CATS - Cranfield Aviation Training School
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CATS - Cranfield Aviation Training School
Hey people, I am planning on starting a course to become a commercial pilot and I was wondering if anyone has studied at CATS or if they know whether or not this is a reputable company? Any help or advice will appreciated.
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Hey Greg, Im looking to do the 0 - ATPL package residental. I have got my class 1 medical done around a month and a half ago, so Im all ready to start learning! Also Im just look for a place to stay at a reasonable rate, up to about £320 per month.
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I am looking to do the long distance learning for the ATPL, it is very cheap compare to others, but is it any good, what about the question bank, is it comparable to bristols ?
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CATS overall
CATS is a well-liked school and the team there make you really feel like you belong. The whole system is development driven making it easier for us to study.
Im not through it all yet but have met a few CATS students flying for easyjet and ryanair now who dropped by to say how great it was and that they will never leave CATS behind them
Im not through it all yet but have met a few CATS students flying for easyjet and ryanair now who dropped by to say how great it was and that they will never leave CATS behind them
Join Date: Oct 2006
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I agree with Sion.
Great value online course,
question bank is as good as any of those you mentioned.
I finished a good few months back now but still pop in every now and then to say hello.
Great value online course,
question bank is as good as any of those you mentioned.
I finished a good few months back now but still pop in every now and then to say hello.
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Hello Badmash2003,
I am also a complete Newbie and have signed-up for the CATS zero to ATPL package although I'm doing it in a modular fashiom.
I've been broken in by one of the instructors and had one whole flight!!! So far impressed and can't wait for my next flight.
Regards
Greg
I am also a complete Newbie and have signed-up for the CATS zero to ATPL package although I'm doing it in a modular fashiom.
I've been broken in by one of the instructors and had one whole flight!!! So far impressed and can't wait for my next flight.
Regards
Greg
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Thanks for your feedback people, Im going up to Cranfield tommorrow to find a place to live and get on with the course now, I think CATS is the way forward :-)
lol thanks G CEXO. I did check it out, but to be honest..I cant b bothered with all the travelling to london really. The tubes are wayyyyy to packed for me, I can't handle it lol. Thanks for the advice tho.
lol thanks G CEXO. I did check it out, but to be honest..I cant b bothered with all the travelling to london really. The tubes are wayyyyy to packed for me, I can't handle it lol. Thanks for the advice tho.
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Well gang...STAND BY FOR THE LOW DOWN ON THE GREAT CATS!!!
From a few not so,, X in house students.
We will also be spilling the beans on the people on this form who pop up with all the pro cats stuff...the people who are actually involved in the day to day running of this run down over rated "school" you know who are "G"
And the so called GREAT H.O.T
When he actually gets in there to teach ..."4pm one day"
Its all rush rush rush...I must fly ect ect.
And dont bother asking him for help because it would be greeted with a moan!!!
Then you will find you are being thought be one of his pals who sat his last atpl exam with you....I could sit at the top of the class and read from a book....GO play teacher with someone else's money "D"
What a joke of a place...
From a few not so,, X in house students.
We will also be spilling the beans on the people on this form who pop up with all the pro cats stuff...the people who are actually involved in the day to day running of this run down over rated "school" you know who are "G"
And the so called GREAT H.O.T
When he actually gets in there to teach ..."4pm one day"
Its all rush rush rush...I must fly ect ect.
And dont bother asking him for help because it would be greeted with a moan!!!
Then you will find you are being thought be one of his pals who sat his last atpl exam with you....I could sit at the top of the class and read from a book....GO play teacher with someone else's money "D"
What a joke of a place...
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I passed all my exams in 7 months - remote study using CATS material.
However - it really is poorly run and the HOT is most unhelpful. Value for money good but the experience itself was not something I'd wish to undergo again.
I really could not recommend it.
However - it really is poorly run and the HOT is most unhelpful. Value for money good but the experience itself was not something I'd wish to undergo again.
I really could not recommend it.
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stiknruda
Stik,
As with most of your posts you are spot on! I suspect it was your desire to learn, and the fact you were self motivated and really worked hard that got you your passes, not CATS.
I was in the same boat - got 14 first time passes and high grades - but it had f**k all to do with CATS - they were just a conduit to sign off my "ground school" and put me forward for the exams.
In actual fact I used a hybrid of Bristol and OAA notes - the CATS notes are copied from Cabair, and the groundschool is laughable!
Folks, by all means use CATS, but don't expect quality training and lectures.
DW.
As with most of your posts you are spot on! I suspect it was your desire to learn, and the fact you were self motivated and really worked hard that got you your passes, not CATS.
I was in the same boat - got 14 first time passes and high grades - but it had f**k all to do with CATS - they were just a conduit to sign off my "ground school" and put me forward for the exams.
In actual fact I used a hybrid of Bristol and OAA notes - the CATS notes are copied from Cabair, and the groundschool is laughable!
Folks, by all means use CATS, but don't expect quality training and lectures.
DW.
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Well, I'm glad it's not just me who has had a bad experience with CATS.
My experience:
1) On initial visit, all they seemed interested in was 'signing me up' - ie getting the cash. (like an idiot, I handed it over)
2) The manuals I received where all pilled into a couple of folders, half falling out, and to add insult to injury, they gave me double copies of 3 subjects, (instead of 6 different ones). This necessetated a trip back down to Cranfield
3) When finally getting set up on their online system, I tried posting a question for answer by their tutors, (Said it would be answered 'promptly', no answer has been given to this date - months ago).
4) I tried on numerous occasions to contact them by email, and got no reply. When telephoning them, the relevant person was 'never there' to speak to me. When I finally DID get to talk to someone, he was so unhelpful, it was voardering on rudeness.
5) When trying to book a ground course, I was told just to 'come along' They weren't interested in giving any details at all.
Anyway, I could go on, but due to their complete lack of interest, and being almost non-contactable, I cut my losses, and signed on with another ground school instead.
I can't believe all the positive feedback they get on this bulletin board, to me it sounds like these people are describing a different company.
Sorry for the negativity, but I'm speaking as I find, and would advise anyone considering going there to think again.
My experience:
1) On initial visit, all they seemed interested in was 'signing me up' - ie getting the cash. (like an idiot, I handed it over)
2) The manuals I received where all pilled into a couple of folders, half falling out, and to add insult to injury, they gave me double copies of 3 subjects, (instead of 6 different ones). This necessetated a trip back down to Cranfield
3) When finally getting set up on their online system, I tried posting a question for answer by their tutors, (Said it would be answered 'promptly', no answer has been given to this date - months ago).
4) I tried on numerous occasions to contact them by email, and got no reply. When telephoning them, the relevant person was 'never there' to speak to me. When I finally DID get to talk to someone, he was so unhelpful, it was voardering on rudeness.
5) When trying to book a ground course, I was told just to 'come along' They weren't interested in giving any details at all.
Anyway, I could go on, but due to their complete lack of interest, and being almost non-contactable, I cut my losses, and signed on with another ground school instead.
I can't believe all the positive feedback they get on this bulletin board, to me it sounds like these people are describing a different company.
Sorry for the negativity, but I'm speaking as I find, and would advise anyone considering going there to think again.
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DWS - the ground school was so lamentable and the organisation so poorly managed that I only attended for a few days.
I am 100% confident that self-study was the key to my success as I did not actually learn anything at ground school
.
I am 100% confident that self-study was the key to my success as I did not actually learn anything at ground school
.
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Have they actually corrected all the incorrect answers on their feedback questions yet, or do they still look surprised when you point out that they have the wrong answer - as they have for the last four years...
The organisation is very poor, and is not a basis for setting out on a commercial career - other than it teaches you that you need to be self disciplined and motivated. The only exception I make to this is Mike Burton - if he is still taking the odd ground school then he really helped me and really knows his stuff. Sadly he was the exception.
As said before, I can't comment on other schools, but I would be very wary of handing my money over to CATS.
The organisation is very poor, and is not a basis for setting out on a commercial career - other than it teaches you that you need to be self disciplined and motivated. The only exception I make to this is Mike Burton - if he is still taking the odd ground school then he really helped me and really knows his stuff. Sadly he was the exception.
As said before, I can't comment on other schools, but I would be very wary of handing my money over to CATS.
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Matt are you still there and you finished up a long time back now.....are you Gmac and the H.O.T still going to the gym every week ?
I think you would need to thank the Bristol forum (Great online help) and the Bristol question bank for their help on that one too...
The CATS question bank is a joke with incorrect answers all over it and sooooooooooooooooo many OLD QUESTIONS created by students.
How can you expect to learn from a place when you cant trust their so called correct answers.
I actualy feel bad when people asked me where did you do your ATPL's.
And it's not something I am happy with on my cv i can tell you!!!
But you guys keep pushing it and dont worrie about the next batch of students.
I think you would need to thank the Bristol forum (Great online help) and the Bristol question bank for their help on that one too...
The CATS question bank is a joke with incorrect answers all over it and sooooooooooooooooo many OLD QUESTIONS created by students.
How can you expect to learn from a place when you cant trust their so called correct answers.
I actualy feel bad when people asked me where did you do your ATPL's.
And it's not something I am happy with on my cv i can tell you!!!
But you guys keep pushing it and dont worrie about the next batch of students.
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...the people who are actually involved in the day to day running of this run down over rated "school" you know who are "G"
Very harsh complaints though and I've never heard of any before, even from the full-time students. Very odd and slightly suspicious methinks.
My biggest complaint with CATS is that they don't have soap in the men's toilets, the rest is fine...... so far!!!!!
Greg