PPL in florida
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Brighton. UK. (Via Liverpool).
Posts: 5,068
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I believe the people who ask questions are interested in the "big picture" of the school and such examples of unsatisfaction (sic) have no place to a forum like this (IMHO), not to mention the fact that are more confusing rather that enlightening...
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: GREECE
Age: 47
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
BRL and MCGOO,
I am focusing on "such" examples of unsatisfaction that i mention in my earlier posts. These are examples referring to individual situations that are just what i mentioned, individual situations. What i want to hear from somebody that has visited the school is for cases that are related to school policies and environment and are affecting the training process, a cat in the hangar does not affect the process at all. Furthermore, don't you think that it is unfair for any school to be badly critisized because it once employeed an instructor that one of us did not like?
I am focusing on "such" examples of unsatisfaction that i mention in my earlier posts. These are examples referring to individual situations that are just what i mentioned, individual situations. What i want to hear from somebody that has visited the school is for cases that are related to school policies and environment and are affecting the training process, a cat in the hangar does not affect the process at all. Furthermore, don't you think that it is unfair for any school to be badly critisized because it once employeed an instructor that one of us did not like?
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Looking for the signals square at LHR
Posts: 236
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
PPL in Florida
Two things occurr to me having followed this thread:
Firstly, Florida being only twenty-something degrees North, has a sub-tropical climate with pronounced seasonal characteristics. The peninsula in the summer months is one huge weather machine with the water temperatures of the inland Everglades rivalling those of the Caribbean and Gulf Stream. Flying usually is possible before lunch but the afternoons are full of CuNim build-ups and it rains (violently) more often than not, (sometimes accompanied by tornadic activity) leaving steaming, humid and thoroughly unpleasant conditions for the rest of the afternoon.
The winter period (November to end of May) is delightful with temperatures very much more to the liking of those from cooler climes. This is the dry season and weather suitable for flying training is pretty well an everyday guarantee. However, this is the "high" season so there will be competition for accommodation from the bucket-and-spade gang as well as all the snowbirds from Canada, no doubt raising the general costs of things. But given the choice, winter is the time to go.
Secondly - and following from choices - I should point out that whilst I have many types in my books, there are only two from Clyde Cessna. I have over 600 hours on the 404 but have flown the 172 only once. This later occassion was quite recently and I have to say that I consider it the most boring and uninspired aircraft I have ever flown. I thought the MS880B was pretty dull but at least you could see out of the thing. The 172, being designed for American car drivers and therefore having had any personality or character designed out of it, will get you the PPL but it won't teach you to fly. Being able to see where you are and what others are doing in the circuit is well nigh impossible - at least the Auster had a window in the roof! I shall not climb into another one.
My suggestion is that if the flying school offers you the choice, take the other one/s.
Firstly, Florida being only twenty-something degrees North, has a sub-tropical climate with pronounced seasonal characteristics. The peninsula in the summer months is one huge weather machine with the water temperatures of the inland Everglades rivalling those of the Caribbean and Gulf Stream. Flying usually is possible before lunch but the afternoons are full of CuNim build-ups and it rains (violently) more often than not, (sometimes accompanied by tornadic activity) leaving steaming, humid and thoroughly unpleasant conditions for the rest of the afternoon.
The winter period (November to end of May) is delightful with temperatures very much more to the liking of those from cooler climes. This is the dry season and weather suitable for flying training is pretty well an everyday guarantee. However, this is the "high" season so there will be competition for accommodation from the bucket-and-spade gang as well as all the snowbirds from Canada, no doubt raising the general costs of things. But given the choice, winter is the time to go.
Secondly - and following from choices - I should point out that whilst I have many types in my books, there are only two from Clyde Cessna. I have over 600 hours on the 404 but have flown the 172 only once. This later occassion was quite recently and I have to say that I consider it the most boring and uninspired aircraft I have ever flown. I thought the MS880B was pretty dull but at least you could see out of the thing. The 172, being designed for American car drivers and therefore having had any personality or character designed out of it, will get you the PPL but it won't teach you to fly. Being able to see where you are and what others are doing in the circuit is well nigh impossible - at least the Auster had a window in the roof! I shall not climb into another one.
My suggestion is that if the flying school offers you the choice, take the other one/s.
Professional Student
Having been to OFT this June, my opinions echo most of those posted here, so in brief;
1. Damn good flying instructors
2. Not enough JAA examiners IMHO
3. A/C not that well maintained (my experience & opinion)
4. Your account would need watching & DON'T EVER PAY UPFRONT
5. After June-ish time, the thunderstorms are a right pain in the arse
Did have a few admin problems but to their credit they did sort them out after being asked.
1. Damn good flying instructors
2. Not enough JAA examiners IMHO
3. A/C not that well maintained (my experience & opinion)
4. Your account would need watching & DON'T EVER PAY UPFRONT
5. After June-ish time, the thunderstorms are a right pain in the arse
Did have a few admin problems but to their credit they did sort them out after being asked.
Professional Student
Bean_ian,
It would have probably been different for me as I was part of a uni course that did the training out there as part of a package. So it probably doesn't apply to you. In any case, you're better off paying as you go!
Word of warning however - next April I think the 2nd year of my course will start to descend onto OFT again! If you're there from May - July time you *may* find that there are quite a lot of people there.
It would have probably been different for me as I was part of a uni course that did the training out there as part of a package. So it probably doesn't apply to you. In any case, you're better off paying as you go!
Word of warning however - next April I think the 2nd year of my course will start to descend onto OFT again! If you're there from May - July time you *may* find that there are quite a lot of people there.
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: USA
Age: 41
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Paul Thompsons tel number
Has anybody got Paul Thompsons tel or cellphone number?
I have to book him and I don't know how to get in contact since OFT refuses to give me his number or any other contact details.
Please send me an e-mail [email protected]
Thanks for your help,
Chris
I have to book him and I don't know how to get in contact since OFT refuses to give me his number or any other contact details.
Please send me an e-mail [email protected]
Thanks for your help,
Chris
Pompey till I die
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Guildford
Age: 51
Posts: 779
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just my 2c worth
I was all booked to go to Florida for flight training but had to cancel at the last minute due to work commitments. I decided to do my training here in the UK instead. Although more expensive I am much happier. The reasons are simple
1. I am flying in the conditions I'll fly in when I qualify
2. I understand the local area far better and know what landmarks to look for
3. I have seen the sorts of things I need to see. Will you learn how to remove frost from the aircraft in Florida ?
4. Instead of PPL training being a chore that I need to get through, the local flying club is a friendly little place. It's nice to meet other people with the same interests and so training has become almost a social club.
5. Being with loved ones the night after your first solo is great, you can go home and tell EVERYONE that you know. Even that bloke who once said hello to you, you can bore him to death with all the details of your circuit
6. Because it's all local I know where to get what I need. I know where to get my medical done (when it expires) and also the RT tutor etc etc
Flying is going to be expensive no matter how you do it. My as well get it done right and do it here in the UK IMHO with all of 10 hours training time.
Anyway, sorry to pull this in a tangent....
1. I am flying in the conditions I'll fly in when I qualify
2. I understand the local area far better and know what landmarks to look for
3. I have seen the sorts of things I need to see. Will you learn how to remove frost from the aircraft in Florida ?
4. Instead of PPL training being a chore that I need to get through, the local flying club is a friendly little place. It's nice to meet other people with the same interests and so training has become almost a social club.
5. Being with loved ones the night after your first solo is great, you can go home and tell EVERYONE that you know. Even that bloke who once said hello to you, you can bore him to death with all the details of your circuit
6. Because it's all local I know where to get what I need. I know where to get my medical done (when it expires) and also the RT tutor etc etc
Flying is going to be expensive no matter how you do it. My as well get it done right and do it here in the UK IMHO with all of 10 hours training time.
Anyway, sorry to pull this in a tangent....
Blah Blah Blah
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Malmesbury VRP
Age: 48
Posts: 927
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
PompeyPaul
Will you learn how to remove frost from the aircraft in Florida ?
Will you learn how to remove frost from the aircraft in Florida ?
The 100% assured weather rumor is just not true in Florida.
It does get bloody coldat times (cold enought to frost up).
It gets bloody windy and will often be over the limits that the FTO set.
It does get foggy.
It does have low cloud.
It does hammer down the rain.
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Amsterdam
Posts: 4,598
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I did my PPL at OFT about a year and a half ago. I did the three week package and passed my skills test on day 22. I had zero hours in my logbook upon arrival at OFT (In fact bought my logbook there), and no ground exams under my belt. But I did study a lot in the months before I went there, flew a lot of FS2004 (particulary on instruments, C172), and listened to a lot of R/T with a second-hand scanner.
A few tips:
- You'll need an M-1 visa and TSA clearance. Start working on this at least two months before you leave
- If at all possible avoid hurricane season (roughly june-october). If you have to fly there in hurricane season, learn the weather patterns quickly. Fly early in the morning (yes, 6am-early) or late in the afternoon. Remember that a number of hours that you do at night may count towards both the basic PPL requirement and the Night VFR requirement.
- Study for your ground exams before you fly to Florida, so that you're able to sit all exams in the first week & pass them. Don't rely on the (free) evening groundschool. It won't get you through quickly enough.
- Make sure you have a flexible ticket. I have had one day delay due to weather (remember Katrina-Rita-Stan-Tammy? Well, there were two nameless storms after them too...) and was able to change my flight back.
- Make friends with your instructor early. Promise him/her a real nice dinner if you pass in 21 days. They don't get paid much so give them a reason to work for you.
- Keep a close watch on your account. You are required to pay upfront (as you arrive). I deliberately choose to pay by credit card, despite the 2% (which is negotiable anyway), so that I would have the credit card company at my side in case of problems.
- Do NOT fly the C-152. They're old and tired. Consider the fact that the very last C-152 left the Cessna factory somewhere in 1985 and you'll know what their general shape is. Upgrade to the Cadet (which I did) or even the C-172 (very nice machines, but even more expensive)
- Become and remain the master of your own schedule. Keep a progress report yourselves, verify with your instructor regularly. Set target dates/hours by which you "have to" have done certain things (together with your instructor) and check regularly. How about 15 hours to solo, 30 hours to qualifying solo x-country.
- Yes, there is a shortage of JAA examiners. Ground exams are no problem, as they can be administered by OFT themselves (I don't know how this works legally, but it works.) But as I was there the R/T examiner had just gone on holiday and the resident R/T examiner had not received the paperwork in time. Also, at that time they only had one JAA examiner. He was seriously backed up with exams which all got delayed due to weather. Short version is that I was fully ready (wrt. hours etc) to do my R/T exam and skills test on day 18 or so, but due to unavailable and backed up examiners, and weather, did my R/T practical only on day 21, and my skills test on day 22. Plan your exams in advance and make sure you get the school to confirm them.
- Considering the intensity with which the aircraft are flown (four sorties a day is the norm), the aircraft are in good nick. The resident maintenance shop is very quick to fix problems that can be fixed quickly and it is rare for an aircraft to be U/S more than half a day. But things do break down which upsets the schedule. Make friends with the dispatcher early on. If possible, be in the ops room when the schedule for the next day is written up. If you do things correctly and nicely, it is very possible to get the exact schedule and aircraft you want, every day.
- If you behave like you're the only customer on the premises and expect that everybody stands in line to help you out in every way they can without any thanks or so, think again. It's not going to work. Instead, if you consider yourself part of the team (together with the instructors, dispatchers, other students, chief instructor and such) with the aim of getting you and the other students their PPL ASAP, your attitude will be much more appreciated. A friendly word or a genuine "thanks" here and there, getting a cup of coffee, soda, donuts for somebody who is working his/her a**e of for you and the other students, helping a solo student to park the A/C after a long flight, and other things like that really help you get the most of your time there. Particularly if the schedule is tight due to weather or A/C being U/S, you will be favoured over others... :-)
- Accomodation: I had accomodation in the apartments in the complex closest to the school. They're a run-down bunch although if things are really broken and you report that to OFT, it will be fixed. But I heard that the apartment at the other side of the main road are *much* nicer.
Some of the people that were at OFT a year and a half ago might still be there. If you want my opinion on individual persons, send me a PM.
Some interesting stories: My A/C failed its run-up tests on my FIRST SOLO! Had to taxi back in to OFT to get a new plane to try my 1st solo for the 2nd time. By the time I got back from my three full-stop-taxibacks the first A/C was just fixed (spark plug failed). But since both times I taxied the aircraft with the intent to fly, I now have both first solos in my logbook! (And to be fair, OFT did not charge me for the taxi/runup time on the first A/C.)
Oh, and on my first night flight we actually went through THREE A/C this way (the first one had a failed landing light during the A-check, the second A/Cs landing light failed after the first circuit, and the third A/Cs interior lights could not be dimmed but we took it anyway. Next day both landing lights were already repaired before I arrived at the school and I saw the engineer take the dimmer out of AC 3 to fix it. Kudos to maintenance!)
A few tips:
- You'll need an M-1 visa and TSA clearance. Start working on this at least two months before you leave
- If at all possible avoid hurricane season (roughly june-october). If you have to fly there in hurricane season, learn the weather patterns quickly. Fly early in the morning (yes, 6am-early) or late in the afternoon. Remember that a number of hours that you do at night may count towards both the basic PPL requirement and the Night VFR requirement.
- Study for your ground exams before you fly to Florida, so that you're able to sit all exams in the first week & pass them. Don't rely on the (free) evening groundschool. It won't get you through quickly enough.
- Make sure you have a flexible ticket. I have had one day delay due to weather (remember Katrina-Rita-Stan-Tammy? Well, there were two nameless storms after them too...) and was able to change my flight back.
- Make friends with your instructor early. Promise him/her a real nice dinner if you pass in 21 days. They don't get paid much so give them a reason to work for you.
- Keep a close watch on your account. You are required to pay upfront (as you arrive). I deliberately choose to pay by credit card, despite the 2% (which is negotiable anyway), so that I would have the credit card company at my side in case of problems.
- Do NOT fly the C-152. They're old and tired. Consider the fact that the very last C-152 left the Cessna factory somewhere in 1985 and you'll know what their general shape is. Upgrade to the Cadet (which I did) or even the C-172 (very nice machines, but even more expensive)
- Become and remain the master of your own schedule. Keep a progress report yourselves, verify with your instructor regularly. Set target dates/hours by which you "have to" have done certain things (together with your instructor) and check regularly. How about 15 hours to solo, 30 hours to qualifying solo x-country.
- Yes, there is a shortage of JAA examiners. Ground exams are no problem, as they can be administered by OFT themselves (I don't know how this works legally, but it works.) But as I was there the R/T examiner had just gone on holiday and the resident R/T examiner had not received the paperwork in time. Also, at that time they only had one JAA examiner. He was seriously backed up with exams which all got delayed due to weather. Short version is that I was fully ready (wrt. hours etc) to do my R/T exam and skills test on day 18 or so, but due to unavailable and backed up examiners, and weather, did my R/T practical only on day 21, and my skills test on day 22. Plan your exams in advance and make sure you get the school to confirm them.
- Considering the intensity with which the aircraft are flown (four sorties a day is the norm), the aircraft are in good nick. The resident maintenance shop is very quick to fix problems that can be fixed quickly and it is rare for an aircraft to be U/S more than half a day. But things do break down which upsets the schedule. Make friends with the dispatcher early on. If possible, be in the ops room when the schedule for the next day is written up. If you do things correctly and nicely, it is very possible to get the exact schedule and aircraft you want, every day.
- If you behave like you're the only customer on the premises and expect that everybody stands in line to help you out in every way they can without any thanks or so, think again. It's not going to work. Instead, if you consider yourself part of the team (together with the instructors, dispatchers, other students, chief instructor and such) with the aim of getting you and the other students their PPL ASAP, your attitude will be much more appreciated. A friendly word or a genuine "thanks" here and there, getting a cup of coffee, soda, donuts for somebody who is working his/her a**e of for you and the other students, helping a solo student to park the A/C after a long flight, and other things like that really help you get the most of your time there. Particularly if the schedule is tight due to weather or A/C being U/S, you will be favoured over others... :-)
- Accomodation: I had accomodation in the apartments in the complex closest to the school. They're a run-down bunch although if things are really broken and you report that to OFT, it will be fixed. But I heard that the apartment at the other side of the main road are *much* nicer.
Some of the people that were at OFT a year and a half ago might still be there. If you want my opinion on individual persons, send me a PM.
Some interesting stories: My A/C failed its run-up tests on my FIRST SOLO! Had to taxi back in to OFT to get a new plane to try my 1st solo for the 2nd time. By the time I got back from my three full-stop-taxibacks the first A/C was just fixed (spark plug failed). But since both times I taxied the aircraft with the intent to fly, I now have both first solos in my logbook! (And to be fair, OFT did not charge me for the taxi/runup time on the first A/C.)
Oh, and on my first night flight we actually went through THREE A/C this way (the first one had a failed landing light during the A-check, the second A/Cs landing light failed after the first circuit, and the third A/Cs interior lights could not be dimmed but we took it anyway. Next day both landing lights were already repaired before I arrived at the school and I saw the engineer take the dimmer out of AC 3 to fix it. Kudos to maintenance!)
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: essex
Posts: 412
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Did my FAA CPL /IR with OFT just over a year ago
Most of the feedback on here is accurate and fair
Great bunch of people and a nice setup
definitely for the self driven and focused pilot, manage yourself, work hard, get the exams done up front and then all will be well. Enjoy the thrill of flying in the USA and have fun !
Most of the feedback on here is accurate and fair
Great bunch of people and a nice setup
definitely for the self driven and focused pilot, manage yourself, work hard, get the exams done up front and then all will be well. Enjoy the thrill of flying in the USA and have fun !
Join Date: May 2005
Location: The Netherlands
Age: 55
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi
I'm thinking of heading to OFT in november
Does anybody has experience with the housing OFT offers at the Best Western?
Should be $50 per night, incl tax.
I'm thinking of heading to OFT in november
Does anybody has experience with the housing OFT offers at the Best Western?
Should be $50 per night, incl tax.
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Amsterdam
Posts: 4,598
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was in the houding in the complex closest to the school. These apartments are run-down and what I've heard and seen, the apartments other side of the main road are better. But they're about 10-15 additional minutes walking. The Best Western is, well, a hotel. Expect much better quality and a much higher price. And you'll be all alone each evening. You've got to share the apartment (including the bathroom) with 2 or 3 other guys (girls) although each will have a separate bedroom. But it does give you somebody to talk to during the evenings, to go out to dinner with and so forth.
When I was there there was a guy on the two-weeks VIP course (which is a ridiculous schedule and nowhere near possible unless everything comes together flawlessly). Being on the VIP program he got a car (very handy) and a room at the Best Western. He kept the car but quickly changed to one of the apartments, basically because of the company he would have in the evenings.
When I was there there was a guy on the two-weeks VIP course (which is a ridiculous schedule and nowhere near possible unless everything comes together flawlessly). Being on the VIP program he got a car (very handy) and a room at the Best Western. He kept the car but quickly changed to one of the apartments, basically because of the company he would have in the evenings.
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: UK
Age: 60
Posts: 240
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I did the hotel for a few days then moved into one of the apartments sharing with two other students.
Leaving aside that some of the younger students have, to put it mildly, obviously been over-nannied by their mothers and incapable of keeping the place tidy, it is far better to be able to come home in the evening and talk about what has been going on to fellow-students than stay alone in a hotel room.
Far more sociable and fun in the apartments.
BW
Leaving aside that some of the younger students have, to put it mildly, obviously been over-nannied by their mothers and incapable of keeping the place tidy, it is far better to be able to come home in the evening and talk about what has been going on to fellow-students than stay alone in a hotel room.
Far more sociable and fun in the apartments.
BW
Join Date: May 2005
Location: The Netherlands
Age: 55
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In my case it's a little bit different because my girlfriend will jpoin me as her vacation (not mine;-). I understood private housing is much more complectated and expencive???
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Amsterdam
Posts: 4,598
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
paulvb, if at all possible, leave your girlfriend at home, or ask her to come over for a week or so outside your flying schedule. I don't know exactly what sort of course you are going to do, but in any case a three-week PPL is very intensive, and I suspect the other flying courses are too. You'll have to get up at 6 am-ish to take advantage of the weather, prepare, fly and evaluate two (sometimes three) flights a day so you will only be back 6 pm-ish or maybe even later. Then a bite at the winghouse or one of the other local establishments, grab a beer and back in bed by 10 pm-ish. Or earlier. At least, that's what I did for three weeks straight.
Unless your girlfriend doesn't mind not seeing you and is able to take a lot of initiatives on her own, she's not going to enjoy it.
Do as one of the students did during the period I was there. He took a full week off flying, moved into a hotel, got his girlfriend over, saw the sights and generally had a good time. He took her back to the airport for her to fly home (I think he actually got an instructor with him and dropped her off himself at Orlando International...), then moved into the student housing again and went on flying where he left off.
There are private houses/apartments in the Kissimmee area which you can rent if you want to for shorter or longer periods, but OFT doesn't arrange this for you, as far as I know. They only offer you the shared apartments or the Best Western. So you'll have to make arrangements yourself. And you probably will have to get a car, since there's not a lot of houses/apartments in general, within easy walking distance from OFT.
And I have to concur with bladewashout, some of the younger students, typically the ones that are on the Cabair integrated, commercial track, doing their PPL at OFT, need a little babysitting. I don't mind if they make a mess of their own room, but they also make a mess of the public areas, and then leave the place without cleaning up. Me and a fellow housemate (the only two occupants at that time) spent an evening hauling trash (mostly empty plastic bags and leftover, non-perishable food but some perishable and stinking stuff too) out of the apartment. The cleaning lady only cleans whatever she can get to...
Unless your girlfriend doesn't mind not seeing you and is able to take a lot of initiatives on her own, she's not going to enjoy it.
Do as one of the students did during the period I was there. He took a full week off flying, moved into a hotel, got his girlfriend over, saw the sights and generally had a good time. He took her back to the airport for her to fly home (I think he actually got an instructor with him and dropped her off himself at Orlando International...), then moved into the student housing again and went on flying where he left off.
There are private houses/apartments in the Kissimmee area which you can rent if you want to for shorter or longer periods, but OFT doesn't arrange this for you, as far as I know. They only offer you the shared apartments or the Best Western. So you'll have to make arrangements yourself. And you probably will have to get a car, since there's not a lot of houses/apartments in general, within easy walking distance from OFT.
And I have to concur with bladewashout, some of the younger students, typically the ones that are on the Cabair integrated, commercial track, doing their PPL at OFT, need a little babysitting. I don't mind if they make a mess of their own room, but they also make a mess of the public areas, and then leave the place without cleaning up. Me and a fellow housemate (the only two occupants at that time) spent an evening hauling trash (mostly empty plastic bags and leftover, non-perishable food but some perishable and stinking stuff too) out of the apartment. The cleaning lady only cleans whatever she can get to...
Join Date: May 2005
Location: The Netherlands
Age: 55
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi
Well, we are aware of the fact will be split up but she doesn't mind at all enjoining herself for 4 weeks, so that's really not the point.
Where we are a little worried about are the really bad reports on tripadvisor.com, about the Best Western...
But for $50 incl per night you cannot expect that much of course....
Well, we are aware of the fact will be split up but she doesn't mind at all enjoining herself for 4 weeks, so that's really not the point.
Where we are a little worried about are the really bad reports on tripadvisor.com, about the Best Western...
But for $50 incl per night you cannot expect that much of course....
