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Old 24th Feb 2007, 23:35
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Flight Schools Australia

I went to TVSA in Melbourne, Australia.
What a terrible school!!!!!
The length of the course and the cost of the course is completely different to advertised (it takes longer as they dont have the resources for the amount of students there and the cost can be up to 100% more than advertised). The school is very unprofesional and the students there are miserable as they are treated very disrespectfully and are subject to racist remarks and other verbal abuse on a regular basis. I could go on but youve probably got the idea by now!
Im writing this as I really wish I'd read this before I signed up to the school and would love to stop potential students from making the same mistake that i did.
I was at the school for 17 months, in this time I spent $45,000 and only got an outside of controlled airspace private licence. In the end I had to just cut my losses and leave, so now I want to stop others going there.
Happy flying!
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Old 25th Feb 2007, 10:39
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$45K for an OCTA PPL????? how many hours did they string you along for?
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Old 25th Feb 2007, 11:00
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probably didn't get a refund. if im not wrong, you should legally be able to get the balance back, of all the Avgas $$ you didn't burn.

$45k is a pretty big hit.
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Old 25th Feb 2007, 12:01
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Sorry, a bit off topic and probably sounds like an ignorant question, but what is an OCTA PPL? I heard someone mention it the other day. Is this just if you did not fly in CTA in a PPL test? That's all I can think it could mean. But I'm a bit puzzled at the moment.

787 Captain
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Old 25th Feb 2007, 12:14
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i understand what he's saying.

my first flight school was in SA and was an integrated uni course with a flying school... (by now you should have guessed which one it is)

spent about 35-40k on a private licence and had about 95 hours. ridiculous!!low hour instructors, no standardization, swapping instructors every flight. changed schools as soon as I had the PPL. Best thing I did. went to a country aiport (one man band) and did the CPL and ME-CIR - loved it!

don't let them rip you off... do the research. In my very humble opinion, the smaller flying schools are much better. Remember you are a paying customer. make sure you're getting what you pay for.

PM me if you need any more advice.
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Old 25th Feb 2007, 21:13
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I agree, they are lucky to have you spend thousnds at their school, not the other way around. If they try to stick you with another instructor so he can fill his hour quota for the week, tell them where to go! I was at one of those school as a private student (not on a uni course) and with about 1 or 2 flights to go until my CPL test, they wanted to stick me with a grade 3? ? ?

Don't let them bully you around, and if I were you I shilpa I'd be talking to someone about getting atleast part of your money back, if you havn't already.
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Old 26th Feb 2007, 04:06
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TVSA run the cadet program don't they?
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Old 26th Feb 2007, 07:03
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Cadet

Yeah... “if your LUCKY we'll take your $60k and you WILL be grateful for it"

I think they had a good reputation a while back for putting out a good product, not too sure what the caliber of fresh CPL is like now though.
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Old 27th Feb 2007, 04:40
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Hey Shilpa, you forgot to tell everyone you had at least 58 hours of command time, passed all your CPL theory, completed an IREX course , flew quite a few hours dual in the arrow and around 8 hours of NVFR training, if you're the lass from the UK. If you are the person I think you are, you are the one who left not having completed your solo time with no notice. As for racist comments - get a life!
CP Adi: What course is $60,000.00? All students pay to a fee schedule spreading the course payments over a 6 to 8 month period. Students DO NOT do aircraft maintenance but are taught the appropiate trouble shooting to refer back to a LAME or to carry out pilot approved maintenance. New Instructors? Apart from the two newbies who passed the tests last week, all of our Instructors have a minimum of 1000 hours Instructing experience

Last edited by tealady; 27th Feb 2007 at 04:48. Reason: adding more
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Old 27th Feb 2007, 05:13
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A PPL, 58hrs command, CPL theory and IREX = $45,000?
My calculator must be broken....

What course is $60k?

Advanced Diploma of Aviation Flight Intruction Cost: $59,900.00

In the sales world this is termed, knowing your own product.

Last edited by THE IRON MAIDEN; 27th Feb 2007 at 05:22. Reason: Additional information
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Old 27th Feb 2007, 05:16
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Well well...hasn't someone got sour grapes?

I was trained there and now have a fantastic job...they by far have a very high standard which I, mind you, achieved and you obviously didn't.

Paying that much for an OCTA PPL at TVSA could only mean one thing .... you didn't reach the standard.

Problem is, you just couldn't handle it.

Have a nice day... I certainly will, at FL330!
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Old 27th Feb 2007, 09:35
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The planes looked fairly unhealthy,Instructors all freshly qualified and they expect you to clean,refuel and maintain the planes yourself in YOUR time.They also expect you to be around from 8.30-5.30 cleaning,studying,answering the phone etc !!! WTF
You really think when you get your first job in the boondocks that someone's going to have your aircraft cleaned, refuelled and washed for you before every charter? Maybe a cleaning lady who makes coffee and answers the phone for you too? (All hail the patron saint of aviation, Nescafe.) Better get used to it. As for unhealthy planes, I'm sure if there was a problem, CASA would be keen to hear about it. From what I've heard, they pass ops inspections with flying colours.
Tend to agree with Chieftain though. Are you defaming the reputation of students who have completed their training at this school for a payback? For the record, I didn't do my training there, I just hate the petty sit some people come out with behind an anonymous tag.
PS Don't know of that many farm strips with sealed cross runways either.
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Old 27th Feb 2007, 09:56
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You really think when you get your first job in the boondocks that someone's going to have your aircraft cleaned, refuelled and washed for you before every charter?
In my first job out of school I had to clean floors, they didn't teach me that in Yr 12 Physics......... the point is when you are paying 15, 45 or 60k to be taught to fly, you expect to be treated as a CUSTOMER.
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Old 27th Feb 2007, 13:23
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Yes you are a customer, but also a student.

Not referring to anyone in particular, and indeed there is no excuse for poor service, but some studes seem to believe that the money they pay will get them a licence - with little or no effort on their part to reach standard. This "rationalisation" is very frustrating for the instructors and is similar to the "this stupid aeroplane won't land properly" mindset...
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Old 27th Feb 2007, 20:59
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I agree, Yes you have to put in a lot of effort it get to the standard. I’m just saying that you should be treated well, and have facilities and aircraft that allow you to do so.
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Old 27th Feb 2007, 22:19
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I didn't go to this school just adding my 2 cents after reading some of the posts

Refuelling, cleaning and maintenance on aircraft: if I was close to CPL standard and didn't have the aircraft cleaned, refuelled and warm in 30 min of my ETD I had a black little cross next to my name. You can't pass a CPL without refuelling your aircraft, if the plane is not clean the testing officer is not going to be happy and there for pick up on other minor things, like improper procedure in controlled air space, and if you don't now how to get rid of a little fouling in run up or put more oil in the plane what the hell are you doing flying.

Cleaning the office and answering phones, sometimes we did that at my school if the instructors were a bit stretched which happens.

As for $60000 that depends on the books they have to buy to teach you and the average flight time of there students if you need to spend more your worse than average. Getting you to pay for your flying time up front is a bit doggie but

Crappy looking aircraft is to be expected at every flying school if I go to a flying club and see brand new aircraft for hire I think "there charging too much to be able to keep buying new aircraft" and sure enough there fee's are a lot more than the fella operating out of the paddock on the other side of town or there not paying there instructors, which makes them unfreindly and usualy are the younger guys, and being instructed my guys not getting paid leads onto you willing to work for no pay and the cycle keeps going.

If the aircraft are that doggie CASA would not let them fly

As I said didn't go to this school just reply to some posts
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Old 2nd Mar 2007, 00:30
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Hello again!

See what I mean shilpa? Now stop defaming the school unjustly as it is pretty obvious that they are well regarded by not only CASA, but a fair few other people in the industry.
It's just a shame that they can't please everyone...including those who don't wish to reach a standard.
I wish you the best of luck with your career and hope that you get on with your life and make the most of it and stop hindering yourself with these petty hang ups.
And most importantly.... enjoy your flying!
So...to change the subject, anyone going to Avalon?
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Old 2nd Mar 2007, 07:28
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Chief.

Yeah heading to AVALON, i would love to fly there but just minor problem. my missus hates small planes cause she gets claustrophobic (she is fine riding in heavies) so i guess i'm going the common way. Hoping to get there at 7:30 to get fence seats and i'll remember ear plugs this time lol.
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Old 2nd Mar 2007, 09:00
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Bloody hell...$10 says you don't get anywhere in this industry....best of luck sweetheart! Because you're living in a dream world. Enjoy yourself!
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Old 2nd Mar 2007, 09:08
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Whoops...was meant to address that to CP adi... didn't fully read his 9it's0 last message last time... my bad! Can you tell how long it's been since i've used pprune?! jnr 380...you going to be there on trade or public days?
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