FI course in Oxford Aviation school

[fra]

I would like direct your kind attention to my question:

I am an italian pilot who has decided to apply with the JAA Fi course
at the Oxford Aviation school on the next September.

Living in italy i am not able to hear all information
about this accademy, and for this purpose i'd like to ask you to give me many further information or experiences made.

Thanks for all your help.

Francesco

[mrmum]

FI course

Really, you're not serious! I presume you mean Oxford Aviation Academy, the self-appointed market leader in producing £80k a go, 200 hour wannabee FOs. I'm actually quite surprised that Oxford lower themselves to FI ratings. It does take quite a bit of finding on their website, it's not featured in the instructor training page, apparently they see it as a "skill enhancement". Still, times are hard I suppose, lots of their APP graduates hanging about jobless making the figures look bad, so £8k of anybody's money to support the marketing budget is welcome.

There are plenty of good places to to do a FI course that will actually care about you, go and talk to few of them.

[alphaadrian]

Mrmum

Couldnt express it better myself!

Alpha

[S-Works]

Talk to OnTrack at Wellesbourne. Great value for money. Over the years I have done virtually all of my pro level courses with them right up to flight examiner ratings. Utterly professional and great value.

[binsleepen]

Or try Advanced Flight Training at Sherburn near York. Excellent instruction, very personal and much cheaper than £8K.

Regards

[dawsonj1]

FI (restricted) query...

Hi folks,

Can a JAA fATPL holder with an FI rating instruct on a fixed wing microlight?

If so, how does the supervision work? i.e. can a fully experienced microlight instructor without JAA licence provide this supervision for a JAA FI (restricted)?

Many thanks,

Jim.

[Whopity]

Can a JAA fATPL holder with an FI rating instruct on a fixed wing microlight?

The holder of a FI rating issued in the UK can legally instruct on on a MIcrolight as it is a SE piston powered aeroplane. Not so in all JAA States. If the FI rating is Restricted, supervision must be given be given as stated in Schedule 7

Restrictions - restricted privileges
The privileges will be restricted to carrying out under the supervision of the holder of a flight instructor rating (aeroplane) approved for this purpose—
(a) flight instruction for the issue of the Private Pilot Licence (Aeroplane)

A Microlight Instructor is not a "flight instructor" he is a flying instructor (microlight) who is not approved for the purpose of supervision for a FI(A). Even if they were, it would not count towards removing the Restriction.
You could apply for a separate Microlight AFI rating however: be prepared to go through a number of hoops if you try this.

[jez d]

I would like to second Bose-x's endorsement of On Track Aviation. Some of the best instructor/examiners in the UK.

fra, On Track are based at Wellesbourne Mountford Airfield in Warwickshire (about 30 miles north of Oxford Airport). See www.ontrackaviation.com

For what it's worth though, I wouldn't write off Oxford Aviation Academy completely. They may not be best loved for their 'sausage factory' method of churning out commercial pilots, but the FI courses are a different matter. In fact one of the instructor/examiners at Oxford also works for On Track.

Regards, jez

[alphaadrian]

Went to an instructor seminar few weeks ago run by On Track. It was excellent so if their FI course is of the same standard (which im guessng it would be) I would certainly give them a big thumbs up

Alph

[OneIn60rule]

I can only

Recommend either Leicester or Ontrack.

As for Oxford... I would check the price vs the others.
I would also check, where will you live? how will you get there? etc...

[fra]

I would be orienteted to the choice of Oxford Academy for some main reasons:

The first to make my English level fluent (OK! An experience i can do also in other schools)

The second because i has been ready in Oxford some months ago and there i will find somebody i know and where living.

The third because, even thought it can looked expensive , i think it ,being more famous than the others, can help me to find job opportunity in a FTO(in Europe) or Air Company in a more easy way.

I say it just because today, the possibility to find a job is more difficult than before, and i am attracted to do it out of my Country!

But i am still waiting for further detailes to complete my registration to the FI course, and i wouldn't want to lose the deposit (1000£) required for the registration and to pay it before the proficiency check
without the certainty to start the course in Oxford!!!

I hope to decide as soon as possible....


Thanks to all your advices, i will take in account of them!

Francesco

[Nearly There]

Francesco, have you looked at Ravenair based at Liverpool and Manchester Barton, you can do the FIC with them and they have the infamous Primo Lonzardi teaching the course, a fellow Italian.

[fra]

Nearly There

Nearly There,

do you personally know the Ravenair?

Is there somebody who can speak well of this school?

Thanks!

[Nearly There]

I used to work for them, and still fly from there.

Feel free to ask away.

[fra]

FI course

Thanks Nearly there,

Today i have sent an email to ask instructions to start the FI course in September about.

I have asked to them if it is possible to perform the 5 SEP hours required
in the Ravenair and the other information about the payment modalities.

I would prefer to be sure to start the course after flying the 5 sep hours and passing the proficiency check.

Then i will agree to give them all the money.

On contrary i wouldn't like to pay all before my test.

I would be so entusiastic to study and make a fly experience out of my country, in uk where to meet a 'top' professional aviation environment.

I hope to find that also with your help.

Thanks

Francesco

[alphaadrian]

Fransesco

Doing your FI course at "Oxford" will NOT give you any advantage whatsoever in getting a job as aircrew or as an instructor so please dont base your decision around that.

Good luck with the course wherever you choose. You will enjoy it.

Alpha

[fra]

FI course

Thank you Alpha!!!

I would like only to choose the better way for me in this moment.

Today there is not the same job perspective of some time ago....

Yes, it is true that with a CPL/IR u are able to be hired by some air company. but just for the rules and i don't know any school that help you to make a further experience to meet the requirements of some actual application form.
I have prefered to follow the way to look for a school in Uk where to start a FI rating instead to pay for a Hour building course because it is an abilitation and it doesn't finish with the end of a Hour building course.


I hope to find (as i hope for my colleagues) the right school and to give my contribute for that it will be a school or an air company....

[Reverserbucket]

Fra,

even thought it can looked expensive , i think it ,being more famous than the others, can help me to find job opportunity in a FTO(in Europe) or Air Company in a more easy way.

Have to agree with alphaadrian on this one; they/it will not help. You need to ask what aircraft do they use? The single-engine fleet at Kidlington is quite small by comparison to other schools. Who specifically conducts the training and will they be invloved in other training activities whilst working with you (integrated IR instruction, 170A's, etc)? and how much time will be devoted to your spoken english language needs? I think you'd be better off with an outfit such as OnTrack or any of the other highly regarded schools offering FIC.

...lots of their APP graduates hanging about jobless making the figures look bad...

Which is largely the reason why they are offering FI Courses - there's not much profit in FI training but it gives the former students something to do in the hope that they might find employment as instructors before paying OAA for a type-rating out of thanks for their benevolence in helping them gain the first rung on the ladder then desperation when they discover that there are few jobs for aspiring flying instructors either. I understand that former student's are being employed to teach the early hours of the integrated course at Oxford during the theoretical stage prior to Goodyear - I bet the student's are impressed that having just spent 80K on a course of professional flight training their first instructor has practically no experience and is effectively only qualifed to teach to PPL level. Very cost effective for the school I would imagine .

[freon1978]

Would definately recommend Aviation South West for the FIC course.

Did mine there winter 08 and couldn't fault them. Mike Wood is the guy to speak to there,