CPL Theory - distance learning

[nigelisom]

Hi to you all

I have been researching providers of distance learning courses for the jaa cpl.

I have only been able to find Atlantic Flight Training and Cranfield Aviation Training, have I missed any?

I would appreciate any other names and any comments on the 2 above.

Many thanks

Nigel Isom

[hst145]

CATS theory

CATS lead in terms of quality material, fexibility and value for money

you can get to their free demo here

CATS WBT 2.0 | Departure Lounge

[biaeghh]

Have you tried GTS at Bournemouth, a very highly thought of organisation with a huge amount of experience.

[nigelisom]

Sorry chaps I have just re-read my post and realised it is a bit blunt (it was late last night).

A bit of background, I am a 53 year old ppl(a) with about 350 hours, an imc and a night qual. I am approaching that time in life when I am starting to think about retirement and I would like to add a FI rating to my licence so that I can put something back into flying/help to fund my retirement hobby. Hence the quest for cpl distance learning for the theory side.

As mentioned above I have tracked down Atlantic and Cranfield but I am struggling to find anyone else who does the cpl rather than the full aptl, so if anyone can help it would be much appreciated.

Nigel Isom

[nigelisom]

thanks biaeghh

Thats another one I hadn't found, any more anyone? plus any comments good or bad about the various providers.

Nigel Isom

[Donalk]

You could have a look at EATA in Brussels who appear to run a distance course. I have no feedback either good or bad but could be worth investigating.

http://www.eata.be/frame.php?object=DLCPL(A)

[Whirlygig]

It wouldn't surprise me if there were only three providers for a CPL course; there's not much demand for them for fixed wing. I went to Atlantic in Coventry and they were fine; very flexible in the subjects you took and when and how!!

Cheers

Whirls

[Taildragger99]

Try GTS

Hi there, I can recommend GTS at Bournemouth having just completed the CPL groundschool with them. The course material was pretty good, the support for distance learning excellent and the residential weeks prior to exams absolutely first class. The instructors are very experienced and well connected - e.g. ex RAF Navigators, consultants to the CAA, ex BA B747 Air Eng to teach AGK - and provide really excellent instruction. I cracked the whole course in 7 months while working full time, largely due to the excellent support the guys at GTS provided.

I am in your situation too, a PPL with 500 or so hours and now half way through the FI course.

Good luck!

[sofarsogoodtouchwood]

Hi Nigel,

Like Taildragger99 I did my CPL theory course at GTS Bournemouth. It was pretty hard work but I completed it all in 5 1/2 months and averaged over 95% accross all the exam papers ... so maybe I overdid the study a bit as the pass is 75%.

The guys there obviously know their stuff and how to get students through exams. Roger the boss is particularly precise which suited me just fine. They are incredibly fast, and detailed, at responding to Emails and there's no time wasted on the consolidation courses either.

At the exam at Gatwick most of the entrants were our class at GTS, with very few from elsewhere.

I'm 54 years old and now on an FI course at Thruxton (which is fantastic).

sfsg.

[hightower1986]

Do you need to have a CPL to become a flight instructor or did i read you could do it as a PPL if it wasnt for hire or reward, so instructing for free? Might of just been a rumour?

[nigelisom]

thanks to you all for your replys.

Hightower, yes you can do an FI without cpl but as you said you cannot be paid and doing instruction for free is certainly going to upset any career instructors, plus I feel that in order to instruct you should be at least 1 qualification ahead of the person you are instructing.

I will get in touch with all these providers and decide which I like best and take it from there.

Next stage has any one any thoughts on FI schools?

Thanks

Nigel Isom

[laverda62]

CAT's

Try out CATS at Cranfield. I have been doing my ATPL there and nearly finished bar a couple of subjects. The distance learning resources are very good (online study guide, question bank and lecture notes). The ground schools are a week long for each of 3 stages but you can mix up which subjects you are going to be examined on and likewise ground school topics. During the ground schools you are made to work hard combined with teaching by very experienced instructors who make the ground school interesting. You don't get spoon fed at CATS during your journey so have to be self motivated but when you get stuck on something the instructors are helpful. They are also very busy so you need to be patient sometimes for response. The CPL students use the same material as the ATPL's and attend the same ground school sessions but the samples test papers for CPL are a little different to ATPL. I too am hoping to go down the FI route but went the ATPL route which gives me the option to take an IR which the CPL does not, you would need to do the IR ground exams if later on you decided to do IR. I could not bear having do do some of this again so bit the bullet and went ATPL. CAT's also teach FI(C).