If I were you, I'd try and get some of the theory exams done and out of the way. Don't really know what's on the PPL syllabus these days .. did mine a long time ago, .. BAK, Met, Nav, and Air Law used to be it. You should be able to knock these off in 4 months.

mate how about you buy Flight Simulator X and get trained there much quicker and easier... heheh good luck

Thats not a bad idea actually. I suggest FS9 or 10 as a supplement to your training. Practice before and after your training and you'll find you will pick things up pretty quickly. I've been using sims in one form or another for years and it makes life a lot easier come test time.

..and the next version apparently comes with an option to print out the RAA certificate after ten hours on the clock!

Sorry RAA folk, couldn't resist :}

Yeah i use/used it for IF stuff. Arcs intercepts IF orientation thats all.

Re: FS as a training aid

Cynical pilot is correct, to an extent... BUT...

...the advantage I find with some of my geek students is an improved ability to interpret the instruments. Once you specifically point out the pitfalls, they will often progress quicker because, unlike the non-geeks, they can look inside, get the information, and look outside again.

I often find older students, particularly, staring at the alti looking for hidden meaning or chasing the VSI. :ugh:

Maybe it's just that some people don't listen. :bored:

Ryan, great thread!

I am in the same situ as you, however i am looking to do my CPL part time whilst still working. I am going to self study for the exams and have a good mentor base of pilots to call on for help!

I have conflivting advice from numerous pilots and instructors:

*go for a school at bankstown if you have any aspirations of flying commercially, its good to be thrown into the deep end with air traffic, radio etc etc

*dont go for a school in bankstown, go out to a quieter airstrip where u can concentrate 100% on learning technique without the distraction of other aircraft radio etc. then move to a busier airport later during the CPL.

*dont go for Basair they have too many international students & are a 'sausage factory'

I wonder with the last comment if this also refers to HVA, which are the 'sister' school to Basair...im assuming if there are problems with Basair in BK there are bound to be problems with HVA. any comments anyone??

My other thought at the moment is going with Central coast air club at Warnervale. i will be going up to check out both facilities this weekend.

Its easy to get lost in all the info ive found and my haead is spinning from all the conflicting advice...

Did you have any luck choosing a flying school?

Wow, if that's actually the case then I'm genuinely impressed: More than one hour flying on average seven days a week plus perm. part time work plus revision for the CPL exams.. you're sure?

Depends what you mean by "permanent part time" !

Ryan
Please, please, please dont put ANY money up front. Admittedly it was a long time ago, but I did all of my training pay as you go( PPL and CPL ), and I did it in the minimum time. I paid when I came BACK from my lesson. Admittedly again, I paid almost nothing for the theroy, it was done at TAFE in those days, but I can see no justification for paying for any service in advance. The time it takes will depend on you. It can be done in minimum time if you are dedicated and you have the right school.

Did an ATP in the States and a year or two later the school went bust. I was alright, but those who had just arrived and handed over their cheques prior to it folding lost everything. Don't become an unsecured creditor waiting for a few cents on the dollar months or years in the future.

With the global financial crisis having hit aviation hard, quite a few training establishments will have found themselves on shaky ground financially. Especially those who expanded too fast during the boom times and now don't have the income to service their loans.

Never have more on deposit with a flying school than you are prepared to lose. $1500-2000 in the flying account, the rest in WESTPAC/CBA/ANZ where it is guaranteed. :ok:

Metro Man
I cant believe that there is anybody that is prepared to lose $1500-$2000. All I can say is you must have way too much money. Me, I'm prepared to lose nothing.
I repeat, put NO money up front. not $1500, not $15, not $1, capish?:rolleyes:

No money up front.

Guarantee of aircraft types to be flown. (at basair as soon as "your type" is unservicable they will have you flying somethin else at your own retraining costs to keep you airbourne)

Your paying for the training. If your instructor is not up to scratch, demand a senior 3, or grade 2 instructor.

Classroom time shouldnt be a consideration. The bookwork isnt that hard and any god instructor should sit down one on one for any issues. These large schools will sit you down all day for self-study anyway.

Stay away from basair.

good luck

Come of the grass Charlie Foxtrot etc If the CFI (you are presumably referring to yourself) is that remote as to demand students make a bloody appointment then steer clear of that operator. The flying school wants your money and it is your money that pays the CFI. CFI's may sport four gold bars, real dark sunnies over their head and a big watch and even bigger wings but deep down they are just humble folks - NOT.:=

110% concur with this. Flight sim is probably the worst bad habit builder you can find.

Dear Ryan
 

Pathetic thread.
Think you,ve answered your own stupid question.
Get rid of flight sims, fly real planes. Please.
Cheers
Multi:ok:

Hi Ryan

As someone mentioned previously its good to see that you've been given advice from seemingly various corners of the industry...and I would like to add my views simply because I am an ex student of BASAIR although it has been a quite a few years now.

I agree with the majority that you should not pay upfront....but I'm saying that because I'm a few years wiser now and not because I got ripped off.

I don't know what the situation is like there now but I must stand by the instructors I had at that time. Even tho I was in a class containing some international students I managed to complete my CPL and MECIR in ten months, abt 2 weeks behind the schedule which was very well laid out for the whole year. It was run by 2 instructors who were both well versed with our progress and for the Multi/Comnd Inst Rtng we had another dedicated instructor. I must say again that all three were very proffessional, helpful, knowledgeable and skilled and were not just trying to get me to pass.

Off course am pretty sure none of those instructors are working for Basair these days so once again I cannot say what its like now. Mind you it wasn't as big a flying school then as it apparently is nowadays. So all this is just what I personally went through and I'm not for a moment suggesting that you disregard all the others good advice and go to Basair. I think after all thats what this thread is about...

Mate I'd say keep up the real research and you'll find what you need :ok:

I think the above replys paint a clear picture. Has anyone heard what is happening at Aerospace Aviation after the 4 corners show ?