gernie

Hi everybody!

As I heard those are the top aviation schools in Europe. Does anyone know whic one have better employment stadistics?

I´ve been in Jerez, visiting the school and It looks pretty nice. They gave me an appointment to do the skills assessments on the 10th of april! That talks a lot about the school. But I also want to visit visit Oxford now, and do the skills assessments. But before I want to brush up on my physics and maths, so It would be very helpful if someone who have already done the OAT skills assessments, could comment about what kind of test they do, and what kind of physics and maths they ask for.

Thanks a lot!!

Captain Spam Can

Does anyone know if Oxford make you do the 2 day selection tests and interview for there waypoint scheme?(at the pleasure of £200 quid!). Thought i might get an answer sooner here rather than phone them in the morning (before any one says).

TheOne83

To join waypoint you can commence ATPL Ground School once you hold a valid PPL (45 hrs minimum) and JAA Class 1 Medical.
You only need to ensure you have the necessary 150 hrs total time,
including 70 hrs P1, once you have passed the ground exams and are ready to commence the CPL flight training.
So it's up to you to get 150 hours before you join OAT or do it there at the same time you are studying. Good luck!!

/niko

TheOne83

Hi there here i forward you some info i found;

The Skills Assessment has five Stages:


-Stage One - Computer based tests to check Aptitude, Technical Knowledge and Personality. There is a 200 question personality profile plus computerized pilot aptitude screening, which has six parts, Control, Slalom, Memory, Maths, Orientation, and Task Manager plus a Technical Test.
Control and Slalom check your hand to eye coordination.
Memory checks your short term recall.
Math checks your speed and ability to handle mental arithmetic at GCSE level.
Orientation checks your ability to interpret information presented on two dimensiional aircraft instruments and translate that to a three dimensional picture in your head so you can stay orientated.
Task Manager checks your ability to handle two different tasks that require near simultaneous attention.
The Technical Test checks your comprehension of GCSE level physics as they relate to aviation orientated mechanical concepts.

-Stage Two - Flight Simulator Check of your capacity and aptitude for flight.

-Stage Three - Team Exercises to check your verbal reasoning skills, problem solving capability and communication skills.

-Stage Four - Individual Interview to assess your personality, aviation knowledge and commitment to an airline career.

-Stage Five - An Individual Debrief that is comprehensive, objective and honest. Here you will see all of your test results and your strengths and weaknesses will be discussed in detail. A decision is not made until the end of this debrief and you do have an opportunity to influence the outcome even here.

There are two major questions the assessors seek to answer:
Does this person have the requisite skills and aptitude to pass both the rigorous Ground School and all stages of the Flying Training?
Does this person have the personality, communication skills and team working skills that the airlines are looking for?
In other words, can he/she pass the course and if so can he/she get a job? A negative answer to either question usually results in a failure, though if the weak areas are deemed to be correctable, the applicant may be invited to try again after a few months time elapse for revision.

The Assesments test normally takes 2 days.

Good luck!!

/niko

expedite08

And dont forget that is at your expense! 'rigourous groundschool' Never heard that one! Sounds like Oxford marketing speak comming through! My training provider never described it as that!

Oh and I havent taken any Oxford tests, but got a 92% average! Interesting eh

Cheers

Expedite

TheOne83

Yes, you have to pay for making the tests and also for accomodation if you stay on site. Sad but true..

WelcomeAboard

Hello,

I'm 29 and have decided to finish what i tried to start 9 years ago! To become a commercial airline pilot. Back then i applied to the BA sponsorship scheme, though as fate would have it Sept 11th occurred and, hence, BA kindly contacted me to say that the application would not be accepted in the current climate! So after a few other jobs over the years, and a lot of saving, the time has come. I remember that back then BA's training was carried out at Oxford, so i contacted them for some info, since i want to get the course completed as soon as possible they advised me to go for the "Integrated ATPL(A) APP FIRST OFFICER" course. Does anybody have any experience of this particular course? Good and Bad, also their employment prospects upon completion.

All advice and help would be much appreciated.


Philip.
Commercial link removed

WelcomeAboard

Hello again,

Well, after sifting through everything in this thread i'm not so sure about oxford now, what other routes are open to me in regards to training, any other schools come highly recommended or is it all a much of a muchness?

Phil

Captain Spam Can

Does anyone know if the waypoint price includes fulltime groundschool? I know it dosnt include hour building. I have tried contacting Oxford but still waiting for a response.
Thanks

Cirrus_Clouds

Hi OAT folk,

If you are doing a Modular course at OAT, can you please provide me with some feedback regarding the quality of training?

I am currently investigating their Waypoint Pilot Programme.

I am looking past the marketing ** and as I'm planning to visit this college shortly, it would be useful to have feedback to take into account while I do my research.

Thanks.

Cirrus

Superpilot

Hi,

I started Distance Learning with them at the beginning of last year with a view to carry on doing the Waypoint course. Since then, I've heard many stories of disappointment. Stories have been posted on here (do a search). Therefore, I decided to ditch it and do my modular training elsewhere. At least 4 other UK based FTOs can provide the same licenses; same hours, utilising a newer and modern fleet of aircraft at £10,000 less than the OAT price. One of these is only 'down the road' from me. When I was naive I thought having OAT on my CV would be worth the extra cash and the travel/accommodation expenses but having grown up a little I’ve now realised these are not the things that matter. We should do what suits us best.

Good luck

BigAl's

Hi super pilot,

how did you rate the OAT DL?

Thanks

BigAl

Superpilot

BigAl,

It's OK overall. DL is really what you make of it. A couple of downsides - the hundreds of grammatical and spelling mistakes in the book which makes you doubt what you're reading. Also The Online Virtual College is pants, it's hardly ever kept up to date.

Cirrus_Clouds

Thanks for the info guys, I will take note.

I have wondered if paying an extra £10k is worth it, that's why i'm going to visit the complex to find the quality of the a/c amongst other things; where as a possible £10k could be put towards a type rating if need be.



This comment can be said about any individual at any school, even OAT.

davey147

I've been considering going to Oxoford too as I really liked the place when I visited, I dont think there are any other FTO's like it. But after looking in detail at the Waypoint package I decided that its not worth the extra cash. its £25,000 for the Course £3,000 for the skills test package, approx £2,000 for food, accomodation, and about £2,500 for the DL package.

Thats £32,500 not such a bad price, but when you can get all the FAA licences in the USA, plus the JAA ones for less than £25,000.

And i've been told by so many people to differ myself from the other 250 hour pilots and try to build hours first, whether its by flight instrucing, TP flying or both. After paying out £32k to Oxford I couldnt aford to do this.

And to be honest I personally think you need the hours rather than the name on your CV, but thats my view, I dont know what matters the most to the airlines.

I've also been told by many airline pilots to enjoy my flying before moving on to the the big jets, as thats when it starts to become less fun everyday.

Im going to aim to have about 2,000 hours before applying for my first airline jet job, hopefully this will include some TP hours too. Basically my aim is to unfreeze both FAA ATP and JAA ATPL's.

I hope im doing the right thing, but good luck what ever you choose to do

Brian304

hey davey

sorry to disappoint you, but for a JAA ATPL to unfreeze will take about 500 Multi-crew hours before you can gain them, well unless your a billionaire then you can buy your own B737 then gain your own hours from there haha.

BRI

davey147

Whats wrong with getting a TP job first, like I stated in my post.

Big Jets arnt the only Multi Crew airplanes on earth you know, im not under that illusion like a lot of you

dlav

Id love a turbo prop job, (well anything that burns jet fuel would be nice).

Everybody ive come across in my training, even here at oxford, has said the best days of their career were spent on turboprops. "Proper Flying" as they say

dlav

davey147

Cool, these pilots are telling me the truth then.

My ultimate goal is to be Captain on a 747 flying longhaul, well it was, now its Captain flying Virgin Galactic!!!

But before I definately want to experience flying real, in turbo props, pistons, washing machines etc.

mad_jock

Good on you lot for wanting to go to TP for a bit.

They really are fun to fly and sometimes you have to stop yourself smiling after a challanging approach when the pax can see you.

BTW the pay isn't that bad. 18-30K for an FO and 35K-50k for a Captain which with todays market you can expect in 2-3 years.

And some of the newer TP's beat the pants off most of the jets in the cockpit and most of them stuff the jets for speed in the approach phase.
I have a suspicion that over the next few years that TP's will become more and more economic compared to regional jets. So if it all goes tits up again and you have to step back to TP flying you will be a better bet than a jet only person.