General Advice
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General Advice
Hi,
I was after some advice / recommendations / what would you do?
I’ve booked a trip to Arizona to do some hour-building later this year.
I’d then look to do 5-10hrs near the CPL school I choose, to familiarise with airspace etc.
As for commercial schools, I’d like to be a FI as a way to build experience. I’ve read that Tayside & ACS Perth have ‘reasonable’ links to Loganair for FI’s. However, would it be better to do a CPL/FI near London, as there are more schools, more chance of networking with more than one airline etc. Also it might increase chances of actually being employed as a FI down south, as there are more airfields available?
I’ve also seen Leicester Aero Club seem to do the cheapest CPL/FI courses by a few £k..is there a reason for this?
The other question I had was if it is worth the gamble to go all out on a CPL/ME-IR before an FI rating? Main problem is it will cost my left arm for this one…(which is good as I’m right handed?)
My main goal is the airlines, but to try and enjoy the torturous path along the way! Instructing may lead to something in its own right - 'if you don't try you'll never know' etc. so i don't want to start a debate over instructing as a way to build hours.
There is obviously no rush with this decision, but good to know what people think.
Cheers,
Richard
*NB This is all subject to me acing the atpl exams.. (!)
I was after some advice / recommendations / what would you do?
I’ve booked a trip to Arizona to do some hour-building later this year.
I’d then look to do 5-10hrs near the CPL school I choose, to familiarise with airspace etc.
As for commercial schools, I’d like to be a FI as a way to build experience. I’ve read that Tayside & ACS Perth have ‘reasonable’ links to Loganair for FI’s. However, would it be better to do a CPL/FI near London, as there are more schools, more chance of networking with more than one airline etc. Also it might increase chances of actually being employed as a FI down south, as there are more airfields available?
I’ve also seen Leicester Aero Club seem to do the cheapest CPL/FI courses by a few £k..is there a reason for this?
The other question I had was if it is worth the gamble to go all out on a CPL/ME-IR before an FI rating? Main problem is it will cost my left arm for this one…(which is good as I’m right handed?)
My main goal is the airlines, but to try and enjoy the torturous path along the way! Instructing may lead to something in its own right - 'if you don't try you'll never know' etc. so i don't want to start a debate over instructing as a way to build hours.
There is obviously no rush with this decision, but good to know what people think.
Cheers,
Richard
*NB This is all subject to me acing the atpl exams.. (!)
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I remember getting my CFI at one place and when i had done that, I asked for a job...nope.
got my first job somewhere else.
DON'T EVER expect to get a job from your ''school'' unless its in writing and even then, don't believe it till you see it.
I do prefer pipers to cessnas...
make sure you speak to some students and walk around the place for a few days and check things out.
got my first job somewhere else.
DON'T EVER expect to get a job from your ''school'' unless its in writing and even then, don't believe it till you see it.
I do prefer pipers to cessnas...
make sure you speak to some students and walk around the place for a few days and check things out.
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Yeah, most of your assumptions aren't miles off.
If you do the FI course at ACS there's a very good chance they will give you a job. No idea if the same is true at Tayside, it wasn't for a while but that was mostly because their existing FIs were not moving on. There is a person there who seems to be using the words "virtually guaranteed" a job with Loganair, as has been said before, this is without question "complete sales bull" You will be guaranteed an interview IF you get a job at Tayside but that's it and you need to make sure you don't piss anyone off while you're getting there as well
. Logan also do look at people from a wide variety of backgrounds so if you definitely want to work for them, don't worry too much.
No idea who does the FI training at Tayside these days, it used to be good but the entire training team have changed since I was there. I have trained and worked with the guys at ACS and they are excellent, particularly the FI course, if I was to choose between the two it would be ACS without question.
Ask yourself if you really want to teach though, without being fully motivated to do it you could end up spending money on something you don't like and that has a negative effect on the students.
Doubt training in one specific place will be any more likely to get you a job as an FI, you need to be in the right place at the right time and that means lots of footwork. There's a great PPL school at ABZ as well, you may want to talk to someone over there.
If it was me, doing it all over again, not in Scotland. I would choose the school I was going to do my IR at and do the CPL there, then go do the FI at one of the specialist places, Pooley's or On Track. Airlines want to see you do the ME-IR and CPL at the same place, they don't seem to care where you do your FI.
Good luck with the ATPLs they are such a pain in the nuts.
If you do the FI course at ACS there's a very good chance they will give you a job. No idea if the same is true at Tayside, it wasn't for a while but that was mostly because their existing FIs were not moving on. There is a person there who seems to be using the words "virtually guaranteed" a job with Loganair, as has been said before, this is without question "complete sales bull" You will be guaranteed an interview IF you get a job at Tayside but that's it and you need to make sure you don't piss anyone off while you're getting there as well
. Logan also do look at people from a wide variety of backgrounds so if you definitely want to work for them, don't worry too much.No idea who does the FI training at Tayside these days, it used to be good but the entire training team have changed since I was there. I have trained and worked with the guys at ACS and they are excellent, particularly the FI course, if I was to choose between the two it would be ACS without question.
Ask yourself if you really want to teach though, without being fully motivated to do it you could end up spending money on something you don't like and that has a negative effect on the students.
Doubt training in one specific place will be any more likely to get you a job as an FI, you need to be in the right place at the right time and that means lots of footwork. There's a great PPL school at ABZ as well, you may want to talk to someone over there.
If it was me, doing it all over again, not in Scotland. I would choose the school I was going to do my IR at and do the CPL there, then go do the FI at one of the specialist places, Pooley's or On Track. Airlines want to see you do the ME-IR and CPL at the same place, they don't seem to care where you do your FI
.Good luck with the ATPLs
they are such a pain in the nuts.
Last edited by Dan the weegie; 8th Apr 2013 at 14:45.
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Sevenstroke & Dan, thanks for the helpful and detailed replies.
Yes, i was aware nothing is guaranteed in this game apart from the cost - "millionaires from the ranks of multimillionaires'' etc.
Having done my solo at Perth, i have a soft spot for it - everyone very friendly there that's for sure. I recently completed my PPL in ABZ, a very positive experience. Had some very crap weather and some spectacularly clear days. Scottish countryside also very nice to look at.
I did assume though that if you did an FI at a school, they may be inclined to help with finding that first job instructing.. i guess it comes down to networking!
Why not in scotland? just the shortage of choice?
Cheers
Richard
Positive attitude with the exams, they are the highlight of my day!
Yes, i was aware nothing is guaranteed in this game apart from the cost - "millionaires from the ranks of multimillionaires'' etc.
Having done my solo at Perth, i have a soft spot for it - everyone very friendly there that's for sure. I recently completed my PPL in ABZ, a very positive experience. Had some very crap weather and some spectacularly clear days. Scottish countryside also very nice to look at.
I did assume though that if you did an FI at a school, they may be inclined to help with finding that first job instructing.. i guess it comes down to networking!
Why not in scotland? just the shortage of choice?
Cheers
Richard
Positive attitude with the exams, they are the highlight of my day!
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Hmmm, perhaps what I wrote wasn't quite what I meant.
What I meant is, that where you do your CPL is where you should do your ME-IR. The FI is really not so relevant as to where but the quality of it is so very important and variable. I would do it at one of the very established FI schools down south.
So basically you could do your CPL and ME-IR at PTH and then do an FI at On-Track. You would still have a connection to PTH and they might be keen on hiring you. But you'll only know by going along and getting a feel for the place.
What you're thinking makes some sense, the thing is that you only get a job when one becomes available and quite often the timing isn't right, the school you were at will forget you about a week after you leave so don't expect much in that regard.
As for Networking, yes professional pilots do occasionally appear at schools but it can be quite a pain in the arse for them as the wannabes can jump on them like flies on Mad Jock's underpants the moment they come within 50 yards of the place, so remember that when they do.
What I meant is, that where you do your CPL is where you should do your ME-IR. The FI is really not so relevant as to where but the quality of it is so very important and variable. I would do it at one of the very established FI schools down south.
So basically you could do your CPL and ME-IR at PTH and then do an FI at On-Track. You would still have a connection to PTH and they might be keen on hiring you. But you'll only know by going along and getting a feel for the place.
What you're thinking makes some sense, the thing is that you only get a job when one becomes available and quite often the timing isn't right, the school you were at will forget you about a week after you leave so don't expect much in that regard.
As for Networking, yes professional pilots do occasionally appear at schools but it can be quite a pain in the arse for them as the wannabes can jump on them like flies on Mad Jock's underpants the moment they come within 50 yards of the place, so remember that when they do
.
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Thanks, i see your point, lots of info on here to keep me busy
& will be givng them a visit
Problem being there is not much of a flying club up here to network in.. The school is good but you can't easily go and have a pint.
Early days yet, but i love it when a plan comes together.
Richard
& will be givng them a visit Problem being there is not much of a flying club up here to network in.. The school is good but you can't easily go and have a pint.
Early days yet, but i love it when a plan comes together.
Richard
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Hi Richard
Leicestershire Aero Club can afford to keep their costs down because they operate the airfield as well as the flying school. So there are no local landing fees etc. The reputation of their training is good. Instructors who have trained there have been able to move on to working with Skybus, Ryanair, EasyJet, Atlantic and British Airways, so the fact it's a small school doesn't seem to be too much of a limitation. There is plenty of networking opportunity, as long as you take advantage of the social side.
PM me if you want to talk about it some more.
Leicestershire Aero Club can afford to keep their costs down because they operate the airfield as well as the flying school. So there are no local landing fees etc. The reputation of their training is good. Instructors who have trained there have been able to move on to working with Skybus, Ryanair, EasyJet, Atlantic and British Airways, so the fact it's a small school doesn't seem to be too much of a limitation. There is plenty of networking opportunity, as long as you take advantage of the social side.
PM me if you want to talk about it some more.
