Orlando Flight Training
I do know of people who have been and done JAA approved courses and been refused a license upon return for one reason or another
In the unlikely event that someone has been refused it is probably because they have been lied to by the school, which does not hold the approval it says it does, or because the training has not been completed in accordance with the approval.
I do recall talking to a young lass in the bar at our local flying club who had been refused an IMC rating after a course at a well known Florida school because the training she had done there bore no resemblance to the course that had been approved by the CAA.
It is no skin off the CAA's nose where you do your training, if they were that bothered about it, they wouldn't issue the approvals to overseas schools in the first place - or would make it impossible for them to operate. Thousands of people have trained for JAA licences in the USA and elsewhere and have had those licences issued by the CAA with no problems at all. What's more, plenty of those now fly for UK and other European operators who don't give a toss where the training was done, so long as you have the licence and can pass the sim check. After all, BA used to send its cadets to the USA and Australia for training before it closed down the scheme.
With the USD at its present level, there is every reason for training in the USA. Even if you have to fly a few hours dual back here before a club will hire you an aircraft, it'll still be much cheaper overall and a darned sight quicker.
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What a load of rubbish has been written here.
OFT uses CAA approved examiners (sometimes flown over from UK schools such as Atlantic in Coventry, sometimes resident British examiners in Florida) who then take the tests in N registered aircraft checking you are observing the local rules and regulations of the US. Your exam form is signed by the examiner, and OFT has its own CAA authorisation for PPLs and IMCs (except CPLs which is done under Cabair authorisation). The CAA receives tens of these US-derived applications every month and is not "biased" at all.
And no, I am a happy ex-OFT student, not an OFT employee. PL I will send you a private message, but check my Flying in Florida post.
The continual problem seems to be PPL students go to Florida not checking out all the fees in advance (ask if there are any hidden or extra charges), expecting luxury accomodation for £20/night, and expecting aircraft that cost less than half of the UK price but have similar or better condition. WAKE UP EVERYBODY. Florida is cheap and cheerful (as opposed to cheap and nasty).
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OFT uses CAA approved examiners (sometimes flown over from UK schools such as Atlantic in Coventry, sometimes resident British examiners in Florida) who then take the tests in N registered aircraft checking you are observing the local rules and regulations of the US. Your exam form is signed by the examiner, and OFT has its own CAA authorisation for PPLs and IMCs (except CPLs which is done under Cabair authorisation). The CAA receives tens of these US-derived applications every month and is not "biased" at all.
And no, I am a happy ex-OFT student, not an OFT employee. PL I will send you a private message, but check my Flying in Florida post.
The continual problem seems to be PPL students go to Florida not checking out all the fees in advance (ask if there are any hidden or extra charges), expecting luxury accomodation for £20/night, and expecting aircraft that cost less than half of the UK price but have similar or better condition. WAKE UP EVERYBODY. Florida is cheap and cheerful (as opposed to cheap and nasty).
--->
Spicy Meatball
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I never said training at OFT was a bad idea, I only suggested it can be a risk in Florida, like BB said, if you dont check out that they are CAA approved first. 
bunch of money grabbing sharks....
no interest in student welfare, safety, availability, just make sure your account is in credit and F**k anything else
always difficult going to another country to spend alot of money on something without knowing the company
i certainly would NOT go back there.. ever
try Naples instead there Warriors at $73/hour and well maintained
no interest in student welfare, safety, availability, just make sure your account is in credit and F**k anything else
always difficult going to another country to spend alot of money on something without knowing the company
i certainly would NOT go back there.. ever
try Naples instead there Warriors at $73/hour and well maintained
Spicy Meatball
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Spitfire - I would really love to think of OFT as a great school but I cant due to the shear amount of negative posts in pprune about it. Everybody always says the same - I think ive seen 1 positive comment out of about 20.
Lee
Lee
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Wow! Thanks for all the responses everyone. It has been very helpful.
Mazzy your concern about CAA not recognising approved JAA training sounds a little odd (there probably are a few cases)..... If it was commonplace I have no doubt this board would be filled by people saying not to go to the US for training. Maybe the instructor was feeding you some fluff so that the school gets the business?? Thats commonplace! i'm not trying to bag your friend btw!
Anyway a handful of bad experiences out of hundreds is not really much cause for concern.
I'm still planning on going to the US. To be quite frank the wx here is complete rubbish for CPL training. I have friends who had started their CPL stuff here and in the same time i've got my IR and MCC and had a good 5 weeks off in the meantime too. (I'm converting ICAO licences so any order is the go). I really cant be bothered wasting any time, and having to go through intermittant training trying to get the CPL.
Well after the majority of negative feedback concerning OFT i've decided on EFT. I know some guys that have gone there and had no major complaints. Naples are still waiting on the CAA to send their approval papers for CPL training so at this point in time they are a no go. Hopefully they will be able to start shortly.
Another reason to not go to OFT was that they never replied to my 3 inquiry emails....... so I guess they are doing great business and dont need any more from the likes of me........
Thanks again to everyone who has replied here and PM me!
Very much appreciated! (keep posting too if you have anything to contribute, i've made my decision but theres probably a few people who havn't that are reading this thread so any more opinions wouldnt hurt!)
I'll let u all know how it goes over there and what I thought of EFT.
All the best
PL
Mazzy your concern about CAA not recognising approved JAA training sounds a little odd (there probably are a few cases)..... If it was commonplace I have no doubt this board would be filled by people saying not to go to the US for training. Maybe the instructor was feeding you some fluff so that the school gets the business?? Thats commonplace! i'm not trying to bag your friend btw!
Anyway a handful of bad experiences out of hundreds is not really much cause for concern.I'm still planning on going to the US. To be quite frank the wx here is complete rubbish for CPL training. I have friends who had started their CPL stuff here and in the same time i've got my IR and MCC and had a good 5 weeks off in the meantime too. (I'm converting ICAO licences so any order is the go). I really cant be bothered wasting any time, and having to go through intermittant training trying to get the CPL.
Well after the majority of negative feedback concerning OFT i've decided on EFT. I know some guys that have gone there and had no major complaints. Naples are still waiting on the CAA to send their approval papers for CPL training so at this point in time they are a no go. Hopefully they will be able to start shortly.
Another reason to not go to OFT was that they never replied to my 3 inquiry emails....... so I guess they are doing great business and dont need any more from the likes of me........
Thanks again to everyone who has replied here and PM me!
Very much appreciated! (keep posting too if you have anything to contribute, i've made my decision but theres probably a few people who havn't that are reading this thread so any more opinions wouldnt hurt!)I'll let u all know how it goes over there and what I thought of EFT.
All the best
PL
Spicy Meatball
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I would agree on not going to OFT. The instructor who gave me this info is family so doubt he would tell me lies, and he's not in this country anyway.
When I emailed OFT they were quick to reply and got a few emails off them, they kept reminding me to book early so they must be desperate.
How did you contact them ? Was it using the query form on the website? If so then yes they dont reply, I used the form that is used for making bookings - that must catch their eye quicker !
Best of luck poontang !
Lee
When I emailed OFT they were quick to reply and got a few emails off them, they kept reminding me to book early so they must be desperate.
How did you contact them ? Was it using the query form on the website? If so then yes they dont reply, I used the form that is used for making bookings - that must catch their eye quicker !
Best of luck poontang !
Lee
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OFT
PL,
I was at OFT very recently and I have to agree with many of the posts here. OFT are crap.
OFT are interested in one thing and one thing only - that is your cash.
Some interesing observations:
The planes are in a terrible state.
When I was there many of the guys ended up leaving without gaining a PPL as they ran out of time, 3 weeks is not usually enough time to get a PPL at OFT.
There was a crash a couple of months ago in which the engine just packed up straight after take-off at 300ft - He was a lucky boy.
The owner drives a porche.
In answer to your question regarding if the Cabair students get preferential treatment - No. They were treated just as crap as everyone else as far as I could see.
Good points:
Kissimee is a good airport to train out of.
The Wings bar has some quite fit birds so when you've run out of cash and time you can have a crack at some of them!!
I obviously would not go back to OFT, however, some people had good experiences.
Good luck..
I was at OFT very recently and I have to agree with many of the posts here. OFT are crap.
OFT are interested in one thing and one thing only - that is your cash.
Some interesing observations:
The planes are in a terrible state.
When I was there many of the guys ended up leaving without gaining a PPL as they ran out of time, 3 weeks is not usually enough time to get a PPL at OFT.
There was a crash a couple of months ago in which the engine just packed up straight after take-off at 300ft - He was a lucky boy.
The owner drives a porche.
In answer to your question regarding if the Cabair students get preferential treatment - No. They were treated just as crap as everyone else as far as I could see.
Good points:
Kissimee is a good airport to train out of.
The Wings bar has some quite fit birds so when you've run out of cash and time you can have a crack at some of them!!
I obviously would not go back to OFT, however, some people had good experiences.
Good luck..
