swinburne uni/oxford aviation academy pilot training course
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my biggest problem though is ur comments on fee-help. Not all of us are blessed with rich parents to give us loans to go become pilots. Fee-help allows people who have the will and the work effect to become pilots and oxford is accomindating to that.
And last time i checked OAA was meant to prepare you for the airlines, most of which use GPS, get with the times man
And last time i checked OAA was meant to prepare you for the airlines, most of which use GPS, get with the times man
You think every pilot before you had rich parents? plenty of kids had their parents re mortgage the house to give them a loan or they take a few years off after school and work(e.g the mines, hell you could go to the desalination plant in Victoria where they are offering unskilled labour's around $100K), saving money and enabling them to take a loan from the bank to pay for flying, like you say if you have the will and work effort, you can get a job to pay for flying costs.
Yes I see airlines use GPS but you are not going to go straight into an airline(unless you are very very lucky or in a cadetship), your going to have to do some time in GA until you have enough hours to get close to apply, and everyone doesn't have GPS. Do you believe any other students at other schools who don't have GPS(mainly g1000) are not prepared for an airline. Oxford is simply looked positively upon by airlines due to the fact of their strict SOP's which are quite similar to what most airlines would use today.
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The hourly rate is too much. G1000 is non-essential and SOP's are nicely looked upon anywhere you go if you continue to discipline yourself and use them.
Maxing out FEE help is wrong and not essential and the current situation make me feel guilty for tax payers who may never get a return for the governments investment.
Maxing out FEE help is wrong and not essential and the current situation make me feel guilty for tax payers who may never get a return for the governments investment.
my biggest problem though is ur comments on fee-help. Not all of us are blessed with rich parents to give us loans to go become pilots. Fee-help allows people who have the will and the work effect to become pilots and oxford is accomindating to that.
and major tom, good luck with that solo
, make sure you take your ray ban aviators off before you taxi back to the flight line.
Join Date: Aug 2010
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Charles, as a first year at Oxford and having done much research on flying schools in the Melbourne vicinity; I have received nothing but professional and quality training from Oxford Aviation Academy Moorabbin. It is obvious that you have some clear grudge with the flying school, you are constantly complaining about training quality, maintenance and administration- time to wake up mate.
An unservicibility on an aircraft does not count as poor maintenance, you will find most aircraft around the world from gliders to Airbus A380s have some unservicibilities at some time. If you are serious about the aviation industry- get used to it!
I have developed a great relationship with the staff at Oxford and have found that if you work with them, they will work with you. Perhaps if you gave them a chance and put some time and effort in you might get results? I don't mean to try insult you or anything but I feel like you might be going too hard on the organisation, they are simply trying to provide the best service they can, and doing a fair job at it too.
If you have the option to go somewhere else, please go ahead, but there is no use in complaining about it- it's not going to change just for you.
An unservicibility on an aircraft does not count as poor maintenance, you will find most aircraft around the world from gliders to Airbus A380s have some unservicibilities at some time. If you are serious about the aviation industry- get used to it!
I have developed a great relationship with the staff at Oxford and have found that if you work with them, they will work with you. Perhaps if you gave them a chance and put some time and effort in you might get results? I don't mean to try insult you or anything but I feel like you might be going too hard on the organisation, they are simply trying to provide the best service they can, and doing a fair job at it too.
If you have the option to go somewhere else, please go ahead, but there is no use in complaining about it- it's not going to change just for you.
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Charles, as a first year at Oxford and having done much research on flying schools in the Melbourne vicinity; I have received nothing but professional and quality training from Oxford Aviation Academy Moorabbin. It is obvious that you have some clear grudge with the flying school, you are constantly complaining about training quality, maintenance and administration- time to wake up mate.
An unservicibility on an aircraft does not count as poor maintenance, you will find most aircraft around the world from gliders to Airbus A380s have some unservicibilities at some time. If you are serious about the aviation industry- get used to it!
I have developed a great relationship with the staff at Oxford and have found that if you work with them, they will work with you. Perhaps if you gave them a chance and put some time and effort in you might get results? I don't mean to try insult you or anything but I feel like you might be going too hard on the organisation, they are simply trying to provide the best service they can, and doing a fair job at it too.
If you have the option to go somewhere else, please go ahead, but there is no use in complaining about it- it's not going to change just for you.
An unservicibility on an aircraft does not count as poor maintenance, you will find most aircraft around the world from gliders to Airbus A380s have some unservicibilities at some time. If you are serious about the aviation industry- get used to it!
I have developed a great relationship with the staff at Oxford and have found that if you work with them, they will work with you. Perhaps if you gave them a chance and put some time and effort in you might get results? I don't mean to try insult you or anything but I feel like you might be going too hard on the organisation, they are simply trying to provide the best service they can, and doing a fair job at it too.
If you have the option to go somewhere else, please go ahead, but there is no use in complaining about it- it's not going to change just for you.
I have been at oxford for 1.5 years now, and had a PPL to start with, i am still no where near close to sitting my CPL(even with the aid of actual cash from my pockets to get things going) so yeah..... gave them a decent chance in my opinion. Now I am fed up.
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Join Date: Nov 2008
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I reckon it's ok. I didnt have 50K just as i didnt have 80k or whatever it costs. Sure some people in it have no clue what they are doing, see it in the VTAC guide and just decide to go for it without much motivation.
Most know it's expensive, its bloody obvious that they max FEEhelp out on purpose and I could probably get a CPLH cheaper than what they charge and would be if I had heaps of cash kicking around.
Sure I could have found a good paying job, made enough for it over a few years and smashed out a CPL in 12 months. But I can guarantee I would not have had anywhere near as much fun as what I am now having chosen the course with the people i've met.
PS nevermind answering the first post, I was more of a child then
Most know it's expensive, its bloody obvious that they max FEEhelp out on purpose and I could probably get a CPLH cheaper than what they charge and would be if I had heaps of cash kicking around.
Sure I could have found a good paying job, made enough for it over a few years and smashed out a CPL in 12 months. But I can guarantee I would not have had anywhere near as much fun as what I am now having chosen the course with the people i've met.
PS nevermind answering the first post, I was more of a child then
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Charles .... a. everyone knows who you are; b. there are 100's of Australian pilots who have trained through GFS/Oxford .... so I suggest you watch what you say; c. and if that's your attitude, then bugga off to png or some where .... and start acting like a pilot, cause at this rate you don't deserve to get a job in the industry, if all you do is complain son!!
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did that cfi know what you write about the school mate? Im guessing u spoke to him/her very nicely about your problems without mentioning anything that would make you look bad.
looks to me like ur just winding us up anyway so i wont bother with ur sort.
thanks mayday, big statement but appreciated all the same.
newagebird
looks to me like ur just winding us up anyway so i wont bother with ur sort.
thanks mayday, big statement but appreciated all the same.
newagebird
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You're as sharp as a bowling ball aren't you Charles? Obviously you've got something figured out the rest of us don't. You wrote a fairly nice essay on the previous page, a fair effort by an equally cunning linguist who has the smarts to use his own name in his username. Perhaps you can use it as part of your 10'000 word essay next year? But then again you may have already dropped out by then.
Go ahead and have your little fit, just dont blame anyone if you dont get a job at OAA. Your ass is already grass.
Go ahead and have your little fit, just dont blame anyone if you dont get a job at OAA. Your ass is already grass.
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The smug of Oxford students really shines here 
. You guys have to realise that OAA is not on top the world and therefore because you train there you are superior to everyone else at Moorabbin, if you have this attitude you will not go far in GA at all or have many friends outside of OAA.
I trained there for a small period of time before moving elsewhere and witnessed the change from GFS to OAA at Moorabbin and it has been disgraceful. I rated GFS in the top 3 at Moorabbin, but since it became OAA things have really gone downhill. The rates they charge for planes is disgusting(rumour is that is going to go to $420 for a 172S next year) which is obvious given that people are advising that you should go next door to MFS to gain some hours. The things that are happening at OAA now should not be happening e.g. hitting on some of the female students by instructors, and the apparent "sleeping" with students. Even one instructor attempting to pickup a female cadet otherwise he could make her look bad. Do you guys think this happens at other schools?
Oxford has really gone downhill and now with some arrogance being shown here by some students shows it is now worse than it was with some students when it was GFS.
Most of you need to wake up to reality, if you think you are going to get a job after your stint at OAA, good luck to you. You guys talk about the hundreds of students that go through the school, why are there not hundreds of instructors then? You have a very small chance of being offered a job with OAA(unless airlines open there doors and people in GA and they can move into the airline industry, but that is doubtful given latest attempt at outsourcing by Jetstar), yes most schools will say there is a high possibility of you getting a job after your instructor rating at their school, but they actually just want your money and will appologise at the end when they can't but its not the kind of thing you can then ask for a refund.
and mayday_101, your going to defend someone's complaints about your school by putting down another training school. That's just hypocritical my friend.
. You guys have to realise that OAA is not on top the world and therefore because you train there you are superior to everyone else at Moorabbin, if you have this attitude you will not go far in GA at all or have many friends outside of OAA.I trained there for a small period of time before moving elsewhere and witnessed the change from GFS to OAA at Moorabbin and it has been disgraceful. I rated GFS in the top 3 at Moorabbin, but since it became OAA things have really gone downhill. The rates they charge for planes is disgusting(rumour is that is going to go to $420 for a 172S next year) which is obvious given that people are advising that you should go next door to MFS to gain some hours. The things that are happening at OAA now should not be happening e.g. hitting on some of the female students by instructors, and the apparent "sleeping" with students. Even one instructor attempting to pickup a female cadet otherwise he could make her look bad. Do you guys think this happens at other schools?
Oxford has really gone downhill and now with some arrogance being shown here by some students shows it is now worse than it was with some students when it was GFS.
Most of you need to wake up to reality, if you think you are going to get a job after your stint at OAA, good luck to you. You guys talk about the hundreds of students that go through the school, why are there not hundreds of instructors then? You have a very small chance of being offered a job with OAA(unless airlines open there doors and people in GA and they can move into the airline industry, but that is doubtful given latest attempt at outsourcing by Jetstar), yes most schools will say there is a high possibility of you getting a job after your instructor rating at their school, but they actually just want your money and will appologise at the end when they can't but its not the kind of thing you can then ask for a refund.
and mayday_101, your going to defend someone's complaints about your school by putting down another training school. That's just hypocritical my friend
.
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Suchislife10 the point you make is more than valid. But...I dont think many of us really think OAA is 'on top of the world', nor do we think we will 'get a job after the course'. All we are saying is for Charles to simply shut up. There is nothing wrong with any of the other schools (i myself have done a bit here and there at other places too). OAA has problems just like any other school. But there really is no point for people like charles, sam8808, etc to bitch and give a full running commentary.
This topic started off pretty much asking what are the 'ups n downs' for OAA. Rather than running off on a wild tangent a normal answer could have been:
"OAA is expensive. And bookings can be sometimes difficult due to the large number of students. However the aircraft are nice and the airport is in a good location".
Fairly simple and civilized answer without bad mouthing anyone.
This topic started off pretty much asking what are the 'ups n downs' for OAA. Rather than running off on a wild tangent a normal answer could have been:
"OAA is expensive. And bookings can be sometimes difficult due to the large number of students. However the aircraft are nice and the airport is in a good location".
Fairly simple and civilized answer without bad mouthing anyone.
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Well yes, but charles321 is simply trying to help others and make sure they do not go through the issues he has been through. He is about 80% correct in his comments on the school though. But I believe it is more managements fault and the way the course is set up(i.e expecting students to be capable in minimum hours) not really the instructors fault but it is obvious that same do not care for GA and are simply just waiting for an Airline job. What others have said should be said though, its not fair to let these things happen to students and then just kick dirt over it and say "OAA is expensive. And bookings can be sometimes difficult due to the large number of students. However the aircraft are nice and the airport is in a good location" There are problems with Oxford like all the other schools, but given the money your paying (100K including the fee-help loan fee ) for a CPL with a single engine IFR, they should not have problems like this.
You can't really say what other people can and can't say about your training school because last time I checked this country has the freedom of speech.
) for a CPL with a single engine IFR, they should not have problems like this.You can't really say what other people can and can't say about your training school because last time I checked this country has the freedom of speech.
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Interesting points being raised here, but obviously, the more people comment, the more people will be able to get their own opinion. For you to slam someone down and tell them to "shut up" because they are voicing their opinion, well, its childish and to be honest, pathetic, not to mention a past instructor attacking a current student. Shows a strong sense of character when you yell at someone on the internet. If you know who the guy is, why don't you take it up with him in person? but i bet you haven't.
Nevertheless, i believe i may have a more diplomatic opinion on the club.
I'm going to give you my experience with OAA. I'm a second year grad student with Swin and did all of my preliminary training with OAA. I had my PPL half way through last year as i had already started flying before starting the course and i tell you what, never have i seen a club more disorganized and unprofessional in my life. I started out at a club up in Shepparton and then moved to OAA and after last year, i decided to kick the bucket and move to another school at Moorabbin and let me tell you.
The difference between a school where you feel as though you are getting your moneys worth and a school that simply lets you run around a field with no direction on how to get to the other side is, well, lets say, more than noticeable. In the time i was at OAA, i had a total of 5 different instructors, even though i was promised that i would have one instructor and only one instructor. 3 were past grads and constantly cut corners with their training and were unprofessional with their attitude of barely enough will be enough...
I couldn't stand the fact that i was often moved to a totally new instructor the day before my flight and found it extremely uncomfortable when i was constantly correcting the instructor. I can not tell you the advantages of having a single instructor and for those that feel comfortable! with rotating instructors, well, you clearly have no idea about you are talking about.
The current school that i am with is yes, smaller, and dramatically cheaper, but it offers 10x the that which OAA did and does. I have had my current instructor since the beginning of the year, and am on my way to having my CPL by the end of the year, hopefully. The atmosphere at the club is more orientated around me as a pilot, and me learning to the best of my ability. The structure around what I want to do and where i want to go is much better, the overall develop of me as a pilot, i believe is, much better than my co-students at OAA.
Simple questions that should be known, easily understood and answered are often not known by the other guys, {and yes, i have compared} all tell me that i made the right decision in getting out early at the end of the semester without having the issues that Charles is having.
My recommendation would for you to look around at other schools that offer a much more specific CPL structure. A school that offers more professional instructors that actually want to see you develop as a pilot, rather than a production line of pilots that barely know their stuff, have the bare minimum hours required and a much nicer learning environment with an instructor that knows where you are up to in your flight training, where you went wrong in your last lesson, where you need to improve and where your strengths and weaknesses are.
CASA sets those minimum hours for a reason. Its not for clubs to take advantage of and actually set a specific amount for this and that. A student should be able to progress to the next stage of his/her training when they are ready, not when they have this amount of hours.
Overall, i was extremely disappointed with the club and would never think about going back to them. I would say that i have experience with a before and after scenario and can only voice my opinion and hope that you take it and don't go with OAA
Nevertheless, i believe i may have a more diplomatic opinion on the club.
I'm going to give you my experience with OAA. I'm a second year grad student with Swin and did all of my preliminary training with OAA. I had my PPL half way through last year as i had already started flying before starting the course and i tell you what, never have i seen a club more disorganized and unprofessional in my life. I started out at a club up in Shepparton and then moved to OAA and after last year, i decided to kick the bucket and move to another school at Moorabbin and let me tell you.
The difference between a school where you feel as though you are getting your moneys worth and a school that simply lets you run around a field with no direction on how to get to the other side is, well, lets say, more than noticeable. In the time i was at OAA, i had a total of 5 different instructors, even though i was promised that i would have one instructor and only one instructor. 3 were past grads and constantly cut corners with their training and were unprofessional with their attitude of barely enough will be enough...
I couldn't stand the fact that i was often moved to a totally new instructor the day before my flight and found it extremely uncomfortable when i was constantly correcting the instructor. I can not tell you the advantages of having a single instructor and for those that feel comfortable! with rotating instructors, well, you clearly have no idea about you are talking about.
The current school that i am with is yes, smaller, and dramatically cheaper, but it offers 10x the that which OAA did and does. I have had my current instructor since the beginning of the year, and am on my way to having my CPL by the end of the year, hopefully. The atmosphere at the club is more orientated around me as a pilot, and me learning to the best of my ability. The structure around what I want to do and where i want to go is much better, the overall develop of me as a pilot, i believe is, much better than my co-students at OAA.
Simple questions that should be known, easily understood and answered are often not known by the other guys, {and yes, i have compared} all tell me that i made the right decision in getting out early at the end of the semester without having the issues that Charles is having.
My recommendation would for you to look around at other schools that offer a much more specific CPL structure. A school that offers more professional instructors that actually want to see you develop as a pilot, rather than a production line of pilots that barely know their stuff, have the bare minimum hours required and a much nicer learning environment with an instructor that knows where you are up to in your flight training, where you went wrong in your last lesson, where you need to improve and where your strengths and weaknesses are.
CASA sets those minimum hours for a reason. Its not for clubs to take advantage of and actually set a specific amount for this and that. A student should be able to progress to the next stage of his/her training when they are ready, not when they have this amount of hours.
Overall, i was extremely disappointed with the club and would never think about going back to them. I would say that i have experience with a before and after scenario and can only voice my opinion and hope that you take it and don't go with OAA
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I never got pushed through on minimum hours... you will not pass your flight test if you do not have the minimum experience or experience.
Just something that was said that got me a bit.
Complain to management if the treatment you are getting is a problem, and what is wrong with a post grad student teaching you, you will some day be a post grad student who may be in the same position. When you get to that stage I hope you realise how much work had to go in to get to that stage.
Just something that was said that got me a bit.
Complain to management if the treatment you are getting is a problem, and what is wrong with a post grad student teaching you, you will some day be a post grad student who may be in the same position. When you get to that stage I hope you realise how much work had to go in to get to that stage.
Let me get this right - it takes you 3 years to get CPL and MECIR through this FULL TIME course???
Right, I guess someone is making a huge amount of cash from some suckers.
I thought that about 12 months full time for CPL MECIR and ATPL theory would be about normal, maybe stretch to 18 months at a fairly busy sausage factory (I mean training institution).
Mind you it did take me 12 months to go from PPL to CPL, but I was working full time to pay for the flying I did a day a week.
Right, I guess someone is making a huge amount of cash from some suckers.
I thought that about 12 months full time for CPL MECIR and ATPL theory would be about normal, maybe stretch to 18 months at a fairly busy sausage factory (I mean training institution).
Mind you it did take me 12 months to go from PPL to CPL, but I was working full time to pay for the flying I did a day a week.
i know its a tad off topic,
but how much are you guys paying for the whole flying training syllabus (ab-initio through to MECIR) that go to swinburne uni and use OAA for flight training?
but how much are you guys paying for the whole flying training syllabus (ab-initio through to MECIR) that go to swinburne uni and use OAA for flight training?
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I heard that there is a chance to do the flight training at MFS rather than Oxford Academy through the Swineburne Aviation bachelor course. Can anyone confirm this?
A lot of OAT students actually do the flying part of their training next door to OAT at MFS as that saves them about $100 every hour and that equates to a lot of savings throughtout the entire course. Besides MFS appears to receive good reviews in these forums.
Don't want to start a Cessna vs Piper debate but you can see MFS adding brand new factory aeroplanes to their fleet every season, balking the traditional Aussie trend of much older aircraft.
Don't want to start a Cessna vs Piper debate but you can see MFS adding brand new factory aeroplanes to their fleet every season, balking the traditional Aussie trend of much older aircraft.