Which is better BCFT or SFC?
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Which is better BCFT or SFC?
Hi my name is Afraz (the guy who got called a kiddy fiddler lol!) and I want to become a pilot. I have came across many schools during my research. The ones which stand out to me are BCFT and SFC. I am slightly leaning more towards SFC than I am to BCFT. Basically, I would like to know what you lot out thier think about each of these two schools, and if you want to you could also tell me which one you think is better out of the two.
Also during my research I came across the following schools:
- Bristol Ground School - They dont keep employment statisitics. Why? It could be a great marketing tool for them. They do have a good reputation though.
- Oxford Aviation - Very reputable. Too expensive.
- Cabair - Another big boy. Too expesive.
- Bristol Aviation - What do people think of this school, there is very little about it on PPRUNE.
- Multiflight
- Bristol Flying Center - They have a excellent repuation. Do they do a modular zero-atpl course. Where do thier graduates end up? (flying for what airlines).
If you could tell me a little about the schools listed above and your experiences with them. That would be greatly appreciated.
Why go with the big schools like OAT and Cabair and do the intergrated course when you can do the modular course with SFC and BCFT and get the exactly the same job afterwards?
Thanks,
Afraz
Also during my research I came across the following schools:
- Bristol Ground School - They dont keep employment statisitics. Why? It could be a great marketing tool for them. They do have a good reputation though.
- Oxford Aviation - Very reputable. Too expensive.
- Cabair - Another big boy. Too expesive.
- Bristol Aviation - What do people think of this school, there is very little about it on PPRUNE.
- Multiflight
- Bristol Flying Center - They have a excellent repuation. Do they do a modular zero-atpl course. Where do thier graduates end up? (flying for what airlines).
If you could tell me a little about the schools listed above and your experiences with them. That would be greatly appreciated.
Why go with the big schools like OAT and Cabair and do the intergrated course when you can do the modular course with SFC and BCFT and get the exactly the same job afterwards?
Thanks,
Afraz
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when u say 'research', does that mean searching pprune + ordering brochures, or actually visiting schools- sitting in their aircraft and talking to current students?
If its the later, then you dont need this thread to answer those Qs...
If its the later, then you dont need this thread to answer those Qs...
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When I say research I mean:
1. Ordering each FTO's brochure and looking at thier websites
2. Talking to ex-students
3. Talking to instructors at the school
4. Searching PPRUNE
5. Going to the Flyer Proffessional Training Event 2008
6. Emailing each FTO and asking questions like 'how long does it take a student who completes the course find employment with an airline' and 'how do you prepare your students for gaining employment'
I havent visted any of the schools yet. I know this is a must, and I will visit SFC in the next couple of weeks.
I was just asking for peoples experience with all of these diffrent FTO's, especially SFC and BCFT.
Thanks,
Afraz
1. Ordering each FTO's brochure and looking at thier websites
2. Talking to ex-students
3. Talking to instructors at the school
4. Searching PPRUNE
5. Going to the Flyer Proffessional Training Event 2008
6. Emailing each FTO and asking questions like 'how long does it take a student who completes the course find employment with an airline' and 'how do you prepare your students for gaining employment'
I havent visted any of the schools yet. I know this is a must, and I will visit SFC in the next couple of weeks.
I was just asking for peoples experience with all of these diffrent FTO's, especially SFC and BCFT.
Thanks,
Afraz
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Afraz, as I am sure you can see from above posts PPRuNe is a fantastic place to pick up lots of useless information - my friend, I'd recommend having a look at the various threads about some of the schools you have mentioned which you'll find floating around somewhere.
There is, however, no substitute for putting your head round the door at all the schools you are interested in.
My personal opinion regarding integrated vs modular? It makes eff all difference so long as you get the same bit of paper at the end. Two points to bear in mind having said that - some airlines, namely BA as I understand it, will ONLY accept students from an approved integrated course, but who cares about them anyway right? You mentioned that OAA/Cabair are too expensive? I couldn't afford the integrated courses either mate, but asides from one or two more traditional airlines, nobody gives a stuff - you'll be assessed by a prospective employer utilising their own methods anyway.
Following on from that point, it is important to strike a balance - if cost is a significant factor, you may be tempted to do your GS through Bristol, go off to the states to hourbuild and gain your commercial, and pop into Gloucester to do your IR - exercise caution here, because many airlines just cannot be arsed with sifting through a million and one flight schools when looking at your CV.
Taking all into consideration, my personal opinion is that if you are trying to keep your costs down, get your hour building done out in the states, together with your commercial rating if absolutely necessary. However, I think it is very important to do the instrument rating back here in Europe, if not the UK, and if you can, try to do as much of it as you can through one FTO (flight training organisation). Looks better, some airlines prefer it - hey, it's all about maximising your chances right?
And considering the current economical climate, if you absolutely cannot wait to get training, I would highly recommend modular anyway, purely on a financial basis. Oxford run a good modular course, have you spoken to them about it? Of course keep in mind that before embarking upon the modular route, you'll need to hold a valid PPL and Class 1 medical, and meet minimum hour requirements before beginning the commercial phase of training.
Whatever you decide, I wish you all the best,
Many happy flights, Jack
There is, however, no substitute for putting your head round the door at all the schools you are interested in.
My personal opinion regarding integrated vs modular? It makes eff all difference so long as you get the same bit of paper at the end. Two points to bear in mind having said that - some airlines, namely BA as I understand it, will ONLY accept students from an approved integrated course, but who cares about them anyway right? You mentioned that OAA/Cabair are too expensive? I couldn't afford the integrated courses either mate, but asides from one or two more traditional airlines, nobody gives a stuff - you'll be assessed by a prospective employer utilising their own methods anyway.
Following on from that point, it is important to strike a balance - if cost is a significant factor, you may be tempted to do your GS through Bristol, go off to the states to hourbuild and gain your commercial, and pop into Gloucester to do your IR - exercise caution here, because many airlines just cannot be arsed with sifting through a million and one flight schools when looking at your CV.
Taking all into consideration, my personal opinion is that if you are trying to keep your costs down, get your hour building done out in the states, together with your commercial rating if absolutely necessary. However, I think it is very important to do the instrument rating back here in Europe, if not the UK, and if you can, try to do as much of it as you can through one FTO (flight training organisation). Looks better, some airlines prefer it - hey, it's all about maximising your chances right?
And considering the current economical climate, if you absolutely cannot wait to get training, I would highly recommend modular anyway, purely on a financial basis. Oxford run a good modular course, have you spoken to them about it? Of course keep in mind that before embarking upon the modular route, you'll need to hold a valid PPL and Class 1 medical, and meet minimum hour requirements before beginning the commercial phase of training.
Whatever you decide, I wish you all the best,
Many happy flights, Jack
Hi Afraz,
In all honesty you've already done more research than I did before choosing SFC and, as Ali says, there is masses of additional info here on Pprune.
I think I would second almost all that Jack has said. My only extra comment is regarding the legacy airlines' alleged blanket ban on modular students. I don't buy this and I don't know why people worry about it so much.
The reality is that the legacy carriers employ relatively few 250 hr fAtpl'ers. For those few places they have very strict quality control and have therefore set up a partnership with a particular FTO so that the students are trained in a particular way. As far as I know, not all students attending that FTO will get offered a job.
They're weeded out until only the best are left. And many students don't even get passed the application stage with the FTO.
A large percentage of more experienced pilots flying for BA or any of the other legacy carriers at any given time actually joined once they had gained 3000 hrs or more with other airlines. They have had to pass a rigorous selection and interview process. The reality is that if you're good enough to fly for BA, they will employ you once you've gained experience.
So, it's not as though BA won't employ modular students; they won't employ inexperienced pilots from anywhere other than their chosen training partner. Once you're experienced, the world's your oyster.
As I said above, Jack's comments on financial considerations and the US option are all worth listening to.
Good luck.
In all honesty you've already done more research than I did before choosing SFC and, as Ali says, there is masses of additional info here on Pprune.
I think I would second almost all that Jack has said. My only extra comment is regarding the legacy airlines' alleged blanket ban on modular students. I don't buy this and I don't know why people worry about it so much.
The reality is that the legacy carriers employ relatively few 250 hr fAtpl'ers. For those few places they have very strict quality control and have therefore set up a partnership with a particular FTO so that the students are trained in a particular way. As far as I know, not all students attending that FTO will get offered a job.
They're weeded out until only the best are left. And many students don't even get passed the application stage with the FTO. A large percentage of more experienced pilots flying for BA or any of the other legacy carriers at any given time actually joined once they had gained 3000 hrs or more with other airlines. They have had to pass a rigorous selection and interview process. The reality is that if you're good enough to fly for BA, they will employ you once you've gained experience.
So, it's not as though BA won't employ modular students; they won't employ inexperienced pilots from anywhere other than their chosen training partner. Once you're experienced, the world's your oyster.
As I said above, Jack's comments on financial considerations and the US option are all worth listening to.
Good luck.
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When times are good, BA's minimum requirement for direct entry pilots is in the order of 500hrs multi-crew experience. By that stage, where and how you got the licence is utterly irrelevant.
To answer the original question, BCFT and SFC are both reputable schools. Over many years I've heard very few bad reports about Stapleford, and from experience (having done my PPL with them) training and maintenance standards are good. No direct experience of BCFT, but the comments I've read have generally been good. I did meet a couple of guys when I was at PAT who'd decided to move from BCFT, but without knowing both sides of the story it would be unfair to criticise the school. I'd certainly recommend sticking your head round PAT's door if you're visiting Bournemouth.
Rather than just comparing schools, you might also want to compare the airfields and facilities. Just a few points to consider:
Bournemouth
Regional airport with ATC and radar, ILS and NDB approaches. CAA examiners on site, fairly small number of IR test routes, most of which you will get to fly during training.
Stapleford
Busy airfield with half a tarmac runway and limited hard taxiways. Can get horribly congested in winter when the grass areas are unusable. A/G radio only, which makes for an exciting circuit on sunny days when you'll be mixing it with loadsa students in 152s (plus the odd visitor who thinks they're actually at North Weald) . . .
Nearest ILS and NDB is at Southend. Nearest CAA test centre is Cranfield, which means positioning the aircraft before test and less familiarity with test routes than you'd get at Bournemouth.
Leaving aside the merits of each school, I'd suggest the environment at Bournemouth is more conducive to airline training.
To answer the original question, BCFT and SFC are both reputable schools. Over many years I've heard very few bad reports about Stapleford, and from experience (having done my PPL with them) training and maintenance standards are good. No direct experience of BCFT, but the comments I've read have generally been good. I did meet a couple of guys when I was at PAT who'd decided to move from BCFT, but without knowing both sides of the story it would be unfair to criticise the school. I'd certainly recommend sticking your head round PAT's door if you're visiting Bournemouth.
Rather than just comparing schools, you might also want to compare the airfields and facilities. Just a few points to consider:
Bournemouth
Regional airport with ATC and radar, ILS and NDB approaches. CAA examiners on site, fairly small number of IR test routes, most of which you will get to fly during training.
Stapleford
Busy airfield with half a tarmac runway and limited hard taxiways. Can get horribly congested in winter when the grass areas are unusable. A/G radio only, which makes for an exciting circuit on sunny days when you'll be mixing it with loadsa students in 152s (plus the odd visitor who thinks they're actually at North Weald) . . .
Nearest ILS and NDB is at Southend. Nearest CAA test centre is Cranfield, which means positioning the aircraft before test and less familiarity with test routes than you'd get at Bournemouth.Leaving aside the merits of each school, I'd suggest the environment at Bournemouth is more conducive to airline training.
