Atpl Results
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
From: UK
Commuting to BGS
R E Darse, Can't PM you as it seems blocked.
I commuted from North Bristol (Filton) for Mod 1 when they were still based at Lulsgate. The days are long enough with the groundschool and then the past papers in the evening. It was taking me about 45mins each way and for the whole two weeks this was the only 'chill-out' time I had (never thought I would say that about Bristol traffic)!
Whether you commute or stay over, the workload on the course is great. I got a little behind on the past papers during the week, but then caught up at the weekends. Just be prepared for a lifestyle of sleeping - driving - studying and eating cornflakes (you won't have time to cook anything)!!
Enjoy!
GQ
I commuted from North Bristol (Filton) for Mod 1 when they were still based at Lulsgate. The days are long enough with the groundschool and then the past papers in the evening. It was taking me about 45mins each way and for the whole two weeks this was the only 'chill-out' time I had (never thought I would say that about Bristol traffic)!
Whether you commute or stay over, the workload on the course is great. I got a little behind on the past papers during the week, but then caught up at the weekends. Just be prepared for a lifestyle of sleeping - driving - studying and eating cornflakes (you won't have time to cook anything)!!
Enjoy!
GQ
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 1,095
Likes: 0
From: UK
The BGS is hard work, and there is a seeming infinite number of feedback questions, exam papers, etc to do each evening. I guess I must have worked 4-5 hrs in the evening after the 9-5 at the school. I worked right through Saturday and Sunday in the middle weekend. I still didn't complete all of the stuff I was given.
When I drove home to my digs, I sometimes wished I had a little further to drive to put off the inevitable work that evening.
When I drove home to my digs, I sometimes wished I had a little further to drive to put off the inevitable work that evening.
Guest
Posts: n/a
Following on from Redarse's post.
When completing the crammers, do you blitz a subject during the day and then work on the past papers that evening or does something completely different happen?
I ask as I want to aim off as accurately as possible.
Cheers
When completing the crammers, do you blitz a subject during the day and then work on the past papers that evening or does something completely different happen?
I ask as I want to aim off as accurately as possible.
Cheers
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 1,095
Likes: 0
From: UK
The timetable for BSG splits each day into at least 2 subjects, sometimes three. The first week is spent going over the syllabus, the second week tackling exam papers, or for some of the bigger subjects, continuing with the syllabus. At the bitter end of the 2 weeks, it's constant exams/feedback etc.
For the more complex subjects, Instruments, Gen Nav, etc feedback papers are given for each syllabus area each day, and you are supposed to take those home, work through them, and have a de-brief in the classroom for areas you found tricky the following day. For the easier ones, you just get given exam papers from day 1 along with a quick syllabus revision.
If you want to prepare, get to know the wizz wheel inside out, and make sure you are familiar with plotting on charts etc for Gen Nav. For instruments, learn the gyro axis for each instrument, and the errors associated with each instrument, know how autopilots work, and be familiar with TCAS. For Met, understand how air masses move and why, what fronts look like and their composition. The Oxford CD is very good refresher prior to the excellent Ken from BGS who will make climatology sound easy. Worry about Human Perf, VFR/IFR comms while on the course - just do the feedback before the exams and you'll be OK. They will sort you out for Mass and Balance, Flight planning while you are there, so you don't have to worry about those until you start the course. They have excellent tips on completing Flight Planning exam within the three hours, and if you do the practice exams you should be OK.
For the more complex subjects, Instruments, Gen Nav, etc feedback papers are given for each syllabus area each day, and you are supposed to take those home, work through them, and have a de-brief in the classroom for areas you found tricky the following day. For the easier ones, you just get given exam papers from day 1 along with a quick syllabus revision.
If you want to prepare, get to know the wizz wheel inside out, and make sure you are familiar with plotting on charts etc for Gen Nav. For instruments, learn the gyro axis for each instrument, and the errors associated with each instrument, know how autopilots work, and be familiar with TCAS. For Met, understand how air masses move and why, what fronts look like and their composition. The Oxford CD is very good refresher prior to the excellent Ken from BGS who will make climatology sound easy. Worry about Human Perf, VFR/IFR comms while on the course - just do the feedback before the exams and you'll be OK. They will sort you out for Mass and Balance, Flight planning while you are there, so you don't have to worry about those until you start the course. They have excellent tips on completing Flight Planning exam within the three hours, and if you do the practice exams you should be OK.
