Bristol Flight Centre
Join Date: May 2004
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Hi Steepturnsonly,
Started IR in January finished March 2nd,then straight onto CPL finishing May 3rd. Would note about the CPL I did disappear off and do my MCC from March 23rd to 30th and had particular bad run of weather...
But alas tis the reason i chose the UK to do it in for the extra experience.
And yep currently in search of job though have been recommended to Ryanair through the link up for MCC with Parc Aviation,however I'm keeping that in my back pocket for later to see how things go.
Regards
Started IR in January finished March 2nd,then straight onto CPL finishing May 3rd. Would note about the CPL I did disappear off and do my MCC from March 23rd to 30th and had particular bad run of weather...
But alas tis the reason i chose the UK to do it in for the extra experience.And yep currently in search of job though have been recommended to Ryanair through the link up for MCC with Parc Aviation,however I'm keeping that in my back pocket for later to see how things go.
Regards
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Midlands
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PPL152
Yes I am now hunting for that first job, no luck yet but I think things will pick up from Sept - Dec when all the airlines start recruiting for next summer. But know I didn't get any job offers from having gone to BFC, but I think they have a very good reputation. I tried CTC but unfortunatly messed up the aptitude test at stage 2, but I believe quite a few students from BFC have done well at CTC.
I have no complaints I started on the 6th of March and finished on the 2nd of June, Multi / IR / CPL, and as previously said the instructors are good, laid back and they will pull out the stops, to give an example, the day before my CPL test I still needed to fly 1.5hrs, the aircraft I was due to test on went tech, they swiped a bit from another aircraft and i got to fly and test the next day, rather than having to rely on a courier to deliver the part in time!! There's not many schools that would do that for you. Any other questions just let me know.Good luck with your choice
Dan
Yes I am now hunting for that first job, no luck yet but I think things will pick up from Sept - Dec when all the airlines start recruiting for next summer. But know I didn't get any job offers from having gone to BFC, but I think they have a very good reputation. I tried CTC but unfortunatly messed up the aptitude test at stage 2, but I believe quite a few students from BFC have done well at CTC.
I have no complaints I started on the 6th of March and finished on the 2nd of June, Multi / IR / CPL, and as previously said the instructors are good, laid back and they will pull out the stops, to give an example, the day before my CPL test I still needed to fly 1.5hrs, the aircraft I was due to test on went tech, they swiped a bit from another aircraft and i got to fly and test the next day, rather than having to rely on a courier to deliver the part in time!! There's not many schools that would do that for you. Any other questions just let me know.Good luck with your choice
Dan
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I will seriously consider BFC as well 
. Nobody seems to have a bad word to say about them. I was looking into training in South Africa recently, and came across Progress Flight Academy. They have an excellent reputation too, and what do you know, when I go on to the BFC website, I find out the two schools have a "Flight Training Alliance".
Cheers
. Nobody seems to have a bad word to say about them. I was looking into training in South Africa recently, and came across Progress Flight Academy. They have an excellent reputation too, and what do you know, when I go on to the BFC website, I find out the two schools have a "Flight Training Alliance".Cheers
Join Date: Aug 2002
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Two websites for you to mull over:
http://www.b-f-c.co.uk/
http://bristol.gs
(both ops are unrelated except my rough location)
http://www.b-f-c.co.uk/
http://bristol.gs
(both ops are unrelated except my rough location)
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Some dusty outpost in the ME
Age: 45
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edymonster,
I was there at the same time as tablet and the social life was very good. A number of us would meet up weekends or evenings for a bite to eat and a few beers etc..
Katie does organise the odd BBQ when the weather suits, with Bristol and Wessex next door to BFC, and even nights out...!!!!
All in all, a very good school with great instructors too.
I was there at the same time as tablet and the social life was very good. A number of us would meet up weekends or evenings for a bite to eat and a few beers etc..
Katie does organise the odd BBQ when the weather suits, with Bristol and Wessex next door to BFC, and even nights out...!!!!
All in all, a very good school with great instructors too.
Join Date: Jun 2001
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Steepturnsonly,
Yes I have finished my training. All (the CPL/IR that is) with BFC and I would say my prospects are the same as the vast majority of other newly qualified fATPL's, be that modular of Integrated.
It would appear to be a buoyant market at present and we all make our own fortune - some times with a little help from Lady Luck!!
Why do you ask?
Yes I have finished my training. All (the CPL/IR that is) with BFC and I would say my prospects are the same as the vast majority of other newly qualified fATPL's, be that modular of Integrated.
It would appear to be a buoyant market at present and we all make our own fortune - some times with a little help from Lady Luck!!
Why do you ask?
Join Date: Jun 2001
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I can't see the relevance!
If you feel that attending a specific school will make getting you a job any easier, then I would suggest you have bought into marketing ploys placed by Oxford et al.
The school you train at will not get you the job, it may get you an interview, but if you are poor at that stage you won’t get the job. For sure, I'm still wet around the ears in this area, but getting a job is much more than just about the flight school you paid to be at.
I would say, pick a school where you feel comfortable, has a good reputation, attend every day and work hard.
The schools are there to train you - not get you a job.
Best of luck.
If you feel that attending a specific school will make getting you a job any easier, then I would suggest you have bought into marketing ploys placed by Oxford et al.
The school you train at will not get you the job, it may get you an interview, but if you are poor at that stage you won’t get the job. For sure, I'm still wet around the ears in this area, but getting a job is much more than just about the flight school you paid to be at.
I would say, pick a school where you feel comfortable, has a good reputation, attend every day and work hard.
The schools are there to train you - not get you a job.
Best of luck.
Join Date: May 2004
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Originally Posted by steepturnsonly
I'm seriously considering BFC and also trying to see which students get into a job easier... if say CTC, FTE guys or BFC, SFC guys
I'd entirely agree here with what Funkie says,like I've mentioned before go visit BFC's website and look through their monthly newsletters where you will find info on students where they have gone after training. More often than not BFC students are ending up either through CTC with Easyjet or recommended to Ryanair through the MCC link up with Parc Aviation. Others have found roads into Air Berlin/Ba Connect etc.
Also just to note, I have a friend who started same time as me with ATPL groundschool etc and we both finished same time.He chose Oxford integrated and albeit he has been placed with British Airways he is only 1 of 2 out of his entire clas of 18 who have jobs as yet.
I'm in agreement with Funkie times are bouyant and certainly go find somewhere you feel comfortable.
Regards
Join Date: Oct 2005
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I have anoher question about Bristol. Why do they do the ME IR before the CPL. Apart from having to build less hours intially what is the advantage and is it wise going straight to a multi engine aircraft from a PPL stage?
I am just afraid I may have more of a struggle doing it this way than the other way but the pass rates they have published must means it works.
I am just afraid I may have more of a struggle doing it this way than the other way but the pass rates they have published must means it works.
Join Date: Aug 2006
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edymonster,
Obviously being a PPL holder you should do some hour building to get to the required amount of hours to carry on with the CPL (you need 150hrs total time, either P1 or P2) to start the training for the commercial licence. BFC begin with the Multi Rating, move onto the Instrument Rating after that and then the Commercial last, however BFC is one of the few schools to do things that way round and you will find that many other places begin with the Commercial.
BFC's route would mean that you must do the 6hr Multi Rating, min 55 hr IR and then the CPL is reduced from 25 hr course to a 15 hr course (if you have passed the IR the CPL is only a minimum 15 hr course). There is no real 'right' or 'wrong' way, it's just different FTO's do things in different ways...you just have to decide which is best for you.
This route is by no means set in stone and they do get a few students at BFC who want to do the 25 hr CPL course first....this is fine with BFC and as it is entirely up to the student. Before you begin the flight training though you must first have passed all 14 ATPL theory exams.....BFC do not offer the ATPL theory so it's recommended that you contact either Bristol Ground School (www.bristol.gs) or Oxford for current course prices and availability.
I do recommend that you start your CPL before ME/IR as the jump from simple 2 seater Cessna aircraft straight into a complex twin with associated applied instrument flying and approaches are vast. It would normally mean that a considerable number of extra hours IR training are required to reach the necessary standard. So although extra hours are required to build up to the 150 hours needed to commence CPL training, experience has shown that the transition from single 2 seat Cessna to simple 4 seat warrior to commence CPL training, the complex 4 seater Arrow to complete CPL training, then onto the ME twin for IR, is a far more achievable option if aiming to train in minimum hours.
I also recommend that you invest in a copy of LASORS 2006, available from the CAA (www.caa.co.uk) which details all requirements for the professional licences/ratings and will tell you what experience is required to undertake the courses.
Cheers Mate
Obviously being a PPL holder you should do some hour building to get to the required amount of hours to carry on with the CPL (you need 150hrs total time, either P1 or P2) to start the training for the commercial licence. BFC begin with the Multi Rating, move onto the Instrument Rating after that and then the Commercial last, however BFC is one of the few schools to do things that way round and you will find that many other places begin with the Commercial.
BFC's route would mean that you must do the 6hr Multi Rating, min 55 hr IR and then the CPL is reduced from 25 hr course to a 15 hr course (if you have passed the IR the CPL is only a minimum 15 hr course). There is no real 'right' or 'wrong' way, it's just different FTO's do things in different ways...you just have to decide which is best for you.
This route is by no means set in stone and they do get a few students at BFC who want to do the 25 hr CPL course first....this is fine with BFC and as it is entirely up to the student. Before you begin the flight training though you must first have passed all 14 ATPL theory exams.....BFC do not offer the ATPL theory so it's recommended that you contact either Bristol Ground School (www.bristol.gs) or Oxford for current course prices and availability.
I do recommend that you start your CPL before ME/IR as the jump from simple 2 seater Cessna aircraft straight into a complex twin with associated applied instrument flying and approaches are vast. It would normally mean that a considerable number of extra hours IR training are required to reach the necessary standard. So although extra hours are required to build up to the 150 hours needed to commence CPL training, experience has shown that the transition from single 2 seat Cessna to simple 4 seat warrior to commence CPL training, the complex 4 seater Arrow to complete CPL training, then onto the ME twin for IR, is a far more achievable option if aiming to train in minimum hours.
I also recommend that you invest in a copy of LASORS 2006, available from the CAA (www.caa.co.uk) which details all requirements for the professional licences/ratings and will tell you what experience is required to undertake the courses.
Cheers Mate
Last edited by steepturnsonly; 18th Aug 2006 at 15:53.