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European Flight Training (EFT)

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Old 21st Nov 2006, 12:44
  #121 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by DuffyDuck
Hey Gernie,
either way, you have to do the 14 exams! Every jaapilot has to do it as it is part of the training even here in europe!
Taking the us-atpl means, that ypu have do do all the theoretical hours, do some more fliying and convert the licence. doing the jaa- atpl in a us-school iost like doing the whole thing in europe. you do not have to convert! only the last thing, the ir, canīt be done in us an has to be done over here.

I have to say, that i do not have a atpl yet, but i probably take my training in the usa as well in the future.
good luck.

I was wondering, is there anyone out there who took the jaatraining in the usa and got a job in europe?
is it harder compared to other schools to find a job? or would you say, the airlines donīt care as the training is as good as in europe?
Hey DuffyDuck and Alphamale! Thank you very much for your replies!!! Really I think now I have a much clear idea about all this!!
So, if I choose EFT (European Flight Training) to do my training, as itīs a school under JAA system, I will have to do the 14exams anyway, but will I do them in the US while doing my training with them? Or should I go back to Europe to take the exams? that is my question now?
So I got to the conclusion, that doing the training in this way (in a Jaa school in the US), I wont have to do a long convertion. I will just have to do the IR convertion, isnīt? Someone knows anything about this? How long it takes? How many exams? What really means an IR convertion? Instrument Rating? What the hell this means?

I also would like to ask, what people think about the idea of doing an APP program, like EFTīs.
EFTīs program is about 63,000$ and they guarantee you a job as flight instructor. Working like this they say that you will get up to 1470hours of fliying time, and when finishing working (max.18mounths) you will have to return to Europe for the IR convertion. Some people told me that some airlines doenst like very much this APP programs cos in fact you are buying your work. Is this true or just bull****?
I think what really matters for airlines is the experience, and how many hours do you have.
Cos this is the main point why Iīm want go to the US for my training. Cos in the US I will get a lot of fliying hours, and in Europe in any school you wont get more than 220hours. So I think, If someone does a program like this that you can get up to 1470hours and afterwards do the IR convertion, he will have many more employment options than an European student that just only have 220hours. Is not like this? What you think guys? I will really like to have more opinions about this.
Well hope you can understand again what Iīm triying to say. My english is very poor! And thank you again to everybody whos is helping me out in this post. Ciao!
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Old 21st Nov 2006, 15:16
  #122 (permalink)  
 
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Some people told me that some airlines doenst like very much this APP programs cos in fact you are buying your work.
Your not buying your work. Your buying your license + ratings.

You get paid whilst instructing.
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Old 21st Nov 2006, 20:39
  #123 (permalink)  
 
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Right you really need to print out the whole website and PDF's on their site like I did (albeit on the works printer ).

The reason I am studying for this course is due to the fact it'll give me an FAA & JAA licences including FAA / JAA Instructor ratings which will pay for themselves during the 12 months of instructing.

You study the ATPL in the US via Bristol GS - so NO need to come home. but while your revising for your exams you will also be Instructing people who are doing the FastTrack FAA PPL's. After completing the ATPL's you will instruct FAA & JAA PPL/MEP/CPL's to the masses for a small payment but gaining valuable hours.

An airline will not see you as buying your hours What you are doing is working your little A*s off to get through the door of an airline company. Example BMIbaby/EasyJet etc want 1,000 hours minimum! With 1,400+ hours and a lot of it being Multi time during night and bad weather they will probably respect you more than a guy that paid for his course (250 hours) and then spend thousands of Euros/£/$ on getting time in the air.

What you read was when airlines ask for 100 hours Jet time and a type rating. This means you need to find £20,000 for the type rating (TR) & line training but you're still lacking 100 hours on a Jet So what some people do is work for free to gain the 100+ hours or some are desperate enough to pay for this time. This will get you no respect when the Airline asks how you managed to gain the needed hours. And 'IF' you were lucky enough to get the job in the LHS the Capt in the RHS will more than likely have zero respect for you and not let you fly much ... By paying to gain flying time you are bringing down the Pilots pay (do a search) so when you get to the top you'll be getting paid 25k Euros and wonder why you paid all that money for your training?

Sorry for the long reply but remember you'll be there for 18 months and Florida isn't all that cheap ... the good thing is that you are quite far away from Miami and Orlando so the temptations are not as strong (more time to revise).

1,400+ hours and all you need to do is come back to europe and pass a IR rating ... I estimate I'll be EFT in 18 months time

Andrew
(You'll find a few APP courses in the states not just EFT)

Last edited by AlphaMale; 21st Nov 2006 at 21:49.
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Old 22nd Nov 2006, 00:59
  #124 (permalink)  
 
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I am currently researching EFT for various courses. One thing I cannot seem to find on their website is any option for licence conversions? (Canadian CPL/ME/IR > JAA (f)ATPL) I am going to email them, but before I do so can anyone shed any light on this? No doubt there are other FTU's in the US that will do this?

EFT would work well, because my ATPL's are going to be done with Bristol.

Thanks in advance.


Last edited by Finals19; 22nd Nov 2006 at 01:00. Reason: Trying to make myself understood!
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Old 22nd Nov 2006, 14:35
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Any approved JAA FTO in the USA, Canada or in Europe can convert your Canadian licence to JAA. That includes EFT - but mind, EFT can't do your JAA IR conversion, since the skill test must be taken in the UK and not in Florida.

Where you do your ATPL theory - Bristol or elsewhere - doesn't matter in the slightest. When you have achieved a pass in all 14 written exams, you're good to go. That's the beauty of the modular training route.

Yeah,

KK
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Old 24th Nov 2006, 22:57
  #126 (permalink)  
 
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anybody know who is examning the flight instructors exam at EFT now?

cheers
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Old 25th Nov 2006, 02:25
  #127 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by AlphaMale

1,400+ hours and all you need to do is come back to europe and pass a IR rating ... I estimate I'll be EFT in 18 months time

Andrew
(You'll find a few APP courses in the states not just EFT)
Alphamale, donīt you think that 1470hours as in the website says are too many hours to do just in 18mounths working as instructor? One friend of mine who is a pilot told me, that is crazy to do all those hours in just 18mounths, that it will be much more time. I understood that the APP program are 18mounths, included the phase while you work as intructor, isnīt? Or it is 18mounths for the app program and another 18 working as instructor?

And about the IR rating, you have any idea about this? how long it takes to pass it? And how many exams?

Thanks a lot.
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Old 25th Nov 2006, 20:03
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gernie:

I worked at EFT as an instructor for just under 2 years and left with just under 1500 hours (started there with the normal 250). After the APP is completed you are normally issued with a J1 (during the APP you are on an M1) which is valid for 2 years and this gives you plenty of time to build lots of hours.

An average for the JAA IR is about 4-5 weeks with EFT this is about 3 weeks in the US and then approx 2 weeks in the UK to convert, depends on the student, weather etc.

Escobar: It has been a while since I have been at EFT, but I believe that Mr. Stephen Fisher is the FI examiner, but I could be wrong.

Hope this helps.
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Old 28th Nov 2006, 00:36
  #129 (permalink)  
 
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Mark,
thanks for your reply! It has helped me much! I want to ask you another question. I supposse that u were doing the APP program? Donīt you? I wanna know if the APP is a distance learning program, or there are regular lessons. I mean if students must study by themselves and then just take the exams, or there are teachers giving daily lessons to the students. I know that the question can sound stupid, but this is a important point for me.

Last question is that I also saw the pics of the school in the website and it really looks quite small. While you was instructing there, there were many students? Or just a few?

Thank you very much in advance!
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Old 28th Nov 2006, 01:33
  #130 (permalink)  
 
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Hi Gernie,

With regard to the 14 theory exams it is mainly self study with refresher courses held by who ever you decide to use as your theory provider e.g. Bristol.

There are two ways you can do this:

1) Complete the PPL and some hour building and then study full time on your own in whatever part of the world you choose. This can be the longer route as it depends on how disciplined you are at making yourself study.

2) While taking your PPl/hour building you can be studying for your first ATPL module exams. This can be more stressful and is a higher workload, but can have benefits in reducing the amount of time it takes you to complete the whole APP course.

The important thing to remember is that when it comes to the ATPL exams you are doing them through a third party (yes it is distance learning) like Bristol, EFT does not provide ground school to you during this phase of the APP program. However if you are starting your studies while you are still at the school, any instructor will be happy to try and clear up any confusing points. During my time at EFT many students used Bristol as there ATPL exam provider and all seemed to be very satisfied and felt prepared for their exams at the end of the refresher courses run in Bristol. Some students stayed in Florida to study and some went home, the choice is yours and should be based on where you feel you can concentrate and absorb the most amount on info in the shortest amount of time. Hopefully you will also learn some stuff along the way too.

In the two years I was at EFT the facilities changed dramatically, they now have at least 4 seperate briefing rooms, dedicated office, dispatch, student lounge and computer and weather stations. The school averages approx 25-30 students max at any one time and although the school will be busy space is never really an issue.

Hope this helps.

Mark

Last edited by Mark Collins; 28th Nov 2006 at 01:35. Reason: Spelling
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Old 28th Nov 2006, 08:50
  #131 (permalink)  
 
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Mark is this Steven Fisher the same one who abandoned Swallow Flight training at Cardiff and Gloucester with massive debts and left Pilots who had paid up front with nothing?? if so he s**ks
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Old 28th Nov 2006, 14:05
  #132 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by The Saw
Mark is this Steven Fisher the same one who abandoned Swallow Flight training at Cardiff and Gloucester with massive debts and left Pilots who had paid up front with nothing?? if so he s**ks
I don't know the stories behind the schools you mention, however the Stephen Fisher at EFT does carry some infamy connected to a similar scenario. As far as I know though, he does not have any financial involvement in EFT should that be concerning you (although I stand to be corrected if that isn't true).
However, when I was at EFT, I was very aware that a couple of students did have issues with him as their examiner - whether that was justly/unjustly based on him failing them, I do not know. I only heard & saw one side of the story.

I think it is unfortunate that EFT has this connection, because it does blot what is otherwise a good school. As with all things connected to reputations, the worst always stick in peoples minds.
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Old 28th Nov 2006, 21:54
  #133 (permalink)  
 
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As far as I am aware Stephen Fisher doesn't have any financial involvement in EFT and I don't see any reason why he would. I am unaware of the stories mentioned before, but as an aviator and examiner I personally have never come across any problems with him.

Most examiners are slightly excentric and always have there own opinion on how things should be done/taught etc, but you can also learn a lot from them if you are open to constructive evaluation of your performance. Some people are not always so open especially after a stressful flight test.

Some examiners are also more difficult to get on with than others and I am sure all examiners have their fans as well as their detractors.

As to whether this is unfortunate for EFT, I am not too sure it can be helped. The JAA community in Florida has a limited resource when it comes to examiners. The ones they do have I have always found to be fair and constructive in their assesments of student flight tests. This comes from both a student and instructor point of veiw. With any examiner the best approach is to be well prepared and treat them like a normal human being and try to overcome any reputation you may have heard of as most of the time not all elements are truthful.

Last edited by Mark Collins; 28th Nov 2006 at 21:56. Reason: grammer
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Old 28th Nov 2006, 21:54
  #134 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by Mark Collins
In the two years I was at EFT the facilities changed dramatically, they now have at least 4 seperate briefing rooms, dedicated office, dispatch, student lounge and computer and weather stations. The school averages approx 25-30 students max at any one time and although the school will be busy space is never really an issue.

Hope this helps.

Mark

I had to post to clear this up. EFT has none of these facilities apart from a dedicated office. They use the briefing rooms, dispatch, student lounge computers and weather station belonging to another school (Ari-Ben Aviator)which owns the building and have only the office for themselves. The other school has more than 120 students at the moment, so as you can imagine it gets pretty crowded. They also rent all of the planes from the other school which opens up a whole load of problems with availability. You are also required to stay in their accomodation at $1000 a month (yes, really!). EFT have no authority to issue VISAs, they are issued on their behalf by Ari-Ben, a situation which isn't legal.

I have not had training at EFT, but I have at Ari-Ben, and their lack of professionalism is well-stated on these forums. Because of the way EFT works you will encounter all of the same problems while a student there.
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Old 28th Nov 2006, 22:21
  #135 (permalink)  
 
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NH2390,

Are these facilities and aircraft not shared? I do believe they are and any EFT student has full access to the facilities I mentioned before.


Are all these 120 students flying at the same time all throughout the day? I don't think so. There is not enough aircraft for this to be possible. There is always a steady flow of students from both schools either coming or going for flights. In two years I would never have said that the place was ever crowded.

Availability of aircraft in any school is a matter of give and take, the relationship between EFT and Ari Ben is a healthy one and the two will always come to a managable solution if a conflict arises. The aircraft are leased from Ari-Ben on an as required basis, this is not an uncommon practice in the world of aviation.

If you have issues with the quality and professionalism of Ari-Ben I suggest you raise it with them. Also, the fact you have never received training from EFT hardly qualifies you to criticise on the above points. The team at EFT is well trained and they run a disciplined training schedule. I know these people personally and professionally and they are a very fine bunch of instructors that provide an excellent service to the students which rivals any JAA school in the industry.


As I said before the two schools work very well together and there are rarely any problems a student needs to be concerned with.

Overall the situation is positve, but I will never say it is perfect. There will always be problems, but these are generally minor. As per the cost of accomodation, I don't know how much it is now, but any student would need to check directly with EFT to verify the amount.

With regard to the visa being illegal, please establish the basis of your comment with some more information. In my experience the US government, IRS, USCIS and homeland security have never seemed to have a problem with it. The reason I know this is I have just been through the process of alien registration and I think they might have bought it up if I had been in the country working illegally for the past two years. My application was approved without query.

Mark.
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Old 28th Nov 2006, 22:31
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EFT students are not required to say in EFT accommodation and it certainly does not cost anywhere near $1000. The daily rate from the website is $35, but the monthly rate is lower. This has not changed even with the move of the accommodation in reply to NH2930 comments below.

There are no problems with availability of aircraft if you manage your schedule with your instructor. Those students who suffer from availability often suffer from other issues such as punctuality. In response to availability as replied again below by a student who wasn't even at EFT - I never had an availability problem whilst training - Recently : I didn't have an aircraft only once in two months. The complex was down more than one month but we had no students booked to use it; as we knew the overhaul was happening - it's what we call planning.

I never had a problem - and I think it unfair to group Aviator with EFT regarding un-professionalism.

EFT is run as a much tighter ship than Aviator as would be expected with a JAA school. I think it fairer for EFT students to post comments here rather than students who haven't flown here - with genuine experiences and more fact. The way visas is sponsored has worked for hundreds of students and is therefore legal.

Additionally, I suggest you take any comments you hear regarding examiners with a pinch of salt if heard from a student. The examiners are all fair and are standardised by the CAA.

Last edited by Matthew Adams; 29th Nov 2006 at 14:56. Reason: Reply to NH2390 Comments below
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Old 29th Nov 2006, 04:08
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Yes, the facilities are shared, I simply wanted to correct your statement that EFT has 4 briefing rooms and all those facilities for 25-30 students when that simply isn't true.

Since there isn't physically room in the school building for all 120 students, maybe 30-40, plus a few from EFT, the idea that all would be there for training is ridiculous. It is, however, common for all the briefing rooms to be occupied by students from one school or another, and the 6-seat 'pilot lounge' and the rest of the building are crowded every day.

Availability of aircraft is, frankly, abysmal. It is normal for at least half the fleet to be down for maintenance or awaiting 100-hour checks. No priority is given to EFT or Aviator students.

I'm not sure when you attended EFT, but the housing situation changed at the end of October. Where previously students were housed at the airport for $600 a month ($475 for Ari-Ben students), the accomodation is now 20 miles away in Vero Beach and is $1000 a month ($600 for Ari-Ben students). I have an apartment in Vero and was hoping to have a good friend of mine who is a student at EFT move in, but they were threatened with the extra charge.

A list of Visa sponsors can be found here: http://exchanges.state.gov/jexchanges/
EFT is not on it. The US government believes you were studying at and working for Ari-Ben Aviator. Probably a good idea not to tell them otherwise, eh?

I have directed no criticism at the staff at EFT whatsoever. The instructors I have met and chatted with informally all seemed very professional and knowledgeable. However you can't go to EFT without encountering the Ari-Ben management (they do sponsor your Visa, after all!), and all the other problems encountered by an Ari-Ben student.

Expect many delays due to plane availability. For example, they only have one complex single, which can be a nightmare if you are trying to do your JAA CPL and it goes down for a week or two. It was down for more than a stretch of more than a month during the summer!
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Old 29th Nov 2006, 15:50
  #138 (permalink)  
 
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My statement of the available facilities to EFT was not intended to be misleading, the fact that EFT share these facilities with Ari Ben has been discussed a couple of times on this thread and is generally known by most who have done their research.

I left EFT in Feb of this year and as I said before I never really experienced an over crowded building or the "abysmal" availability of aircraft. I have to reiterate Matthew Adams' point that working closely with your instructor erradicates any potential issues. Both the student and the instructor need to be proactive on this issue as they would in any flight school. As a student it is partly your responsibility to make sure you are on the schedule and your training is progressing.

With regard to the Visa issue you are correct that EFT are not on the list, but I was indeed studying at Ari-Ben, I recieved my FAA SE IR + Commercial, Multi IR Commercial and FI licences through them.

From here I then went on to gain experience instructing JAA students from EFT as this was considered to be the most relevant experience required. EFT are considered to be a preferred training partner of Ari Ben. I was flying aircraft registered to Ari Ben and also being paid by Ari Ben. This information is not a secret and the practice in no way illegal.

Mark.
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Old 29th Nov 2006, 23:01
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If you do all that training at Ari-Ben then I think my comments are entirely relevant.

There were students waiting for the complex to come back up after it's overhaul. I know of several other students who suffered significant delays
when it went down for other reasons.

During my time studying at the school I missed MORE THAN HALF of my flights. I was always on time and always ready to go, the planes simply were not. I had non-stop problems from radio-failures mid-way through one checkride to having three maintenance issues on three separate aircraft and having to postpone another. There were a total of 4 planes flying that day, 2 multi-engine and 2 single, pretty bad for 150 students. I live with an instructor who usually loses at least one flight each day. I also know of two EFT students who had to return to Europe without completing everything they wanted to because of delays on plane availability.

Aviator can sponsor you to work at the other school, but not to train there. It's illegal to issue visa's on their behalf, but you've confirmed you were working for Ari-Ben.
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Old 30th Nov 2006, 13:31
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While I was working on the J1 visa I completed no training with EFT, I already had all my necessary JAA qualifications. All the required FAA training was through Ari Ben. This is the same for every student who becomes an instructor at EFT.

Still not illegal.
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