[ATPL] Bristol Ground School -vs-Bournemouth Commercial Flight Training

[Savage_UK]

Hi

I'm shortly starting a modular ATPL distance learning course and have narrowed it down to a choice between two providers: BGS and BCFT. Have spoken to both and they sound equally knowledgeable, friendly and able to get me through the training (am ICAO CPL/MEIR holder, 300+ hrs having to do conversion training for JAR licence).

Realise there are a number of responses bestowing the virtues of both schools on PPRuNe but wondered whether anyone had any direct comparisons or pros/cons for each they would care to share:

Also couple of things that I'd welcome views on:

1) Cost difference for the ATPL modular. It seems £2100 vs £1762 respectively. The only big difference I can see is the additional software that BGS offers. Is it worth the extra £450...? Or is there something else I'm missing?

2) It seems that Bournemouth may have the better flying facilities, sim, I/R training etc. Is there any benefit for doing both the ATPL study and flight training in the same place (ie. from an employer's point of view).

3) Am planning a visit to both schools to get the "feel" of the place, but general thoughts on either welcomed with regards to class size, instructor availability, flying conditions/congestion and general attitude of each place.

Many, many thanks in advance.

[gmac1977]

check out cranfield aviation Training school

They do the ATPL for £999. Save your money!

[Savage_UK]

Shall do that, thanks! In fact someone did mention CATS to me too (especially as they seem to be considerably cheaper than the rest) but trying not to base it purely on cost...made that mistake once already!

Take it you have had good experiences with them then? Any idea how they can keep the cost down so much?

[gmac1977]

Hi Savage

The £999 i paid was for the online ATPL study guides.the only online ATPL in the world i believe. The hard copy books were about £400.00 extra but i got on fine without them. Online system was good(worked perfectly on my iphone in the latter months)
included groundschool,CATS question banks, progress tests etc... Got an average of 95% on the 14 exams.took about 7 months to complete. Alot of hard work but definately worth it.

All the best with your decision

[Savage_UK]

Thanks for your quick response gmac - and your thoughts. Shall add CATS into the mix (certainly like the idea of saving a grand considering how many have already been spent..!)

[mra2z]

Sorry to take the focus away from BGS and BFT but CATS is quality. Stuart Smith (head of training) is a real nice guy and will do all he can to see that you understand the subjects. Give it a try....you could even save yourself some £££ as well.

[manjit singh toor]

hi

I noticed this post, previous replies are correct.

I started the ATPL online in January with CATS. I have a completed my PPL with CATS start of this year. I decided to get the written manuals aswell just as i dont have access to the internet all the time.

I am feeling confident about my studies as a direct result of when ever i dont understand anything it gets resolved very quickly. I am sitting seven exams in march. And feel ready and able to do well.

So sorry BGS and BCFT Its got to be CATS

[Savage_UK]

Is the level of training in each of these places roughly the same? CATS/BGS/BCFT ie - I know they're all ulitmately following a syllabus but is there a set standard for this kind of distance learning?

Having only followed the integrated classroom-based route (and personally believe benefitted from it) I want to make sure that, regardless of cost, I am at the end understanding the subject matter thoroughly and not just buying a question bank of answers to pass exams.

Probably sounds terribly naiive but getting the impression that some options really just aim to get you through the test rather than teach you anything new.

But to get back on thread with Bristol vs Bournemouth, would still like to hear from anyone who has direct experience of either establishment or been in the same position of having to choose between ATPL providers.

[mcgoo]

I'm not too sure what sort of information you are expecting from this thread, asking people if the training is the same at different schools wont get much response as most people have only attended one school for their training, only you can decide what is right for you, speak to the schools, visit if possible, look at the course materials, read the specific school threads on here and then make a decision.

All of the options, the aim is to get you through the exams.

[Savage_UK]

Fair point mcgoo. Guess I was just trying to justify why such large jumps between the expected costs, ranging from £999 to well over £2000.


In retrospect it's a bit of a dumbass thread title isn't it? Just read (a lot!) of different posts on each school, spoken to both on the telephone and still been left utterly confused as to which is the best way to go and opinions on just how good the BGS software is to learn from compared to either CATS or from manuals.


But I guess that's very subjective isn't it?


Ho well - roll the dice time again I reckon! Cheers for all the replies though - appreciate it..

[johal]

Hi
What did you do at the end?
Joe

[FlyingDumbells]

I would also like to know what you did? I am contemplating it myself. I have 240TT/CASA CPL/MECIR which just lapsed on the 30th April 12. I understand I would need to do the 14 ATPLs...then CPL test (hours as required by the CP)...then the MECIR test and a certain amount of hours of which i am not sure how many are required. I read you must do 15 total (10 sim/5 flight) but my IR lapsed so does that mean I must do the full 50 or 55 total with 15 being in flight?

Also I am trying to take into account the new EASA system. I've read great reviews regarding Bristol and now CATs on here but I heard that the Bristol question bank is outdated...and not containing appropriate exam questions?? I would also like to know if the IR in EASA world requires a separate examination theory paper or if it is covered in the ATPL exams? Thinking of doing this Distance learning as would work out cheaper I think.

[pudoc]

Bristol Bristol Bristol. No question about it. The 'Bristol' question bank is no longer Bristol's, they are a separate company. Bristol now have a new question bank that's only available to people who distance learn with them which is more up to date and is only available via their software.

Our Results Are Better | Bristol Ground School

My flight school are strongly affiliated with a different ground school provider and send their students there. But I had a private chat with my school's head of training and he admitted that Bristol were first class and are one of the best around. It's not something he wanted me to share with the rest of the students that's for sure. Needless to say I didn't go where my school tried to send me.

[FlyingDumbells]

I see...Well good to hear more positive news regarding them. I had a look at that link seems its 2011 results but. Easa came in 2012 early April if I am correct...I guess it would be hard to find a more recent review on how good their material is anyway but I must try!

[FlyingDumbells]

What about the MECIR, Is there a separate theory paper for that?

[pudoc]

BGS have a graph of every individual subject over every month. The only subject that took a hit with EASA syllabus was Performance but I believe that was due to the CAA putting in an unfair amount of graph questions and have since changed that.

There's not that much difference really. I was new syllabus, happy with my average and first time passes.

[CATS Support]

BCFT and CATS have partnered up so you can get the CATS online system included with the BCFT course.

BCFT instructors have already lectured at CATS LUTON UK