Wycombe Air Centre for CPL/IR??
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: UK
i did all of my training..PPL, CPL, ME/IR at wycombe....passed everything first time....very good tuition and the instructors are top notch!.....
very highly recommended......but dont forget, you as the student have to put in the hard work as well to get the results....its up to you on the day of your flight tests to pass and prove to the examiner that you have the ability to become a commercial pilot.
very highly recommended......but dont forget, you as the student have to put in the hard work as well to get the results....its up to you on the day of your flight tests to pass and prove to the examiner that you have the ability to become a commercial pilot.
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: Oxfordshire. U.K.
Duchesses rather than Senecas at Wycombe :-)
Nicer to fly and usually cheaper !
Also you will get one to one attention all the time - Normally it's one, two or three IRs on the go - So no "sausage machine" and still with the chance of some back seating.
No navaids at the home base, but Cranfield is "up the road".
A relatively small number of normal test routes - so you should have already flown most permutations before test !
Generally good first time pass rate ...
Certainly worth considering - Any place on your short list is also worth visiting before committing £££ !
Nicer to fly and usually cheaper !
Also you will get one to one attention all the time - Normally it's one, two or three IRs on the go - So no "sausage machine" and still with the chance of some back seating.
No navaids at the home base, but Cranfield is "up the road".
A relatively small number of normal test routes - so you should have already flown most permutations before test !
Generally good first time pass rate ...
Certainly worth considering - Any place on your short list is also worth visiting before committing £££ !
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: around about
done a load of hour building and my night rating there. Thinking about CPL/IR their as well. Great staff and some nice shiny new 172s to play with. In my opinion much better than the other school on the airfield who I have also been with.
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 200
Likes: 0
From: west of the Tamar
I'm tempted to do the ME/IR with WAC at Wycombe. Their prices seem very favourable, at £8845 quoted on their website, including Wycombe landing fees. Most other UK based schools are charging in the £10500 to £12000 range. Most of the feedback about the school is very favourable. They have a larger fleet than some smaller schools, so less problems if an aircraft goes tech.
Has anyone come up with a cheaper school in the UK? I know cheapness isn't everything, but the combination of a good price and good reputation seems unbeatable. I was considering doing the ME/IR course in Spain, but on reflection WAC may be the better option.
Has anyone come up with a cheaper school in the UK? I know cheapness isn't everything, but the combination of a good price and good reputation seems unbeatable. I was considering doing the ME/IR course in Spain, but on reflection WAC may be the better option.
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: UK
i gaurantee you that you wont find a better deal then WAC.....there fleet is always well maintained and they will always try to accomodate you no matter what.....i know exactly what you are all going through right now, i did my PPL there when i 16 and did all of my further training at WAC....there CPL instructor knows more than you could ever imagine about commercial flying and will teach you exactly what you need to know to successfully pass your CPL GFT....
BUT ALWAYS REMEMBER IT IS UP TO YOU AS THE STUDENT TO PUT IN THE HARD WORK AND PRACTISE HARD, ALL THE WAY UP TO YOUR TEST...AND THEN EVEN HARDER ON YOUR TEST....
good luck to you all.
BUT ALWAYS REMEMBER IT IS UP TO YOU AS THE STUDENT TO PUT IN THE HARD WORK AND PRACTISE HARD, ALL THE WAY UP TO YOUR TEST...AND THEN EVEN HARDER ON YOUR TEST....
good luck to you all.
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: around about
Kala, just be advised that the £8845 is for 10hrs C172, 25hrs FNPT1, 15hrs BE76. There is a slightly more expensive course for £9690 which is 25hrs FNPT1 and 25hrs BE76. A good deal indeed! But although it may include landing fees at WAP, it doesnt include external approach and landing fees at the other airifelds visited which add up to be about £1000. And dont forget the evil £637 CAA fee 
Still very good value as most other schools dont include everything either..
Still very good value as most other schools dont include everything either..
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: UK
benix
if you ask nicely whne you are looking around or when you do sign up for anything, just ask them if you can do the full 30Hrs in the Duchess...im sure they will oblige....i did the 30Hrs in the Duchess.....remember, its the Multi time that counts when you go for that all important interview!! and multi time is very expensive to come buy.....unless of course you can afford it.
hope that helps you out!
if you ask nicely whne you are looking around or when you do sign up for anything, just ask them if you can do the full 30Hrs in the Duchess...im sure they will oblige....i did the 30Hrs in the Duchess.....remember, its the Multi time that counts when you go for that all important interview!! and multi time is very expensive to come buy.....unless of course you can afford it.
hope that helps you out!
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 215
Likes: 0
From: European Administrative Area (Western District and Islands)
I've sent you a PM but I did CPL and IR with them, finishing May this year and was very happy with them. Aircraft were fine (I had no tech issues) Instructors great, Management great, Atmosphere great. They used to let IR studes practise for free on the FNPT1, which was a priceless perk and one of the things that swung it for me initialy.
My CPL and IR instructors have both got jobs flying bigger things so my experience there isn't valid anymore.
Downside is the transit to Cranfield for the test sectors which can get expensive at 20 mins each way, but it's all practise and that sort of flying is loaded at the end of the course anyway.
It manages to strike that balance between professional and informal and friendly very well I think. Definitely worth a look if you live in that area.
Good luck
SS
My CPL and IR instructors have both got jobs flying bigger things so my experience there isn't valid anymore.
Downside is the transit to Cranfield for the test sectors which can get expensive at 20 mins each way, but it's all practise and that sort of flying is loaded at the end of the course anyway.
It manages to strike that balance between professional and informal and friendly very well I think. Definitely worth a look if you live in that area.
Good luck
SS
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: around about
did my NT/CPL/ME/IR/FI all there and echo SS comments. All very professional but friendly bunch. Aircraft maintained well and as SS says some free use of the sim and instructors tea and coffee supplies 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 932
Likes: 0
From: Deepest Warwickshire
Wycombe Air Centre Acquired by Cabair
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: far far away
It is a real shame that one of the true "families" in aviation has been sold to a faceless corporation like Cabair.
It seems that all the staff have been told that nothing will change but have you seen EPTA in Bournemouth? They have been completely "assimilated" and have lost their unique character.
I, amongst many of Wycome Air Centre's members, are disgusted at this move. I have heard that 3 of the 4 directors did not want this sale to happen in this way but did not really get a choice in the matter.
Seriously considering whether to stay at Wycombe. (And the BA option is not a good one either - at least WAC are friendly!).
I think White Waltham may benefit hugely from this.
It seems that all the staff have been told that nothing will change but have you seen EPTA in Bournemouth? They have been completely "assimilated" and have lost their unique character.
I, amongst many of Wycome Air Centre's members, are disgusted at this move. I have heard that 3 of the 4 directors did not want this sale to happen in this way but did not really get a choice in the matter.
Seriously considering whether to stay at Wycombe. (And the BA option is not a good one either - at least WAC are friendly!).
I think White Waltham may benefit hugely from this.
The Cooler King
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,717
Likes: 30
From: Europe
Have only been out to Booker / WAC on one occasion but thought it was a nice airfield.
The BA club there was ok. Got a nice polo shirt. The lady on reception was friendly.
The WAC building was very charming. I like all the wood in the decor.
But rest assured, Cabair is a business - and their image will be put everywhere possible. They sell flight training. And the new kids on the block want all the "glass-block" features that go with that.
One for the memoires methinks.
The BA club there was ok. Got a nice polo shirt. The lady on reception was friendly.
The WAC building was very charming. I like all the wood in the decor.
But rest assured, Cabair is a business - and their image will be put everywhere possible. They sell flight training. And the new kids on the block want all the "glass-block" features that go with that.
One for the memoires methinks.