Oxford Aviation Acadamy
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Billingham
Age: 29
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Oxford Aviation Acadamy
I'm looking to go to go to Oxford aviation academy to do there integrated course. I'm currently in first year of college doing Advanced Aeronautical engineering, so wont be going to Oxford for another two years. I was just wondering how many people have went there to do that course, and is that much money actually worth it? I'm going to have to get a huge loan, and put the mortgage on my mothers house as security. Any information would be a big help to me,
Thanks.
Thanks.
Hovering AND talking
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Propping up bars in the Lands of D H Lawrence and Bishop Bonner
Age: 59
Posts: 5,705
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
and is that much money actually worth it?
Cheers
Whirls
PPRuNe Handmaiden
My colleagues who went to Oxford seemed to enjoy their course.
My advice for what it's worth. Finish your degree and then work for a year or two. Save your money and get some life experience. While studying and working do a lot more research on your school choice. You'll be about 23-25 years old and you'll still have plenty of time for the aviation career.
If you're still happy with Oxford, by all means go there.
However, I would not risk your Mother's house on your flying dream if you're not prepared to contribute financially upfront.
My advice for what it's worth. Finish your degree and then work for a year or two. Save your money and get some life experience. While studying and working do a lot more research on your school choice. You'll be about 23-25 years old and you'll still have plenty of time for the aviation career.
If you're still happy with Oxford, by all means go there.
However, I would not risk your Mother's house on your flying dream if you're not prepared to contribute financially upfront.
I'm going to have to get a huge loan, and put the mortgage on my mothers house as security.
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: London
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Does it not bother you that you have to risk your mother's house to go through flight training that has no guarantee of a job after completion? You are only 16 and have practically your whole working life available for a career in aviation, so what is the rush? Like a poster said above me, finish your course, work for a few years and save quite a substantial amount of money that can go towards your flight training, where by you do not risk you mother's house as security. The job market is still a little uncertain, despite picking up in recent months. If you really are desperate for a career in aviation at such a young age, then apply for sponsorships or cadet ships when they are offered by the airlines. As some will pay for all of your training, others will pay around half of the cost, some through bonds, etc. This means that you are far more likely to secure employment with them as they would be reluctant not to employ you after investing so much money in your training.
Also, do not forget that the price that these Integrated Courses quote are usually based on minimum or close to minimum hours required for licence issue. It is not unheard of for people to require a few more hours additionally to complete their training which can come to a substantial surcharge.
In my opinion, unless the market for low houred pilots picks up substantially, I would personally go towards the modular route as you can gain the same licences for around around half the cost.
Also, do not forget that the price that these Integrated Courses quote are usually based on minimum or close to minimum hours required for licence issue. It is not unheard of for people to require a few more hours additionally to complete their training which can come to a substantial surcharge.
In my opinion, unless the market for low houred pilots picks up substantially, I would personally go towards the modular route as you can gain the same licences for around around half the cost.
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Devon
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Modular route
+1 for modular route. You work as you learn and see how the market goes. Some say that there will be a shortage of pilots within 2-3 years so you could be good on timing.
As a trainer, I am having increasing difficulty in looking at would-be pilots and their parents in the eye and talking enthusiastically about it.
IF you got through the modular route for around £45k (that is IF) to CPL/IR level plsu CRM, you might then have to pay for a type rating before getting a job. IF you then were to get in as FO with one of the low-quality carriers (Ezy, Flybe, hopefully not with the mad Irishman) you might be earning £25k with debts of £50k. And that's best case scenario!
As a trainer, I am having increasing difficulty in looking at would-be pilots and their parents in the eye and talking enthusiastically about it.
IF you got through the modular route for around £45k (that is IF) to CPL/IR level plsu CRM, you might then have to pay for a type rating before getting a job. IF you then were to get in as FO with one of the low-quality carriers (Ezy, Flybe, hopefully not with the mad Irishman) you might be earning £25k with debts of £50k. And that's best case scenario!
PPRuNe Handmaiden
low-quality carriers
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Stratosphere
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'd love to go to Oxford but there's no way on this planet my parents would risk their house to secure a loan for a pilots licence. Study hard and work even harder, once you've got enough money train via the modular route - you'll save yourself lots of money. Good luck!
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Devon
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A bit of thread drift here. By low quality, do you mean the training or the passenger experience?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Billingham
Age: 29
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Probably heard it all before but its my dream, its what ive always wanted to do since i saw the first aircraft on approach going over my house. Im fascinated by flight and aircraft and am willing to do almost anything to get my dream. And to others who say I'm a troll, your wrong, this thread is deadly serious.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Billingham
Age: 29
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't even have my PPL yet, so I wouldn't be able to go and do the module. In all honesty I wouldn't have a clue what to do after I leave college. Ive had the mind set of OAA for so long that I haven't even took into consideration what other options there is.
PPRuNe Handmaiden
Well, Ryan , now you have a great opportunity to do some research. 
By all means, if Oxford "does it for you" after you've researched other schools and methods of getting a licence, then go there. What ever you do, don't blindly accept the word of the school's salesmen. This applies to any school.
Remember, they want your money.
Post degree, get a job. It will be the best thing you do. Use your qualifications for a while, this will do a few things. Further your resolve to get a flying job and when you've got said flying job, you'll know what a "normal" job is like.
Also, you'll appreciate earning an income. So, just blithely saying you'll mortgage your Mother's house will now no longer make sense and you'll understand the risk involved.
Your Mother may not fully appreciate just how tough the industry is to get into and survive. At the moment, you probably don't either. That's ok, that's what being 16 is about.
By all means, if Oxford "does it for you" after you've researched other schools and methods of getting a licence, then go there. What ever you do, don't blindly accept the word of the school's salesmen. This applies to any school.
Remember, they want your money.
Post degree, get a job. It will be the best thing you do. Use your qualifications for a while, this will do a few things. Further your resolve to get a flying job and when you've got said flying job, you'll know what a "normal" job is like.
Also, you'll appreciate earning an income. So, just blithely saying you'll mortgage your Mother's house will now no longer make sense and you'll understand the risk involved.
Your Mother may not fully appreciate just how tough the industry is to get into and survive. At the moment, you probably don't either. That's ok, that's what being 16 is about.
Hovering AND talking
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Propping up bars in the Lands of D H Lawrence and Bishop Bonner
Age: 59
Posts: 5,705
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't even have my PPL yet, so I wouldn't be able to go and do the module.
Research the two options, go and visit some flying schools (not just Oxford) with a parent, have a trial lesson and if you decide that modular is the better route, you have loads of time to get your PPL. Save, work, get A levels, more work and PPL by the time you're 18 or 19.
Of course we all understand the dream but that should not prevent you from researching the career, looking at the options and making rational decisions, not setting your heart on the first thing you see.
Cheers
Whirls
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: a
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi Ryan,
I am currently studying at OAA, really enjoying it! If you want a chat drop me a message and I would be happy to answer any questions that you may have about the course!
Cheers
Ross
I am currently studying at OAA, really enjoying it! If you want a chat drop me a message and I would be happy to answer any questions that you may have about the course!
Cheers
Ross
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: A very dark place
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Get a job post degree and save some of the money towards your training (whatever route you take) then go half and half cash and loan (you need the financial commitment to help with the motivation)
Don't do what I did, which is wait until I earned every penny and then start, it meant I didn't start until I was 32 (at Oxford), I aced the course (high first time pass marks in the exams and a first time IR with 3.5 hrs seneca time to spare). None of that matters when you're 35 and looking for your first airline job in a recession. Everyone of my class mates now has a job, some better then me, most not as good but they avoided age discrimination.
p.s. all but 2 of them had to pay £25K-£35K for their job, add this into your budget.
But for every one of 'me' there's probably 15 twenty-something first officers with £100K debt, so it kinda works but you start off life with a "mortgage" but no house, i think that's a good thing?
p.p.s. Oxford don't discriminate, just show them the money and you're the man.
Don't do what I did, which is wait until I earned every penny and then start, it meant I didn't start until I was 32 (at Oxford), I aced the course (high first time pass marks in the exams and a first time IR with 3.5 hrs seneca time to spare). None of that matters when you're 35 and looking for your first airline job in a recession. Everyone of my class mates now has a job, some better then me, most not as good but they avoided age discrimination.
p.s. all but 2 of them had to pay £25K-£35K for their job, add this into your budget.
But for every one of 'me' there's probably 15 twenty-something first officers with £100K debt, so it kinda works but you start off life with a "mortgage" but no house, i think that's a good thing?
p.p.s. Oxford don't discriminate, just show them the money and you're the man.
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: the moon
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You are still young dude! Best thing you can do right now is to finish your A levels in maths and physics (preferably) and then do a degree for 3 years (Bcom or engineering degree, or whatever suits you). Then work for some time and understand how hard it is to earn a living in this world and then you'll be in a position to make an educated choice as to what route is best for you. It's much better to keep the flying part for the end. Oxford will always be there and if not there will be others to replace them...
You have plenty of time to achieve your dream. Do some research about schools and take a few flying lesson if you can. How you feel about flying is the same for all of us but you have to be patient and not burn any steps on the way.
Keep an open mind and look at other career path that might suit you in the event you can't fly no more. As you are aware you have to do a class 1 medical every year and too many people seem to forget that if they loose this that's it... end of career for most pilots especially if you are still young with low hours, thus the importance to have a back up degree. Future employers would also prefer to see that they are employing someone that is educated and not just with an ATPL. Airline operations nowadays are more complex and pilots have to play an essential role in the financial savings that they make at the end of the year...
Much better to do the degree before the flying than the other way round or when you are facing the medical problem and have a family to support. Life is full of surprises and don't be stubborn into the idea or dream to be an airline pilot...It's stupid!! The way you see things at your age is a lot more pleasant than it really is once you have to work and support yourself, let alone a family.
And please, above all don't put your mum into this equation it wouldn't be fair on her to have you decide on her future...
You have plenty of time to achieve your dream. Do some research about schools and take a few flying lesson if you can. How you feel about flying is the same for all of us but you have to be patient and not burn any steps on the way.
Keep an open mind and look at other career path that might suit you in the event you can't fly no more. As you are aware you have to do a class 1 medical every year and too many people seem to forget that if they loose this that's it... end of career for most pilots especially if you are still young with low hours, thus the importance to have a back up degree. Future employers would also prefer to see that they are employing someone that is educated and not just with an ATPL. Airline operations nowadays are more complex and pilots have to play an essential role in the financial savings that they make at the end of the year...
Much better to do the degree before the flying than the other way round or when you are facing the medical problem and have a family to support. Life is full of surprises and don't be stubborn into the idea or dream to be an airline pilot...It's stupid!! The way you see things at your age is a lot more pleasant than it really is once you have to work and support yourself, let alone a family.
And please, above all don't put your mum into this equation it wouldn't be fair on her to have you decide on her future...
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: UK
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi mate,
I'm also currently studying at OAA, and although at the moment the industry isnt great, (although it seems about 300 times worse when you read vast array of negative posts on here) people are still being employed.
The biggest downside to this game is the financial implications involved; and if you do require a property to secure the means to fund your time here, then you are going to want to fully understand the implications that come with it.
If you want to talk just drop me a message and i'll get back to you.
I'm also currently studying at OAA, and although at the moment the industry isnt great, (although it seems about 300 times worse when you read vast array of negative posts on here) people are still being employed.
The biggest downside to this game is the financial implications involved; and if you do require a property to secure the means to fund your time here, then you are going to want to fully understand the implications that come with it.
If you want to talk just drop me a message and i'll get back to you.
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: uk
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Im also at OAA right now. Most people here will say its great but a lot of the time that because theyve put up 70k+ upfront and so it has to be good otherwise theyve made a huge mistake.
Dont get me wrong it is a good school but its wrong to have the 'i only want to go to OAA' mindset because there is a lot more value for money at other schools and lots of my friends here really havnt been treated that great by the school. I think the main upside is that the integrated course is a good all in one package whereby you can do all your training at one place. Not worth the extra 20-30k though imo
Dont get me wrong it is a good school but its wrong to have the 'i only want to go to OAA' mindset because there is a lot more value for money at other schools and lots of my friends here really havnt been treated that great by the school. I think the main upside is that the integrated course is a good all in one package whereby you can do all your training at one place. Not worth the extra 20-30k though imo