Where can I get the best value for money MECIR???
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Where can I get the best value for money MECIR???
A question for all those who have done their Instrument Ratings..... I am willing to travel, i have a Private Pilots Licence and I am looking to complete my multi-engine command instrument rating in the near future, as well as a CPL. Where would you reccommend to be the best school for value for money and experience on the east coast of Australia???? I would like some professional instruction however it has to be fun as well!!!! can anyone advise???
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Hey youngster, I finished my instrument rating about 4 months ago at Port Aero transport and training on a C-310, in Port Macquarie. Loved it, good bunch of guys and did it under time and under budget, largely thanks to the training standard. Strongly recommend giving them a call! 
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Well sorry to say this but if your looking for value for money in the aviation world then you will be looking for a long time !!
However I and many of my friends have done MECIR'S at Jhonston Aviation in Port Maquarie they run a good course on a 58Baron they offer full or part time courses and are also a good bunch of guys normal cost about $6000-7000
hope this helps
Cheers
However I and many of my friends have done MECIR'S at Jhonston Aviation in Port Maquarie they run a good course on a 58Baron they offer full or part time courses and are also a good bunch of guys normal cost about $6000-7000
hope this helps
Cheers
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Youngster don't listen to airman27 he sounds like a muppet. Best advice is to phone around, even drive to all these places, and make a personal judgement. I liked Port Aero because they didn't bag out the competition. Good Luck!
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youngster
as a current employee of Queensland Aviation Services in Caloundra, as well as an ex student who has done all his training with QAS, i cant recommend them more. I am not an instructor, but was very impressed with the professionalism of the instructors through all of my training, and the flexability of the training offered. Also, if the company is in need of a pilot and you fit the bill (as i have) you could land yourself a job at the end if you are lucky!!! They are all great people and there is always plenty of social activity happeining outside of flying time, but once in the training mode the standards couldnt be higher.
Give them a call (you may even speak to me) on 07 5492 7040, for some more information. And good luck if you dont choose QAS! but give them a try.
as a current employee of Queensland Aviation Services in Caloundra, as well as an ex student who has done all his training with QAS, i cant recommend them more. I am not an instructor, but was very impressed with the professionalism of the instructors through all of my training, and the flexability of the training offered. Also, if the company is in need of a pilot and you fit the bill (as i have) you could land yourself a job at the end if you are lucky!!! They are all great people and there is always plenty of social activity happeining outside of flying time, but once in the training mode the standards couldnt be higher.
Give them a call (you may even speak to me) on 07 5492 7040, for some more information. And good luck if you dont choose QAS! but give them a try.
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Jandakot Flight Centre in Perth was excellent. They made me feel very welcome and training was first class.
As mentioned before never rush into the decision because it will be the most important rating and certainly the most rewarding you will ever do.
As mentioned before never rush into the decision because it will be the most important rating and certainly the most rewarding you will ever do.
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Youngster.
As said on this thread try Johnston Aviation at Port Mcquarie. Price is right, A great aeroplane and career instructors. You are looked after on the ground as well as in the air and quality of the training is as good as it gets. Just a check to see how many are doing their CIR at any given time will be an indication of how popular this organisation is. Best of luck and ring as many as you can and then pick the one that appeals to you the most
As said on this thread try Johnston Aviation at Port Mcquarie. Price is right, A great aeroplane and career instructors. You are looked after on the ground as well as in the air and quality of the training is as good as it gets. Just a check to see how many are doing their CIR at any given time will be an indication of how popular this organisation is. Best of luck and ring as many as you can and then pick the one that appeals to you the most
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I have recently come across a couple of satisfied customers from Whitworth Aviation at YSBK. They have a fine reputation and to be honest, am surprise I am giving them the first plug.
Pprune's own OG3 is one of Sydney's finest
and one of Whitty's full time destructors. You can call him on (02)9774 5477 at work. Ask for Greg. A search of his most recent threads reveals a very professional and career orientated instructor...
I don't think that Port Macquarie offers an environment conducive to an effective Instrument Rating or even a CPL. Other schools will offer you the bigger aircraft for about the same price if you ask them.
[ 19 September 2001: Message edited by: Turbine ]
Pprune's own OG3 is one of Sydney's finest
and one of Whitty's full time destructors. You can call him on (02)9774 5477 at work. Ask for Greg. A search of his most recent threads reveals a very professional and career orientated instructor...I don't think that Port Macquarie offers an environment conducive to an effective Instrument Rating or even a CPL. Other schools will offer you the bigger aircraft for about the same price if you ask them.
[ 19 September 2001: Message edited by: Turbine ]
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By far the best value for money would be at JAS in Port Maquarie. I live in QLD and i completed my MECIR just recently at JAS. I loved every second whilst down there and they are so dedicated to getting you through in time and you will be pleasently surprised at how cheep you can get your MECIR, and to top things off, it is completed in a beaut BE-58!!!
I promise you that you will love every moment there. Give either Jamie/Kev/Anne a call there, they will galdly answer any of your questions.
As you can see by how many people recommend JAS, it must say something
I promise you that you will love every moment there. Give either Jamie/Kev/Anne a call there, they will galdly answer any of your questions.
As you can see by how many people recommend JAS, it must say something
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"Hinchinbrook Air Services"
north queensland
good people, nice area, competitive prices and a LOT of people go out of their way to return
[email protected]
north queensland
good people, nice area, competitive prices and a LOT of people go out of their way to return
[email protected]
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Just somthing to add about Port Macquarie, while it is a great place to do flying training, the airfield doesn't have a VOR or ILS located close by.
Only a small matter, but it will mean that you will have to fly to Tamworth to do the ILS and Coffs Harbour to do the VOR.
Only a small matter, but it will mean that you will have to fly to Tamworth to do the ILS and Coffs Harbour to do the VOR.
Good point Capt EFIS, however those flying out of Bankstown will know how bloody hard it is to get an ILS at times.
Sydney is near impossible, and Richmond can be a bit difficult. Because Richmond is in lock-down at the moment, no ILS training is available, which leaves Sydney as your best chance...a slim one!
By the way Turbine, maybe Pprune is the place to express your true feelings for OG3...sounds like there's something going on there
Cheers,
TL
[ 20 September 2001: Message edited by: Transition Layer ]
Sydney is near impossible, and Richmond can be a bit difficult. Because Richmond is in lock-down at the moment, no ILS training is available, which leaves Sydney as your best chance...a slim one!
By the way Turbine, maybe Pprune is the place to express your true feelings for OG3...sounds like there's something going on there
Cheers,
TL
[ 20 September 2001: Message edited by: Transition Layer ]
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It was never difficult to get an ILS into Sydney if you knew the right numbers and frequencies to call and spoke to the flow controller directly. There are certain times of the day when it's a piece of cake. At the moment, an ILS into SY couldn’t be easier... although I think we all wish that it was a lot harder 
I totally agree with you Capt EFIS in regards to PMQ. They don't have the navigation aids, approaches, weather or airspace that you need for really effective training. I don’t doubt they have really good schools but they are just too far from a realistic IFR environment. Then again, in a Baron or 310 the distance to an ILS isn’t as far as it would be in a smaller training twin.
VOR approaches used to be a problem at Sydney. If you didn’t fly the dodgy Maitland VOR let-down, then you had to fly well West of the range (to CWR, PKS, MDG or DU). Never used to be a big issue though – if time was a concern we used to fly various approaches over Bindook VFR.
TL, just giving a fellow pruner a plug
I totally agree with you Capt EFIS in regards to PMQ. They don't have the navigation aids, approaches, weather or airspace that you need for really effective training. I don’t doubt they have really good schools but they are just too far from a realistic IFR environment. Then again, in a Baron or 310 the distance to an ILS isn’t as far as it would be in a smaller training twin.
VOR approaches used to be a problem at Sydney. If you didn’t fly the dodgy Maitland VOR let-down, then you had to fly well West of the range (to CWR, PKS, MDG or DU). Never used to be a big issue though – if time was a concern we used to fly various approaches over Bindook VFR.
TL, just giving a fellow pruner a plug
I recently did my IREX down at Johnston and had a great time and completed it under budget. Astroboy during my month there never did I hear anyone there 'bagout' Port Aero, why would they bother? I was there a month and saw their 310 fly once.
As for the lack of aid's it isn't a problem, all the nav's are just a touch over 2 hours, mostly Armidale(DGA,NDB arc), Tamworth(ILS,VOR,NDB), Coffs Harbour (VOR) as well as Taree, Kempsey and sometimes Williamtown. No problems to get to tamworth or coffs, do an approach and get back to port and do another approach in the 2 hours. Nav times are basically no different to what you would do in a capital city airport. As for the weather it does get crummy in Port Mac once in a while, a few nav's I didn't require the hood.
Coming from a capital city I found it a challenge to actually fly out of an MBZ instead of a GAAP, you do get control area experience in class D in Tamworth and Coffs. If you can handle class D especially Tamworth Tower, I think you can cope with anything. The other selling point is the Baron at a Duchy/Seneca price, is there really a comparison? The duchys/Seneca's/PN68s in Brisbane are more expensive than Johnston's Baron...the Baron's in Brisbane $450 +
Certainly give them a call and make your own decision, but Johnston's has a great repuation just ask anyone on here that has trained with them. They don't have at least 5 guys at a time doing MECIR for no reason!
[ 20 September 2001: Message edited by: puff ]
As for the lack of aid's it isn't a problem, all the nav's are just a touch over 2 hours, mostly Armidale(DGA,NDB arc), Tamworth(ILS,VOR,NDB), Coffs Harbour (VOR) as well as Taree, Kempsey and sometimes Williamtown. No problems to get to tamworth or coffs, do an approach and get back to port and do another approach in the 2 hours. Nav times are basically no different to what you would do in a capital city airport. As for the weather it does get crummy in Port Mac once in a while, a few nav's I didn't require the hood.
Coming from a capital city I found it a challenge to actually fly out of an MBZ instead of a GAAP, you do get control area experience in class D in Tamworth and Coffs. If you can handle class D especially Tamworth Tower, I think you can cope with anything. The other selling point is the Baron at a Duchy/Seneca price, is there really a comparison? The duchys/Seneca's/PN68s in Brisbane are more expensive than Johnston's Baron...the Baron's in Brisbane $450 +
Certainly give them a call and make your own decision, but Johnston's has a great repuation just ask anyone on here that has trained with them. They don't have at least 5 guys at a time doing MECIR for no reason!
[ 20 September 2001: Message edited by: puff ]
