Changing schools
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: eire
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Switching schools
I have had serious problems with a particular school and I think I am going to switch to OATS distance learning course. Just wondering if anyone out there has done the same, and had success. Doesn't have to be the same schools, just wondering?
Dancing with the devil, going with the flow... it's all a game to me.
Join Date: May 2000
Location: England
Posts: 1,688
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yes I have and had no problems doing so either. You pays your money you takes your choice. Why settle for something you're not happy with? If any airline questions my decision to change schools I will have no problem with telling them I ain't the kind of shmuck to settle for a poor situation regardless of the "pack mentality" to put up with second best.
I have found that as I've got older and matured I have grown in confidence - I tell you it wasn't an easy move but hell, I am bloody glad I did move! Things are going fantastically well now and my desire to succeed has more than doubled.
Have it!
VFE.
I have found that as I've got older and matured I have grown in confidence - I tell you it wasn't an easy move but hell, I am bloody glad I did move! Things are going fantastically well now and my desire to succeed has more than doubled.
Have it!
VFE.
Why do it if it's not fun?
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Bournemouth
Posts: 4,779
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't personally know anyone who switched voluntarily, although I know there are people out there who have done so. But on my Mod 1 brush-up at Bristol there were a number of people who had started the course at schools which had since gone out of business, and who had done half the exams before being forced to change schools. Bristol were extremely accomodating. Although there were a few minor issues about the exams they'd done not fitting in with the way Bristol split their modules, these were easily worked around, and I didn't hear anyone with any complaints. I can't see any reason why Oxford should be any different in this respect.
But I also have to ask - have you done everything you can to sort out the problems at your current school? Have you spoken to the chief instructors and the management? In my experience, it's very rare that problems can't be sorted out once they're brought out into the open. And surely it would be better for the continuity of your training to resolve the problem at your current school.
If you're satisified nothing more can be done at your current school, then go for it.
FFF
---------------
But I also have to ask - have you done everything you can to sort out the problems at your current school? Have you spoken to the chief instructors and the management? In my experience, it's very rare that problems can't be sorted out once they're brought out into the open. And surely it would be better for the continuity of your training to resolve the problem at your current school.
If you're satisified nothing more can be done at your current school, then go for it.
FFF
---------------
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Australia
Age: 54
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Changing flight schools in Melbourne, Australia
I am thinking of changing flight schools: how do you judge what school is good? I am currently doing intergrated CPL part time and am learning via the so called CBT-computer based learning. I am not happy with the teaching standards of the instructor I have but more impotantly am not enjoying computer based theroy as a form of learning. I am just about to sit my BAK and my GFPT but would rather not wait to do these at this school-shopuld I go to a new school now. Any advice?
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Woking
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Changing schools
I am looking at the self-funded route to gaining my fATPL. I am aiming to complete this over several years.
I have read that prospective employers take into consideration the school/s where you trained. Is this just for the CPL/IR or do they look at all ratings? I live near London and for some ratings the local schools are a lot more expensive than further afield. Although I could stretch to complete some ratings locally (Night, Multi Engine etc) because of the convenience.
To make the training easier on my family (and finances), I was wondering about doing certain ratings in Spain, France, etc to allow me to train whilst the family had a holiday. (I would still be working full time so could not afford too much time off!)
Would this mix & match approach be looked upon less favourably?
Rgds
London Paul
I have read that prospective employers take into consideration the school/s where you trained. Is this just for the CPL/IR or do they look at all ratings? I live near London and for some ratings the local schools are a lot more expensive than further afield. Although I could stretch to complete some ratings locally (Night, Multi Engine etc) because of the convenience.
To make the training easier on my family (and finances), I was wondering about doing certain ratings in Spain, France, etc to allow me to train whilst the family had a holiday. (I would still be working full time so could not afford too much time off!)
Would this mix & match approach be looked upon less favourably?
Rgds
London Paul
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Europe
Posts: 406
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Changing schools
The JAR approved CPL modular course normally requires a minimum of 25 hours. Do those hours have to be done at the same FTO or what's involved if you want to change FTOs?
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: N/A
Posts: 161
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't think there will be a problem changing FTO. Your training records will need to be sent to your new school so that do the required number of hours and also so that it can be shown that you have don the whole course.
I knew a guy who changed FTO mid-way during his IR training. The only thing was a bit of delay in sending his records to the the new FTO
What wrong with your current FTO? ... and go on, tell us who it is!
I knew a guy who changed FTO mid-way during his IR training. The only thing was a bit of delay in sending his records to the the new FTO
What wrong with your current FTO? ... and go on, tell us who it is!
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Saaaaaaffffhampton
Posts: 340
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Changing providers
I am currently doing the same thing changing my provider
It seems that it can be long winded, but the provider i am going to has done a lot of legwork on my behalf so all credit to them, For me its a few e-mails and hopefully that is it.
My old training provider is reluctant to pass records on though. So i think the course of action is to inform the CAA of your request to change providers, then have them request your records or the head of training at your new provider can request them and hopefully your old provider will realease them.
Good luck
It seems that it can be long winded, but the provider i am going to has done a lot of legwork on my behalf so all credit to them, For me its a few e-mails and hopefully that is it.
My old training provider is reluctant to pass records on though. So i think the course of action is to inform the CAA of your request to change providers, then have them request your records or the head of training at your new provider can request them and hopefully your old provider will realease them.
Good luck
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Rhode Island
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Switching Flight Schools...3rd Time
Well it's my first post and I'm in an ordeal at the moment so here it is:
I'm currently 8 days away from being 16 years old and able to solo. I have the WHITE medical (doctor though I had to be 16 to get the student certificate one) so I have to go change that before anything. But even after that it's worse. At first, I started out flying a 150/152. My instructor wasn't all that great and I wasn't happy with him. He was also in the process of trying to get a job at the airlines. So needless to say, I switched next door. So now I have a cool instructor who I like and I fly a 1997 172R model. HOWEVER, in order to solo this plane, I will need to pay almost $600 in renters insurance just to SOLO. This is because it is too expensive for the flight school to cover insurance on solo students becasue they've bent a bunch of airplanes in the past. This includes running their 150 off the runway somewhere and a gear up landing in their 172RG. Anyways, there's a flight school at an airport that's about the same distance away from me as the one I currently fly out of. At this FBO, I would not need insurance to fly solo with them in their 172S's. Pricewise, I believe my current school has the same price planes as the other place and the price for an instructor is a few dollars cheaper at the other airport.
Here's 3 of what I could possibly do:
1. Stay at my current flight school and pay the $600 for insurance to fly solo for a year with them.
2. Totally switch flight schools and leave my current instructor.
3. Would it be possible to get signed off in the 172S, get signed off by my current instructor to solo who isn't a CFI at the new FBO, then go fly the 172S there. I would come back for lessons with my current instructor and do my solos in the 172S (wondering if they will let me). Also, that FBO knows my CFI because he rents the Twin they have there.
AHHHHH WHAT DO I DO?
I'm currently 8 days away from being 16 years old and able to solo. I have the WHITE medical (doctor though I had to be 16 to get the student certificate one) so I have to go change that before anything. But even after that it's worse. At first, I started out flying a 150/152. My instructor wasn't all that great and I wasn't happy with him. He was also in the process of trying to get a job at the airlines. So needless to say, I switched next door. So now I have a cool instructor who I like and I fly a 1997 172R model. HOWEVER, in order to solo this plane, I will need to pay almost $600 in renters insurance just to SOLO. This is because it is too expensive for the flight school to cover insurance on solo students becasue they've bent a bunch of airplanes in the past. This includes running their 150 off the runway somewhere and a gear up landing in their 172RG. Anyways, there's a flight school at an airport that's about the same distance away from me as the one I currently fly out of. At this FBO, I would not need insurance to fly solo with them in their 172S's. Pricewise, I believe my current school has the same price planes as the other place and the price for an instructor is a few dollars cheaper at the other airport.
Here's 3 of what I could possibly do:
1. Stay at my current flight school and pay the $600 for insurance to fly solo for a year with them.
2. Totally switch flight schools and leave my current instructor.
3. Would it be possible to get signed off in the 172S, get signed off by my current instructor to solo who isn't a CFI at the new FBO, then go fly the 172S there. I would come back for lessons with my current instructor and do my solos in the 172S (wondering if they will let me). Also, that FBO knows my CFI because he rents the Twin they have there.
AHHHHH WHAT DO I DO?
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Italy
Posts: 412
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
changing training provider
I started a ME/IR training in a JAA state outside the UK, and now I wish to complete my training in England.
Both schools and CAA told me I just need the medicals, to provide my training records and a letter from the previous CAA to the UK CAA to say there is no objection in doing so.
Any direct experience?
Is it a straight-forward procedure or does it take long?
Many thanks
Both schools and CAA told me I just need the medicals, to provide my training records and a letter from the previous CAA to the UK CAA to say there is no objection in doing so.
Any direct experience?
Is it a straight-forward procedure or does it take long?
Many thanks
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Switching FTO?
Hi all,
I'm 4 weeks into an IR course with an FTO. However I'm quite dissatisfied with the FTO, its looking like my planned 8 weeks for the course is now going to be more like 3 - 4 months! I've raised my concerns with the head of training a number of weeks ago, who promised thing would be put right, but nothing is getting any better.
Can I switch to another FTO? I'm willing to start again from the beginning because although I'm four week in, I've only done about one full weeks worth of sim time.
Would I have to notify or seek permission from the CAA? Will they have a problem with it?
Has anybody else had crap experiences with flight schools and had to switch FTO, if so how did you get on?
Thanks all, I'm really frustrated and at my wits end a bit at the moment, all advice much appreciated.
--
Unstable_aloft
I'm 4 weeks into an IR course with an FTO. However I'm quite dissatisfied with the FTO, its looking like my planned 8 weeks for the course is now going to be more like 3 - 4 months! I've raised my concerns with the head of training a number of weeks ago, who promised thing would be put right, but nothing is getting any better.
Can I switch to another FTO? I'm willing to start again from the beginning because although I'm four week in, I've only done about one full weeks worth of sim time.
Would I have to notify or seek permission from the CAA? Will they have a problem with it?
Has anybody else had crap experiences with flight schools and had to switch FTO, if so how did you get on?
Thanks all, I'm really frustrated and at my wits end a bit at the moment, all advice much appreciated.
--
Unstable_aloft
Moving On
Join Date: May 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 211
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You don't need to inform the CAA, if you approach another school they can continue your course from where you are. They will just need to request a copy of your training records.
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Scary Eire
Posts: 296
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sorry to hear of the problems you are having..
It would just be a case of switching schools and then continuing the course with them...no need to start again.
You may end up doing an extra few hours, but shouldn't be any major hassle apart frim it being a pain in the ar5e!
Best of luck and I hope it all works out for you
It would just be a case of switching schools and then continuing the course with them...no need to start again.
You may end up doing an extra few hours, but shouldn't be any major hassle apart frim it being a pain in the ar5e!
Best of luck and I hope it all works out for you
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: UK
Posts: 1,091
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
3-4 months for an IR course is utterly unacceptable. I did mine in 6 weeks.
The school I went to often served as a place which took guys & gals from other less reputable schools after they realised that the training was second rate.
For them it seemed quite straightforward. I think at licence issue time, the CFI would write a letter to explain the switch to the CAA.
It never ceases to amaze me just how many dodgy schools there are. I was recently chatting to someone who explained that during their IR they had no classroom time at all, all briefs were done during the taxi. He explained that when he was taught to scan, the instructor just said 'you'll pick it up as you go along'. Unbelievable!
The school I went to often served as a place which took guys & gals from other less reputable schools after they realised that the training was second rate.
For them it seemed quite straightforward. I think at licence issue time, the CFI would write a letter to explain the switch to the CAA.
It never ceases to amaze me just how many dodgy schools there are. I was recently chatting to someone who explained that during their IR they had no classroom time at all, all briefs were done during the taxi. He explained that when he was taught to scan, the instructor just said 'you'll pick it up as you go along'. Unbelievable!
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Scary Eire
Posts: 296
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ir courses are sooo expensive and if some instructor had the neck to say that to me "you'll pick it up as you go along" by christ would (s)he regret the day they ever said that to me...
You are paying someone to teach you and not just truddle along in the hope that you might scrape a pass..bloody cheek
Just goes to show, you have to investigate your schools fully and make sure they are going to give you your proper money's worth as well as top notch training..none of this farting around and not giving briefings etc..
You are paying someone to teach you and not just truddle along in the hope that you might scrape a pass..bloody cheek
Just goes to show, you have to investigate your schools fully and make sure they are going to give you your proper money's worth as well as top notch training..none of this farting around and not giving briefings etc..
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Manchester
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
So where do I go then?
All this dicussion about good and bad schools has got me thinking! Yes you can visit the schools before you train, but you dont really know what you're going to get until you start being taught!
In the humble opinion of Ppruners I would like to know which schools are the best for IR training and which are the ones to avoid, so I can come up with a short lists of schools to visit!
The more replys the better.
Hollywood.
In the humble opinion of Ppruners I would like to know which schools are the best for IR training and which are the ones to avoid, so I can come up with a short lists of schools to visit!
The more replys the better.
Hollywood.
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: UK
Posts: 1,091
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There are quite a few posts which talk about recommended schools.
One good way to know if you're going to get attention on the ground and in the air is to determine how instructors are paid. Being paid by the flying hour or being salaried (i.e. still get paid if they don't fly) could make a difference to their attentiveness while on the ground. The other factor of course is the number of students each instructor has to deal with. Another school I came across had on average 6 students per instructor which is never going to work.
There are of course many other things to look at and the other posts should give you a list of questions you can gather to ask schools when you visit.
These questions and research will be pointless if you limit yourself to the cheapest headline price for an FTO offering an IR.
One good way to know if you're going to get attention on the ground and in the air is to determine how instructors are paid. Being paid by the flying hour or being salaried (i.e. still get paid if they don't fly) could make a difference to their attentiveness while on the ground. The other factor of course is the number of students each instructor has to deal with. Another school I came across had on average 6 students per instructor which is never going to work.
There are of course many other things to look at and the other posts should give you a list of questions you can gather to ask schools when you visit.
These questions and research will be pointless if you limit yourself to the cheapest headline price for an FTO offering an IR.
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: South Coast
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I did my IR with PAT (Proffesional Air Training), in Bournemouth. First time pass with the minimum 55hours......all completed in 6 weeks! Id highly recommend them as their level of instruction and professionalism is second to none!
I seriously cant believe that there are schools out there that teach the IR over a period of 3-4 months! Being the hardest thing you do in your flying career, continuity is definatly a must!
I seriously cant believe that there are schools out there that teach the IR over a period of 3-4 months! Being the hardest thing you do in your flying career, continuity is definatly a must!
