the cash and go integrated. Especially as the BA self sponsored scheme seems to require one of a select list of schools (half of which have a terrible reputation - do BA care?). Also easyJet seem to tag a lot of these students and the path for external candidates is not quite so straightforward.

I actually put some of these accusations to the salesperson at L3 and instead of acknowledging the problems in the past and discussing how they have been addressed, i got a true politician's answer. That's all I needed to hear...... Along with hours of reading on here - I dread to think where I would be without the wisdom on this forum.
​​

In the end I've pretty much settled on getting the PPL and night rating quickly this summer at Academy Aviation over in Epping. (Living near Biggin Hill I was pleased to find a school near London that is reasonably priced). Then I'll go to a small airfield near my Dad's home in Florida and get some hours in whilst starting remote ground school.

Then I think I might do the IR and MER at Academy Aviation or Stapleford and to get around the BA issue perhaps I can do the final few bits at Leading Edge which might just make me eligible for the BA scheme. Not putting too many eggs in that basket but I just want to train in a way that gives me control and steers clear of these snake oil salesmen.

Any advice very gratefully received!

BA will take modular, there’s plenty of modular students getting in. Used to be called the NQPP, now they’ve rebranded it.

[Tshell90]

Unless I'm mistaken - and the detail is lacking in the job description - the current cadet scheme is for students enrolled in that select list of schools. Be that integrated or modular. If it weren't for this one cadetship I wouldn't worry about it.