bristol ground school?
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: florida
5 months mod 1 + 2
Completed mod 1 + 2 with bristol in 4 months. Went slightly doolally 
but as alex said - if you put the time in, it can be done and i did. Great school, great material and great instructos - the 2 week crammer and exam week is a grueler but certainly charachter building and hopefully worth it in the end
but as alex said - if you put the time in, it can be done and i did. Great school, great material and great instructos - the 2 week crammer and exam week is a grueler but certainly charachter building and hopefully worth it in the end
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 332
Likes: 0
From: Surrey
Hey,
Just to reiterate what everyone else has said so far. Bristol are great, I'm on my Mod 2 brush up as week speak- first time passes already gained in April with 96% average.
On another note, if you didn't know, CTC send their modular guys to BGS, so if it's good enough for them.....
HB
Just to reiterate what everyone else has said so far. Bristol are great, I'm on my Mod 2 brush up as week speak- first time passes already gained in April with 96% average.
On another note, if you didn't know, CTC send their modular guys to BGS, so if it's good enough for them.....
HB
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
From: The Pearly White Gates
4 Months for distance learning 
That must be some sort of record. Did you even go outside during that period?
From everyone's opinion on here it seems that if you are doing the ATPL's by distance learning then you really only have one option. Bristol seem to be a most professional outfit and if your prepared to meet them half way by putting some effort in then you will come out with the exams in your pocket at the end of the day
That must be some sort of record. Did you even go outside during that period?From everyone's opinion on here it seems that if you are doing the ATPL's by distance learning then you really only have one option. Bristol seem to be a most professional outfit and if your prepared to meet them half way by putting some effort in then you will come out with the exams in your pocket at the end of the day
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 332
Likes: 0
From: Surrey
Everyone is different mate. I personally found MET hard, purely because there is more to read then the rest (with the notes the school supply).
However, the ATPL's in general are not particularly hard, its more a matter of quantity.
Really easy ones tend to be:
VFR Comms
IFR Comms
Pretty easy:
Mass and Bal
Human Perf
R Nav
Law
Ops
Require more thought:
Flt Plan
Instruments
Met
G Nav
Perf
PofF
AGK
The above is my opinion.
HB
However, the ATPL's in general are not particularly hard, its more a matter of quantity.
Really easy ones tend to be:
VFR Comms
IFR Comms
Pretty easy:
Mass and Bal
Human Perf
R Nav
Law
Ops
Require more thought:
Flt Plan
Instruments
Met
G Nav
Perf
PofF
AGK
The above is my opinion.
HB
Joined: Nov 2004
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 620
Likes: 136
From: UK
4 Months for distance learning That must be some sort of record. Did you even go outside during that period?
Not counting the 6 weeks which were taken up by the brush-up courses and exam weeks, that left just 10 weeks of home study, which included a 2 week break (yeah, right!) over Christmas and New Year.
The CPL, night rating, and IR were 'in the bag' by mid June, less than 8 months after buying the Bristol GS course. Oh, and I did manage to fit in a 2 week foreign holiday between the Mod 2 exams and starting the CPL - honestly!
A very busy time, when I did not get out much! But a whole lot quicker and more cost effective than if I had chosen an integrated course - a point I made in a previous post on the subject.
Bristol GS certainly provides the means to make that type of progress possible with their excellent course. But at the end of the day, it is down to the individual to set a pace which is comfortable and sustainable for their own unique circumstances and learning rate. Motivation is the key ingredient here. I was highly motivated, being significantly the 'wrong side' of 40 before starting.
Good luck to all who choose to embark on the commercial aviation career path, whichever route that might be. And don't let anybody tell you that being over 40 is too old to start, provided you are highly motivated, and you have the ability.
PM
Last edited by pilotmike; 2nd March 2008 at 10:10.
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
From: The Pearly White Gates
pilotmike,
My hat goes off to you
. Just goes to show that no matter what your never too old to chase your dreams. If you wan't something bad enough you will usually get it with a little bit of hard work.... right, enough with the cliches 
p.s. not that I'm saying your old pm
My hat goes off to you
. Just goes to show that no matter what your never too old to chase your dreams. If you wan't something bad enough you will usually get it with a little bit of hard work.... right, enough with the cliches p.s. not that I'm saying your old pm
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 420
Likes: 0
From: Somerset
Just thought that I'd chuck my hat into the ring, after 22 years as a military helicopter engineer I left the daily grind and spent 5 months getting the ATPL ground school done, studying full time at home with BGS notes. I managed to pass all exams first time and averaged 93.5%, this is by no means a reflection of my academic abilities and is purely down to the standard of the BGS course, the notes are excellent but even the notes are surpassed by the quality of the instructors and the feedback questions dished out during the revision fortnights. The revision courses are hard work with 9-5 attendance and then sitting up with feedback stuff until about mid-night but it was well worth it. I cannot recommend BGS highly enough.
As far as what subjects are easiest and hardest, my own opinion is that the weight and balance and the two comms modules are easiest and that meteorology and air law were hardest with the remainder somewhere in the middle.
On another matter, as one of the older trainees out there (41 years old) it was wonderful to read the post from pilotmike who got his first job aged 43 and even shares a christian name with me (surely an omen!!!!!), well done mate if I cam emulate your achievements I will be wearing a smile so big it'll make the Cheshire Cat look like a manic depressive. Its also great to see that a working pilot is taking the time and effort to check the training posts and hand out advice......nice one.
As far as what subjects are easiest and hardest, my own opinion is that the weight and balance and the two comms modules are easiest and that meteorology and air law were hardest with the remainder somewhere in the middle.
On another matter, as one of the older trainees out there (41 years old) it was wonderful to read the post from pilotmike who got his first job aged 43 and even shares a christian name with me (surely an omen!!!!!), well done mate if I cam emulate your achievements I will be wearing a smile so big it'll make the Cheshire Cat look like a manic depressive. Its also great to see that a working pilot is taking the time and effort to check the training posts and hand out advice......nice one.
Joined: Feb 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 17,498
Likes: 1,845
From: England
I've been plugging BGS for many years now. I've never - not once - in all the time of PPRuNe being in existence heard a single whinge or complaint against them.
Never went there myself as it was a bit before my time.
WWW
Never went there myself as it was a bit before my time.
WWW
) Thanks
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 332
Likes: 0
From: Surrey
I am currently sitting in Brian Webber's place in Cheddar. It's on the Bristol website, and yes, if you are reading this, this is confirmation of wireless here.
I came here for Mod 1 and now Mod 2.
Best value for money, £135 per week, and then £6 on top for a really nice, hassle free home cooked meal.
Its about a 10 minute walk, or 2 minute drive from the ground school-made this whole process a lot easier.
Wish me luck for mod 2 next week...
HB
I came here for Mod 1 and now Mod 2.
Best value for money, £135 per week, and then £6 on top for a really nice, hassle free home cooked meal.
Its about a 10 minute walk, or 2 minute drive from the ground school-made this whole process a lot easier.
Wish me luck for mod 2 next week...
HB
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: cumbria
Pilot Mike.
Credit to you for taking the time to browse these sites. Believe me it's a big help to here your experiences, I'm sure everyone will agree. Lifts the spirits to here a success story! Thanks again.
HB
good luck to you for mod 2!
Credit to you for taking the time to browse these sites. Believe me it's a big help to here your experiences, I'm sure everyone will agree. Lifts the spirits to here a success story! Thanks again.
HB
good luck to you for mod 2!