CATS - Cranfield Aviation Training School
looks like the weather will be good this weekend, have you flown the new plane yet....?
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: east of west
Age: 44
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You are not the "G" That I am talking about and I hope things go well for you ,I really do...
Good Luck. your gona need it!
I just thought people should know what it is really like in the great cats and how bad that place really is...
Freedom of choice is a great thing
and so is freedom of speech.
I just wish some one had posted the truth before I picked cats as my training provider.
Like the others I passed all 14 early this year but it was down to my hard work and a lot of help from the people on the bristol forum.
Certainly not the H.O.T and thets for sure!
CASE CLOSED!!!
Good Luck. your gona need it!
I just thought people should know what it is really like in the great cats and how bad that place really is...
Freedom of choice is a great thing
and so is freedom of speech.
I just wish some one had posted the truth before I picked cats as my training provider.
Like the others I passed all 14 early this year but it was down to my hard work and a lot of help from the people on the bristol forum.
Certainly not the H.O.T and thets for sure!
CASE CLOSED!!!
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: east of west
Age: 44
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
All these Little Pro CATS posts from the H.O.T's buddys make me sick
and should not be allowed! Nice new plane ect ect ect...Hope it's not that old 172 your talking about. Because i tell you now i would not even sit in that 150 he has.
It would serve you lot better to consintrate on you own carrers and stop trying to lead people down the garden path.
and should not be allowed! Nice new plane ect ect ect...Hope it's not that old 172 your talking about. Because i tell you now i would not even sit in that 150 he has.
It would serve you lot better to consintrate on you own carrers and stop trying to lead people down the garden path.
Last edited by dog.101; 25th Sep 2008 at 10:52.
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: UK
Age: 49
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
To give another opinion, I did (last exams in 10 days) distance learning with CATS, and I only know Stuart from the three times I have been there for brush up weeks.
Firstly, you do need a lot of self motivation and hard work with CATS, as you do with any distance learning option. That is what it is all about, you work hard on your own. The brush up should only help you with weak areas. you can't expect to learn everything in that week.
Secondly, Mike Burton knows his stuff inside out, no fault can be aimed at him. I would also say that I would not have passed met without Stuarts brush up, he made some of the principles very easy to understand.
There are things that are not perfect at CATS and Stuart seems incredibly busy (maybe too busy!) but I have never had a problem getting a hold of him or maria via E-mail.
All in all I have saved myself a lot of money using CATS, the online notes are very good, and so far I have passed my first 10 exams, first time, with a 89% average. And living abroad the flexibility has made it perfect for me. I have been able to fit in brush ups sometimes two months before my exams, with the offer to come back for an extra brush up for free.
I don't believe the workload would have been less (or my results higher) by spending more money at another school.
As for the Bristol QB, 90% of students at ALL schools end up paying the £50. So I don't think CATS is so different.
Again, this is an honest opinion, I have been frustrated as well sometimes with some things, but all in all it has easily been worth the saving. My profile has my blog website, so there is no secret as to who I am (i.e I don't work there)
D-G
Firstly, you do need a lot of self motivation and hard work with CATS, as you do with any distance learning option. That is what it is all about, you work hard on your own. The brush up should only help you with weak areas. you can't expect to learn everything in that week.
Secondly, Mike Burton knows his stuff inside out, no fault can be aimed at him. I would also say that I would not have passed met without Stuarts brush up, he made some of the principles very easy to understand.
There are things that are not perfect at CATS and Stuart seems incredibly busy (maybe too busy!) but I have never had a problem getting a hold of him or maria via E-mail.
All in all I have saved myself a lot of money using CATS, the online notes are very good, and so far I have passed my first 10 exams, first time, with a 89% average. And living abroad the flexibility has made it perfect for me. I have been able to fit in brush ups sometimes two months before my exams, with the offer to come back for an extra brush up for free.
I don't believe the workload would have been less (or my results higher) by spending more money at another school.
As for the Bristol QB, 90% of students at ALL schools end up paying the £50. So I don't think CATS is so different.
Again, this is an honest opinion, I have been frustrated as well sometimes with some things, but all in all it has easily been worth the saving. My profile has my blog website, so there is no secret as to who I am (i.e I don't work there)
D-G
Last edited by Dane-Ger; 24th Sep 2008 at 19:46.
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Frinton-on-Sea
Posts: 302
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hey Greg,
Glad your enjoying it
looks like the weather will be good this weekend, have you flown the new plane yet....?
Matt
Glad your enjoying it
looks like the weather will be good this weekend, have you flown the new plane yet....?Matt
Hello Matt,
A new plane hey. Maybe that's the answer to my flying. Hopefully will try and get down this weekend.
Cheers
Greg
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: UAE
Posts: 662
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Dog, you really do appear to have a problem with CATS, it is reasonable to say any school has problems but you seem to be attacking this one with vigour?
Are you sure its not you with possible issues or wrong attitude?... just a thought?
YYZ
Are you sure its not you with possible issues or wrong attitude?... just a thought?
YYZ
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: east of west
Age: 44
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I dont really have a problem with them now but I did when I was there, as did the other students at that time.
Look , Im not going to say anything else on the matter as I have said enough and believe me there are things I could say but people would not believe me.
Just trying to help the next guy out thats all and nothing else.
All the best
Look , Im not going to say anything else on the matter as I have said enough and believe me there are things I could say but people would not believe me.
Just trying to help the next guy out thats all and nothing else.
All the best
Upto The Buffers
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Leeds/Bradford
Age: 48
Posts: 1,112
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Dog - I take it you didn't invest in the extra course which covered spelling and grammar... I had no problem with CATS; the material was good, I put the work in, I passed the exams in under 6 months whilst holding down a full-time job. The groundschool was just a reserve in case there were odd concepts I really couldn't get my head around. That's the whole point of distance learning.
If you're one of the ADD generation without motivation and initiative, needing to be pinned down and spoon-fed, perhaps you would have been better served elsewhere.
Whatever your experience with CATS, I have to say you sound like a bit of a dick
If you're one of the ADD generation without motivation and initiative, needing to be pinned down and spoon-fed, perhaps you would have been better served elsewhere.
Whatever your experience with CATS, I have to say you sound like a bit of a dick
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Over Mache Grande?
Posts: 563
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Whatever your experience with CATS, I have to say you sound like a bit of a dick
Threesomes, Golden Showers, A2M
Dog may be going a bit over the top, but everything he says I saw when I was there, and I know of at least two other people in exactly the same boat - one of who actually managed to get their money back due to the amateurish way he was treated.
It's an open forum, feel free to say what you want, but I think your criticism is a little harsh.
DW.
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: east of west
Age: 44
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Shunter maybe you just dont know any better!
Well if you were happy then good for you.
And less of the personal abuse about me please as you dont know the first thing about me .
I posted this information to let people know both sides of the story and if that hit a raw nerve with you then tough s
it! It's nothing to do with you...say what you think of the place and keep your personal remarks to yourself...It says a lot about what kind of person you are.
A bit of a hot head are we.
Well if you were happy then good for you.
And less of the personal abuse about me please as you dont know the first thing about me .
I posted this information to let people know both sides of the story and if that hit a raw nerve with you then tough s
it! It's nothing to do with you...say what you think of the place and keep your personal remarks to yourself...It says a lot about what kind of person you are.A bit of a hot head are we.
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: London
Age: 53
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: UK
Posts: 233
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
An attempt at a balanced view
I used CATS for my CPL(A) distance learning groundschool and tend to side with the critics.
The organisation was very shambolic - very hard to get joining instructions, details of what would be delivered then, or sometimes the right manuals when I needed them. Several time I and others had a strong whinge about that, and not much was ever done about it.
Far too much of the classroom time was just doing practice tests - that could be done in time I'm not paying for! The teaching, when the right teacher turned up, and actually decided to teach stuff rather than set yet another practice test, was pretty good. I absolutely agree with the praise for Mike Burton, but there weren't actually any bad teachers - maybe some whose personalities I found easier to get on with than others (hearing for the fifth time about somebody's self funded 737 type rating got a little tedious).
The notes are extremely good, and the way in which they structurally take you through the material, and test you at each point, then take you through to summary tests, is superb. You could make a criticism that the notes can be a little too long and detailed for just passing the exams sometimes, but as somebody who tends to be interested in technical stuff, this wasn't too much of a problem.
Ultimately, I passed everything first time and with a good average of 86%. This was partly to CATS credit - particularly their excellent notes, and partly due to also subscribing to the Bristol questions databank which was incredibly helpful, and also to buying a copy of Phil Croucher's "JAR Professional Pilot Studies" which was very useful in cutting my reading down sometimes to just what I really needed.
Of course, whatever course you do, you need to work hard and be self managed and motivated - I can't imagine that's any different for CATS or anybody else. But, it did seem to be particularly essential there.
Ultimately they were "okay", but would be a whole lot better if they were better organised in terms of lecture planning, communication with students, and general admin. I'd give them about 6/10, and it wouldn't take much management reorganisation to get that up to an 8/10 - although there seems little will to go that extra mile; probably they realise that most people (like me) go to them because of the price and people will keep doing that regardless.
P
The organisation was very shambolic - very hard to get joining instructions, details of what would be delivered then, or sometimes the right manuals when I needed them. Several time I and others had a strong whinge about that, and not much was ever done about it.
Far too much of the classroom time was just doing practice tests - that could be done in time I'm not paying for! The teaching, when the right teacher turned up, and actually decided to teach stuff rather than set yet another practice test, was pretty good. I absolutely agree with the praise for Mike Burton, but there weren't actually any bad teachers - maybe some whose personalities I found easier to get on with than others (hearing for the fifth time about somebody's self funded 737 type rating got a little tedious).
The notes are extremely good, and the way in which they structurally take you through the material, and test you at each point, then take you through to summary tests, is superb. You could make a criticism that the notes can be a little too long and detailed for just passing the exams sometimes, but as somebody who tends to be interested in technical stuff, this wasn't too much of a problem.
Ultimately, I passed everything first time and with a good average of 86%. This was partly to CATS credit - particularly their excellent notes, and partly due to also subscribing to the Bristol questions databank which was incredibly helpful, and also to buying a copy of Phil Croucher's "JAR Professional Pilot Studies" which was very useful in cutting my reading down sometimes to just what I really needed.
Of course, whatever course you do, you need to work hard and be self managed and motivated - I can't imagine that's any different for CATS or anybody else. But, it did seem to be particularly essential there.
Ultimately they were "okay", but would be a whole lot better if they were better organised in terms of lecture planning, communication with students, and general admin. I'd give them about 6/10, and it wouldn't take much management reorganisation to get that up to an 8/10 - although there seems little will to go that extra mile; probably they realise that most people (like me) go to them because of the price and people will keep doing that regardless.
P
Upto The Buffers
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Leeds/Bradford
Age: 48
Posts: 1,112
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Unpronouncable
This coming from a probable wannabee, on a Professional Forum
The nonsense on my profile is simply fodder to wind up those who go sniffing for ammunition. As you have demonstrated, it's quite effective.
I have no problem with CATS. The notes were good and I passed my exams at minimal expense. Groundschool is a brush-up for odd concepts you might need clarity on, not a life-saver.
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Great Britain
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This is my first time posting on pprune but as someone who has experienced CATS in 2007/8 I have to chip in.
Firstly I find the appalling manipulation of this website by employees and associates of the owner of CATS (on this thread and others) is disgraceful. This is why I hate this once credible forum which has been hijacked by people pushing their own business and personal agendas and can't be relied upon in any shape or form. You don't have to trust me either but don't say you weren't warned.
In this thread we have 3 posters whom I KNOW are related to CATS (just search their previous posts for further proof);
gmac1977
sion22
matty31
On other threads there are others who have yet to make an appearance here.
Anyway, back to the real subject which is the joke that is CATS. Don't let the cheap price of the distance learning courses sway your basic instincts. The price is low and the quality is worse. If you like any sort of organisation this is not the place for you. The ATPLs are enough work without having the additional stress and worry of not having any support or help from your school. This place manages to make everything harder than it already is. I, like all the other CATS students I met, had to really work extra hard to get the good results the school boasts about. It was with no thanks to CATS, I assure you of that.
I had the CATS notes and was never impressed especially when I compared them to a mates who went to a more reputable school. I was shocked at the difference, more concise, better diagrams, relevant tests and no factual errors (my favourite). Don't bother suggesting improvements as nobody cares.
When you show up for a brush up don't be worried by the state of disrepair the prefab is in and the smell of CATS urine - it's all perfectly normal, the place looks like a bomb went off. Anyway, you're only there for a week at a time so at least thats something (pity the full time guys). Somebody actually goes to the trouble of doing up a schedule for the week but it isn't worth the paper it's written on. Random or no lessons are the norm, the only saving grace being Mike. Anything you can't get you're head around at home? Forget any help here. Sure just do another bogus 'progress' test which are comical and a complete waste of time and frequently have wrong answers.
The impression I got was that the whole place is basically a play school for the owner and his pals while you fund their various escapades. There are much better schools out there especially if you want some backup and not to be treated like the latest mug to walk through the door.
P.S. They have the worst C152s I've ever seen. Do not approach.
P.P.S. If I was considering doing ATPLs now I'd put them on the back burner for the moment until things show signs of picking up again (not soon).
Firstly I find the appalling manipulation of this website by employees and associates of the owner of CATS (on this thread and others) is disgraceful. This is why I hate this once credible forum which has been hijacked by people pushing their own business and personal agendas and can't be relied upon in any shape or form. You don't have to trust me either but don't say you weren't warned.
In this thread we have 3 posters whom I KNOW are related to CATS (just search their previous posts for further proof);
gmac1977
sion22
matty31
On other threads there are others who have yet to make an appearance here.
Anyway, back to the real subject which is the joke that is CATS. Don't let the cheap price of the distance learning courses sway your basic instincts. The price is low and the quality is worse. If you like any sort of organisation this is not the place for you. The ATPLs are enough work without having the additional stress and worry of not having any support or help from your school. This place manages to make everything harder than it already is. I, like all the other CATS students I met, had to really work extra hard to get the good results the school boasts about. It was with no thanks to CATS, I assure you of that.
I had the CATS notes and was never impressed especially when I compared them to a mates who went to a more reputable school. I was shocked at the difference, more concise, better diagrams, relevant tests and no factual errors (my favourite). Don't bother suggesting improvements as nobody cares.
When you show up for a brush up don't be worried by the state of disrepair the prefab is in and the smell of CATS urine - it's all perfectly normal, the place looks like a bomb went off. Anyway, you're only there for a week at a time so at least thats something (pity the full time guys). Somebody actually goes to the trouble of doing up a schedule for the week but it isn't worth the paper it's written on. Random or no lessons are the norm, the only saving grace being Mike. Anything you can't get you're head around at home? Forget any help here. Sure just do another bogus 'progress' test which are comical and a complete waste of time and frequently have wrong answers.
The impression I got was that the whole place is basically a play school for the owner and his pals while you fund their various escapades. There are much better schools out there especially if you want some backup and not to be treated like the latest mug to walk through the door.
P.S. They have the worst C152s I've ever seen. Do not approach.
P.P.S. If I was considering doing ATPLs now I'd put them on the back burner for the moment until things show signs of picking up again (not soon).
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: UK, Paris, Peckham, New York
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
have just within last 2 months come out of ground school brush up with them and have to disagree with some points above.
have found them to be a little disorgainsed but the notes are good, and at groundschool i personally thought HOF is one of those people born to teach, can be a little wacky but an awesome teacher, most of us on the course thought so.
get another set of second hand notes off ebay, its never a bad thing to have 2 sources of info.
I think what people need to bear in mind is what excatly do they expect in the brush up weeks, go in and be taught the entire course (some on my brush up did!) you are there for a week only and supposed to cover up to 6 subjects, impossible for them to teach all that!
As a distance learner you need to put the work in BEFORE you go, and then the brush up will raise your game 10-15%. I think the exam based learning makes sense, if in the class everyone doesnt have any problems with a particular question could be safe to assume you dont need to teach that subject!!
have found them to be a little disorgainsed but the notes are good, and at groundschool i personally thought HOF is one of those people born to teach, can be a little wacky but an awesome teacher, most of us on the course thought so.
get another set of second hand notes off ebay, its never a bad thing to have 2 sources of info.
I think what people need to bear in mind is what excatly do they expect in the brush up weeks, go in and be taught the entire course (some on my brush up did!) you are there for a week only and supposed to cover up to 6 subjects, impossible for them to teach all that!
As a distance learner you need to put the work in BEFORE you go, and then the brush up will raise your game 10-15%. I think the exam based learning makes sense, if in the class everyone doesnt have any problems with a particular question could be safe to assume you dont need to teach that subject!!
