Bristol Flight Centre
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Aberdeen
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I believe Aeros charge for Airborne +10 minutes.
now it may sound like im splitting hairs here, but think! the IR training rate at both schools is about £6 per minute! Just imagine what you could do with that extra 12 pounds! As one of thte instrcutors there said to me:
"its the most fun you can have outside of soho for 6 quid a minute"
At the time i begged to differ, not that i've ever experienced what you actually get in soho for six quid
now it may sound like im splitting hairs here, but think! the IR training rate at both schools is about £6 per minute! Just imagine what you could do with that extra 12 pounds! As one of thte instrcutors there said to me:
"its the most fun you can have outside of soho for 6 quid a minute"
At the time i begged to differ, not that i've ever experienced what you actually get in soho for six quid
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Somewhere In The South China Sea
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You are right, Aeros is airbourne + 10 minutes, and yes £6 per minute soon mounts up if you take the odd 2 minutes from every flight, I did a 2hr 5min flight in the Seneca today but due to traffic we were held at the holding point on the ground which meant the airbourne time was 1hr 40 + the 10 minutes, you do the sums
You are right, Aeros is airbourne + 10 minutes, and yes £6 per minute soon mounts up if you take the odd 2 minutes from every flight, I did a 2hr 5min flight in the Seneca today but due to traffic we were held at the holding point on the ground which meant the airbourne time was 1hr 40 + the 10 minutes, you do the sums
Join Date: May 2008
Location: United Kingdom
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I am a high time pilot (6000 hours total, 2000 hours flight instructor). Most of my experience in small turboprop and Piper Chieftain aircraft. I recently contacted BFC and spoke with Roy Hitchon about an IR conversion. I was interested in the 10 sim/5 multi program. Roy was very adamant in trying to sell me an IR conversion at 10 multi/5 sim instead of the above.
I asked, "What is the average time of completion that a pilot, with experience as myself, can expect for IR conversion?" He said, "It depends on skill." That wasn't a good enough answer so I asked him again. "What can I expect to see for a completion of an IR conversion?" His response did not make any sense. He said, "American Instrument Ratings are not any good and people will have a hard time flying in the UK." It was a very negative answer.
I was very patient with Roy. In doing so, he admitted that I needed to budget for 30 hours.
I would be very careful with this school for 2 reasons. BFC markets 15 hours IR conversion. This is misleading. Also they are not confident enough, in my eyes as an experienced professional instructor, in their ability to pass people in a given and fair amount of time.
I have seen this strategy of flight schools to make money time and time again. For a school that has been around for ages, BFC must certainly have enough experience, and confidence, to complete IR conversions in a given and set time. Flight schools will entrap a student making them feel guilty about the amount of time and money spent during their course of training thereby psychologically inhibiting that student from leaving and seeking training elsewhere.
Roy specified each flight takes 1.5 hours at a cost of 370 GBP per hour. This is approximately 555 GBP per flight. That is too much money to gamble in a school that cannot give me a concrete answer. I asked him, "What if I need more time?" He said, "We'll give you a deal?"
I will not be attending this school.
Good luck with your training
I asked, "What is the average time of completion that a pilot, with experience as myself, can expect for IR conversion?" He said, "It depends on skill." That wasn't a good enough answer so I asked him again. "What can I expect to see for a completion of an IR conversion?" His response did not make any sense. He said, "American Instrument Ratings are not any good and people will have a hard time flying in the UK." It was a very negative answer.
I was very patient with Roy. In doing so, he admitted that I needed to budget for 30 hours.
I would be very careful with this school for 2 reasons. BFC markets 15 hours IR conversion. This is misleading. Also they are not confident enough, in my eyes as an experienced professional instructor, in their ability to pass people in a given and fair amount of time.
I have seen this strategy of flight schools to make money time and time again. For a school that has been around for ages, BFC must certainly have enough experience, and confidence, to complete IR conversions in a given and set time. Flight schools will entrap a student making them feel guilty about the amount of time and money spent during their course of training thereby psychologically inhibiting that student from leaving and seeking training elsewhere.
Roy specified each flight takes 1.5 hours at a cost of 370 GBP per hour. This is approximately 555 GBP per flight. That is too much money to gamble in a school that cannot give me a concrete answer. I asked him, "What if I need more time?" He said, "We'll give you a deal?"
I will not be attending this school.
Good luck with your training
Roy is a good chap and I guess that he was trying to be realistic in advising you how long it will take to convert your IR. I imagine they are fairly busy at present and it would not be in their interests to offer you a 'deal' etc.
They have alot of experience in converting overseas IRs, more than other modular schools I would think. When I was there, the guys converting all took alot longer than the min hours. They have experienced instructors, a good fleet of PA-34s, the sims are indentical to the a/craft, and there is a CAA examiner on site. All things in your favour when looking to convert in as few hours as possible.
If you haven't already, I suggest you pop along to see the set up and chat face-to-face before discounting them.
They have alot of experience in converting overseas IRs, more than other modular schools I would think. When I was there, the guys converting all took alot longer than the min hours. They have experienced instructors, a good fleet of PA-34s, the sims are indentical to the a/craft, and there is a CAA examiner on site. All things in your favour when looking to convert in as few hours as possible.
If you haven't already, I suggest you pop along to see the set up and chat face-to-face before discounting them.
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: South Wales
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Oxfordman, why are you digging up posts from over a year ago? You've made 3 posts about B-F-C and they all read exactly the same? I can't see the mods being too pleased with your spamming antics. 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: United States
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Whys everyone so angry at Oxford? I wish I got that advice a long time ago before I went to BFC. Would have saved me tons of cash
Se note regarding Shipsmate on the other BFC thread - Admin
Se note regarding Shipsmate on the other BFC thread - Admin
Not necessarliy angry, just trying to balance his argument - though dragging up 3 old threads is a bit suspicious. BFC is a good school and has stood the test of time. Those looking for training options will often search here first for opinions. And I have no axe to grind.
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Bridgend
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On a more positive note..............
What sort of connections with the airline/cargo/air taxi worlds has BFC got ?
Do they recommend students ?
Thanks in advance.
What sort of connections with the airline/cargo/air taxi worlds has BFC got ?
Do they recommend students ?
Thanks in advance.
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Ireland
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Hi. For many reasons I haven't posted anything in months but I'd really like to jump to Roys defence.
Firstly to ask any school to give you an exact number of hours to complete a conversion is crap. The same for an IR, any published hours are minimum hours you'll be flying. Someone with as much experience as Oxfordman should know this.
You really would be shooting yourself in the foot if you take BFC off your list.
BFC handled my CPL Multi/IR flight training with absolute professionalism. They were more expensive than most other modular schools but every day I entered their building I knew I'd get value for money. Instruction really was superb, damm swipe cards to enter the building and pay for flights.
Real brefing rooms, with whiteboards that are actually used after every flight.
Accessable computerized flight and student accounts and full access to the instructors. Open door policy with anyone in BFC, if you fancied a chat with Roy he always made time.
Once I reached the IR stage I was short on time. There's not much a school can do as they've got lots of students but they did tolerate and even encourage my own timetable modifications to fit in extra flights and sim sessions.
The day of my IR skill test I was actually short 1.2 hours so they arranged a quick pre flight with an instructor. I was only short because I took the test a few days early when another student cancelled.
I know schools change as instructors leave so a recommendation isn't worth much and I'd always we hesitant to offer one because of that: based on my experience though I'd wholeheartedly recommend BFC.
I had bad flights in the sim and aircraft, aircraft did go tech, instructors are sometimes sick, but my God it's the real world and **** happens. When it did happen BFC were right on the ball organizing extra flights or offering a different instructor.
I've been through a few more training phases since Bristol and at each phase I've commended myself for choosing BFC.
If I could I'd walk you in the door and introduce you to all the guys in Bristol and show you the sim and aircraft, chat about accomadation and great scenary around the area. Please read this post as a virtual introduction to BFC. With your experience you know how bad training can effect your flying, you've invested too much so far to wipe these guys off your list.
Firstly to ask any school to give you an exact number of hours to complete a conversion is crap. The same for an IR, any published hours are minimum hours you'll be flying. Someone with as much experience as Oxfordman should know this.
You really would be shooting yourself in the foot if you take BFC off your list.
BFC handled my CPL Multi/IR flight training with absolute professionalism. They were more expensive than most other modular schools but every day I entered their building I knew I'd get value for money. Instruction really was superb, damm swipe cards to enter the building and pay for flights.
Real brefing rooms, with whiteboards that are actually used after every flight.
Accessable computerized flight and student accounts and full access to the instructors. Open door policy with anyone in BFC, if you fancied a chat with Roy he always made time.
Once I reached the IR stage I was short on time. There's not much a school can do as they've got lots of students but they did tolerate and even encourage my own timetable modifications to fit in extra flights and sim sessions.
The day of my IR skill test I was actually short 1.2 hours so they arranged a quick pre flight with an instructor. I was only short because I took the test a few days early when another student cancelled.
I know schools change as instructors leave so a recommendation isn't worth much and I'd always we hesitant to offer one because of that: based on my experience though I'd wholeheartedly recommend BFC.
I had bad flights in the sim and aircraft, aircraft did go tech, instructors are sometimes sick, but my God it's the real world and **** happens. When it did happen BFC were right on the ball organizing extra flights or offering a different instructor.
I've been through a few more training phases since Bristol and at each phase I've commended myself for choosing BFC.
If I could I'd walk you in the door and introduce you to all the guys in Bristol and show you the sim and aircraft, chat about accomadation and great scenary around the area. Please read this post as a virtual introduction to BFC. With your experience you know how bad training can effect your flying, you've invested too much so far to wipe these guys off your list.
