Naples Air Centre, EFT, Orlando FT & Ormond Beach Aviation

[ShipShape 79 Charlie]

The new owner of OBA has a trail of disasters going back to early 2000.........search for International Flight Training Academy or IFTA on this forum to see!! I wonder if it's his name that had to be removed by WWW?

It would seem that he has stamped his usual trade mark on the business already, no maintenance, employees not being paid, broken aircraft.........be very careful with your money guys the next move is to manipulate your accounts and cancel visa's if you object, there are many students that this guy has ripped off.

[thannawa]

Sunny San Diego

Dear AlexanderH,

Have you given thought to warm and sunny San Diego, California? We have fewer rainy days than Florida, and no hurricanes! Not to mention, we also have Disney Land and SeaWorld San Diego.

[TheChiefPilot]

The long term owner is now back in the UK so I understand and the New Owner who has profited from poor unsuspecting students on at least 2 occasions first time in the UK and then back in the US with IFTA, I personally know guys who were owed money for wages and students who had paid money in good faith, only to loose it because this individual does not care about who he takes for a ride, as long as he makes money.

I can not believe the UK CAA still allow him to operate a UK FTO and act as an Examiner as the first line in the Examiners Hand Book states the person should be of moral Integrity.

He has had CAA investigations into his alleged past and regulation 6 appeals about the way he conducts flight test which the CAA upheld and refunded the students the Exam CPL test Fee approx $1000.00

So be careful where you go and do some very careful background checks.

I dont want anybody falling into the situation I have seen time and time again.

I think Ship Shape 79 Charlie is spot on with this one.

Safe Landings

TCP

[ale_mcdowel]

Where should i start.... It looks like everybody has a lot of different opinions over the european flight schools in Fl. I have been to 2 of the four schools mentioned in this post and its my pleasure to say that OBA, which is called now EASA, has been nothing but very profesional to me and did my commercial conversion to JAA in a matter of 3 weeks and couldn't do it faster because of the weather. They are in a great position right now, with a lot of certified JAA instructors, planes that don't break very often and great staff. In the other hand....I had the infortune of being in NAC and cannot say that had a good experience. Just did the ATPL groundschool and left due to a very big ATPL class and they didnt have enough infrastructure to cope with all the students at once. So they just hold you down for the money until you finish your training, and dont matter the time length it takes to finish it. It can be a month or 3 before you start commercial JAA. So you decide... Have a good day!!!!!!

[Bubi352]

What is Ormond Beach Aviation/ EASA website? Their old website www.flyoba.com and their supposedly new one www.flyeasa.com both don't work - at least with me.

[Katamarino]

I got my PPL with EFT in 2005, and found them fine. No complaints, although of course that's a few years ago.

[AlexanderH]

Got my class 1 medical today. Pretty much decided on the school I'm going to fly with.
That only took 6 months to decide!!

[skylarker1983]

OBA

Anyone who wants to get an actual students account of OBA feel free to PM me.
I did all my PPL there 2 years ago then went back for 100 hours, CPL and multi, so have a good idea of what im talking about!

[AlexanderH]

I bought the Pooley's PPL study books but I'm not starting my course until April so I am starting to read the books myself. At the moment I'm reading the Flight Training (Book 1) book and most of is common sense so far.
Obviously the books are numbered - should I read them in that order or if not which order is best?

Thanks

[strappy]

I can't comment on other people's experiences at EASA, but I got back from there a couple of weeks ago and I had a fantastic time.

Had my skills test lined up for my last day there but the weather got the better of me sadly (according to the local press the period I was there for was the worst spell they'd had for 25 years) so am finishing off back in Guernsey where I'm based as I couldn't extend. Unfortunate but I can't blame the school for it as they pushed the boat out, bending over backwards to try and get me finished in time, on the flip side I was intending to do some local familiarization training back home anyway.

I had no probs with money or the staff, it was all as advertised in my opinion, and my instructor Simon was brilliant.

I've blogged about my time there at www.mikestratford.co.uk

[daveyb]

i also trained at OBA and had no problems there was an issue with the radio on the acft which was fixed there&then by the mechs.
and prior to the skills test i was fully briefed on what to expect from the examiner.

[I-NNAV]

Hi!
I hope that the EFT changed his fleet, becouse when I been there 2 years ago the Ari Ben Aircraft were very old and not so well manjteined: I had a engine failure during take off, a friend of mine once during landing, and enother guy had flames from the duchees engine during a nite flight..
See You
Vanni

[smokie78]

Alex

so OBA are EASA!? They dont seem to have prices on their website, seems like EFT and EASA are recommended from what im reading here, which one did you choose and when you going

[minaldabasia]

Hey guys...im currently at EFT on the APP, all i can say is that im enjoying it. Aircrafts are there and the sky is the limit as to where you can go. the ATPL are self study just like all exams that you will do there. Instructor are there to help if you need help on the theory but u'll normaly find some student there to help you out first.
In comparrsion to other school you do pay a price for the services that you are offerd. NAC you get the ATPL in a class room but the housing is not included. where as EFT is it, and it is on campus so you walk to class/lesson. All the instructors are JAA FI and FAA CFII so you get the best off both if your on the FAA and JAA route.
need more info just PM.
Minal Dabasia

[suntorytimo]

Have you actually been to any JAA flight school in Florida?

[smokie78]

Oba(easa) Or Eft??

Hey guys,
i have finally decided i will do my training for the PPL in Florida, just havent decided on the school....i know there are posts from people on here saying stop being a cheapskate and train in your home country etc, but Florida is all i can afford...i know there are similiar posts but i would appreciate views from people that have actually gone to one of these schools for the PPL course....so posts,views and pms would be much appreciated
cheers

[daveyb]

hi smokey,

i trained at oba along with a mate who has managed to get a job with FR we had no problems while there if you need any more info pm me.

daveyb

[actionplane]

EFT

Hi mate how much would you consider to spend in accommodation plus food in EFT ?? in us dollars

[ab33t]

Yep and I trained at OBA last year and had a disater from day one a one week course turned into a 6 weeks course . I was not the only one , there were several that went home with no PPL.

[suntorytimo]

ab33t, any chance you could elaborate? Which one week course were you doing and how did it end up lasting 6? Also could you tell us why some people went home without PPLs?

Thanks