CATS - Cranfield Aviation Training School
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: UK Bucks
Age: 47
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I was recently at CATs, Started November last year, took my final exams in begining of April this year. I was on the "In House course" and had no problems what so ever, even managed to finish a month earlier than expected. Just did a few extra exams in Module 1 and 2. I was given help with those subjects even though I was trying to jump the gun a little.
By no means does CATs spoon feed their students, people are expected to be mature grown adults, due you think someone is going to do that when you become a first officer. Do people really expect to get full time 121 attention for £2500, ( the cost of the full time course, take £500 away for the books, thats £2000 over 6 months, £335 per month. What do you expect for that?) I feel I got more than my monies worth at CATs. 95+% average accross 14 subjects
Very small classrooms (usually 4-8 people)
I do not work for CATs, nor have I ever worked for them. But I still keep in touch.
By no means does CATs spoon feed their students, people are expected to be mature grown adults, due you think someone is going to do that when you become a first officer. Do people really expect to get full time 121 attention for £2500, ( the cost of the full time course, take £500 away for the books, thats £2000 over 6 months, £335 per month. What do you expect for that?) I feel I got more than my monies worth at CATs. 95+% average accross 14 subjects
Very small classrooms (usually 4-8 people)
I do not work for CATs, nor have I ever worked for them. But I still keep in touch.
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: uk
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Please tell me you are only joking with this!
Qute:
Do people really expect to get full time 121 attention for £2500, ( the cost of the full time course, take £500 away for the books, thats £2000 over 6 months, £335 per month. What do you expect for that?)
I would expect the H.O.T to get out of his bed in the morning and damb well teach his students.
We know how to divide and just because you put the supermarket slant on the price does not change things..why not say it £83.75 per week or £16.75 per day, Will that make me feel better when I am waiting around all day for him to arive?
It will not!
It's like so many things in life,
They are cheap for a good reason!
Qute:
Do people really expect to get full time 121 attention for £2500, ( the cost of the full time course, take £500 away for the books, thats £2000 over 6 months, £335 per month. What do you expect for that?)
I would expect the H.O.T to get out of his bed in the morning and damb well teach his students.
We know how to divide and just because you put the supermarket slant on the price does not change things..why not say it £83.75 per week or £16.75 per day, Will that make me feel better when I am waiting around all day for him to arive?
It will not!
It's like so many things in life,
They are cheap for a good reason!
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: UK Bucks
Age: 47
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When I was there, there was always someone qualified to train us. The HOT did most of the lectures, and when he was not we had others giving lectures. Why do you feel, you can only be taught by the HOT?
Do you expect only to be taught by the HOT? I don't know what went wrong when you were there, but I and fellow classmates sure felt it was a good experience, and did not cost a fortune.
I am not here to argue with anyone, I'm purely giving my personal opinion. There seem to be 1 or 2 people on here that have an issue with CATs, but the majority are/were very happy with there training/experience
Do you expect only to be taught by the HOT? I don't know what went wrong when you were there, but I and fellow classmates sure felt it was a good experience, and did not cost a fortune.
I am not here to argue with anyone, I'm purely giving my personal opinion. There seem to be 1 or 2 people on here that have an issue with CATs, but the majority are/were very happy with there training/experience
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Herts, UK
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All
I have completed the 1st Stage of the CATS inhouse ATPL course and am now half way through the course in the second stage.
Like others in my class, I have already had another previous career (IT Development) so before deciding to pursue my ATPL exams it was important for me to choose a school which would not assume I had just taken Maths and Physics exams and allow me to get confidence back in those rusty areas I had forgotten since school. So far, I have found when the subject material presents itself in the ATPL syllabus it is taught until we all understand in class, which I think is good teaching practice.
Also as one of my colleagues has also said, there is no school pressure to take a subject if your not ready. Indeed some of the lecturers work weekends and/or give there phone numbers to help you so I cannot share the view that you are left on your own to sink at the school. Bear in mind we are not talking big classes (max. 8 people so far) so you would stick out like a sore thumb if you were struggling and I suspect the lecturers would have a chat with you after class to help you if they couldn't during lectures.
The CATS building isn't the most modern, or pristine, but the classrooms etc are absolutely fine. All usual teaching aids and student WiFi for Internet etc so facilities haven't been a problem for me. 3 Cafe and 2 Bars on campus to keep you fed and watered.
Good Luck to all wherever your studying your ATPLs!
I have completed the 1st Stage of the CATS inhouse ATPL course and am now half way through the course in the second stage.
Like others in my class, I have already had another previous career (IT Development) so before deciding to pursue my ATPL exams it was important for me to choose a school which would not assume I had just taken Maths and Physics exams and allow me to get confidence back in those rusty areas I had forgotten since school. So far, I have found when the subject material presents itself in the ATPL syllabus it is taught until we all understand in class, which I think is good teaching practice.
Also as one of my colleagues has also said, there is no school pressure to take a subject if your not ready. Indeed some of the lecturers work weekends and/or give there phone numbers to help you so I cannot share the view that you are left on your own to sink at the school. Bear in mind we are not talking big classes (max. 8 people so far) so you would stick out like a sore thumb if you were struggling and I suspect the lecturers would have a chat with you after class to help you if they couldn't during lectures.
The CATS building isn't the most modern, or pristine, but the classrooms etc are absolutely fine. All usual teaching aids and student WiFi for Internet etc so facilities haven't been a problem for me. 3 Cafe and 2 Bars on campus to keep you fed and watered.
Good Luck to all wherever your studying your ATPLs!
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: London
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I usually just observe these threads, but this one seems to be a personal attack on CATS, so as an ex-CATS student, I feel I should comment. It's a shame people have to hide behind their computer screens and bad-mouth people. Sure, express your experience at an organisation, but please have some respect for others having to read this. 
I went to CATS and my experience was great. If I had a problem I would ask. If their was no-one available to ask, I would work on something else until someone was available. Just like real life, you need to fill your time constructively and put effort in to the work yourself, otherwise you wont pass the exams (or you get fired from your workplace). You cant expect to get spoon fed.
What happens if, one day you turn up for work in the real world and there is no paper to write on? Do you go on to a forum and complain about it all day, or do you use your brain and go out and buy some? The thing is, problems occur in all organisations, and maybe the day to day running at CATS wasn't as regimented as a secondary school/the army/the navy was, just deal with it like most grown ups do. I'm sure the team would have liked your input, seeing things from the student's point of view. I know the CATS team was happy to receive my comments, either way.
How better to help an organisation improve for future students/customers than to give constructive feedback. I for one would like to help the next generation of pilots by any means possible.
For those of you who have read all this and want my opinion, the answer is yes, I would recommend CATS. They aren't rip-off merchants (unlike some organisations out there). They want you to understand the subjects, not just for the exams but for later on down the line (interviews). Dont take my word for it though, go and visit all of the available training schools, and speak to the students in person, see what they have to say. Also speak with instructors/CGI and the person(s) who owns the school. Try and find as much information as possible from face to face contact. Certainly dont base your decision on forum views - good or bad.
I wish you all the best for the future and happy landings.
I went to CATS and my experience was great. If I had a problem I would ask. If their was no-one available to ask, I would work on something else until someone was available. Just like real life, you need to fill your time constructively and put effort in to the work yourself, otherwise you wont pass the exams (or you get fired from your workplace). You cant expect to get spoon fed.
What happens if, one day you turn up for work in the real world and there is no paper to write on? Do you go on to a forum and complain about it all day, or do you use your brain and go out and buy some? The thing is, problems occur in all organisations, and maybe the day to day running at CATS wasn't as regimented as a secondary school/the army/the navy was, just deal with it like most grown ups do. I'm sure the team would have liked your input, seeing things from the student's point of view. I know the CATS team was happy to receive my comments, either way.
How better to help an organisation improve for future students/customers than to give constructive feedback. I for one would like to help the next generation of pilots by any means possible.
For those of you who have read all this and want my opinion, the answer is yes, I would recommend CATS. They aren't rip-off merchants (unlike some organisations out there). They want you to understand the subjects, not just for the exams but for later on down the line (interviews). Dont take my word for it though, go and visit all of the available training schools, and speak to the students in person, see what they have to say. Also speak with instructors/CGI and the person(s) who owns the school. Try and find as much information as possible from face to face contact. Certainly dont base your decision on forum views - good or bad.
I wish you all the best for the future and happy landings.
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: E Anglia
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I, in common with Shunter and about 25 others signed up with CATS for CPL/IR/ATPL groundschool distance learning , ( in my case ICAO/PPL/IR conversion.)
I found the course excellent: the materials both online and printed as well as question banks were very relevant and I got the required 7 exams (for conversion) out of the way in two CAA sittings with average marks of 94%. The course started in March and six of us had completed the groundschool by August and several well into the flying training. (I start next month)
Now I'm very happy with distance learning and the HOT laid on (still ongoing) extraordinary weekend ground school sessions for clarification of difficult stuff.
I don't think I would have got such good marks ,and virtually everybody (only a couple of single paper fails) got first time passes, without a good teaching materials /groundschool, with small classes and personal attention: Being totally mathslexic I even got a one to one on the operation of the scientific calculator.
However: if you aren't disciplined enough to use distance learning and need spoon feeding then perhaps CATS might not be for you.
I personally found it very good.
Cusco
I found the course excellent: the materials both online and printed as well as question banks were very relevant and I got the required 7 exams (for conversion) out of the way in two CAA sittings with average marks of 94%. The course started in March and six of us had completed the groundschool by August and several well into the flying training. (I start next month)
Now I'm very happy with distance learning and the HOT laid on (still ongoing) extraordinary weekend ground school sessions for clarification of difficult stuff.
I don't think I would have got such good marks ,and virtually everybody (only a couple of single paper fails) got first time passes, without a good teaching materials /groundschool, with small classes and personal attention: Being totally mathslexic I even got a one to one on the operation of the scientific calculator.
However: if you aren't disciplined enough to use distance learning and need spoon feeding then perhaps CATS might not be for you.
I personally found it very good.
Cusco
