CAA exams are a total ripp-off
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: UK
Posts: 683
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well, of course we can rest safe in the knowledge that the good people who work on the Examinations committees do a worthwhile job representing our best interests at JAA level, keeping subject material up to date and relevant.
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: In the weather
Age: 44
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
On a slightly different tack, you could argue that what with the JAA and all, the prices should come down. Surely as you get the same licence from all member states you can shop around and do your training wherever you get the best deal. Incidently, here in Finland the CAA dont charge anything for ground exams and only charge a modest fee for the flight tests. A bit of competition for the UK CAA perhaps 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: England
Posts: 908
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The best way to get through to FCL straight away.
1.Phone medical department
2.Claim to be a total arse and humbly ask to be put through to FCL which you ineptly tried ringing in the first place.
3.FCL see the number on their phone as an internal and pick up call straight away thinking i am a pretty nurse(this i give them credit for)
4.Accuse phone system of being an arse and inept for connecting you through the medical department but as they are on the phone i'll ask a few questions anyway.
As much as the above could be construde as a low, filthy trick it does work every time(so i'm told by a friend of a friend and all that). Anyway when in Rome
Good luck with the exams and hope you enjoy the flying ahead of you. Regards Tonker
1.Phone medical department
2.Claim to be a total arse and humbly ask to be put through to FCL which you ineptly tried ringing in the first place.
3.FCL see the number on their phone as an internal and pick up call straight away thinking i am a pretty nurse(this i give them credit for)
4.Accuse phone system of being an arse and inept for connecting you through the medical department but as they are on the phone i'll ask a few questions anyway.
As much as the above could be construde as a low, filthy trick it does work every time(so i'm told by a friend of a friend and all that). Anyway when in Rome
Good luck with the exams and hope you enjoy the flying ahead of you. Regards Tonker
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Kent
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
tonker:
I've tried your suggested technique for getting through to FCL, however, the friendly nurse I spoke to said she couldn't redirect my call, I'd have to go back to the automated switchboard!
Hope others have better luck than me...
I've tried your suggested technique for getting through to FCL, however, the friendly nurse I spoke to said she couldn't redirect my call, I'd have to go back to the automated switchboard!
Hope others have better luck than me...
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: canada
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
well well well...
Hey guys don't be too upset.. I started the UK licence then gave up... and went for the JAA in switzerland... cheeper.... 600FrCH for the all exams if you trying them in one shot or 600Frch for 2 tries.... so that's up to you .... good luck anyway there is NO FUN what so ever!!
I was being mocked by my cpl instructor today because my Antipodean CAA issued me with a piece of laminated paper (license) when over here you get a big 'novel' of a license
Had to laugth out loud when I discovered the cost of renewing my licence.
If you thought that was funny, you should have seen the tears of laughter that rolled when I discovered that the new licence would be valid for half the time....................
Please, someone tell me why this is so...so I can then furnish my MP with all the details.
I understand that the CAA run a very neat monopoly/cartel but they has ceased to even be clever with their price hikes.....Must have gone to the Gordon Brown school of finance.
Remember
Careless torque costs wives
If you thought that was funny, you should have seen the tears of laughter that rolled when I discovered that the new licence would be valid for half the time....................
Please, someone tell me why this is so...so I can then furnish my MP with all the details.
I understand that the CAA run a very neat monopoly/cartel but they has ceased to even be clever with their price hikes.....Must have gone to the Gordon Brown school of finance.
Remember
Careless torque costs wives
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: UK
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
just you wait until you start handing over you hard earned for flight tests then - was £607 now £637, and then they have the nerve to charge £437 for partial retests and £190 to add the damn ratings to your licence.
Currently the CPL exam fee in Canada is something like £75, and the one in Spain is about £100.
CAA - little tinkers eh!
Currently the CPL exam fee in Canada is something like £75, and the one in Spain is about £100.
CAA - little tinkers eh!
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: 20 ADD 10 CPT
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
CAA Fees So Far
I have converted an FAA CPL/IR to a JAA fATPL.
Just a quck run down of the fees.
Class 1 Medical (fromFAA class 1) £210
ATPL Writtens £720 (Holy Smokes!!)
2x Re writes £70
CPL Flight Test £608
ME/IR Flight Test £608
Partial Re-test IR £420 (15 minutes in the air !)
Licence Issue SEP & MEP/SP/IR £280 (WHAT!!!)
Copy of exam results ATPL writtens £21 (3 photocopies !! bloody cheek !!!)
Grand Total: £2937.- (how is this justifiable?, it beggers belief !)
Just a quck run down of the fees.
Class 1 Medical (fromFAA class 1) £210
ATPL Writtens £720 (Holy Smokes!!)
2x Re writes £70
CPL Flight Test £608
ME/IR Flight Test £608
Partial Re-test IR £420 (15 minutes in the air !)
Licence Issue SEP & MEP/SP/IR £280 (WHAT!!!)
Copy of exam results ATPL writtens £21 (3 photocopies !! bloody cheek !!!)
Grand Total: £2937.- (how is this justifiable?, it beggers belief !)
Join Date: May 2002
Location: A long way from here.
Posts: 242
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
How much does the examiner get?
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: UK
Age: 46
Posts: 642
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Much having a go at the CAA here. I have a good story to tell of the FCL department. Had a query about an exam booking I had no confirmation for in December. Was unable to get through on switchboard so I got online and looked on the CAA website and found an e-mail address. Sent e-mail. Thirty minutes later I got a phone call with the answer.
A few weeks earlier I had been at Gatwick to do some ATPL exams and had just finished my night rating. So rather then pay money for Royal Mail to deliver my paperwork to the FCL department I delivered it personally. This wasn't a problem and the gentlemen on the front desk suggested I might want to wait around for five minutes as a BA concorde Captain would be arriving shortly.
Everyone knows that the CAA charge a lot for exam fees and license issue. Yes it is unpopular and yes it is expensive. No amount of whinging or complaining will change it. It is just a fact of life of becoming a Commercial Pilot in the UK. If you don't like it do something else.
A few weeks earlier I had been at Gatwick to do some ATPL exams and had just finished my night rating. So rather then pay money for Royal Mail to deliver my paperwork to the FCL department I delivered it personally. This wasn't a problem and the gentlemen on the front desk suggested I might want to wait around for five minutes as a BA concorde Captain would be arriving shortly.
Everyone knows that the CAA charge a lot for exam fees and license issue. Yes it is unpopular and yes it is expensive. No amount of whinging or complaining will change it. It is just a fact of life of becoming a Commercial Pilot in the UK. If you don't like it do something else.
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: 20 ADD 10 CPT
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
timzsta
Its generally a good idea to complain about a service that is too expensive or sub standard, otherwise things probably wont change for the better.
Paying £600 odd for an examiner for two hours is expensive, and I dont think we should be paying so much.
For me its too late since Ive paid all my fees.
I also think that it gives people a bad impression of the CAA, when you tell them the kinds of fees you have to pay.
It makes them look like they are a monopoply taking advantage of their market, instead of an orinization looking after its members.
It discourages general aviation and generaly makes people feel like there being ripped off.
cheers
Its generally a good idea to complain about a service that is too expensive or sub standard, otherwise things probably wont change for the better.
Paying £600 odd for an examiner for two hours is expensive, and I dont think we should be paying so much.
For me its too late since Ive paid all my fees.
I also think that it gives people a bad impression of the CAA, when you tell them the kinds of fees you have to pay.
It makes them look like they are a monopoply taking advantage of their market, instead of an orinization looking after its members.
It discourages general aviation and generaly makes people feel like there being ripped off.
cheers
