OTF (Orlando Flight Training in Florida)
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OTF (Orlando Flight Training in Florida)
JAA Pro Pilot Program
Hi everyone, appreciate if someone could kindly shed some light on OFT program they run in Florida, where it’s initially an FAA programme, with JAA ground study/examinations and then finally a JAA CPL in the states, before off to the UK for a FAA-JAA conversion with a JAA IR.
I’m an ex-instructor from Florida, but from over 10 years ago and ended up a BAE Systems teaching CPL IR MEP, before finally getting my break into the airlines. Just flew with a couple of crew members to Orlando and back. They are about to make the jump and invest all the time and money in the world of flight training, just wanted to help with some form of advice, since it’s was a mind field when I went through and I suspect not too much has changed.
Is Adrian Thompson or Ben Wood the likely CPL examiners?
Any pit falls?
What’s OFT like and the standard of instruction?
Anyway, I’m now wide body with a UK airline, but look back with some lovely memories.
Appreciate if anyone is kind enough to help.
Last edited by Katanaman; 24th Apr 2011 at 13:41.
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Just finished my PPL over at OFT, stayed there for 3 months. I don't know much about flight schools as I've only been on one. All I can say is before I went there I was warned about the appalling instructions and the state of aircraft. When I arrived, what I anticipated was what I got. This is for the PPL bit, I'm not familiar with the CPL instructors, and this is not the case for all the instructors, there are a few good ones.
I think you mean Paul Thompson cos he mentioned that he normally do CPL's when I did my PPL Skills Test with him. He's an amazing guy.
With regards to the maintenance and state of the aircraft, I'd personally say its just way below the standards. Most of the plane is always on maintenance and they don't have much planes, they only have one twin engine (Beechcraft Duchess), you'll have to queue in a long waiting line if you wish to use it. I and the other students have logged planes for maintenance just to find it the next day cleared by the engineers yet the problem is still there and this has happened several times.
Overall though, it was fun learning to fly at OFT and much cheaper compared to the UK. Just be wary when you do pre flights.
I think you mean Paul Thompson cos he mentioned that he normally do CPL's when I did my PPL Skills Test with him. He's an amazing guy.
With regards to the maintenance and state of the aircraft, I'd personally say its just way below the standards. Most of the plane is always on maintenance and they don't have much planes, they only have one twin engine (Beechcraft Duchess), you'll have to queue in a long waiting line if you wish to use it. I and the other students have logged planes for maintenance just to find it the next day cleared by the engineers yet the problem is still there and this has happened several times.
Overall though, it was fun learning to fly at OFT and much cheaper compared to the UK. Just be wary when you do pre flights.
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Thanks Neilryan,
Yes, poor memory, it is Paul Thompson. I knew him 10 years ago, he use to have these great loud shirts and was a very good charming influence as far as examiners go.
Appreciate your honesty. I tried to explain to the couple of crew the other day that when you start flight training you go in all full of positive energy, but naive in many ways. It was very much the same when I went through initial training myself. Picking a school is very hard, I went to what was called IFTA years ago at Fort Pierce and was fortunate that the instructors were very good, but it could have been very different.
A PPL is the foundation and its essential it's instructed well.
Anyone got any feedback on EFT at Fort Pierce, I know Trevor has grown the business over the last decade.
Has he keep up the high standards I remember?
Any other feedback would be great, I'll pass on the information to the crew when I catch up with them.
Best of luck going forward.
Yes, poor memory, it is Paul Thompson. I knew him 10 years ago, he use to have these great loud shirts and was a very good charming influence as far as examiners go.
Appreciate your honesty. I tried to explain to the couple of crew the other day that when you start flight training you go in all full of positive energy, but naive in many ways. It was very much the same when I went through initial training myself. Picking a school is very hard, I went to what was called IFTA years ago at Fort Pierce and was fortunate that the instructors were very good, but it could have been very different.
A PPL is the foundation and its essential it's instructed well.
Anyone got any feedback on EFT at Fort Pierce, I know Trevor has grown the business over the last decade.
Has he keep up the high standards I remember?
Any other feedback would be great, I'll pass on the information to the crew when I catch up with them.
Best of luck going forward.
Last edited by Katanaman; 24th Apr 2011 at 21:31.
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Neilryan, I had a similar experience at OFT, only I was there a couple of years ago - depressing to see that they haven't sorted things out. I was lucky though to have a fantastic instructor 
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Thanks Booglebox for the reply.
I'll pass on the info to the crew I was chatting to last week. Not too much has changed in 10 years by the sounds of things. I've always said it mainly comes down to the instructor and as you inter-mated, there is an element of luck here for everyone.
Just hope like so many others who invest such large amounts of money into the dream, it works out for them. The crew members I tried to pass on my advise to seem very switched on and independent, so I'm confident they will find their way.
Keep on trucking, took me 3 plus years of instructing, then finally FLYBE (Q400), GB (A320/21) and then finally Virgin (B744).
Got to say looking back, some of the best memories were in the days I instructed and I learnt a great deal.
Everyone will get there, just keep motivated and when it looks hopeless just keep on pushing.
I do appreciate things are harder now, since you have to fund so much more, but the same principle applies.
I'll pass on the info to the crew I was chatting to last week. Not too much has changed in 10 years by the sounds of things. I've always said it mainly comes down to the instructor and as you inter-mated, there is an element of luck here for everyone.
Just hope like so many others who invest such large amounts of money into the dream, it works out for them. The crew members I tried to pass on my advise to seem very switched on and independent, so I'm confident they will find their way.
Keep on trucking, took me 3 plus years of instructing, then finally FLYBE (Q400), GB (A320/21) and then finally Virgin (B744).
Got to say looking back, some of the best memories were in the days I instructed and I learnt a great deal.
Everyone will get there, just keep motivated and when it looks hopeless just keep on pushing.
I do appreciate things are harder now, since you have to fund so much more, but the same principle applies.
Last edited by Katanaman; 29th Apr 2011 at 11:01.
