Training At Essendon YMEN?
 

I Use to train there a while back but i went overseas and just got back and wanting to finished my training.

can any one give me some info on the schools there? what is good and not good? do they still do training at Point Cook?

does any one train at essendon and can recommend a good school?


I have looked at some schools at YMMB but its too far for me to travel.

Thanks.

Was in the same boat...used to train at Wings @ Essendon a few years ago, until they shut up shop. The airport isn't in good shape, unfortunately. There are 3 schools left from memory...

- National Aerospace Training, who will try to hook you into their $70,000 CPL course...gave up on them when they kept ringing me and bugging me about applying etc...

- Interair - did 2 hours with these guys before calling it quits...they attempt to be professional but the organisation of the place is pretty poor.

- Pearsons...if I was still at Essendon, I would most likely be flying with these guys. Have a few mates flying with them and no -ve feelings. Reasonable aircraft and facilities, and good instructors.

Unfortunately with Essendon, and the reason why I left, is because of the extra fees. Dual rates in a 172 at most of the schools is about $270 or so...on top of this, you need to add Essendon and airservices landing/airport fees which equal about $50-60...so in theory, you are paying $300+ for a dual 172 per hour. When I found that out, I decided to move airports.

Although you say YMMB is too far away, have a good look at the place before making a proper decision. I now fly from there, and I live approximately 5 minutes drive from Essendon. Positives that I have found with flying at YMBB:

- Rates aren't too bad...about average really, with NO extra fees etc
- Training area is 5 minutes away...means you don't have to transit 20-30 minutes just to get to the training area, like you do if you were flying from YMEN...this overall equals more time spent getting your moneys worth in the air...
- Circuits can be done at YMMB...see above comment
- Choice...lots of it at Moorabbin...you can train at anything from a basic school, all the way up to places liek GFS with brand new 172 and 182's

Not sure where you live, but travel time for me is just under an hour away from the Essendon area. Have also driven to and from YMMB in peak traffic and its not overly bad...obviously a bit slower on the mains roads and freeway, but nothing too bad.

As I mentioned, have a better look at Moorabbin. It's a very nice, busy airport, and has that feel about it that Essendon has unfortunately lost. If you want some more info, feel free to PM me...

Anyone know what happened to Galaxy Flying School?

I too would now say go to MB, started at EN did circuit training etc at PC and occasionally MB. I initially thought it would be less stress training away from MB as it is quite busy, but have since found MB is far better. The chaps in the tower are great, most everyone else there is in the same boat-i.e. training. It just works well :ok:

Just wondering if things have changed that much??

Back in the late '70's, as was common then, I split my training between Penfield (Sunbury) and Essendon.

The benefit at Penfield was no congestion, just jump in and go (after a suitably thorough preflight of course! :ok:) and learn to fly without sitting on the tarmac chewing up $$$ waiting in sequence.
Further down the track when I needed navaids, twin training etc then Essendon came into play.

Is modern wisdom that you HAVE to train in controlled airspace and/or HAVE to use an integrated course as opposed to maybe using a number of suppliers/locations etc??

It was great in the early stages to simply learn to fly without having the added pressure of CTA, radio calls, delays etc from day 1, those things arose as experience/training progressed.

Maybe like many things I have fond memories of an era that no longer exists?? :(

vee1-rotate
 

Sorry vee1-rotate, I actually believe Essendon Airport is a great airport. I base my aircraft there and am pleased with all the work that's going on. Recently they've replaced the runway lighting, built new hangars and installed a new ILS. There's a stack of work going on around the place, and I think it hasn't looked better for years.

I agree it's more expensive than other airports, but as a facility and for location it's heaps better than Moorabbin.

I'm quite happy with my decision to train at Essendon, dont know much about InterAir but would give NAT a very wide berth. The key to training at Ess is to make your flights of a decent length each time and make any transits between the training area a useful part of the lesson. Pearsons aircraft are some of the most well maintained and looked after of all the training fleets I've seen plus there hire rates are very reasonable.

I have come across more reasonable rates, minus the $10 each pax headset charge! :suspect:

Try Skybird!! I'm sure they are still around according to JM. Say hi to John while you're there...:p:p:p

.

John and Elizabeth Brown both died several years ago. No more Galaxy

Skybird closed shop many years ago. The trade name is probably still current but certainly no visible flying school anymore. JM is now a lawyer.

Thanks A37575
 

I was aware of Elizabeth's passing but not of John's. I believe I was one of the very last students to pass through Galaxy.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time flying at Essendon.

I don't suppose anyone know's whose got the PA28 - IAL these days?

John & Elizabeth Brown - Galaxy
 

I found this post and wanted to say that as at today, October 4, 2014, John Brown who used to run Galaxy Airways is still alive and I am currently typing his manuscript of his life story.

Apparently his wife, Elizabeth's dying wish was that he have his book printed and so, together with his carer at Wesley Mission in Melbourne, we are trying to make his dream come true.

That is very good news. Please pass on my regards to John.

I had the opportunity to read a few chapters of his memoirs. Very interesting indeed ;)

Alex

I do believe that Elizabeth was John's sister.

John & Elizabeth
 

Hi All,
My Dad was friends with John and Elizabeth for many years, although he did his training with "M"s Discover fLying he did 20 years worth of BFR's with Galaxy's he even parked his 140 next to IAL and the "other" orange one (cannot remember the rego) parking was orange "MFD" green "IAL" and the other orange one. there are many family photo's from the galaxy dance floor and bar. we even had a lotto ticket with them. Unfortunatly Dad and Elizabeth had a falling out not long before she passed so it was not resovled though Dad did check up on John until he went in to care.
Cheers, Dan