Stapleford
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Tyneside
Age: 53
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I trained at Stapleford and it's basically a good school. It is also one of the cheapest around. I've recommended SFC to quite a few people. And you do the IR on the Diamond Twin star which is an EFIS aircraft and piece of p!ss to fly. Makes the whole IR a lot easier than it is in a Seneca.
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Tyneside
Age: 53
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I did my CPL ME and IR at Stapleford and had a great time. The atmosphere whilst living in the White House at only £10 a night was brilliant. The instructors are all decent and very helpful and the Diamond aircraft is a piece of p!ss to fly.
I now have those pieces of paper in that little blue book that the CAA give you in exchange for £200. Which is exactly what those boys and girls who went to Oxford/Cabair etc have got. Only they paid in the region of 60k/70k for their training. I paid a whole lot less for my training, I have the same peices of paper as them and I'm just as employable!!
It's not a difficult choice to make really is it!!
I now have those pieces of paper in that little blue book that the CAA give you in exchange for £200. Which is exactly what those boys and girls who went to Oxford/Cabair etc have got. Only they paid in the region of 60k/70k for their training. I paid a whole lot less for my training, I have the same peices of paper as them and I'm just as employable!!
It's not a difficult choice to make really is it!!
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Tyneside
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Jas,
I learnt to fly in the USA and did my hour building there cos it's a lot cheaper. I did my ATPL studies with Bristol Ground School. I've got quite a few mates who are at London Met at the minute and they do speak highly of the course there. I must admit, I found distance learning tough, but couldn't speak more highly of Bristol Ground School.
If you have the ability to train full time, the whole process will take you about 18 months (Being realistic with weather delays etc) and if you use Stapleford, all in all the bill will come to roughly £40k. That includes all exam fees, flight tests etc. You'll need to find accommodation and living expenses on top of that as well.
You might want to have a look at the website www.beapilot.co.uk. Those guys designed my training plan around my personal circumstances and I've acheived what I set out to do on time and on budget more or less.
DMK
I learnt to fly in the USA and did my hour building there cos it's a lot cheaper. I did my ATPL studies with Bristol Ground School. I've got quite a few mates who are at London Met at the minute and they do speak highly of the course there. I must admit, I found distance learning tough, but couldn't speak more highly of Bristol Ground School.
If you have the ability to train full time, the whole process will take you about 18 months (Being realistic with weather delays etc) and if you use Stapleford, all in all the bill will come to roughly £40k. That includes all exam fees, flight tests etc. You'll need to find accommodation and living expenses on top of that as well.
You might want to have a look at the website www.beapilot.co.uk. Those guys designed my training plan around my personal circumstances and I've acheived what I set out to do on time and on budget more or less.
DMK
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Nottingham
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Flight experience at Stapleford
Has anybody tried the structured flight experience (hour building) course at Stapleford Flight Centre?
Is it as it says in the brochure - some flight exercises to complete together with some instruction from a CPL instructor to get you ready for the CPL course.
I`m a PPL(A) with about 90 hours and looking to build. Advice here would be appreciated.
Thanks.
Is it as it says in the brochure - some flight exercises to complete together with some instruction from a CPL instructor to get you ready for the CPL course.
I`m a PPL(A) with about 90 hours and looking to build. Advice here would be appreciated.
Thanks.
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: USA/UK
Age: 52
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When I was there a few years ago, there was no 'structure' at all beyond 'come in tomorrow and we'll see if we can find you an aeroplance'.
Still the cafe sells nice food, and everyone was really friendly.
Still the cafe sells nice food, and everyone was really friendly.
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Kent, UK
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Stapleford 'Structured' Hour Building Block
Hi all,
I am currently a quarter of my way through this block so hopefully I can give you a fairly accurate description.
The block itself consists of 99hours flying time (based on flying one of the club's many C152s) and includes 5 hours to achieve your night rating.
As for the 'structured' content.... well not exactly. There isn't a specific layout or set of exercises to carry out (not that I've seen anyway.) I did ask one of the instructors what I should be practising and he mainly recommended nav around the local area, especially to the North & West (with London, Stanstead and Luton all close by.)
Even though this 'structured' block turned out to be a glorified standard hour block, it's still giving you 99 hours at two thirds the price of anyone else in the south east (around £75ph plus discount) plus a night rating. The centre itself is brilliant, everyone is so friendly and the atmosphere is great.
I would definately recommend it!
Cheers,
CapCon
I am currently a quarter of my way through this block so hopefully I can give you a fairly accurate description.
The block itself consists of 99hours flying time (based on flying one of the club's many C152s) and includes 5 hours to achieve your night rating.
As for the 'structured' content.... well not exactly. There isn't a specific layout or set of exercises to carry out (not that I've seen anyway.) I did ask one of the instructors what I should be practising and he mainly recommended nav around the local area, especially to the North & West (with London, Stanstead and Luton all close by.)
Even though this 'structured' block turned out to be a glorified standard hour block, it's still giving you 99 hours at two thirds the price of anyone else in the south east (around £75ph plus discount) plus a night rating. The centre itself is brilliant, everyone is so friendly and the atmosphere is great.
I would definately recommend it!
Cheers,
CapCon
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will be doing the stapleford hours block myself soon, my opinion is that it would be preferable to plan my own 99hours or so of flying, and set my own challenges than to follow a "structure path" that might be set for the hours building at an integrated course.
For me the SFC hours building will be as much an enjoyable experience as a learning one, intentions are to fly all over the place, France, Spain, Italy and see Europe from the Air.
Anyway, as an ably qualified PPL holder do you really need someone telling you how and where ur going to fly each day? As long as you maintain the standards and techniques you have learnt, with a bit of self discipline every tiem you fly there is perhaps no reason why as much, (perhaps more through being your "own man") cannot be gained through an "unstructured" hours building course as a "structured one".
What happens with "structured" hours building anyway, for example at integrated FTOs. How does it differ from "free flying". It would be interesting to hear anyones opinions on this, what if anything is gained.
For me the SFC hours building will be as much an enjoyable experience as a learning one, intentions are to fly all over the place, France, Spain, Italy and see Europe from the Air.
Anyway, as an ably qualified PPL holder do you really need someone telling you how and where ur going to fly each day? As long as you maintain the standards and techniques you have learnt, with a bit of self discipline every tiem you fly there is perhaps no reason why as much, (perhaps more through being your "own man") cannot be gained through an "unstructured" hours building course as a "structured one".
What happens with "structured" hours building anyway, for example at integrated FTOs. How does it differ from "free flying". It would be interesting to hear anyones opinions on this, what if anything is gained.
Join Date: Jan 2006
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I would just like to say thanks to those who responded to my original message regarding the flight experience course at Stapleford.
Let me introduce myself. I am a 35 year old wannabee who has just resigned from the fire service after 12 years to embark on a career in aviation. My funds are now in place after remortgaing the house and I am now set to structure my training full time via the modular route. I am due to begin Oxford groundschool next month.
My point is this - I feel that because of my age I need to make myself as attractive to employers as possible. The problem with hour building for modular students is that the training is not structured or accessed as it is for intergrated students. Now if I was 10 years younger then I don`t believe this would matter much. I would treat hour building as a time to experience travel and I would have some fun while doing it. But I am not 10 years younger and so I need to make sure that each hour counts and that come the day, hopefully in 18 months time when I attend my first interview that I can show that I took my training seriously.
I have checked out FTO`s and none seem to do a structured hour building course for modular students other than you can buy a block of hours at a discounted price.
Maybe this is a gap in the market that could be taken advantage of.
PS.......GOOD LUCK TO ALL WANNABEES OLD AND YOUNG
Let me introduce myself. I am a 35 year old wannabee who has just resigned from the fire service after 12 years to embark on a career in aviation. My funds are now in place after remortgaing the house and I am now set to structure my training full time via the modular route. I am due to begin Oxford groundschool next month.
My point is this - I feel that because of my age I need to make myself as attractive to employers as possible. The problem with hour building for modular students is that the training is not structured or accessed as it is for intergrated students. Now if I was 10 years younger then I don`t believe this would matter much. I would treat hour building as a time to experience travel and I would have some fun while doing it. But I am not 10 years younger and so I need to make sure that each hour counts and that come the day, hopefully in 18 months time when I attend my first interview that I can show that I took my training seriously.
I have checked out FTO`s and none seem to do a structured hour building course for modular students other than you can buy a block of hours at a discounted price.
Maybe this is a gap in the market that could be taken advantage of.
PS.......GOOD LUCK TO ALL WANNABEES OLD AND YOUNG
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Yeh, but what is "structured hours building"? What exactly are you looking for in your hours building. If an instructor tells u to fly a particular route solo, or if you pick it yourself, what is the difference?
If you look at the various integrated courses, they invariably have the same amount of solo and dual hours as ud get if you did a modualr ppl/cpl/IR anyway.
If you look at the various integrated courses, they invariably have the same amount of solo and dual hours as ud get if you did a modualr ppl/cpl/IR anyway.
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Ireland
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Hi
I do see a need for some structure when it comes to hour building. After flying in San Diego, Florida and Ireland it becomes a little too easy to pick those nice routes, avoiding the pressure and stress of a difficult destination becomes very tempting.
I would like a list of routes, each of which would challange me in a different way, larger airfields, some grass strips, different levels of ATC and varied weather.
I'm heading to Stapleford in April and have been told by one of their instructors to do some flying in the UK before starting the commercial with them. i reckon that's the best advice I've been given so far. I'll have about 2 weeks to get some experience and I'm hoping they'll offer me a list of good destinations.
I do see a need for some structure when it comes to hour building. After flying in San Diego, Florida and Ireland it becomes a little too easy to pick those nice routes, avoiding the pressure and stress of a difficult destination becomes very tempting.
I would like a list of routes, each of which would challange me in a different way, larger airfields, some grass strips, different levels of ATC and varied weather.
I'm heading to Stapleford in April and have been told by one of their instructors to do some flying in the UK before starting the commercial with them. i reckon that's the best advice I've been given so far. I'll have about 2 weeks to get some experience and I'm hoping they'll offer me a list of good destinations.
Join Date: Apr 2004
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Welcome steve.
I'm mid 30's and I am in the middle of my training. Doing the hours on your own is fine, but the benefit of doing it at stapleford, is a) you get a good deal and b) you can take a CPL instructor up once in a while to give you pointers.
you don't need to do a mega structured hours building deal, but do make every hour count like you said.
I did my hours elswhere, but I set myself Nav ex's everytime I went flying, I went to lots of different airfields and built up to flying in marginal weather and winds.
Don't just drill holes in the sky for 100 hours, if you do the hour building well then you have a much better chance of doing the CPL and IR in minimum hours.
I don't think employers are going to be too bothered about the hour building - My take on the current employment market is that potential employers care about YOU - your attitude, your 'employability' your 'trainability'. They may be interested in the standards of your IR and your sim abilities on the day of the assesment, but I doubt very much if they will care where or how you did those 100 hours of hour building.
Best of luck - us "30 somethings" have got to show the airlines that we are a better bet than those young nippers!
I'm mid 30's and I am in the middle of my training. Doing the hours on your own is fine, but the benefit of doing it at stapleford, is a) you get a good deal and b) you can take a CPL instructor up once in a while to give you pointers.
you don't need to do a mega structured hours building deal, but do make every hour count like you said.
I did my hours elswhere, but I set myself Nav ex's everytime I went flying, I went to lots of different airfields and built up to flying in marginal weather and winds.
Don't just drill holes in the sky for 100 hours, if you do the hour building well then you have a much better chance of doing the CPL and IR in minimum hours.
I don't think employers are going to be too bothered about the hour building - My take on the current employment market is that potential employers care about YOU - your attitude, your 'employability' your 'trainability'. They may be interested in the standards of your IR and your sim abilities on the day of the assesment, but I doubt very much if they will care where or how you did those 100 hours of hour building.
Best of luck - us "30 somethings" have got to show the airlines that we are a better bet than those young nippers!
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Ireland
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Hi AlexL
Are you training at Stapleford at the moment. I'm looking forward to starting my commercial in April with them and am happy to hear another 30+ student is around.
Are you training at Stapleford at the moment. I'm looking forward to starting my commercial in April with them and am happy to hear another 30+ student is around.
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: England
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Stapleford (merged)
Does anyone have any advice on Oxford or Stapleford with a type rating? I have been excepted into both and have the finance for either of them but am undecided which one to go for.
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The answer for me is simple. I think it is a fact that OATs integrated course, and Staplefords 0 to ATPL course, with type rating and 100 hours on type cost pretty much the same, give or take a couple of K.
Now ask ur self this question, who would be more attractive to an airline,
1. An OAT "graduate" with 200 hours, and no type rating.
2. A person with an ATPL from Stapleford (200 hours) and a B737 type rating, with 100 hours on type?
It does not take Einstein to work out the answer.
Now ask ur self this question, who would be more attractive to an airline,
1. An OAT "graduate" with 200 hours, and no type rating.
2. A person with an ATPL from Stapleford (200 hours) and a B737 type rating, with 100 hours on type?
It does not take Einstein to work out the answer.
Don't know what Einstein knows about flight training but I know of a few people who did a 737 TR with 100 hrs line flying and are still looking for a job. Airlines response was 100 hours not enough.