Changing Training Centers
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Changing Training Centers
Hello
I'm sure this subject has appeared in various threads before, so my apologies beforehand. I am a PPL student but have been involved in aviation in one form or another for a considerable time.
I'm am seriously considering changing schools. I always test my own judgement but respect and accept the judgement of those with more experience, but I keep seeing 'Caption warnings'.
Having just read an article in a respected Flying magazine which includes a list of warning sign's to look out for, my current provider ticks an uncomfortable number of boxes. I get the impression that the school is being run for the benefit of the school rather than meeting my requirements and at the end of the day I am the consumer. While nothing can be done about the weather I keep getting breaks that atrophy what I've learned due to availability, usually due to non wx cancellations, and changed lesson timing. I get the feeling I am there for their benefit, and the intructors dont seem too happy either. I do get the issues that face any operator but at the end of the day I need consistency to complete, and it just doesn't feel right.
I'm investigating changing my provider. I may be a case of frying pan to fire but I'm becoming increasingly dissilusioned.
I understand that I need to get my training records, but before I go further I would like to put my dilemna out to the forum.
I have a few questions on which I would welcome opinions
1 Is this fairly typical of most schools/clubs?
2. Are my expectations too high?
3. Should I just shut up get my head down and get it over with?
4 Should I get the hell out of there ?
5 Assuming I go ahead, what is involved?
All input welcome . I have left out the details for obvious reasons but as an indication the log book has a few 'Self ' entries.
I'm sure this subject has appeared in various threads before, so my apologies beforehand. I am a PPL student but have been involved in aviation in one form or another for a considerable time.
I'm am seriously considering changing schools. I always test my own judgement but respect and accept the judgement of those with more experience, but I keep seeing 'Caption warnings'.
Having just read an article in a respected Flying magazine which includes a list of warning sign's to look out for, my current provider ticks an uncomfortable number of boxes. I get the impression that the school is being run for the benefit of the school rather than meeting my requirements and at the end of the day I am the consumer. While nothing can be done about the weather I keep getting breaks that atrophy what I've learned due to availability, usually due to non wx cancellations, and changed lesson timing. I get the feeling I am there for their benefit, and the intructors dont seem too happy either. I do get the issues that face any operator but at the end of the day I need consistency to complete, and it just doesn't feel right.
I'm investigating changing my provider. I may be a case of frying pan to fire but I'm becoming increasingly dissilusioned.
I understand that I need to get my training records, but before I go further I would like to put my dilemna out to the forum.
I have a few questions on which I would welcome opinions
1 Is this fairly typical of most schools/clubs?
2. Are my expectations too high?
3. Should I just shut up get my head down and get it over with?
4 Should I get the hell out of there ?
5 Assuming I go ahead, what is involved?
All input welcome . I have left out the details for obvious reasons but as an indication the log book has a few 'Self ' entries.
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Welcome Noitall,
It is certainly possible that the school of your present time is not fulfilling your needs. It is a reality these days that instructors are being offered airline jobs with less and less flying experience. This is resulting in a shortage of experienced instructors for the schools. It's not necessarily the school's fault that they have trouble retaining experienced instructors, though it can become your problem. It's a simple reality that the coveted airline job pays more than instructing does. So first, be prepared to pay more for quality instruction, don't be beating a deal out of the school, it won't end up being a deal for you. Seek out experienced (multi thousand hour) instructors. Yeah, it's harder on the new instructors when you do that, but it is your money!
It's too general to attempt to answer your questions directly, too many variables. But asking those questions is very wise! If you do move, assure that you retain all of your training records, and that they are signed off.
It is certainly possible that the school of your present time is not fulfilling your needs. It is a reality these days that instructors are being offered airline jobs with less and less flying experience. This is resulting in a shortage of experienced instructors for the schools. It's not necessarily the school's fault that they have trouble retaining experienced instructors, though it can become your problem. It's a simple reality that the coveted airline job pays more than instructing does. So first, be prepared to pay more for quality instruction, don't be beating a deal out of the school, it won't end up being a deal for you. Seek out experienced (multi thousand hour) instructors. Yeah, it's harder on the new instructors when you do that, but it is your money!
It's too general to attempt to answer your questions directly, too many variables. But asking those questions is very wise! If you do move, assure that you retain all of your training records, and that they are signed off.
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Hi Noitall,
I was in your shoes, started at one ATO where the PPL syllabus was taught almost exclusively by 200 hour instructors with bars on their shoulders, spots on their foreheads and whom would refuse to take their aviators off indoors.
Went through three instructors in that time as two of them went into the airlines. Wasn't seeing much personal progress, and due to weather I was constantly finding myself driving over an hour for a lesson to be told "no flying today".
I moved to another ATO where 95% of the instructors are career instructors, or ex airline turned instructor. Night. And. Day.
In short, best thing I did. I flew through the rest of my PPL (no pun intended) and I'm intending to do the rest of my modular ATPL there. End of the day, mate, it's YOUR money. Spend it wisely. Go and have a look at some other ATO's and if you think you'll progress better elsewhere, go for it. As PilotDar mentioned, too general to answer most of your q's but if you want any other advice feel free to drop me a PM.
Best of Luck.
RT
I was in your shoes, started at one ATO where the PPL syllabus was taught almost exclusively by 200 hour instructors with bars on their shoulders, spots on their foreheads and whom would refuse to take their aviators off indoors.
Went through three instructors in that time as two of them went into the airlines. Wasn't seeing much personal progress, and due to weather I was constantly finding myself driving over an hour for a lesson to be told "no flying today".
I moved to another ATO where 95% of the instructors are career instructors, or ex airline turned instructor. Night. And. Day.
In short, best thing I did. I flew through the rest of my PPL (no pun intended) and I'm intending to do the rest of my modular ATPL there. End of the day, mate, it's YOUR money. Spend it wisely. Go and have a look at some other ATO's and if you think you'll progress better elsewhere, go for it. As PilotDar mentioned, too general to answer most of your q's but if you want any other advice feel free to drop me a PM.
Best of Luck.
RT
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Thank you all for your opinions and help.
I have decided to move and implemented the steps required. I visited another organisation and felt at home within minutes. While learning at an international airport is a steep learning curve and provides you a challenging but rewarding environment (and in retrospect I wouldn't have it any other way) it will be nice to not have 20 minute holds, expedites and wake separation. I'm sure that experience will stay with me and is to my benefit. Something just told me I wasn't where I belonged and I have learned rather belatedly that I should trust my intuition. No matter where flying leads me I will always remember with fondness my first solo, the instructors and others that made it happen.
I have decided to move and implemented the steps required. I visited another organisation and felt at home within minutes. While learning at an international airport is a steep learning curve and provides you a challenging but rewarding environment (and in retrospect I wouldn't have it any other way) it will be nice to not have 20 minute holds, expedites and wake separation. I'm sure that experience will stay with me and is to my benefit. Something just told me I wasn't where I belonged and I have learned rather belatedly that I should trust my intuition. No matter where flying leads me I will always remember with fondness my first solo, the instructors and others that made it happen.
