Aerodynamics - Malaga
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Aerodynamics Malaga
So here's the latest..... just passed my IR skill test - first time pass too, so very pleased.
I had to do my course in an unusual way because I have a 'proper job' Monday to Friday in the UK. This meant I came down to Malaga for 1 week at the beginning of April to get a solid start in the SIM. Then I came down each weekend and did the SIM on Saturday and Sunday (35 hours), and flew back to UK on Sunday night. (Thanks Easyjet for making it all quite painless!)
I then spent the last 2 weeks of May in Malaga to do all the flying part (15 hours - I already had the ME rating). I wonder how easy it would have been to do that much flying in the UK on IR training!? The admin guys at AD were extremely helpful, and did a great job to accomodate my unusual way of having to complete the course. Their SIM is FNPT2, and instruction is very good. Always plenty of time for pre-brief and post brief. SIM is excellent, and the training is extremely demanding - but that's how it should be. All my lessons were on time - I knew my schedule the evening before, I turned up for the session - no delays, ever.
Flying instruction (I am a UK FI myself) is good - the only issue I had was 2 trips being abandoned due to a/c going tech (one of them was my first go at the skill test unfortunately). Howver, they bend over backwards to try and help - and I was impressed that when things don't go quite as smoothly as they should, they care enough to make it right. They have 2 Duchesses - with a 3rd due to come on line once some regisatration paperwork is sorted. There is also a Seneca, but that has been tech for a few weeks.
Would I reccommend AD based on my personal experience - Yes.
I came here not to save money (anyway I had to do lots of Easyjet flights!), but because the weather is better, the flying is wonderful (I did IFR trips into North Africa, Seville, Jerez, Almeria), and there are real mountains! Which make accuracy and the MSA really really really important! The other important thing is that you have to get used to 'the real world' very quickly! Malaga is an extremely busy airport - so it's a great induction into how ATC can play havoc with your plans. All of the airfields are within 1 hour, all have full instrument facilities, and full ATC... and because of the mountains, most of the flying is done at FL100..... Proper IFR!!
So there you are. Hope it provides a useful insight. If there was one thing I would have changed it would be trying to do the whole thing in a 4 or 5 week stint. But circumstances would not permit that. Even so, considering I started on April 9th, it's really only taken a couple of months - I know guys who take 3, 4, 5 months to do it in the UK with our weather!
Oh, and I paid exactly what it said on the website - not a euro
more. The price they quote on their website includes everything - landing fees, approach fees, examiner fees, course materials, checklists etc etc.....
Cheers
GLUSH
I had to do my course in an unusual way because I have a 'proper job' Monday to Friday in the UK. This meant I came down to Malaga for 1 week at the beginning of April to get a solid start in the SIM. Then I came down each weekend and did the SIM on Saturday and Sunday (35 hours), and flew back to UK on Sunday night. (Thanks Easyjet for making it all quite painless!)
I then spent the last 2 weeks of May in Malaga to do all the flying part (15 hours - I already had the ME rating). I wonder how easy it would have been to do that much flying in the UK on IR training!? The admin guys at AD were extremely helpful, and did a great job to accomodate my unusual way of having to complete the course. Their SIM is FNPT2, and instruction is very good. Always plenty of time for pre-brief and post brief. SIM is excellent, and the training is extremely demanding - but that's how it should be. All my lessons were on time - I knew my schedule the evening before, I turned up for the session - no delays, ever.
Flying instruction (I am a UK FI myself) is good - the only issue I had was 2 trips being abandoned due to a/c going tech (one of them was my first go at the skill test unfortunately). Howver, they bend over backwards to try and help - and I was impressed that when things don't go quite as smoothly as they should, they care enough to make it right. They have 2 Duchesses - with a 3rd due to come on line once some regisatration paperwork is sorted. There is also a Seneca, but that has been tech for a few weeks.
Would I reccommend AD based on my personal experience - Yes.
I came here not to save money (anyway I had to do lots of Easyjet flights!), but because the weather is better, the flying is wonderful (I did IFR trips into North Africa, Seville, Jerez, Almeria), and there are real mountains! Which make accuracy and the MSA really really really important! The other important thing is that you have to get used to 'the real world' very quickly! Malaga is an extremely busy airport - so it's a great induction into how ATC can play havoc with your plans. All of the airfields are within 1 hour, all have full instrument facilities, and full ATC... and because of the mountains, most of the flying is done at FL100..... Proper IFR!!
So there you are. Hope it provides a useful insight. If there was one thing I would have changed it would be trying to do the whole thing in a 4 or 5 week stint. But circumstances would not permit that. Even so, considering I started on April 9th, it's really only taken a couple of months - I know guys who take 3, 4, 5 months to do it in the UK with our weather!
Oh, and I paid exactly what it said on the website - not a euro
more. The price they quote on their website includes everything - landing fees, approach fees, examiner fees, course materials, checklists etc etc.....
Cheers
GLUSH
Join Date: Jan 2005
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Hi,
I am due to start with AD some time soon and looking for a decent hotel/hostel? The cheaper the better and please within walking distance. Any recommendations (links please!)? Thanks a lot!
I am due to start with AD some time soon and looking for a decent hotel/hostel? The cheaper the better and please within walking distance. Any recommendations (links please!)? Thanks a lot!
Join Date: May 2005
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Stef,
Their apartment is your best option by far, costwise as well as for comfort. Do they not have availability during your planned stay?
The only other viable option is turning to www.loquo.com (the Spanish version of Craigslist) for anyone in Malaga with a flatshare to offer. You will need assistance from a Spanish speaker to get the best deals, but here's an example of what's on offer. Here's another one, conveniently close to AD's offices and to the train station (for your trips to the airport). PM me if interested, I'll be happy to ring them up for you.
If you will be training during the high tourist season (from now until the end of August), avoid hotels, hostels, pensions, and all the rest. Prices are high, places are noisy, quality is low, and of course you will have to eat out which although not expensive, is not as cheap and convenient as having your own kitchen.
Plan 'C', ask in the Spanish section for the name of the main Spanish pilot forums (I think pilotosdeiberia.com is one of them), and post there, perhaps locally-based crew can assist.
HTH. Best of luck with your training.
Their apartment is your best option by far, costwise as well as for comfort. Do they not have availability during your planned stay?
The only other viable option is turning to www.loquo.com (the Spanish version of Craigslist) for anyone in Malaga with a flatshare to offer. You will need assistance from a Spanish speaker to get the best deals, but here's an example of what's on offer. Here's another one, conveniently close to AD's offices and to the train station (for your trips to the airport). PM me if interested, I'll be happy to ring them up for you.
If you will be training during the high tourist season (from now until the end of August), avoid hotels, hostels, pensions, and all the rest. Prices are high, places are noisy, quality is low, and of course you will have to eat out which although not expensive, is not as cheap and convenient as having your own kitchen.
Plan 'C', ask in the Spanish section for the name of the main Spanish pilot forums (I think pilotosdeiberia.com is one of them), and post there, perhaps locally-based crew can assist.
HTH. Best of luck with your training.
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They do offer CPL and ATPL groundschool but only towards a CPL issued by the Spanish CAA.
You will need to have a pass of the skill test for either a JAA PPL or CPL so before you can consider going there you will need to get that done first. No hopes with just the ICAO license.
You will need to have a pass of the skill test for either a JAA PPL or CPL so before you can consider going there you will need to get that done first. No hopes with just the ICAO license.
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Hi,
Thanks for the replies, could someone explain this more precisely please?
So basically if for instance I am aiming for a Spanish frozen ATPL how does that work?I have an ICAO PPL right now.
Do I have to sit the goundschool in Spain and than pass the 14 subjects just as in the UK?And then CPL/IR?
What would the difference be between a Spanish and a UK issued frozen Atpl?
Just curious...
Thanks,
Danny
Thanks for the replies, could someone explain this more precisely please?
So basically if for instance I am aiming for a Spanish frozen ATPL how does that work?I have an ICAO PPL right now.
Do I have to sit the goundschool in Spain and than pass the 14 subjects just as in the UK?And then CPL/IR?
What would the difference be between a Spanish and a UK issued frozen Atpl?
Just curious...
Thanks,
Danny
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Interesting debate.
Was training with AD in July and August this year.
School building including sim not at the airport, it's in Malaga City, the district name, beg your pardon, I forgot. Modern, air conditioned, nice and clean school facilities though not too impressive from the outside. Was actually pretty apalling when seeing it first time. Staff overly friendly and very very helpful, and particularly the female staff eeeasy to look at... Sorry, but had to be mentioned.
Sim was ok, with some imagination a copy of the Dutchess, however, the right part of the screen malfunctioning and the computer crashed a few times. Still acceptable though.
AC were top notch, never broke down and got to fly pretty much every day in my IR conversion training. Was done in 10 days, not kidding. The MEP, on the other hand, was a slog and took me 15 days or so. Here's why: did not mention it in my previous postings as was kind of embarassed about it although I think it still is their fault (no, I have no problem in admitting my shortcomings!). Before going to Malaga was told that a MEP may take up to 10 days which I questioned and was told that an examiner was sometimes not available straigt away.
Well, I started my trainig and flew the mandatory hours in two flights with two different FIs. Both said and I quote, "Your ride will be somewhat like that, just show up and do what the examiner will tell you. No additional prep necessary." Ok, cool, I thought. I then had to wait for 5 days to do my ride. On the very day, which was a Sunday so normal ops not in place, was called in the morning by presumably their dispatcher, asking me to bring my maps and telling me that the flight was going to go to Granada. Now, the problem was, I had never been given any maps, except the IR approach charts so I go "which charts? I only have IR approach charts!" And he's like, yeah just bring them. Alright I thought, let's go there and talk to the examiner because this can't be right.
So I wait there and the examiner gets back from another ride and the applicant himself is briefing me on what to expect. So we start flying and the examiner starts asking me in the middle of my departure from a very "calm" international airport why I had not brought a VFR map since it was a VFR flight. Well, I said, trying to fly the friggin plane at the same time - on my checkride! - that since he had lent his map to the student before he would lent it to me to, which he also agreed to. So while arguing with him and actually trying not to since we all know to never argue with an examiner I set - well, sort of - course for Granada. My flying by then, frankly speaking, totally sucked and was behind the AC. So I sort of manage to keep going and eventually we get back. During the debrief then he tells me that he's not going to pass me on the VFR flying part since having a map on board was mandatory. BTW, I agree with that. Also, I do agree I should have done a little bit of flight planning but had never been instructed to do so by my FIs so was not aware of the fact that a cross country VFR exercise was part of the test. And lastly, I do not think it is my job to look up the test standards. Clearly, that is the school's responsibility, especially when quoting a price that is about a EUR1,000 more expensive than Aerofan in Madrid charges.
Anyway, I got a partial and go up with the same examiner a couple days later after doing one sim session practicing VFR flying... and passed the remaining section. Great I thought. Totally avoidable with a little better prep. So I approach AD and am told will have to pay EUR1,000 on top for the reasons stated above. I refuse and am to meet with the director himself who, of course, refuses to take any responsibility. I stay calm and keep trying to make a point and he finally cuts me a deal, questionable, if you can call paying a higher price a deal, and tries to settle for EUR500. Since I had not done my IR yet I thought, well, I cannot piss them off completely and accept. The fact that I had higher accom costs was never looked at although mentioned. Looking back I still think that was totally their fault and a total waste of money, however, I did have my MEP.
On the other hand, as afore mentioned, the IR conversion training went all fine and I had it done in no time. Also, the price quoted was all I had to pay, although I had flown 12 minutes longer, which, technically, they could have charged me for. Now, whether they might have, if I had not to gone through all the troubles in my MEP training, I cannot say. It probably was just complimentary.
Well, their accom, especially the one downtown is pretty pricy (EUR35/night)but the close location made it worth paying for me.
Overall AD was a great school I think since all school's AC break down, be it in the UK, US or Spain. When doing my CPL back in the UK the AC was grounded for a coupe of days too, let alone the bad weather grounding everything for sometimes an entire week. Maybe I just got very lucky.
The fact that one trains at a busy international airport made my training a very valuable experience and at least if things go like in my IR conversion training I can highly recommend them.
From my experience, but who am I to judge others, it is usually those individuals that show some cockiness in their actions and who do not act professionally that schools will not care for. When I was there we had a couple and if it's true what they pulled off in the sim, I would get rid off them right away.
If one is nice and acts professionally, e.g. shows up ahead of time, they willl make every effort to make you happy.
Was training with AD in July and August this year.
School building including sim not at the airport, it's in Malaga City, the district name, beg your pardon, I forgot. Modern, air conditioned, nice and clean school facilities though not too impressive from the outside. Was actually pretty apalling when seeing it first time. Staff overly friendly and very very helpful, and particularly the female staff eeeasy to look at... Sorry, but had to be mentioned.
Sim was ok, with some imagination a copy of the Dutchess, however, the right part of the screen malfunctioning and the computer crashed a few times. Still acceptable though.
AC were top notch, never broke down and got to fly pretty much every day in my IR conversion training. Was done in 10 days, not kidding. The MEP, on the other hand, was a slog and took me 15 days or so. Here's why: did not mention it in my previous postings as was kind of embarassed about it although I think it still is their fault (no, I have no problem in admitting my shortcomings!). Before going to Malaga was told that a MEP may take up to 10 days which I questioned and was told that an examiner was sometimes not available straigt away.
Well, I started my trainig and flew the mandatory hours in two flights with two different FIs. Both said and I quote, "Your ride will be somewhat like that, just show up and do what the examiner will tell you. No additional prep necessary." Ok, cool, I thought. I then had to wait for 5 days to do my ride. On the very day, which was a Sunday so normal ops not in place, was called in the morning by presumably their dispatcher, asking me to bring my maps and telling me that the flight was going to go to Granada. Now, the problem was, I had never been given any maps, except the IR approach charts so I go "which charts? I only have IR approach charts!" And he's like, yeah just bring them. Alright I thought, let's go there and talk to the examiner because this can't be right.
So I wait there and the examiner gets back from another ride and the applicant himself is briefing me on what to expect. So we start flying and the examiner starts asking me in the middle of my departure from a very "calm" international airport why I had not brought a VFR map since it was a VFR flight. Well, I said, trying to fly the friggin plane at the same time - on my checkride! - that since he had lent his map to the student before he would lent it to me to, which he also agreed to. So while arguing with him and actually trying not to since we all know to never argue with an examiner I set - well, sort of - course for Granada. My flying by then, frankly speaking, totally sucked and was behind the AC. So I sort of manage to keep going and eventually we get back. During the debrief then he tells me that he's not going to pass me on the VFR flying part since having a map on board was mandatory. BTW, I agree with that. Also, I do agree I should have done a little bit of flight planning but had never been instructed to do so by my FIs so was not aware of the fact that a cross country VFR exercise was part of the test. And lastly, I do not think it is my job to look up the test standards. Clearly, that is the school's responsibility, especially when quoting a price that is about a EUR1,000 more expensive than Aerofan in Madrid charges.
Anyway, I got a partial and go up with the same examiner a couple days later after doing one sim session practicing VFR flying... and passed the remaining section. Great I thought. Totally avoidable with a little better prep. So I approach AD and am told will have to pay EUR1,000 on top for the reasons stated above. I refuse and am to meet with the director himself who, of course, refuses to take any responsibility. I stay calm and keep trying to make a point and he finally cuts me a deal, questionable, if you can call paying a higher price a deal, and tries to settle for EUR500. Since I had not done my IR yet I thought, well, I cannot piss them off completely and accept. The fact that I had higher accom costs was never looked at although mentioned. Looking back I still think that was totally their fault and a total waste of money, however, I did have my MEP.
On the other hand, as afore mentioned, the IR conversion training went all fine and I had it done in no time. Also, the price quoted was all I had to pay, although I had flown 12 minutes longer, which, technically, they could have charged me for. Now, whether they might have, if I had not to gone through all the troubles in my MEP training, I cannot say. It probably was just complimentary.
Well, their accom, especially the one downtown is pretty pricy (EUR35/night)but the close location made it worth paying for me.
Overall AD was a great school I think since all school's AC break down, be it in the UK, US or Spain. When doing my CPL back in the UK the AC was grounded for a coupe of days too, let alone the bad weather grounding everything for sometimes an entire week. Maybe I just got very lucky.
The fact that one trains at a busy international airport made my training a very valuable experience and at least if things go like in my IR conversion training I can highly recommend them.
From my experience, but who am I to judge others, it is usually those individuals that show some cockiness in their actions and who do not act professionally that schools will not care for. When I was there we had a couple and if it's true what they pulled off in the sim, I would get rid off them right away.
If one is nice and acts professionally, e.g. shows up ahead of time, they willl make every effort to make you happy.
Last edited by stefair; 10th Nov 2008 at 15:19.
Join Date: Sep 2008
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Aerodynamics Malaga. Cpl
Hi
Can anybody help me on this,, CPL Practical training Air test .
From january 2009 i understand that you will be able to take your CPL training and test in spain even though you completed your ATPL exams in the UK due to new legislation. Because i am looking at training with Aerodynamics of Malaga in Spain ,they seem to have very good reviews
Any advice would be welcome thankyou.
Can anybody help me on this,, CPL Practical training Air test .
From january 2009 i understand that you will be able to take your CPL training and test in spain even though you completed your ATPL exams in the UK due to new legislation. Because i am looking at training with Aerodynamics of Malaga in Spain ,they seem to have very good reviews
Any advice would be welcome thankyou.
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You can do the ifr training in Spain. This rating will be added to your uk license. Itīs not possible to do the cpl part in spain, because the school needs an approval from the UK CAA. So you can do the cpl training and the check ride in the UK or in the states ( there are some JAA schools with an UK CAA approval ).
Join Date: Jun 2005
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Can anyone advise on a couple of things for me?
-Has anyone trained at AD and split the training? I probably cannot take 4 weeks off work in one go.
-While speaking to a couple of UK FTO's I was advised "don't go to Spain to train, nobody will consider you with a Spanish IR". Is there any truth in this or is it just people trying use scare tactics to get business?
Ta
-Has anyone trained at AD and split the training? I probably cannot take 4 weeks off work in one go.
-While speaking to a couple of UK FTO's I was advised "don't go to Spain to train, nobody will consider you with a Spanish IR". Is there any truth in this or is it just people trying use scare tactics to get business?
Ta
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-Has anyone trained at AD and split the training? I probably cannot take 4 weeks off work in one go.
-While speaking to a couple of UK FTO's I was advised "don't go to Spain to train, nobody will consider you with a Spanish IR". Is there any truth in this or is it just people trying use scare tactics to get business?
Join Date: Dec 2005
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Waveydavey,
I did my IR at Aerodynamics last April/May and found them to be a really professional outfit.
Due to my weekday job in the UK I had to commute down there for weekends mostly to do the training. I also did 1 full week at the beginning of the course, and a further 2 full weeks at the end (to do the flying). I was able to use my leave entitlement to accomodate that. Aerodynamics could not have been more helpful in working the course around my availability.
Regarding the comments about 'don't do it in Spain'... I can't comment on others experiences, but I have just completed my IR Instructors course at a UK FTO with no problems at all... so Aerodynamics must have got something right.
Hope that helps.
I did my IR at Aerodynamics last April/May and found them to be a really professional outfit.
Due to my weekday job in the UK I had to commute down there for weekends mostly to do the training. I also did 1 full week at the beginning of the course, and a further 2 full weeks at the end (to do the flying). I was able to use my leave entitlement to accomodate that. Aerodynamics could not have been more helpful in working the course around my availability.
Regarding the comments about 'don't do it in Spain'... I can't comment on others experiences, but I have just completed my IR Instructors course at a UK FTO with no problems at all... so Aerodynamics must have got something right.
Hope that helps.
