SFT No longer???
Join Date: Jul 2001
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My best wishes go to Chris Riley ex ppsc now ex sft instructor.
This teaching lark just isn't going your way, hope whatever you do next works out better.
Best of luck.
From an ex ppsc and sft student.
This teaching lark just isn't going your way, hope whatever you do next works out better.
Best of luck.
From an ex ppsc and sft student.
Join Date: May 1999
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Clowns,
That is exactly what you appear to be. I agree with Dave Webb....Shut Up!
You have no experience whatever, like Dave I have 6000+ hours, Civil and military experience am ex BAe Saudi Arabia military QFI, ex CAA Examiner and lots of etc's.I am a post-graduate but have a lot less groundschool teaching experience than Dave, only 5 years but about 16 if you add my University lecturing experience.
However, I have had bus loads of SFT students on my private weekend courses, turning their lack of knowledge into a pass. I can list names and pass marks. SFT groundschool was a disaster.
The best thing you can do is stay quiet, your future possible employers might be reading your posts, like Glasgow!
GROUND Instructors should be seen and heard only in class!
John Standen
ex SECOAT & PPSC
That is exactly what you appear to be. I agree with Dave Webb....Shut Up!
You have no experience whatever, like Dave I have 6000+ hours, Civil and military experience am ex BAe Saudi Arabia military QFI, ex CAA Examiner and lots of etc's.I am a post-graduate but have a lot less groundschool teaching experience than Dave, only 5 years but about 16 if you add my University lecturing experience.
However, I have had bus loads of SFT students on my private weekend courses, turning their lack of knowledge into a pass. I can list names and pass marks. SFT groundschool was a disaster.
The best thing you can do is stay quiet, your future possible employers might be reading your posts, like Glasgow!
GROUND Instructors should be seen and heard only in class!
John Standen
ex SECOAT & PPSC
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Well guys i was a student there too.. I was also a student at PPSC and they whent bust too lost £5000, there and now SFT whats happening and where can i continue to finish my course.. 
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GO JOHN !!! GO JOHN GO JOHN.. I am a ex student of John Standon, 
I have in excess of 10,000 flying hours in Fast jet and 3000 hours in sitting with john discussing his pile problems .. But i will still back him.. By the way john the offer is still open if u wish to get them seen by a Docter in BRADFORD>>>> 
:o 
I have in excess of 10,000 flying hours in Fast jet and 3000 hours in sitting with john discussing his pile problems .. But i will still back him.. By the way john the offer is still open if u wish to get them seen by a Docter in BRADFORD>>>> :o
Join Date: Jan 2001
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In today's FT
The Administrators have but up for sale SFT Aviation Ltd & SFT Europe Ltd (both in Adminnistration)...
Advert states:
Turnover c.£3 million
£1.3 million forwards order book
11 refurbished aircraft
state of the art simulators
modern dedicated groundschool
JAR145 operation
[ 09 November 2001: Message edited by: pj997 ]
The Administrators have but up for sale SFT Aviation Ltd & SFT Europe Ltd (both in Adminnistration)...
Advert states:
Turnover c.£3 million
£1.3 million forwards order book
11 refurbished aircraft
state of the art simulators
modern dedicated groundschool
JAR145 operation
[ 09 November 2001: Message edited by: pj997 ]
Its always sad when an FTO goes down.
Lets try not to become fractious.
Some people have moaned that this forum did not give enough advance warning of SFTs demise. A few months back when it was floated as a rumour I checked with a friend of a friend that SFT had students. They did and they had bookings as well.
It looked like they were in no danger of going bust that week.
Obviously there was more to the story than that. But hey, PPRuNe doesn't employ Roger Cook on the sides to look into these things...
Over the years through countless email enquiries I have never recommended SFT as they seem to have had a series of problems. For the last year I always viewed them as the weakest of the big four. If people emailed me directly then I said as much. But it is/was not my place to do down a FTO publicly unless they are engaged in sharp practice at students expense which SFT certainly weren't.
I am very sorry to all those that have lost money. If I were paying crica £50k for a course I would only do so with an organisation that was the 2nd largest defence contractor on the globe... But the advice, as always, remains DO NOT pay upfront.
My feeling is that Wannabes should stay out of big time flying training for the next 6 months or so.
Cheers,
WWW
Lets try not to become fractious.
Some people have moaned that this forum did not give enough advance warning of SFTs demise. A few months back when it was floated as a rumour I checked with a friend of a friend that SFT had students. They did and they had bookings as well.
It looked like they were in no danger of going bust that week.
Obviously there was more to the story than that. But hey, PPRuNe doesn't employ Roger Cook on the sides to look into these things...
Over the years through countless email enquiries I have never recommended SFT as they seem to have had a series of problems. For the last year I always viewed them as the weakest of the big four. If people emailed me directly then I said as much. But it is/was not my place to do down a FTO publicly unless they are engaged in sharp practice at students expense which SFT certainly weren't.
I am very sorry to all those that have lost money. If I were paying crica £50k for a course I would only do so with an organisation that was the 2nd largest defence contractor on the globe... But the advice, as always, remains DO NOT pay upfront.
My feeling is that Wannabes should stay out of big time flying training for the next 6 months or so.
Cheers,
WWW
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: London, Surrey, UK
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Just thought that I'd put in my 2 pence worth.... I too am an ex PPSC student... I lost money there, but fortunately none lost with SFT (just sat my exams yesterday). With both schools, there are many pro's and con's, but at the end of the day, SFT did bail a lot of us out when PPSC went under..... We didn't have to go there
MIRAGE 2000 SQUADRONMate,give SEND CLOWNSa break, atleast he and the others at SFT are willing to work for free. It was only Roger who was willing to give up his spare time (whilst most others wanted to charge sky-high tutorial rates).
I'll email you later I hear there's some donkey's on the lose in Bradford!!
Both Nav instructors (PPSC and SFT) were, in my opinion excellent.
MIRAGE 2000 SQUADRONMate,give SEND CLOWNSa break, atleast he and the others at SFT are willing to work for free. It was only Roger who was willing to give up his spare time (whilst most others wanted to charge sky-high tutorial rates).
I'll email you later I hear there's some donkey's on the lose in Bradford!!
Both Nav instructors (PPSC and SFT) were, in my opinion excellent.
Join Date: Nov 2000
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Billy,
As WWW as said all along pay as much as you can with a Credit Card. If you dont have a large credit line, maybe you could ask a family member. That seems to be the only and best way these days to pay for flight training.
As WWW as said all along pay as much as you can with a Credit Card. If you dont have a large credit line, maybe you could ask a family member. That seems to be the only and best way these days to pay for flight training.
Jet Blast Rat
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Thanks Harvey, was a pleasure to teach you.
I had written a long reply to all those involved who seem to peronally attack me as "representing" SFT (in the post incidentally commenting on how I had enjoyed teaching the ex-PPSC students even if they were a little boisterous!) before my computer lost it, but now it hardly seems worth it.
WWW thanks for your support too. I agree that SFT behaved honorably, and also that we should not be fractious. SFT staff, students, directors and administrators are pulling together to pull what we can out of this. Can't we all pull together, maybe to put pressure on the government to assist the flying training industry they seem to have done their best to destroy with the misbegotten JAA and short-sighted removal of NVQ tax relief?
I'll just say to David that I did not say the students we took on from PPSC were ill-prepared, and in fact in my mock (and hopefully the exam this week) they did as well as the students who only studied at SFT. I was defending SFT's reputation as an FTO (we had developed a fine reputation as well especially in groundschool, against the tide of earlier problems) and aserting that students did not go elsewhere due to deficiencies in SFT.
Robione, most students (under JAA, the relevant time for judging recnt quality of schools) at SFT never studied anywhere else. Hence your assertion was untrue. Your rant covers a 6-month period over two years ago, so you cannot defend your assertion.
Sensible, assuming you are neither an administrator for nor director of SFT I will believe their assesment that SFT was profitable rather than yours that it was not. I read your assertion, so no need to repeat it.
You have a rather touching faith in banks. They do pull the plug on profitable businesses (I mentioned one that actually survived the plug pulling if you read, and is now doing rather well. The owner is a close friend of mine), and fail to reign in unprofitable ones. It is their in the sorry news. You spend in the US if you like, but at the time I trained the only approved school wanted more money than SFT did.
P.S. I am unavoidably away for the weekend so probably cannot reply until Monday or Tuesday, so perhaps Metsys will get his wish that I "shut up" without having to take the ridiculously excessive step of simply not reading my posts
[ 09 November 2001: Message edited by: Send Clowns ]
I had written a long reply to all those involved who seem to peronally attack me as "representing" SFT (in the post incidentally commenting on how I had enjoyed teaching the ex-PPSC students even if they were a little boisterous!) before my computer lost it, but now it hardly seems worth it.
WWW thanks for your support too. I agree that SFT behaved honorably, and also that we should not be fractious. SFT staff, students, directors and administrators are pulling together to pull what we can out of this. Can't we all pull together, maybe to put pressure on the government to assist the flying training industry they seem to have done their best to destroy with the misbegotten JAA and short-sighted removal of NVQ tax relief?
I'll just say to David that I did not say the students we took on from PPSC were ill-prepared, and in fact in my mock (and hopefully the exam this week) they did as well as the students who only studied at SFT. I was defending SFT's reputation as an FTO (we had developed a fine reputation as well especially in groundschool, against the tide of earlier problems) and aserting that students did not go elsewhere due to deficiencies in SFT.
Robione, most students (under JAA, the relevant time for judging recnt quality of schools) at SFT never studied anywhere else. Hence your assertion was untrue. Your rant covers a 6-month period over two years ago, so you cannot defend your assertion.
Sensible, assuming you are neither an administrator for nor director of SFT I will believe their assesment that SFT was profitable rather than yours that it was not. I read your assertion, so no need to repeat it.
You have a rather touching faith in banks. They do pull the plug on profitable businesses (I mentioned one that actually survived the plug pulling if you read, and is now doing rather well. The owner is a close friend of mine), and fail to reign in unprofitable ones. It is their in the sorry news. You spend in the US if you like, but at the time I trained the only approved school wanted more money than SFT did.
P.S. I am unavoidably away for the weekend so probably cannot reply until Monday or Tuesday, so perhaps Metsys will get his wish that I "shut up" without having to take the ridiculously excessive step of simply not reading my posts
[ 09 November 2001: Message edited by: Send Clowns ]
Join Date: Aug 2001
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Well I thought i better put my 20 pence worth too..!!!!! SENT CLOWN..!!!!!!!! MATE i have to admit that you did help us students from PPSC alot and if it wasent for u i dont think i would of got bye.. Mate I do apprectiate ur support and i hope you do get a job elsewhere if not ..You might as well join me at KWICKFIT..Hey guys i think you should leave sent clown alone Hes been through alot over the last weeek and i will fully support him right down to the bone ..Good luck guys and HARVEY MATE... The DONKEYS HAVE BEEN GOUGHT AND ARE ON THE MIAMI FLIGHT ON SUNDAY>>HEHEHEHEHEH 
:
:
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I cannot believe some of this, especially the spellin and gramer! Let us all just hope that someone, somewhere, is trying to do something positive about it all....
"An experienced pilot is one who uses his superior skill and knowledge to avoid situations which would otherwise require the use of that superior skill and knowledge"
Aye,
David
"An experienced pilot is one who uses his superior skill and knowledge to avoid situations which would otherwise require the use of that superior skill and knowledge"
Aye,
David
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Hi to John Standon....the legend!!!!
Nice to see him puttng his vew forward ona topic I started!!!!
Just like to say "John, thanks for the info that you gave me on the MET videos...bloody expensive but they helped me a lot!!! cheers!!!! "
To the rest of you "Stop arguing!"
MM
(a man heavily in debt!)
Nice to see him puttng his vew forward ona topic I started!!!!
Just like to say "John, thanks for the info that you gave me on the MET videos...bloody expensive but they helped me a lot!!! cheers!!!! "
To the rest of you "Stop arguing!"
MM
(a man heavily in debt!)
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AYUP JAZ
I do not see why you have a problem with HPL.
Did not SFT sort it out for you then?
....do not, I repeat, do not, flare a delta!!
Hope to see you around, but it has to be in daylight!
Dave
I do not see why you have a problem with HPL.
Did not SFT sort it out for you then?
....do not, I repeat, do not, flare a delta!!
Hope to see you around, but it has to be in daylight!
Dave
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David the only HPL lesson we got was about 7 weeks ago.. dont blame myself if i fail HPL..!!!! Mate do you know nullIf any body is looking for pilots i got some lessons of Metsys to fly straight and level..!!!!HEHEHEHEHEHHE...TERRAIN TERRAIN.. WOOOP WOOOP PULL UP PULL UP.. WHAT NOW DAVE???..YOU HAVE CONTROL..!!
Flies for fun
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Send Clowns, you assume absolutely right with your posting Quote:
"assuming you are neither an administrator for nor director of SFT"
I am indeed nothing to do with either of those but then you go on to say Quote:
"I will believe their assessment that SFT was profitable rather than yours that it was not"
You don't say who "their" is and I assume that you don't these claims of profitability in writing! I was quoting from the SFT Company Accounts which were raised by the SFT accountants and signed by the directors and then filed at Companies House!!! are you now claiming that there was a conspiracy by the directors and accountants of SFT to conceal profits? I hardly think so. If the directors and accountants at SFT have published the fact that they made a NIL profit in the year ending 31 Dec. 2000 then that's good enough for me but not you apparently!
E-mail me your fax number and a copy of the SFT company accounts will be with you.
You go on to say Quote:
"You have a rather touching faith in banks. They do pull the plug on profitable businesses (I mentioned one that actually survived the plug pulling if you read, and is now doing rather well. The owner is a close friend of mine), and fail to reign in unprofitable ones. It is their in the sorry news"
I would be interested in reading the accounts of the company which you mention as "doing rather well" because quite simply I don't believe that the company accounts would support the reality of profitability at the time that the bank "pulled the plug" Often unprofitable companies continue to trade because they choose to deceive banks/creditors as to their true level of solvency.
You go on to say Quote:
"You spend in the US if you like, but at the time I trained the only approved school wanted more money than SFT did"
Wouldn't like to quote sums and names there would you? I for one would read your post intently and with great interest!
Hope you enjoy your week-end, I can imagine that you need a well earned break at the moment!
"assuming you are neither an administrator for nor director of SFT"
I am indeed nothing to do with either of those but then you go on to say Quote:
"I will believe their assessment that SFT was profitable rather than yours that it was not"
You don't say who "their" is and I assume that you don't these claims of profitability in writing! I was quoting from the SFT Company Accounts which were raised by the SFT accountants and signed by the directors and then filed at Companies House!!! are you now claiming that there was a conspiracy by the directors and accountants of SFT to conceal profits? I hardly think so. If the directors and accountants at SFT have published the fact that they made a NIL profit in the year ending 31 Dec. 2000 then that's good enough for me but not you apparently!
E-mail me your fax number and a copy of the SFT company accounts will be with you.
You go on to say Quote:
"You have a rather touching faith in banks. They do pull the plug on profitable businesses (I mentioned one that actually survived the plug pulling if you read, and is now doing rather well. The owner is a close friend of mine), and fail to reign in unprofitable ones. It is their in the sorry news"
I would be interested in reading the accounts of the company which you mention as "doing rather well" because quite simply I don't believe that the company accounts would support the reality of profitability at the time that the bank "pulled the plug" Often unprofitable companies continue to trade because they choose to deceive banks/creditors as to their true level of solvency.
You go on to say Quote:
"You spend in the US if you like, but at the time I trained the only approved school wanted more money than SFT did"
Wouldn't like to quote sums and names there would you? I for one would read your post intently and with great interest!
Hope you enjoy your week-end, I can imagine that you need a well earned break at the moment!
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Well just got back from a gaunt over to Venice MP. More security than fort knox outbound.
so SFT are no more. sad to see another FTO down and more anger at the lying bastards behind it.
Is was in the office with polly in late August. Being told that the bank where there that day just to introduce a new loan scheme for students and how all student money is safe because the MD was a trusting fellow who put it in a holding account..
Anyone else been told that now the liquidators are in.
Any further comments on what you told me ?
polly.
Pilot training needs a shot in the arm. ALL training funds held in trustee accounts only. If the FTO's out there wont organize it they must all be crooks.
Also the govenment must look at nil VAt on training and even genuine NVQ schemes.
Good luck to all.
so SFT are no more. sad to see another FTO down and more anger at the lying bastards behind it.
Is was in the office with polly in late August. Being told that the bank where there that day just to introduce a new loan scheme for students and how all student money is safe because the MD was a trusting fellow who put it in a holding account..
Anyone else been told that now the liquidators are in.
Any further comments on what you told me ?
polly.
Pilot training needs a shot in the arm. ALL training funds held in trustee accounts only. If the FTO's out there wont organize it they must all be crooks.
Also the govenment must look at nil VAt on training and even genuine NVQ schemes.
Good luck to all.
Flies for fun
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Escrow or holding accounts are not in the FTO's interests quite simply because the money is not available to them to use so where is their incentive to hold money in accounts which stop them from using the dosh?