Airways Flight Training Exeter

[slow_bird1]

airways flight training

hi

has any one had any dealings with airways flight training in exeter? also does any one have any views or experiance in converting a faa cpl/ir to jaa??

thanks alot

d

[Aircart]

I Used AFT for my IR conversion and CPL, had no probs with them.
Instructors are good and the nice thing is that the price you are quoted for a course is the price you pay! Only thing to add is the CAA flight test fee.

I over ran my IR conversion by 2hrs due to bad ILS! but did CPL in 15hrs on the dot.

Hope this helps

AC

[lookoutbelow]

JAR IR - Airways Flight Training at Exeter

I have recently completed the JAR CPL and now have the JAR ME IR to complete. I have looked at a number of schools but am leaning towards Airways Flight Training at Exeter.

Unfortunately, I haven't yet had a chance to visit them and and I need to make a decission in the next few days. Can any of you guys give me some feedback on them or any FTO's you would recommend for the ME IR?

[lumbertoast]

AFT

I'm a military mate and as such most people I come across who have gone down the Licence route have used AFT. Thus it followed, so did I!

There are obviously a lot of professional outfits out there, but AFT certainly gets a big thumbs up from me and my peers. They are professional, but still small enough to be friendly, and the level of instruction was sound. All the staff were highly experienced and very helpful. There was no messing about , and the pace of the course was tailored to as fast as you could keep up. From my limited experience, the ac operated were good for the job and the routes interesting, varied and demanding. There is always a real cross-section of people going through, which adds to the atmosphere, and there were plenty of B & Bs, pubs, etc., in the area to keep one accommodated and occupied.

The main point for me was their 'can-do' attitude, with a real sympathy and drive for the timetable that I was working to. Admittedly, I spent a fair amount of cash there, but they never gave me the impression of spending it for me or seeing me as just another cash-cow. They struck the right balance with the individual in convincing you that your business was important to them. It is obviously a company that is thriving and from my research were competitive and vfm.

One tip would be to ensure that the period you want to be there for, is not overloaded with similar students, as the demand on the same ac at similar times may affect your progress through the IR.

Having just read what I have written, I feel like writing something negative but can't. This is obviously a very personal opinion and there are no doubt one or two people out there who may beg to differ. I have recommended them on a number of occasions and will continue to do so.

Good luck with whoever you lump for - just remember not to get too depressed when you realize you're crap at NDBs!

Lumbertoast

[lookoutbelow]

Thank you for the information. I spoke to them a few days ago and they sounded very friendly and were not afraid to say that they were a small but professional outfit as you said.

Can I ask, Did you "pay as you go" for your training or pay for the course on a package basis. I see on their website that the ME IR Course is quoted as £9,450 (if you have a CPL), which includes 20 Hrs SIM, 15 Hrs PA28/R, 15 Hrs Dutchess, vat, all approaches, all landings, 170a test and A/C hire for the CAA test. Having spent the morning on other FTO's websites doing my research this certainly seems very competitive indeed (especially as 30 Hrs of the course is airborne compared to a number of other FTO's where you do 35 SIM then only 15 Hrs Multi!). Did this fit in with what you experienced?

[daniel berner]

airways flight center

hi lads,
can anyone give me some up to date info on airways and exeter where the conversion is completed...Ive read through some old posts but would love to hear how its running now before i bite the bullet.....im currently distance learning at the london met university and shouldnt be to long before my first set of exams....i believe thats when hell on earth starts..!!!

thanks for your help....

danny.

[Whispering Giant]

Danny,

I am currently doing my CPL skills module at Airways flight training in Exeter. You can't go wrong by choosing them for doing your CPL and IR.
The instructers are excellent and all of them have a military background and were qualified QFI's in the Airforce, a couple of them are ex CFS ( Central Flying School ) - Not only that they all have flown for various Airline's and several of them were also training captains. The CFI ( Brian Marindon ) is an ex Cathay Pacific training Captain and the deputy CFI ( Ted welstead ) is also a CAA Examiner.
The training you get there is first class and is off the highest quality they have a very high first time pass rate for both the CPL ( approx 95% first time pass Rate ) and for the IR ( approx 85-90 % first time pass rate.)
The aircraft are also top quality as well with HSI/RMI fitted to all the aircraft ( at the moment the warrior has it's HSI removed for maint) and one of the arrow's also has a Garmin 430 combined nav/com/GPS setup.
The sim side of thing's is about to be upgraded - at the moment they use a frasca 142, but in the next 6-8 week's a new sim is being installed which is based on the Duchess which has a computer generated display for the cockpit window's simulating the outside world.
They are very highly regarded as a training orginisation by several airlines and by the military as they do a lot of military conversions there.
If you would like any more info then drop me a line.

brgds
W.G

[lookoutbelow]

Did my IR with them earlier this year. Passed in Min time and first time. Couldn't agree more with the above! Excelllent Instructors, good aircraft, friendly staff, excellent value for money, what more do you want from an FTO. The photos on the walls tell the story!
In my opinion you won't go wrong with AFT. Keep up the good work guys..

[daniel berner]

thanks for the help chaps...as i say atpls first and then the fun begins....but good feedback is good to hear so my minds as good as made up...

good luck

danny.

[Jaydee27]

Airways Exeter

I'm very interested in this school for my IR - have only heard good things about them.

However, I'm wondering how I'll get on as a non Military pilot?

Has anybody on here been through there without a military background? - And how did yu fit in?

[lookoutbelow]

Jaydee27,

Please check your PM's.

Lookoutbelow

[Down 'n' Hanging]

Airways are very good, but also consider Flightpass at Exeter.

Fairly new school. but excellent well experienced instructors and facilities according to a mate of mine who was there last year on a Flight Instructor Course.

Always good to have a couple of options.

Good luck

D 'n' H

[So Now What?]

I can only agree with D'n'H. If you are making the trip to Exeter the least you should do is drop in and look around Flightpass.
I took my I.R. with them this year and I am happy to recommend them to anyone, the facilities and instruction are indeed excellent.

The school is relatively new but the instructors are very experienced. The I.R syllabus although new provides a really smooth learning curve steadily building your capacity (it worked for me). One other thing to mention is the atmosphere, you are made to feel like a part of the team and everyone there is happy to help in any way they can.

Good luck with the IR Jaydee!

[I'll Be Realistic]

I went to AFT just a few weeks ago and past my IR there. Very friendly all round. I would recommend it anytime. Of course, I didn't change schools as I had no reason to, so I have no basis for comparison.

However, as a non-military student, I was treated very well, and didn't feel I needed to be one.

Call or go and see Brian. He will show you his splendid fleet of BE76 (three of them plus another they can hire if required). All the insructors are helpful too. I hear the new sim has arrived. Not been down to play with it yet though.

IBR

[Canada Goose]

Airways Flight Training v's Ravenair

MEIR Conversion

I was hoping that Diamond Geezer's earlier post may have drawn more response but I guess being the festive season most people are out and about rather than surfing pprune and the like!

Anyway, it's a bit of a loaded question but, simply do I choose Airways Flight Training in Exeter (some 200+ miles away) or Ravenair in Liverpool (some 35 miles away - and thus allowing me to commute from home, or my parents house some 3-4 miles away)?

There seems to be quite a bit of good feedback wrt AFT, but not a huge amount for Ravenair, and I seem to recall hearing not so positive things about them a couple of years ago.

I've got to make a decision reasonably quickly and your feedback would be greatly appreciated and if people want to remain anonymous, then please PM me !

Thanks you.

CG.

[Sir Stanley Bigh]

Ravenair is an excellent school. I did all my training with them from first trial lesson to CPL and IR. They are well regarded within the airline industry and their AOC pilots seem to go on to bigger and better things very quickly. Like all schools there will be days when lessons are cancelled for whatever reason i.e. weather or tech a/c, but this happens at any flying school. At least they have plenty of aircraft thus making a tech cancellation fairly unlikely.

And in your case the geographical proximity is a definite bonus!

[genius747]

Hello,

I hope to do my full MEIR at Airways Flight Training in Exeter. I know little or nothing about them except for a recomendation from a good friend. I have emailed the school and they seem nice.

Does anybody know if the course price quoted (50hrs with the JAA CPL) is fairly accurate. Should I factor in appoach fees, landing fees, surcharges etc...?

Also I would love to hear from anybody that has completed the MEIR with them to get an idea of what to expect.

Thanks Pilots.

G747

[pipergirl]

everything is included in the price...I was looking at Airways and paid a visit to them a few months ago
It's a really good setup and my friend has just finished his CPL, ME/IR down there and nothing but praise for the place.
You won't be going wrong heading down there
There is a lovely lady there, Pauline, who will give you any information that you need, either via email or over the phone...

[genius747]

thankx pipergil, any chance you could pm me an email addess for you friend, would like to ask him a few questions I have about the place?

Thanks again

G747

[Dude~]

Highly recommend them.

Great location, great people, great prices.

I paid not a single extra. Even Duchess hire is included for the IR test.

PM me for more info.