European Flight Training (EFT)

[NH2390]

Originally Posted by Mark Collins

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.

I stand corrected. If you weren't training at EFT it's legal.

But this vindicates my comments. Since you are training at and working for Ari-Ben Aviator you are subjected to all their problems, from missing and delayed paychecks to the dishonest and unprofessional management.

I'm sure EFT is run much better, they just aren't independant enough.

[RITZER82]

EFT Flight School

Hi has anybody have any knowledge whether EFT flight school in Florida has a good reputation because I just seen an advert placed on pprune that you can achieve a TT 1,500 hours with them at just under $60,000, all assistance will be much appreciated, thank you in advance.

[NH2390]

EFT isn't a real school. EFT is basically a broker, charging inflated prices for people to go to an FAA school called Ari-Ben Aviator. They have none of their own facilities, apart from a small admin office, and none of their own airplanes. Most of your instruction is done by Aviator instructors at a higher rate than what Aviator students are paying. For example, Aviator's own program is $36,000, and the only other things EFT will give you is a JAA CPL conversion and JAA CFI. Most of your hours will come from working for Ari-Ben Aviator as an instructor, instructing EFT and Aviator students.

Don't think for a second I'm reccomending Aviator. It's poorly managed, with incompetent staff, poor maintenance and worse availability of airplanes. The same airplanes you'd be flying as an EFT student.

If you want to fly in the states I recommend going to another FAA school that has a J1 program and then instructing. You can then do your CPL conversion. You will save a lot of money this way.

[RITZER82]

Thank you for your swift and very useful informative advice, I am quite strongly looking into Orlando flight school as it is very affordable would you recommend me this fligh school establishment as I am looking to do a course that offers 0-fATPL, thanks.

[NH2390]

I'm afraid I've never visited OFT and I don't personally know anyone who has. There is a thread on here for the school with lots of comments. http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...=212516&page=3

I have visited Naples Air Centre who have a program similar to what you are looking for. They seemed professional (although I'm not sure about the cats!), and have a nice looking setup, with their own airplanes! Naples also looks like a pretty good town to live in. I can't comment on the standard of training. I'm sure there are some comments to be found on this forum.

[RITZER82]

Many thanks for your kind assistance.

[yoda1]

Hi has anybody have any knowledge whether EFT flight school in Florida has a good reputation because I just seen an advert placed on pprune that you can achieve a TT 1,500 hours with them at just under $60,000, all assistance will be much appreciated, thank you in advance.

Hi m8 the following is a thread dedicated to the school:

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=206623

[BigGrecian]

Let's stick to the point please

RITZER82 is not asking about Aviator he is asking about EFT - so try and stick to the point - and comment on the Aviator thread rather than the EFT one and leave it to those who have trained at EFT to comment here. He is also based in the UK so most probably will require JAA training rather than FAA training. In my experience of flight training people who provide posts such as yourself often create most of their problems themselves - and any student or isntructor who knows about NH2390 will agree that he created his own problems.

Yes some instruction is provided by aviator instructors but that is the minority of the instruction. They currently have over 6 JAA qualified (who are also FAA instructors, all European - British, Danish, Itlalian) who provide well over 90% of the training done at EFT so therefore EFT are providing their own training. If EFT wasn't a real school it wouldn't be granted FTO status by the UK CAA. All APP instruction bar the initial CFI is now provided by EFT instructors and not Ari-Ben instructors (With one exception - a wee Scottish girl lol)

Regarding schools being attached to other schools - this is common practice and not unusual among the JAA Flight Schools based abroad. EFT is just one of such schools doing so.

NH2390 - Now that the questions have been answered properly regarding EFT - why don't you create a post explaining your experiences at Aviator on the Aviator thread, rather than replying to posts and keeping your experiences to yourself and moaning about a school you never attended (Please don't reply on this thread.) - at least that way you'll be providing some positive input to this forum. Your comments are out of date and irrelevant to the EFT thread.

[NH2390]

He is asking about the APP program which includes 90% FAA training with Ari-Ben instructors, at Ari-Ben, and then working for Ari-Ben. That makes my comments 90% applicable.

[KrazyKraut]

There's no denying the (cough, cough) 'links' between Aviator and EFT. The EFT-Aviator relationship extend beyond airplanes, instructors and facilities.

But it doesn't matter - EFT is a good school for what it advertises - getting licences quickly and relatively cheaply. While that's not ideal for everybody (i.e. for those whose first priority is not minimum course completion time or cost), those people who *do* want quick and cheap are served well at EFT, and they won't mind whether they are taught by American or UK instructors.

I have first-hand experience (albeit not recent) of EFT and can recommend it along these lines.

Yeah,

KK

[cosworth211]

EFT Accomodation

I just wanted to highlight EFT's new accomodation policy and wondered if anyone else has comments/been caught out by it.

They have put up the accomodation cost from $600 to $1050 per month, while the actual standard of accomodation has decreased and is now 20-30 minutes drive away, previous accomodation was actually on the airfield, or 10 mins away.

For your extra money, you get to share a cheap and nasty Hyundai or similar, if you do not have a driving license, or wish to buy your own car, you do not get a discount.

The affiliate FAA school, Ari Ben, only charges $500 for the accomodation and doesn't force you to share a horrible car.

I've trained with EFT since Sept 05, and fly out to Florida on monday to do the CPL/IR, they had the courtesy to tell me of this policy change today, even though I signed up for the CPL/IR 5 weeks ago. I do not have time to arrange alternative accomodation now.

Anyone else think this is unfair?

[AlphaMale]

Quite interesting how you say the cost is between $600 and $1,050

I've been saving for the quite some time to do the APP (calculate to start between Feb / April 2008) if they have little things like this going on to catch me out then I am off to Egnatia or some other school first as last

The only issue I thought I'd have was getting to the airfield everyday. Think AriBren might be a better deal for me ... back to the drawing board for me then

Let us know what happends.

Andrew

[cosworth211]

Originally Posted by AlphaMale

Quite interesting how you say the cost is between $600 and $1,050

Sorry, to clarify the accomodation was $600 previously, and is now $1050 as from 1st Jan. Though no-one contacted anyone already signed up of the changes.

Don't get me wrong, EFT is a good school, but I am very unimpressed with this housing policy, which forces you into renting one of Ari-Ben's (their affiliate school) cars. Some of us already own cars out in Florida, when I was out there last I bought a car with 2 others, with insurance/tags etc it worked out 4 times cheaper then renting.

If the policy is being forced on EFT "from above" then they should stand up for their customers.

[AlphaMale]

I see they updated their site to $35 per day

I have been told you could get penalised for not using their accommodation is this true? It might be easier to rent a house closer to the airfield for example? share that between 4 students and hey presto

I am really excited about doing my APP at EFT would you recommend it? It would be nice to hear it from a current student point of view

Thanks

Andrew

PS I think it could be Aviator pushing up the prices for EFT But then I guess if they can why shouldn't they it's only business at the end of the day.

[cosworth211]

Originally Posted by AlphaMale

I see they updated their site to $35 per day
I have been told you could get penalised for not using their accommodation is this true? It might be easier to rent a house closer to the airfield for example? share that between 4 students and hey presto
I am really excited about doing my APP at EFT would you recommend it? It would be nice to hear it from a current student point of view
Thanks
Andrew
PS I think it could be Aviator pushing up the prices for EFT But then I guess if they can why shouldn't they it's only business at the end of the day.

Yes, changing the unit of time is a bad attempt to hide the price hike. Im not sure how you could be penalised for not using their accomodation.

It is possible to rent privately, unfortunately being told 6 days prior to flying out isn't much time to sort out alternative arrangements! I received an email telling me of the new housing policy the day after I wired money to them for the CPL course

I have enjoyed my time at EFT, the training is of a high quality. Its a shame when things like this tarnish peoples opinions of them.

I agree companies have the right to charge what they want, but they shouldn't move the goal posts for people who have already signed up/paid deposits etc, Im sure contract law is in place for this sort of unethical practice! As EFT is Aviators biggest customer, im sure they levy some power to ensure their students are treated fairly!

[Matthew Adams]

Cosworth - a bit unlike you to post without the full details initially.
It is generally accepted the accommodation standards have gone up.
It is however, further away from the airfield. There is an hourly bus service to the airfield back and forth for free.
The package does now include a car - and if you were renting both before hand the new price offers savings. Aviator's cost is the same with the car.
I challenge anyone to find accommodation for anything less than 4 months which will work out cheaper at this time of year accommodation wise.

[cosworth211]

Originally Posted by Matthew Adams

Cosworth - a bit unlike you to post without the full details initially.
It is generally accepted the accommodation standards have gone up.
It is however, further away from the airfield. There is an hourly bus service to the airfield back and forth for free.
The package does now include a car - and if you were renting both before hand the new price offers savings. Aviator's cost is the same with the car.
I challenge anyone to find accommodation for anything less than 4 months which will work out cheaper at this time of year accommodation wise.

Before accomodation was $600 a month, a shared rented car $87.50 a week. I make that $978, a $72 premium, not saving. You also lose the choice to purchase your own car, which can cost up to 4 times less then renting. I note you purchased your own car also, instead of renting from the school.
This is a blatant move to force you to rent a car from the affiliate school. If it was not, you would have the option to opt out of the car rental, which you don't. I wouldn't complain if this had always been the policy, but it has been sprung on me and two fellow students 6 days before we leave for Florida, after wiring the money for the course, booking flights, obtaining Visa's, TSA etc.
Do you honestly believe that $2100 a month is a good rate for a 2 bedroom flat in Vero Beach? You could rent a modern 4 bedroom house here in Sussex for that!
As I mentioned I do rate EFT and think they are a great training organisation, but that doesn't mean I won't complain about something that I feel is grossly unfair. I started this post to ensure no one else is caught out unaware of the change in housing policy. The 2 fellow students who fly out to EFT with me on the 15th are fuming also.

[BattleCreek]

Originally Posted by Matthew Adams

Cosworth - a bit unlike you to post without the full details initially.
It is generally accepted the accommodation standards have gone up.
It is however, further away from the airfield. There is an hourly bus service to the airfield back and forth for free.
The package does now include a car - and if you were renting both before hand the new price offers savings. Aviator's cost is the same with the car.
I challenge anyone to find accommodation for anything less than 4 months which will work out cheaper at this time of year accommodation wise.

I think the fact of the matter is the lack of communication from the school and the fact that they are truly backing people into a corner.
The school have yet to tell me of this increase and I am currently studying with them...so I wonder at what point they are going to have the decency, manners and basic customer service of informing me. I know of other students who purchased cars before Christmas and who are now still on their Christmas break and have not been informed.

There is no argument that the $1050 for car and accomodation is a good price, but to offer no alternative to a student who simply doesn't need or want a car, is pushing it, to say the least. As Cosworth stated, it is an increase of $78, so no saving from before. Also, if the Aviator students are paying $500 or 600 a month, then why is this same price being offered to the EFT people?

If you are paying a school or company a hell of a lot of money for a service and they decide to put the prices up, fair enough. But they do need to inform people in advance and not spring it on them unawares.

And as a point of reference..The shuttle from the accomodation runs every 2 hours, not every hour.

[Keygrip]

I would just love to see the road transport insurance documents for some of the school rental cars, shuttle buses and "airport transfer" vehicles.

That's ANY of the schools - not any one in particular.

The words "hire" and "reward" spring to mind.

[charliealpha]

Let's put the truth here about housing accomodation and vehicle rentals, instead of rumours and ranting:

The housing accomodation costs did increase, this is true. The truth is, costs actually increased as of November 1st, but we did not raise the students costs until January 1st, so that students could plan ahead. There was no discrimination against Europeans, as indicated by one ranter, but an overall cost increase all the way across the board, even for American time builder students. The only exceptions to this at this time are those students who are signed up for a course, such as the Pro Course or Airline Pilot Programme that housing costs are already included in. The changes to the housing costs were posted on our website December 1st.

This is how the system works: the cost of $35.00 per day includes housing and transport. There is a shuttle which runs every 2 hours back and forth to the apartments, and each apartment includes a shared car between the two occupants of the apartment. Once you arrive for enrollment, you are assigned the vehicle and added to the insurance policy for that vehicle. Yes, they are insured!!!!! All our current vehicles are late model economy sized vehicles, not junky or mechanically unsound.

If you are unhappy with what we offer in terms of housing and transport, then there are plenty of motels that are not within walking distance of the school, and you can rent a car from a rental car agency. The choice is yours. Our accomodations are offered as a convenience to our students.

Anybody having questions regarding things shown on pprune about E.F.T. should contact the school directly.