tvsa flying school
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tvsa flying school
i have been looking at going to tvsa at bacchus marsh read on the forums with people ragging on it, i was just after some personal oppions about this flying school
Join Date: Mar 2006
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Hi 206Greaser
If you are committed to go through the training then tvsa is fantastic but if you aren't then the experience is not as good. As for the prices, I found they were reasonable.
One thing to make sure is if you book a lesson don't cancel on the day even if you are sick as they don't like that.
Otherwise I think they are about the same as any other flight school.
If you are committed to go through the training then tvsa is fantastic but if you aren't then the experience is not as good. As for the prices, I found they were reasonable.
One thing to make sure is if you book a lesson don't cancel on the day even if you are sick as they don't like that.
Otherwise I think they are about the same as any other flight school.
Join Date: Sep 2000
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I learnt there and would recommend them.
#1 Uncluttered airspace: No ATC (and I am one...), nice long runways and plenty of flat paddocks all around. A training area to pootle around in come GFPT of huge size with not many aeroplanes in it. Gliders are a bit of a worry on weekends, but its still far more relaxing than MB. Weather is a slight factor, can be too windy to have fun there whilst almost calm where I live...
#2 Safety based: They like their aeroplanes and don't bend them. Well there was one last year, but they don't make a habit about it. I found some learning outcomes difficult to achieve, I was in my late 40's and not as quick at learning new stuff as I used to be. Good feedback, and I didn't get to move on until I got it right. I had a couple of gaps in my training due money, bad luck with weather & distractions, didn't get to move on til I got it right again!
#3 Flexible: I got the impression they didn't particularly want to be, they would prefer everybody to do the ground school, but I had a reasonable handle on most of it and only thought I needed an instructor for the w & b and performance stuff that I couldn't get my head around on my own. I got what I wanted, plus some 1:1 with an instructor for the stuff I thought I knew but didn't. They were diligent in ensuring I eventually knew what I needed to, (as per CAR), rather than just turning me loose on the exam.
#4 $: Maybe I spent more, at their reasonably low rate, than I would have at a sausage factory. I am happy with the outcome. I was initially attracted by the cheaper rate of the C150's, but I was really a bit heavy for the poor things. With a beefy instructor they were struggling, even with half fuel. I switched to the Warrior, a much more gentlemanly machine. It probably cost a little more, but I know which climb rate I prefer. If you are more averagely constructed the 150 can save you, and there don't seem to be a lot around ourside MB.
#5 Friendly: Genuinely, they are. I've seen somebody else get a tongue lashing, they got stroppy when they stamped into the office and wanted to talk about gliding and got directed to the other side of the aerodrome. I heard somebody else cop it on the phone once, don't know the story there. They do have a rep for temper, but I haven't experienced it. I am an easy going sort of chap though, mostly. As mentioned above had no trouble negotiating my way against the general flow, and resolved a couple of slight disagreements on interpretation of rules/AIP without any displays. Since achieving my PPL they have remained friendly, and seem glad to see me when I want to rent an aircraft, or just cadge tea.
There is a sign on the wall saying you pay for lessons cancelled with less than 24 hours notice, yet I have cancelled with genuine reasons and this hasn't happened. I even forgot to turn up once, cost me a couple of bottles of vino, but no other financial hit. I expect the sign is there for people that dick them around, maybe even an anachronism that has survived a couple of redecoratings. I am sure they wouldn't let you fly if you turned up sweating and farting with the latest pandemic lurgi, nor would they expect you too.
I would recommend you talk to them about this or any other concerns you have. Form your opinion based on that rather than what you read on this forum.
Best of luck with your training, it will be an adventure!
#1 Uncluttered airspace: No ATC (and I am one...), nice long runways and plenty of flat paddocks all around. A training area to pootle around in come GFPT of huge size with not many aeroplanes in it. Gliders are a bit of a worry on weekends, but its still far more relaxing than MB. Weather is a slight factor, can be too windy to have fun there whilst almost calm where I live...
#2 Safety based: They like their aeroplanes and don't bend them. Well there was one last year, but they don't make a habit about it. I found some learning outcomes difficult to achieve, I was in my late 40's and not as quick at learning new stuff as I used to be. Good feedback, and I didn't get to move on until I got it right. I had a couple of gaps in my training due money, bad luck with weather & distractions, didn't get to move on til I got it right again!
#3 Flexible: I got the impression they didn't particularly want to be, they would prefer everybody to do the ground school, but I had a reasonable handle on most of it and only thought I needed an instructor for the w & b and performance stuff that I couldn't get my head around on my own. I got what I wanted, plus some 1:1 with an instructor for the stuff I thought I knew but didn't. They were diligent in ensuring I eventually knew what I needed to, (as per CAR), rather than just turning me loose on the exam.
#4 $: Maybe I spent more, at their reasonably low rate, than I would have at a sausage factory. I am happy with the outcome. I was initially attracted by the cheaper rate of the C150's, but I was really a bit heavy for the poor things. With a beefy instructor they were struggling, even with half fuel. I switched to the Warrior, a much more gentlemanly machine. It probably cost a little more, but I know which climb rate I prefer. If you are more averagely constructed the 150 can save you, and there don't seem to be a lot around ourside MB.
#5 Friendly: Genuinely, they are. I've seen somebody else get a tongue lashing, they got stroppy when they stamped into the office and wanted to talk about gliding and got directed to the other side of the aerodrome. I heard somebody else cop it on the phone once, don't know the story there. They do have a rep for temper, but I haven't experienced it. I am an easy going sort of chap though, mostly. As mentioned above had no trouble negotiating my way against the general flow, and resolved a couple of slight disagreements on interpretation of rules/AIP without any displays. Since achieving my PPL they have remained friendly, and seem glad to see me when I want to rent an aircraft, or just cadge tea.
There is a sign on the wall saying you pay for lessons cancelled with less than 24 hours notice, yet I have cancelled with genuine reasons and this hasn't happened. I even forgot to turn up once, cost me a couple of bottles of vino, but no other financial hit. I expect the sign is there for people that dick them around, maybe even an anachronism that has survived a couple of redecoratings. I am sure they wouldn't let you fly if you turned up sweating and farting with the latest pandemic lurgi, nor would they expect you too.
I would recommend you talk to them about this or any other concerns you have. Form your opinion based on that rather than what you read on this forum.
Best of luck with your training, it will be an adventure!
Join Date: Jun 2004
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Admittedly my experience with TVSA goes back 20 years, when they were still in the Tarago Valley! The owner and CFI was also the ATO and on my unrestricted test he nagged away at me about every little thing until I was so stressed I couldn't fly straight. He did pass me, but told me I was very marginal. I flew with another instructor some time later and he found very little wrong with the way I flew.
I suppose it's all about personalities.
Walrus
I suppose it's all about personalities.
Walrus
