Oxford Aviation Academy/ATPL training questions (Oxford Prefered)
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Why am I on this thread.
To put an alternative to the bollocks that keeps on getting spouted about integrated giving you any special favours in respect to acquiring that first job or being trained to higher standard than modular.
From my limited exposure to integrated cadets the product is no different to a modular trained pilot in some respects and in other respects its just not suited to the operation. Like it or not you are trained to work in an automated environment with full ops backup and very little personal thinking or airmanship calls. My environment requires someone who can fly a plane manually to high standard, is able to work on their own initiative.
And the most important factor is not be a cocky wee ****e thinking they are better than others just because they paid through the nose for one form of training.
To put an alternative to the bollocks that keeps on getting spouted about integrated giving you any special favours in respect to acquiring that first job or being trained to higher standard than modular.
From my limited exposure to integrated cadets the product is no different to a modular trained pilot in some respects and in other respects its just not suited to the operation. Like it or not you are trained to work in an automated environment with full ops backup and very little personal thinking or airmanship calls. My environment requires someone who can fly a plane manually to high standard, is able to work on their own initiative.
And the most important factor is not be a cocky wee ****e thinking they are better than others just because they paid through the nose for one form of training.
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Incredible, someone tries to give what they think is good advice on an open forum and someone else complains!
Look, there have been some replies from Oxford guys. However you should also now have an impression of the reputation a minority of Oxford graduates have burdened the school with. However Oxford have only themselves to blame, due to the bull they peddle to aspiring students in order to charge them a premium, and due to the priority they gave (give?) to cash cows ... sorry integrated students. There is nothing wrong with Oxford training per se. However everyone I know who went there, integrated or modular, understands why it's graduates have that reputation.
If you do go, go modular and pay one module at a time. That way you remain in the position of strength, as it is the simplest thing in the world to go elsewhere for the next module. Don't let them treat you as an inferior because you are modular, if they try just take your considerable amount of money elsewhere. The UK has a great number of fantastic schools, I could recommend at least four that are nowhere near Kidlington which have produced good pilots I have line trained. They are all cheaper than OAA too.
Look, there have been some replies from Oxford guys. However you should also now have an impression of the reputation a minority of Oxford graduates have burdened the school with. However Oxford have only themselves to blame, due to the bull they peddle to aspiring students in order to charge them a premium, and due to the priority they gave (give?) to cash cows ... sorry integrated students. There is nothing wrong with Oxford training per se. However everyone I know who went there, integrated or modular, understands why it's graduates have that reputation.
If you do go, go modular and pay one module at a time. That way you remain in the position of strength, as it is the simplest thing in the world to go elsewhere for the next module. Don't let them treat you as an inferior because you are modular, if they try just take your considerable amount of money elsewhere. The UK has a great number of fantastic schools, I could recommend at least four that are nowhere near Kidlington which have produced good pilots I have line trained. They are all cheaper than OAA too.
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I am in no doubt that there are many other great flying schools out there and it is definetly wise to consider all schools.
Personally, I trained at OAA because the facility and the structure is something that sorted me, in that I was able to complete the training without any large gaps. That's just the way I prefer throughout my career in education.
Not going to comment about other schools and not comparing either but the experience of the teaching staff at OAA is really top notch. Not only did I have fun most of the time but I also got tellings off when I wasn't on the par. The guys you will meet will also be your friends for life too.
The money you pay is considerably larger than other schools but I think you should just consider which option would be best for you.
Ultimately, I feel I have been trained to a decent standard but that's because I have chosen to learn at a place that best suited me.
Personally, I trained at OAA because the facility and the structure is something that sorted me, in that I was able to complete the training without any large gaps. That's just the way I prefer throughout my career in education.
Not going to comment about other schools and not comparing either but the experience of the teaching staff at OAA is really top notch. Not only did I have fun most of the time but I also got tellings off when I wasn't on the par. The guys you will meet will also be your friends for life too.
The money you pay is considerably larger than other schools but I think you should just consider which option would be best for you.
Ultimately, I feel I have been trained to a decent standard but that's because I have chosen to learn at a place that best suited me.
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Get off your high horses.
The thread I thought was a bit of fun and actually quite a change to the normal OAA threads.
I poked a bit of fun at pilotho he responded in a suitably witty manner
Then we get an un-truthful marketing lie and again it was responded to with a bit of humour. Which was then jumped on by an arrogant cadet line.
by pilotho is a very valid reason for spending the extra bucks. Not because there is a perceived advantage over any other school/method of training, in either the standard or the job prospects afterwards.
The thread I thought was a bit of fun and actually quite a change to the normal OAA threads.
I poked a bit of fun at pilotho he responded in a suitably witty manner
Then we get an un-truthful marketing lie and again it was responded to with a bit of humour. Which was then jumped on by an arrogant cadet line.
Ultimately, I feel I have been trained to a decent standard but that's because I have chosen to learn at a place that best suited me.
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much like an oxford grad in a 10knt xwind
I didn't get to work properly on my xwind landings until I was flying a jet - not the 'ideal' training environment and a definite shortfall in the 'OAA Product'
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Flying Scot,
Do you have a job? No you don't. You have a temporary contract and you'll be dumped as soon as you stop paying Ryanair stupid amounts of money to fly their passengers around. Good luck with your debts!
Do you have a job? No you don't. You have a temporary contract and you'll be dumped as soon as you stop paying Ryanair stupid amounts of money to fly their passengers around. Good luck with your debts!
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Sharpclassic, what a stupid statement
You are paid to fly at Ryanair, you pay for a T/R, amongst other things, but once you are on the line you get paid an hourly rate.
I have been chatting to a potential Oxford cash cow, not metioning names, but they have told him you're 5 times more likely to get a job going integrated with them...sales people who'd trust them
Do you have a job? No you don't. You have a temporary contract and you'll be dumped as soon as you stop paying Ryanair stupid amounts of money to fly their passengers around.
You are paid to fly at Ryanair, you pay for a T/R, amongst other things, but once you are on the line you get paid an hourly rate.
I have been chatting to a potential Oxford cash cow, not metioning names, but they have told him you're 5 times more likely to get a job going integrated with them...sales people who'd trust them
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Yes, an hourly rate until they realise they don't need you for the winter and then no work for 2 months as happened to someone I know. I guess you're happy to settle for this unpredictable life then?
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Yes, an hourly rate
you'll be dumped as soon as you stop paying Ryanair stupid amounts of money to fly their passengers around.
I guess you're happy to settle for this unpredictable life then?
Hovering AND talking
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the best and only option around at moment and for the forseable future, if you can afford to that is.
Cheers
Whirls
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you'll be dumped as soon as you stop paying Ryanair stupid amounts of money to fly their passengers around.
I stand corrected if not.
Either way were drifting away from the original posters discussion starter.
Cheers
NT
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Who said I'm a 'he'? Whirl is right insomuch that people are coming into this career happy to accept that they will be paid so little that they are unable to live. Look at the new proposed CTC/easyJet contract. It needs to stop.
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I didn't get to work properly on my xwind landings until I was flying a jet - not the 'ideal' training environment and a definite shortfall in the 'OAA Product'
Now do they teach you anything at all about DME arcs?
Distance from arc to turn onto it is ground speed divided by 100.
Keep the RMI with an airfield beacon roughly sitting at 90 degrees and only correct when it gets to 85 relative then correct to 95 relative (h'mm is that the right way round?)
or
DME speed should be 0 plus or minus 20 knots.
I only ask because I yet to fly with one that could do it. Yet an Exeter trained low hour FO can swing round a DME arc +- 0.1 DME and not break sweat.
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Do FR pay your TR for you if you are an OAA grad. Or do you have to pay them the fees? The normal FR TR works out at about £25,000/£30,000 so it's cool if you go direct to OAA without paying for the TR. Guess if that's the case then going to OAA makes sense.
If the market was going well and OAA had a few schemes with Airlines running such as BA, Flybe and Thomas Cook I think they would be a better company to train with as if you worked hard and achieved you would probably get awarded with a job. However, this has almost all stopped and their will be a pile of guys who have excellent CV's and records who would have got into BA and other companies now waiting for the OAA approved old boys network to start moving again. If you attend Oxford now you will most likely be at the bottom of a list of guys who will get the first contracts when they arrive. Not attempting to start another waste of time mod/intergrated war again, if you want Oxford on the record wait until the market is moving again, otherwise go to CTC or modular. Also from my experience of sim rides/checks and numerious jump seats where they are OAA cadets are being trained, they dont seem to be as good as CTC cadets or modular chaps. Before people get stressed this is just my experience. The usual probs are that they dont like to fly visually what so ever offered a visual ask for vectors, even down wind with no other aircraft in the pattern. From what I have seen OAA cadets are good at flying by numbers where as CTC guys are good at both and often have some very good airmanship points set at an early stage. However some of the best guys seem to be moduar!
Agreeing with mad jock I do hope they teach DME arcs otherwise you will have a nightmare in some of the Greek islands one day, Zakinthos especially!
Best of luck with your decision Jordan and I am sure it will all work out in the end.
CABUS
