CATS (Luton) formerly: Cranfield (CATS)
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Somewhere
Age: 45
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PPL/ATPL Course
I did my PPL at cats and I really enjoyed it. I had A class training and because of that I got my PPL at 45 hours and the ATPL training is out of this world!! The instructors make time for you. I will be sitting my 7 ATPL exams on DEC 08.
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: London
Age: 53
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I've passed 9 out of 9 there on two visits to the shuttleworth exam centre. What I thought I was going to be the hardest I have actually found the most enjoyable namely Met and Gnav.
well done Dash on your IR!
well done Dash on your IR!
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Over Mache Grande?
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Ronnie1982
Is there anyone on a Cabair integrated course at the moment? If so, can you tell us how many people there on the most recent courses?
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: London
Age: 53
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CATS has about 8-10 on its in-house courses
I'm too busy working so on distance learning but pop in regular and get all the help I need
the experience has been very good and i have already recommended them having being recommended to go there myself
you get Mike's old wise head and Stuart's young dynamic style with a Professor who taught me Mass Balance and another Doctor on the instructor list. These people at first seem larger than life but are actually very personable and have made my studies relatively easy
it has been a very economic way of getting my ATPL in these tight times
I'm too busy working so on distance learning but pop in regular and get all the help I need
the experience has been very good and i have already recommended them having being recommended to go there myself
you get Mike's old wise head and Stuart's young dynamic style with a Professor who taught me Mass Balance and another Doctor on the instructor list. These people at first seem larger than life but are actually very personable and have made my studies relatively easy
it has been a very economic way of getting my ATPL in these tight times
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: UK
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AM currently reviewing groundschools and CATS is one of choices I have a question about there documentation. Basically is it worth spending £600 on their manuals or would it be better to get OA media manuals instead. Another option would be to pick up some BGS manuals on Ebay. I am not worried about the cost aspect but want to make sure I have the best material for the job.
Any suggestions?
Cheers
Any suggestions?
Cheers
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: London
Age: 53
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The Study Guides are online and you can see the HPL one on the free demo
The printed study guide is just the same but does have questions and answers at the end of chapters and Learning Objectives at the start
Personally I saved the money for flying and just bought the online course
If you want a nice set for the shelf I'll give them that though
The printed study guide is just the same but does have questions and answers at the end of chapters and Learning Objectives at the start
Personally I saved the money for flying and just bought the online course
If you want a nice set for the shelf I'll give them that though
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Denmark
Age: 64
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As said by sion22 the on-line and printed versions of the CATS training material are basically the same. For me personally, I found it at problem navigating the study guides online after I had read it ones. So I printed most of it at the expense of my current employer (yes I’m fortunate). It’s really a lot of paper.
Try the demo on HPL, and see how it suits you. I also used a proxy server program MM3-WebAssistant - Proxy Offline Browser - Archiving by Browsing so I could access the material off-line.
By chance I came to get the whole Jeppesen ATPL series on .pdf files, and printed them too. Maybe it was overkill but occasionally very beneficial to have more than one version of the truth.
Regarding the overview lessons they were not generally available at the time, but the ones published I liked.
I also found the CATS question bank adequate, and I never used money for the Bristol Question Bank (which everybody else I meet had done). Especially I used the possibility of asking for explanation to questions I didn’t understand. Normally I received an answer from CATS within hours, also late at night. If I missed anything it was a running count of the success rate in the quick questions, but then I just kept score myself.
One advice about Distant Learning and CATS, though. With DL it is very much up to you. You will only get help if you ask. Don’t go to the brush-up weeks if you are not reasonable prepared. And don’t expect CATS (or any other school) to save you and make the syllabus a walk in the park in 3 times one week.
That said I found the CATS brush-up weeks were substandard, but when you go back and have a look at the price you pay, what can you expect? And actually I don’t know the standard in the industry.
All in all it worked for me, but again your own effort is 99 % of the equation.
Try the demo on HPL, and see how it suits you. I also used a proxy server program MM3-WebAssistant - Proxy Offline Browser - Archiving by Browsing so I could access the material off-line.
By chance I came to get the whole Jeppesen ATPL series on .pdf files, and printed them too. Maybe it was overkill but occasionally very beneficial to have more than one version of the truth.
Regarding the overview lessons they were not generally available at the time, but the ones published I liked.
I also found the CATS question bank adequate, and I never used money for the Bristol Question Bank (which everybody else I meet had done). Especially I used the possibility of asking for explanation to questions I didn’t understand. Normally I received an answer from CATS within hours, also late at night. If I missed anything it was a running count of the success rate in the quick questions, but then I just kept score myself.
One advice about Distant Learning and CATS, though. With DL it is very much up to you. You will only get help if you ask. Don’t go to the brush-up weeks if you are not reasonable prepared. And don’t expect CATS (or any other school) to save you and make the syllabus a walk in the park in 3 times one week.
That said I found the CATS brush-up weeks were substandard, but when you go back and have a look at the price you pay, what can you expect? And actually I don’t know the standard in the industry.
All in all it worked for me, but again your own effort is 99 % of the equation.
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: USA
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CATS / Skymates US JAA ATPL
I am currently in Dallas, and considering CATS via Skymates online ATPL course. I remember that some previous posts mentioned a possible exam venue in Texas. If anyone has any info regarding an exam venue that can be used for the JAA ATPL exams via Skymates in the US, I would appreciate the info.
Thanks a lot in advance.
Lolo
Thanks a lot in advance.
Lolo
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: UK
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Thanks both for advice on CATS, I dont suppose you still have Jeppeson PDF's? ;-)
As I spens time travelling with work I would like paper notes as by the time I get laptop out on plane half the flight is gone.
I fully agree that it is about dedication and I certainly wouldnt expect to wlak through these without a lot of effort.
Thanks again
As I spens time travelling with work I would like paper notes as by the time I get laptop out on plane half the flight is gone.
I fully agree that it is about dedication and I certainly wouldnt expect to wlak through these without a lot of effort.
Thanks again
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Madeira
Age: 35
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Hey!
I have a few questions about CATS.
I already have a PPL(A) and therefore a Class 2 Medical Examination Certificate. To make the ATPL(A) theory ( or at least to enrole ) is the Class 2 Examination enough? Or is the Class 1 needed?
I read somewhere that before attending the CAA examinations I have to go through a week of ground school at CATS. In what does this ground school consist? Does it match the exam period of CAA or it can be done weeks before the examinations at CAA? For example: can I do ground school of a certain group of subdjects in august and perform the examinations in september?
Thanks in advance for your answers!
I have a few questions about CATS.
I already have a PPL(A) and therefore a Class 2 Medical Examination Certificate. To make the ATPL(A) theory ( or at least to enrole ) is the Class 2 Examination enough? Or is the Class 1 needed?
I read somewhere that before attending the CAA examinations I have to go through a week of ground school at CATS. In what does this ground school consist? Does it match the exam period of CAA or it can be done weeks before the examinations at CAA? For example: can I do ground school of a certain group of subdjects in august and perform the examinations in september?
Thanks in advance for your answers!
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Denmark
Age: 64
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You do not need a class 1 medical to start ATPL ground school, but it is generally recommended to get it over with before you waist to much money on training.
There are 14 ATPL subjects. CATS have divided this into three modules (other schools only spilt into two modules). Before you take the 3-5 exams in a module, you go to the brush up week related to that module. So you go to CATS three times. Other schools have 2 x 2 weeks.
You decide your self how soon after the brush up week you want to take the exams. Theoretically you could wait and do all exams after the last visit to CATS, but I don’t think anybody would recommend that. The brush up weeks are timed in the third week of the month, so you can plan to do the related exams in the first week of the following month. The modules rotate, so that each module brush up week is repeated every third month. You can do them in any order you like. Not necessarily 1 – 2 – 3. And you have 18 month to get it done, so you make you own schedule. It’s all up to you.
You find all the information about the brush-up and exam schedules etc. on the CATS web site, if you log on with their demo user.
There are 14 ATPL subjects. CATS have divided this into three modules (other schools only spilt into two modules). Before you take the 3-5 exams in a module, you go to the brush up week related to that module. So you go to CATS three times. Other schools have 2 x 2 weeks.
You decide your self how soon after the brush up week you want to take the exams. Theoretically you could wait and do all exams after the last visit to CATS, but I don’t think anybody would recommend that. The brush up weeks are timed in the third week of the month, so you can plan to do the related exams in the first week of the following month. The modules rotate, so that each module brush up week is repeated every third month. You can do them in any order you like. Not necessarily 1 – 2 – 3. And you have 18 month to get it done, so you make you own schedule. It’s all up to you.
You find all the information about the brush-up and exam schedules etc. on the CATS web site, if you log on with their demo user.
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Paris
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Hello every one,
I'd like to start my ATPL with Skymates located in Texas but with JAA courses.
For the theory, CATS provides training for the ATPL to Skymates' students.
Do you advise me to go there and to use CATS theory for the ATPL ?
How long time did you take to get your 14 exams with CATS in distance learning How is it with CATS's Manuals ? Teachers are available ? Is it a good quality training ?
Thank you for your help !
I'd like to start my ATPL with Skymates located in Texas but with JAA courses.
For the theory, CATS provides training for the ATPL to Skymates' students.
Do you advise me to go there and to use CATS theory for the ATPL ?
How long time did you take to get your 14 exams with CATS in distance learning How is it with CATS's Manuals ? Teachers are available ? Is it a good quality training ?
Thank you for your help !
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: UK
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Skymates
FLT86
I'm currently here in Texas doing some flying and helping to set up the JAA training.
Whilst I can't offer you a completely unbiased view I can say that the facilities here seem great the planes are well equipped and well maintained!
There are currently 3 instructors from the UK teaching the first ground-school and there are plans to offer an in house course later in the year.
If you need any further info PM me.
Matt
I'm currently here in Texas doing some flying and helping to set up the JAA training.
Whilst I can't offer you a completely unbiased view I can say that the facilities here seem great the planes are well equipped and well maintained!
There are currently 3 instructors from the UK teaching the first ground-school and there are plans to offer an in house course later in the year.
If you need any further info PM me.
Matt
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: UK
Age: 49
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Hi Matt
Good to see things are getting bigger and better at CATS. Sounds like an exciting project out there in Texas.
My regards to Stuart and the rest of the team.
D-G
Good to see things are getting bigger and better at CATS. Sounds like an exciting project out there in Texas.
My regards to Stuart and the rest of the team.
D-G
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: UK
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Yeah great place and lovely team of people might even come back here to instruct Been doing some multi hours can't get over the fact you can fly so cheaply and things like approaches are free!!!!
Hows you're training going since the wonderful world of Cranfield international airport.....???
Matt
Been doing some multi hours can't get over the fact you can fly so cheaply and things like approaches are free!!!!Hows you're training going since the wonderful world of Cranfield international airport.....???
Matt