Pilot Training College, Waterford, Ireland
Join Date: Feb 2007
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The PTC game
Disappointing stuff from PTC.
Asking a question is "stepping out of line".
It seems they monitor each student for the first move (s)he makes that gives them an oppertunity to stealth charge.
Dont go there
Asking a question is "stepping out of line".
It seems they monitor each student for the first move (s)he makes that gives them an oppertunity to stealth charge.
Dont go there
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Ireland
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Ace of Spades,
I carried out an assessment with PTC last August (at a cost of €295) and this is my experience. The assessment took approximately 5 hours. It involved a series of aptitude and personality tests, then a meeting with one of the training advisors and a flying lesson/assessment to see if I would be a suitable candidate for their "Airline Pilot Training Program".
The aptitude and personality tests were carried out on a computer and involved about 5 or 6 different tests...nothing to difficult. They were based around coordination, memory, basic maths and physics and problem solving. I don’t really think there is any method of preparation for these tests, besides going back over long multiplication and division or practising coordination using flight simulator on playstation. These tests took me about 2 hours to complete.
After that I spoke with an advisor, who explained the structure of training and facilities available. There was a breakdown of all stages with payment and what was and was not included in the cost (most notable was the additional cost of MCC)
After that I went for lunch and returned for my flight. I had never flown before and so I was quite nervous however the pilot put me at ease and explained that this assessment was just to see if I would be capable of handling basic instructions and told me to enjoy the flight. The assessment involved carry out a series of basic manoeuvres (the assumption was that I had never flow before). I had to bank the plane, increase and decrease altitude, fly straight and level, trim and glide the plane towards the runway. The pilot also asked me to point where the airport was at one stage. All the time the pilot was taking notes and scoring each manoeuvre I made.
After the flight the pilot and the advisor looked over my aptitude and flying test results. They told me that some of the results of my aptitude co-ordination tests were reflected in my flying but it was nothing too serious and would be an area of weakness that could be corrected once I started to flying. The pilot recommended that I would be a suitable candidate for their course and recommended I get a class one medical as soon as possible.
Finally, a lady from PTC accounts department spoke to me about financing the course and told me about their “relationship” with AIB. In my opinion, no relationship really exists. Staff from Waterford AIB have visited the airport and know of the course, but they do not offer any reduced rates for the course and the same terms and conditions apply as per a normal term loan for the amount. I have decided to do my training in Canada., however I found the whole assessment to be very useful in confirming my ambition to be a pilot. I hope this is of some help
I carried out an assessment with PTC last August (at a cost of €295) and this is my experience. The assessment took approximately 5 hours. It involved a series of aptitude and personality tests, then a meeting with one of the training advisors and a flying lesson/assessment to see if I would be a suitable candidate for their "Airline Pilot Training Program".
The aptitude and personality tests were carried out on a computer and involved about 5 or 6 different tests...nothing to difficult. They were based around coordination, memory, basic maths and physics and problem solving. I don’t really think there is any method of preparation for these tests, besides going back over long multiplication and division or practising coordination using flight simulator on playstation. These tests took me about 2 hours to complete.
After that I spoke with an advisor, who explained the structure of training and facilities available. There was a breakdown of all stages with payment and what was and was not included in the cost (most notable was the additional cost of MCC)
After that I went for lunch and returned for my flight. I had never flown before and so I was quite nervous however the pilot put me at ease and explained that this assessment was just to see if I would be capable of handling basic instructions and told me to enjoy the flight. The assessment involved carry out a series of basic manoeuvres (the assumption was that I had never flow before). I had to bank the plane, increase and decrease altitude, fly straight and level, trim and glide the plane towards the runway. The pilot also asked me to point where the airport was at one stage. All the time the pilot was taking notes and scoring each manoeuvre I made.
After the flight the pilot and the advisor looked over my aptitude and flying test results. They told me that some of the results of my aptitude co-ordination tests were reflected in my flying but it was nothing too serious and would be an area of weakness that could be corrected once I started to flying. The pilot recommended that I would be a suitable candidate for their course and recommended I get a class one medical as soon as possible.
Finally, a lady from PTC accounts department spoke to me about financing the course and told me about their “relationship” with AIB. In my opinion, no relationship really exists. Staff from Waterford AIB have visited the airport and know of the course, but they do not offer any reduced rates for the course and the same terms and conditions apply as per a normal term loan for the amount. I have decided to do my training in Canada., however I found the whole assessment to be very useful in confirming my ambition to be a pilot. I hope this is of some help
Join Date: Sep 2006
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that is brilliant,thankyou very much.just a by the way,when you were turning the aircraft were increasing power and puling back on the stick etc?were you told of any altitude change tolerances?
Join Date: Mar 2005
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Jesus christ guys, its just a flight school. Do you really think they are going to turn you away if your not wearing a tie or if you were not able to trim the aircraft on your first flight? By the way, accounts department in PTC, LOL!!
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Room 249
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some will! OAT expect you to be suited and booted or they don't want to know, at least for the APP selection that I know about. they get plenty of applicants so they, at least, can be picky about taking people and get funny, as many businesses do, if you turn up looking scruffy - like most companies around the world!
Join Date: May 2001
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i'd disagree! have been to numerous places that at the end of the day are after your money, while some places aren't bothered some are - do you want to take the chance - after all, while they may want your money (as anywhere does), you want to get into the school, don't you? first impressions are always important, and don't forget that the person who wants your money may (or may not) be the person who knows someone that will get you your first big interview. but then again, if you turn up in jeans and a t shirt, it can do you the world of harm from a professionalism point of view.
Join Date: Dec 2005
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Prospective student - "I'd like to enroll in flight training please"
Flying school member of staff - "Sorry, we dont accept people with jeans on"
Prospect student - "But I have £100,000!"
Flying School Boss- "Step right this way sir, please excuse my idiotic member of staff for insulting your dress style, your jeans look absolutely marvellous...........now let me show you our facilities"
I rest my case!
Flying school member of staff - "Sorry, we dont accept people with jeans on"
Prospect student - "But I have £100,000!"
Flying School Boss- "Step right this way sir, please excuse my idiotic member of staff for insulting your dress style, your jeans look absolutely marvellous...........now let me show you our facilities"
I rest my case!
Join Date: May 2001
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Airline CFI - 'Who would you recommend that's here for training?'
FTO boss has a think...who does he have that he can send? he has quite a few students, all pretty good. Oh no, wait, one of them always looks like a mess. He's no better than anyone else, is this one of the people he's going to send to represent his school? Is he arse.
For the sake of looking smart, l2a, don't forget that there are a lot of people who are happy to spend the same money you are, probably more than your chosen fto can take, so don't feel stupid because when you turn up other people look smart and you are in jeans etc. Professionalism from day one, irrelevant of who you're talking to, is important, as you and i constantly hear, flying is a very small world, you never know who'll remember you as the lad who turned up looking like a scruff, while everyone else was in a suit. for my part, mikecr, it's not worth it you don't know who you'll bump into.
FTO boss has a think...who does he have that he can send? he has quite a few students, all pretty good. Oh no, wait, one of them always looks like a mess. He's no better than anyone else, is this one of the people he's going to send to represent his school? Is he arse.
For the sake of looking smart, l2a, don't forget that there are a lot of people who are happy to spend the same money you are, probably more than your chosen fto can take, so don't feel stupid because when you turn up other people look smart and you are in jeans etc. Professionalism from day one, irrelevant of who you're talking to, is important, as you and i constantly hear, flying is a very small world, you never know who'll remember you as the lad who turned up looking like a scruff, while everyone else was in a suit. for my part, mikecr, it's not worth it you don't know who you'll bump into.
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however, mike, i will make clear that i'm talking about integrated ftos that require an assessment process! when i was looking at modular schools which tend to be less formal, because they're smaller, then i'd agree that you don't need to get suited and booted! but PTC looks like a school like OAT, FTE etc so I'd still argue to look smart when you go!
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that's more like it! personally, tho, i'd go for something along the lines of a piano key, simpsons or novelty plastic number with a scene inside like my dad has, for some disturbing reason!
Join Date: Dec 2006
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i'd have to agree with cfwake no harm in making an effort to dress well when making the effort to go to the place.wasnt thinking of jeans anyways more smart vs a suit,thanks for the advice as ye say 1st impressions are important.
cfwake you mentioned how PTC were a school like OAT or FTE, going by alot of posts throughtout the forums not many people agree, a lot of bitchin about the place,i went to Oxford a while back for the 2 days got chatten a few lads who had plenty of bad things to say about there to but admitted as we all know nowhere is perfect.
Changing the topic slightly,talking to students in Oxford doing the ATPL's who with full time ground school find the subjects very tough how much more difficult is it trying to make the grade using distance learning as is used with PTC???
cfwake you mentioned how PTC were a school like OAT or FTE, going by alot of posts throughtout the forums not many people agree, a lot of bitchin about the place,i went to Oxford a while back for the 2 days got chatten a few lads who had plenty of bad things to say about there to but admitted as we all know nowhere is perfect.
Changing the topic slightly,talking to students in Oxford doing the ATPL's who with full time ground school find the subjects very tough how much more difficult is it trying to make the grade using distance learning as is used with PTC???
Join Date: Dec 2005
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Liffey,
You have to be very disciplined to do them distance learning. You also need the time to commit to them. When I did my ATPL's, I did them full time, it worked best that way for me. I passed them all 1st time and averaged over 90% for all subjects. I did however start initially on distance learning but got nowhere fast. I didnt have the time to commit and probably lacked the discipline to sit down and study. When I switched to full time, I never looked back.
You have to be very disciplined to do them distance learning. You also need the time to commit to them. When I did my ATPL's, I did them full time, it worked best that way for me. I passed them all 1st time and averaged over 90% for all subjects. I did however start initially on distance learning but got nowhere fast. I didnt have the time to commit and probably lacked the discipline to sit down and study. When I switched to full time, I never looked back.