Ravenair
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I do part time MCC training at the Flight Centre; they have an Alsim 200 FNPT2 which, at the click or a mouse, is either a Cheyenne or a Seneca 2. Good guys,and nice too. E is [email protected] and the old fashioned phone is 01384 221477; ask for Philip Morritt. David alias db16
The proprietor (HoT and one of the FI instructors) is Malcolm Lassan who often answers the phone
The proprietor (HoT and one of the FI instructors) is Malcolm Lassan who often answers the phone
Join Date: Mar 2005
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Rick0,
For PPL training, Ravenair do it well, the instructors are good and the PPL course is VFR flying, so the equipment inside the A/C they have is sufficient.
The main gripe here is regarding commercial flight training.
Best of luck and enjoy it.
For PPL training, Ravenair do it well, the instructors are good and the PPL course is VFR flying, so the equipment inside the A/C they have is sufficient.
The main gripe here is regarding commercial flight training.
Best of luck and enjoy it.
Join Date: Jan 2006
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I agree, the PPL at Ravenair is good. Even at Barton where there is only a couple of wobbly Tomahawks. The aircraft are old but still sufficient and both Liverpool and Barton are interesting places to fly from and the instructors are nice guys.
Join Date: Nov 2004
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Have to agree with the comments that have been made. I trained and then worked at Ravenair. Recently, I went back to do some flying and felt like I had stepped back in time. Nothing had changed. Phones not getting answered, crappy buildings, no-one manning the front desk, same old simulator (not working, of course), musty briefing rooms and no computer access for students. One thing doesn't change though, and that is the professional attitude and enthusiasm of the instructors.
The Directors of Ravenair will not spend money and invest because they refuse to acknowledge the opportunity that exists as it would take a long term plan to build a customer base, reputation and finally a profitable commercial training business. One individual in particular always viewed the school with utter contempt and did his best to discourage any investment. His approach was to always go for the fast buck and you cannot do that in flying training. Sadly, he now works there full time.
At this moment in time I would recommend that any potential CPL/IR students follow their gut instinct and toddle off to Multiflight, Wolverhampton or Bristol until someone puts a rocket under the dinosaurs at Ravenair.
I always thought that Cabair would have made a good candidate to buy out Ravenair but I guess it's just too far North. Any potential investors out there?
The Directors of Ravenair will not spend money and invest because they refuse to acknowledge the opportunity that exists as it would take a long term plan to build a customer base, reputation and finally a profitable commercial training business. One individual in particular always viewed the school with utter contempt and did his best to discourage any investment. His approach was to always go for the fast buck and you cannot do that in flying training. Sadly, he now works there full time.
At this moment in time I would recommend that any potential CPL/IR students follow their gut instinct and toddle off to Multiflight, Wolverhampton or Bristol until someone puts a rocket under the dinosaurs at Ravenair.
I always thought that Cabair would have made a good candidate to buy out Ravenair but I guess it's just too far North. Any potential investors out there?
Last edited by matzpenetration; 20th Sep 2007 at 15:35.
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Chester
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Ravenair
I have been billed incorrectly on three occasions by their instructors. I pay after my lesson, and then I end up getting another bill from accounts. You wouldn't go into a shop and say, "Oh i'll have that x/y/z thanks", pay for it, then the shop sends you another bill saying "Oh sorry, we didnt charge you enough". How hard can it be to work out a bill?
I also ditto the remarks about the maintenance issues that Ravenair need to look at. Their Warrior (not the dodgy one without the toe brakes
) needs some TLC. Last time I flew the aircraft it had had a non-structural repair fixed with gaffer tape/whatever it's called. 'Big deal' you may say, but how much would it cost to repair it properly? Shouldnt all aircraft be treated with respect, well except C-152's 
?
I also ditto the remarks about the maintenance issues that Ravenair need to look at. Their Warrior (not the dodgy one without the toe brakes
) needs some TLC. Last time I flew the aircraft it had had a non-structural repair fixed with gaffer tape/whatever it's called. 'Big deal' you may say, but how much would it cost to repair it properly? Shouldnt all aircraft be treated with respect, well except C-152's ?
Join Date: May 2006
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Their Warrior (not the dodgy one without the toe brakes)
erm, Ravenair dont have a Warrior with out toe brakes.
Also Take a look at LAC recent number of accidents compaired to ravenairs...
1x C172 nose gear
1x c152 nose gear
1x pa28 engine failure
1x pa28 engine shock loaded
Im not saying LAC have aircraft problems, it normal to get tech issues with a/c this old.
erm, Ravenair dont have a Warrior with out toe brakes.
Also Take a look at LAC recent number of accidents compaired to ravenairs...
1x C172 nose gear
1x c152 nose gear
1x pa28 engine failure
1x pa28 engine shock loaded
Im not saying LAC have aircraft problems, it normal to get tech issues with a/c this old.
Join Date: Sep 2005
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didnt RVR put one into the barrier fence not many moons ago?
I trained at RVR for a ppl and found them a decent outfit although a lot of problems highlighted here exist . I almost found them to be too busy and the instructors seemed to be run off their feet a lot of the time . They also have the salford uni lot who arrive at the school en-masse and take a lot of time up.I wouldnt be surprised in the same way as commercial school seem to favour spnsored candidates that RVR favour the uni's . I however did not see evidence of this but this was when they very first started doing it .
I never had a problem with billing as it was done from the flight logs which I completed , so if there was an issue I would be the one to blame .
I would defend RVR as they did me a good service albeit a PPL service and I cannot comment on the CPL side although CP is a great bloke and im sure he would be missed .
Perhaps the mishaps listed above are more consistent with grassfield ops than those at a lovely tarmac'd runway airfield . The two PA28 engine probs aside, I dont hink that can be blamed on the training provider. Landing on a gras field , especially one as bump as bartons is bound to get some nosewheel casualties . Most people get protect the nosewheel drumbed into them at barton they certainly do in my group and as mos of RVR's training is LPL based that may account for it
but who knows
I trained at RVR for a ppl and found them a decent outfit although a lot of problems highlighted here exist . I almost found them to be too busy and the instructors seemed to be run off their feet a lot of the time . They also have the salford uni lot who arrive at the school en-masse and take a lot of time up.I wouldnt be surprised in the same way as commercial school seem to favour spnsored candidates that RVR favour the uni's . I however did not see evidence of this but this was when they very first started doing it .
I never had a problem with billing as it was done from the flight logs which I completed , so if there was an issue I would be the one to blame .
I would defend RVR as they did me a good service albeit a PPL service and I cannot comment on the CPL side although CP is a great bloke and im sure he would be missed .
Perhaps the mishaps listed above are more consistent with grassfield ops than those at a lovely tarmac'd runway airfield . The two PA28 engine probs aside, I dont hink that can be blamed on the training provider. Landing on a gras field , especially one as bump as bartons is bound to get some nosewheel casualties . Most people get protect the nosewheel drumbed into them at barton they certainly do in my group and as mos of RVR's training is LPL based that may account for it
but who knows
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Not sure how vaild my experience is, but I did my Multi and IR there in 2000.
Whole thing was completed in 31 days and that inclued a partial and a cancelled test due wx.
John Dale was my IR instructor, although I think he is no longer there, if he is still teaching then can thouroughly recommend him as an IR instructor, first class
Although I now drive bigger orange and white aeroplanes I've never been back to LPL yet and would love to pop in to Ravenair just to see how things are now and a thanks.
Also packed in a day at MCT ATC with JD and a day on a 757 with JN, all in all made for a good experience that can cost an arm and a leg if gragged on!
ED
Whole thing was completed in 31 days and that inclued a partial and a cancelled test due wx.
John Dale was my IR instructor, although I think he is no longer there, if he is still teaching then can thouroughly recommend him as an IR instructor, first class
Although I now drive bigger orange and white aeroplanes I've never been back to LPL yet and would love to pop in to Ravenair just to see how things are now and a thanks.
Also packed in a day at MCT ATC with JD and a day on a 757 with JN, all in all made for a good experience that can cost an arm and a leg if gragged on!
ED
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Adverse bump........why are you talking about accidents, what has that got to do with the thread so far?
Accidents happen, nose wheels collapsing are an all to common event with student pilots, also resulting in shock loading of engines because of it. Ravenair, like any other school have had there fair share of nose wheels, bent props, shock loaded engines, main gear, engine failures, etc, etc,
This thread is regards the decline of the school in general, lack of facilities, things not working correctly in A/C even after maint...Accidents cant be compared to say Ravenair is better than LAC, and as far as I am aware LAC dont do commercial training, which is what this thread is about.
Accidents happen, nose wheels collapsing are an all to common event with student pilots, also resulting in shock loading of engines because of it. Ravenair, like any other school have had there fair share of nose wheels, bent props, shock loaded engines, main gear, engine failures, etc, etc,
This thread is regards the decline of the school in general, lack of facilities, things not working correctly in A/C even after maint...Accidents cant be compared to say Ravenair is better than LAC, and as far as I am aware LAC dont do commercial training, which is what this thread is about.
