BAE OR OAT - Tough decision
Joined: Feb 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 17,503
Likes: 1,846
From: England
The big schools are very very much of a muchness. The syllabuses and equipment are virtually interchangeable. Their home airfields each have their strengths and weaknesses and their staff have as often as not worked in the other camps at different times. They are all audited by the CAA to attain the same standard.
The only thing I can promise you is that if you ever breath the notion in public, that you are somehow a better pilot or more employable, because you trained at School X - then you will be identifying yourself as a total prat to the person you are trying to impress or persuade.
It probably is easier in the bigger full time schools. The reason being mostly to do with the fact that your train with a bunch of coursemates from start to finish.
This helps your morale, you learn from one anothers mistakes, you are spured on by competition and cheered up by the comaraderie.
You get the same on the Modular route but the people on your Groundschool course are probably going to be different to those on your Commercial flying course who in turn won't be the people you did your PPL flying with. So its a bit more diluted and fragmented.
That said I have seen Integrated courses where people fell out with each other and bitchy cliques developed - much to the detriment of everybodys enjoyment and performance. So sometimes you can't win.
Me - I'd go Modular, pocket the saving and try not to think too hard about those lying around the Pool in Jerez with their coursemates most evenings soaking up that lingering Andalucian sunshine.
Squak2002 - ask some searching questions about weather in Jerez. There are some interesting summer day winds, the Lavanter, Winter fogs, Summer heat bans and all manner of other weather and airspace issues. Its probably no worse than the UK but nor is it significantly better. Make sure you understand what will happen if your course is delayed due to weather - who will pick up the extra accomodation fees etc. They have always done right by courses caught out in the past with unflyable weather. Make sure you know the score for the future if you decide to sign up down there.
The best flying instructors I know of in Commercial Flying Training all currently work in small FTO's. There is some good training to be found in tatty buildings on small airfields. You just need to look hard and gather a lot of opinion.
Good luck,
WWW
The only thing I can promise you is that if you ever breath the notion in public, that you are somehow a better pilot or more employable, because you trained at School X - then you will be identifying yourself as a total prat to the person you are trying to impress or persuade.
It probably is easier in the bigger full time schools. The reason being mostly to do with the fact that your train with a bunch of coursemates from start to finish.
This helps your morale, you learn from one anothers mistakes, you are spured on by competition and cheered up by the comaraderie.
You get the same on the Modular route but the people on your Groundschool course are probably going to be different to those on your Commercial flying course who in turn won't be the people you did your PPL flying with. So its a bit more diluted and fragmented.
That said I have seen Integrated courses where people fell out with each other and bitchy cliques developed - much to the detriment of everybodys enjoyment and performance. So sometimes you can't win.
Me - I'd go Modular, pocket the saving and try not to think too hard about those lying around the Pool in Jerez with their coursemates most evenings soaking up that lingering Andalucian sunshine.
Squak2002 - ask some searching questions about weather in Jerez. There are some interesting summer day winds, the Lavanter, Winter fogs, Summer heat bans and all manner of other weather and airspace issues. Its probably no worse than the UK but nor is it significantly better. Make sure you understand what will happen if your course is delayed due to weather - who will pick up the extra accomodation fees etc. They have always done right by courses caught out in the past with unflyable weather. Make sure you know the score for the future if you decide to sign up down there.
The best flying instructors I know of in Commercial Flying Training all currently work in small FTO's. There is some good training to be found in tatty buildings on small airfields. You just need to look hard and gather a lot of opinion.
Good luck,
WWW
Joined: Jan 1997
Posts: 7,736
Likes: 1
From: UK
Jam,
The question is does it make 20,000 quids worth of difference. That's for you folks to decide - you can buy a lot of time, currency, renewals. Unless they are part of the travelling conference circuit most interviewers don't have any understanding of what integrated or modular are. It's the licence from the CAA they want to see.
Integrated or modular anyone who doesn't spend significant time at a school away from the company of 'minders.' is daft. Different schools suit different people.
Other than the sound advice from WWW your personality, outlook and contacts are the most important thing.
It would be interesting to get feedback from the long term pros who dip in here as to whether they have ever been asked about course type, exam marks and number of attempts. I suspect that in the last couple of years wannabees have self fueled this feeding frenzy in their increasingly desperate efforts to make a low time CV stand out.
Regards
Rob
The question is does it make 20,000 quids worth of difference. That's for you folks to decide - you can buy a lot of time, currency, renewals. Unless they are part of the travelling conference circuit most interviewers don't have any understanding of what integrated or modular are. It's the licence from the CAA they want to see.
Integrated or modular anyone who doesn't spend significant time at a school away from the company of 'minders.' is daft. Different schools suit different people.
Other than the sound advice from WWW your personality, outlook and contacts are the most important thing.
It would be interesting to get feedback from the long term pros who dip in here as to whether they have ever been asked about course type, exam marks and number of attempts. I suspect that in the last couple of years wannabees have self fueled this feeding frenzy in their increasingly desperate efforts to make a low time CV stand out.
Regards
Rob
Last edited by PPRuNe Towers; 28th January 2004 at 19:31.
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,450
Likes: 5
From: UK
The question regarding first-time passes does appear on a number of application forms that I've come across in the last few weeks. I haven't got my applicatin file with me but IIRC Britannia for one asks how many attempts you've had. I have no idea whether this information actually influences their decision-making processes but I certainly hope so!
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,695
Likes: 1
From: Egcc
Rob
In answer to your request;
Yes I was asked where I had trained by my first airline employer. But to be honest I think they were trying to get me talking about myself and asking a low hours pilot about his training is probably one of the very few aviation related subjects he can talk about! It made no difference that it was modular (old Self Improver route actually).
Since then, as has been pointed out, airlines aren't really interested, it's more about your experience when you move on to subsequent jobs.
PP
In answer to your request;
Yes I was asked where I had trained by my first airline employer. But to be honest I think they were trying to get me talking about myself and asking a low hours pilot about his training is probably one of the very few aviation related subjects he can talk about! It made no difference that it was modular (old Self Improver route actually).
Since then, as has been pointed out, airlines aren't really interested, it's more about your experience when you move on to subsequent jobs.
PP
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: London
Jam... it's:
http://www.baesystems.es/
I've had trouble finding it myself.
Also here's the URL for WMU as a bonus just in case you haven't got it:
http://www.wmich.edu/aviation/programs/JAA/jaahome.htm as i happen to be looking at it at the mo'
http://www.baesystems.es/
I've had trouble finding it myself.
Also here's the URL for WMU as a bonus just in case you haven't got it:
http://www.wmich.edu/aviation/programs/JAA/jaahome.htm as i happen to be looking at it at the mo'
