OAT vs FTE
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Although there is a common argument thet OAT gets all of the groundschool out of the way first, so the pressure is somewhat reduced for the flying phase that is a complete assumption. Looking more carfully... From the course program/schedule that I recieved from FTE (also available from the website), it appears that the first wave of ground exams come round week 22 or thereabouts. At OAT you seem to be sitting the first 6 exams after just 15 weeks. Both Schools seem to get the worst ones out of the way first, but a difference in five weeks most certainly means that at OAT you are chugging away at great speed! 
From a nice website www.henrybevan.co.uk/flying, I get the feeling that the learning curve during the flying phase at FTE is a bit steep. I do prefer the thought of OAT's flying phase and their single engined CPL skills test as opposed to FTEs twin CPL. The JOC I hear is not quite necessary till you're ready to fly jets (and an irline pays it for you), and I am anting to believe that OAT re adding it for the "top-gun" factor--or the fact that you are able to go through such complex training and a successful JOC in such a short space of time. The extra curricular activities that OAT seem to have are sound quite naff anyway. I was thinking somewhere along the lines of getting some time inan a/c first, like a PPL or less, to at least get the WOW! factor out of the way, - then go for any of the two schools. The sensible option would be FTE (for the savings) and instead of a JOC get an FI rating. And that would be cheaper still! than OAT training. FTE is also closer to friends and family if you want to get out once in a while. Not an option during OATs USA training phase which is now 5 months.
From a nice website www.henrybevan.co.uk/flying, I get the feeling that the learning curve during the flying phase at FTE is a bit steep. I do prefer the thought of OAT's flying phase and their single engined CPL skills test as opposed to FTEs twin CPL. The JOC I hear is not quite necessary till you're ready to fly jets (and an irline pays it for you), and I am anting to believe that OAT re adding it for the "top-gun" factor--or the fact that you are able to go through such complex training and a successful JOC in such a short space of time. The extra curricular activities that OAT seem to have are sound quite naff anyway. I was thinking somewhere along the lines of getting some time inan a/c first, like a PPL or less, to at least get the WOW! factor out of the way, - then go for any of the two schools. The sensible option would be FTE (for the savings) and instead of a JOC get an FI rating. And that would be cheaper still! than OAT training. FTE is also closer to friends and family if you want to get out once in a while. Not an option during OATs USA training phase which is now 5 months.
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Chock2Chock,
The learning curve at any integrated school will most likely be steep! The period which you attend both Schools would probably be simular, maybe slightly longer at Oxford as sometimes you can wait a little bit more on an aircraft for your CPL/IR.
From the schools point of view, they want you to complete the course in the fastest possible time you can do it.
The learning curve at any integrated school will most likely be steep! The period which you attend both Schools would probably be simular, maybe slightly longer at Oxford as sometimes you can wait a little bit more on an aircraft for your CPL/IR.
From the schools point of view, they want you to complete the course in the fastest possible time you can do it.
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Hello all,
Just thought i'd add my two pence worth! I'm currently at Jerez as a cadet with Thomson fly and am loving every minute of it! Not only is the training second to none (and yes i've also been to oxford and sat in a couple of classes) The people here and the experience are fantastic!
At the moment there are two courses of Thomson fly cadets (another due to arrive next week), two BACX courses, Gapan students and KLM students from holland! That in itself must prove something! Also we have had FLYBE here this week to finalise plans of taking a fixed amount of students from here each month!!! Aswell as all this, the school (as does Oxford) has very good relationships with numerous other airlines, especially BA.
Also, one of our flying instructors came here from the CAA. He told me that although some of oxfords facilities may be better, the standard of training here is far better. His words not mine!!
I think on the whole, both schools are pretty much similar. I'm confident if you put in the work, your more than likely to get the results regardless of school. BUT for me, it would be FTE anytime!!!!!
AK
Just thought i'd add my two pence worth! I'm currently at Jerez as a cadet with Thomson fly and am loving every minute of it! Not only is the training second to none (and yes i've also been to oxford and sat in a couple of classes) The people here and the experience are fantastic!
At the moment there are two courses of Thomson fly cadets (another due to arrive next week), two BACX courses, Gapan students and KLM students from holland! That in itself must prove something! Also we have had FLYBE here this week to finalise plans of taking a fixed amount of students from here each month!!! Aswell as all this, the school (as does Oxford) has very good relationships with numerous other airlines, especially BA.
Also, one of our flying instructors came here from the CAA. He told me that although some of oxfords facilities may be better, the standard of training here is far better. His words not mine!!
I think on the whole, both schools are pretty much similar. I'm confident if you put in the work, your more than likely to get the results regardless of school. BUT for me, it would be FTE anytime!!!!!
AK
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GAZB,
If you thought that learning a course is worth doing because it is easy then go-ahead and choose a totally UK based FTO because the R/T communications will be easy. Experience shows that training in a more demanding environment often produces a better result. Of course, I am biased as I have been an instructor at FTE and previously at OAT, but don't take my word for it - look at the take up rate from the airlines.
If you thought that learning a course is worth doing because it is easy then go-ahead and choose a totally UK based FTO because the R/T communications will be easy. Experience shows that training in a more demanding environment often produces a better result. Of course, I am biased as I have been an instructor at FTE and previously at OAT, but don't take my word for it - look at the take up rate from the airlines.
Look. There is little of any substance to choose between the two schools in terms of quality of training or chance of getting a job from attending one or the other.
You can differentiate slightly on price. But by far the biggest issue is the fact that one is in Southern Spain. The could be either a real bonus or a real drawback depending on your cirumstances. I instructed there and saw that for some a year in the sunshine lounging by the pool was a real plus whereas for some being 1000 miles away from family, friends and girl/boyfriends turned into a real drag. The campus can begin to feel like a prison camp, you might not like the food and you probably won't have a car.
You are going to spend a stressful, memorable, important and life shaping year of your life at one of these places. Its important to get it right. I think you really have to get off your butt and visit both - there is only so much one can learn from brochures or from here.
Cheers
WWW
You can differentiate slightly on price. But by far the biggest issue is the fact that one is in Southern Spain. The could be either a real bonus or a real drawback depending on your cirumstances. I instructed there and saw that for some a year in the sunshine lounging by the pool was a real plus whereas for some being 1000 miles away from family, friends and girl/boyfriends turned into a real drag. The campus can begin to feel like a prison camp, you might not like the food and you probably won't have a car.
You are going to spend a stressful, memorable, important and life shaping year of your life at one of these places. Its important to get it right. I think you really have to get off your butt and visit both - there is only so much one can learn from brochures or from here.
Cheers
WWW
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Flying Jock,
I think you have miss interpreted my post!
At no point did I mention "easy" and it was certainly not what I intended to imply.
Far from it infact, I'm simply saying that being exposed to U.K. R/T phraseology from the start (which we both know is in a completely different league from the Yanks) is probably a bit more appropriate.
I think you have miss interpreted my post!
At no point did I mention "easy" and it was certainly not what I intended to imply.
Far from it infact, I'm simply saying that being exposed to U.K. R/T phraseology from the start (which we both know is in a completely different league from the Yanks) is probably a bit more appropriate.
Join Date: Mar 2003
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From my experience OAT has been a fantastic establishment.....organised and seeminly value for money.
I am very nearly finished my APP course and have has 2 offers of employment already....one from BA on their ssp and bmibaby on the b737.
I started 14 months ago and finish this week..........ON TIME IF NOT EARLY!!
I have had alot of time during the course for myself as well. I spent only 8 weeks in scottsdale for the cpl instead of the advertised 12-13 weeks and was offered to stay on for the duration if I wanted. First time and series passes on everything and a job to boot starting before xmas..............OAT EVERYTIME!!
I am very nearly finished my APP course and have has 2 offers of employment already....one from BA on their ssp and bmibaby on the b737.
I started 14 months ago and finish this week..........ON TIME IF NOT EARLY!!
I have had alot of time during the course for myself as well. I spent only 8 weeks in scottsdale for the cpl instead of the advertised 12-13 weeks and was offered to stay on for the duration if I wanted. First time and series passes on everything and a job to boot starting before xmas..............OAT EVERYTIME!!
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Hi Jam,
Feeling lost and clueless? I know how it feels, you've got a couple of big decisions ahead of you.
Like everyone says an OAT bod will go with OAT and a FTE bod will go FTE when choosing which is best.
I don't think there is much difference between the two. You've just got to go with what ever feels right for you. I personally felt OAT had the better name and reputation, so I chose Oxford. Speaking to various sources before hand, Oxford was always meantioned and recommended. As for any other schools I would stay well clear of, particularly one.
As for my time at Oxford so far. Overall its been brilliant. My class mates are all top guys and gals. The instructors and support staff are all very genuinely friendly and very experienced.
I'm half way through ground school. I'd like to say I'm enjoying it, but it is a lot of hard work, especially in your own time. If I had any negative points on the ground school (apart from the shear workload and Air Law), there would be two. As all the instructors come from non-teaching backgrounds their teaching styles all vary widely and it can be quite difficult to adjust from instructor to instructor, also their ability to teach ranges from excellent to not so good. Although I woulf rate most as very good. These are only minor points though, because if you look at my classes phase 1 results they are excellent. Out of 22, 1 guy failed two subjects (and English is not his first language), I think two guys got between 80 -85% average, three more got 86-89% and everyone else was 90% and over. So those results speak for themselves.
Anyway hope this helps, whoever you choose OAT or FTE I think it will be a good choice. Best of luck, maybe you'll be in my right hand seat one day
Feeling lost and clueless? I know how it feels, you've got a couple of big decisions ahead of you.
Like everyone says an OAT bod will go with OAT and a FTE bod will go FTE when choosing which is best.
I don't think there is much difference between the two. You've just got to go with what ever feels right for you. I personally felt OAT had the better name and reputation, so I chose Oxford. Speaking to various sources before hand, Oxford was always meantioned and recommended. As for any other schools I would stay well clear of, particularly one.
As for my time at Oxford so far. Overall its been brilliant. My class mates are all top guys and gals. The instructors and support staff are all very genuinely friendly and very experienced.
I'm half way through ground school. I'd like to say I'm enjoying it, but it is a lot of hard work, especially in your own time. If I had any negative points on the ground school (apart from the shear workload and Air Law), there would be two. As all the instructors come from non-teaching backgrounds their teaching styles all vary widely and it can be quite difficult to adjust from instructor to instructor, also their ability to teach ranges from excellent to not so good. Although I woulf rate most as very good. These are only minor points though, because if you look at my classes phase 1 results they are excellent. Out of 22, 1 guy failed two subjects (and English is not his first language), I think two guys got between 80 -85% average, three more got 86-89% and everyone else was 90% and over. So those results speak for themselves.
Anyway hope this helps, whoever you choose OAT or FTE I think it will be a good choice. Best of luck, maybe you'll be in my right hand seat one day
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Well I can't comment on OAT but I can on FTE (or baesystems as it was then). I loved the place. The totally focussed professionalism of both the ground school staff and the flight instruction staff was an inspiration.
Wherever you go, don't fool yourself into thinking it's all on a plate. I witnessed one or two youngsters sit back and expect groundschool exams to be passed with virtually no work from them. This cost them dearly in terms of time, money and in some cases respect & sympathy from fellow students and staff.
Never witnessed anyone sitting back for too long on the flying front (except for about 100 Algerian wasters who are long since gone). Everyone else (unless completely dim) realised every minute was on the meter and that meter ran expensive!
If you go to FTE, make sure you own transport to get out and about on time-off. It is a truely beautiful unspoilt part of Spain and well worth exploring. I had my rather splendid motorbike with me when I was there and I can honestly say I never enjoyed driving it more in my life than when I was there. The weather, the beaches, the mountains.... Also just going down the shops for an hour or two in Jerez was a welcome break.
On the down side, the long term relationship fatality rate was depressingly high for a lot of the students - probably about 50%. Luckily not mine. But that was probably because my partner spent 2 months living in El Puerto (now my favourite town in Spain - about 30k down the road from Jerez airport) and on top of that we saw each other about once a month. Not cheap for either of us, but it kept us together - and now married.
I remember when I choose Jerez over Oxford, there was an absolutely ferocious amount of bitching about Oxford from some people (ex-students, students doing modular and not integrated). I don't know if that is still going on. Not my territory. Also the integrated v. modular thing - depends what you want. Qualification at the end is the same. Maybe time taken to get there is different.
It's a big decision, good luck.
Wherever you go, don't fool yourself into thinking it's all on a plate. I witnessed one or two youngsters sit back and expect groundschool exams to be passed with virtually no work from them. This cost them dearly in terms of time, money and in some cases respect & sympathy from fellow students and staff.
Never witnessed anyone sitting back for too long on the flying front (except for about 100 Algerian wasters who are long since gone). Everyone else (unless completely dim) realised every minute was on the meter and that meter ran expensive!
If you go to FTE, make sure you own transport to get out and about on time-off. It is a truely beautiful unspoilt part of Spain and well worth exploring. I had my rather splendid motorbike with me when I was there and I can honestly say I never enjoyed driving it more in my life than when I was there. The weather, the beaches, the mountains.... Also just going down the shops for an hour or two in Jerez was a welcome break.
On the down side, the long term relationship fatality rate was depressingly high for a lot of the students - probably about 50%. Luckily not mine. But that was probably because my partner spent 2 months living in El Puerto (now my favourite town in Spain - about 30k down the road from Jerez airport) and on top of that we saw each other about once a month. Not cheap for either of us, but it kept us together - and now married.
I remember when I choose Jerez over Oxford, there was an absolutely ferocious amount of bitching about Oxford from some people (ex-students, students doing modular and not integrated). I don't know if that is still going on. Not my territory. Also the integrated v. modular thing - depends what you want. Qualification at the end is the same. Maybe time taken to get there is different.
It's a big decision, good luck.
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Thanks guy's for all your very important inputs.
It is a very tough decision and not one to be taken lightly. I think both are very very good schools but there are so many other factors to consider......distance being one of them. On one hand FTE could be an advantage as you will have no one to bother you hence it's head down all the way! on the other hand it can make you feel very homesick !
Anyway thanks everyone for their comments and please feel free to post further comments.
Jam
It is a very tough decision and not one to be taken lightly. I think both are very very good schools but there are so many other factors to consider......distance being one of them. On one hand FTE could be an advantage as you will have no one to bother you hence it's head down all the way! on the other hand it can make you feel very homesick !
Anyway thanks everyone for their comments and please feel free to post further comments.
Jam
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Hi everybody!
I'm very interested in FTE and i'd like to know whether anyone knows the length of a CPL-IR in that school for a modular training?
Thank you in advance for your answer!
Simon
I'm very interested in FTE and i'd like to know whether anyone knows the length of a CPL-IR in that school for a modular training?
Thank you in advance for your answer!
Simon
