UK residential ATPL writtens.
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 565
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From: N/A
UK residential ATPL writtens.
Hello.
Does anyone have an up to date list of all the places where you can do a full-time residential ATPL written course in the UK?
I've visited BCFT at Hurn, and SFC at Stapleford. Both completely suitable.
I intend to look in at FTA at Shoreham.
ACS at Scone, Scotland is also an option. But I'm not driving all the way up there just for a look-see.
How about CATS at Luton?
Some lists seem to be out of date.
How about
Atlantic at Baginton.
Cabair at Cranfield.
London Metropolitan University.
Does Kidligton do a modular route.
Southampton is out of the running.
Any thoughts or opinions appreciated.
I want to make the right choice for my 18 year old daughter.
I'm not sure there is a wrong choice.
But if there is one, I want to avoid it.
Does anyone have an up to date list of all the places where you can do a full-time residential ATPL written course in the UK?
I've visited BCFT at Hurn, and SFC at Stapleford. Both completely suitable.
I intend to look in at FTA at Shoreham.
ACS at Scone, Scotland is also an option. But I'm not driving all the way up there just for a look-see.
How about CATS at Luton?
Some lists seem to be out of date.
How about
Atlantic at Baginton.
Cabair at Cranfield.
London Metropolitan University.
Does Kidligton do a modular route.
Southampton is out of the running.
Any thoughts or opinions appreciated.
I want to make the right choice for my 18 year old daughter.
I'm not sure there is a wrong choice.
But if there is one, I want to avoid it.
Joined: Dec 2005
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 4,977
Likes: 329
From: Hong Kong
It's a bit of a lottery - even if you visit the place she'll only know if it's suitable after a few weeks. Does it have to be residential? A distance learning course would be cheaper and more flexible and if she's smart will be quicker.
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,366
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From: UK
As Mustapha Cuppa, standards doc 31 with a simple search for residential throws up plenty of options not listed above.
If you're contemplating ACS, it may be worth the drive to also see Dundee, there have been a lot of changes there lately sounding quite positive, although I've not been through there in years.
If you're contemplating ACS, it may be worth the drive to also see Dundee, there have been a lot of changes there lately sounding quite positive, although I've not been through there in years.
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 565
Likes: 0
From: N/A
Hello, and thank you for your reply.
The problem as I see it is.
Gulf Coast Aviation in Ft Pierce, Florida does a course where you do most of it on-line and three two week study periods before taking the exams in Orlando, Florida. This would require three blocks of two weeks away from work, plus the time to take the exams.
I also looked into doing the Bristol Ground School system and again it would require several trips to the UK on her mothers company passes and many weeks in a hotel.
If she were flying Pt 135 charters, I can not see how she could get the time off work. So before she starts her flying career, with a FAA Comm/Inst/Multi I thought it best to get the EASA ATPL(f).
I was thinking that the quickest way to do it, would be the UK residentual route. I spoke to several ex-pats and dual citizens at the regional US carriers who had done this. Some had simply given up, and only one had completed it after several years of trying.
I have looked at BCFT and SFC, and will look at all others in the next year. I was just thinking what peoples experience were with any of them. When I see places like Luton as an option it scares sending my daughter there. And I'm not talking about Vauxhaul Viva's. But maybe it's the nicest place on earth, I simply don't know.
I had relatives in Bournmouth and Brighton where she could have stayed. But unfortunatly for us, and them, they both died. Now I'm looking at paying the residentual fees which are often more than the course fees. Now I'm hopeing that a friend in Oxford says she can stay at his place and go the ground school there. But six months is a bit of an imposition.
Rudestuff is correct in saying that you never know until your three weeks into it if it's the right choice. But quicker? If only my brother was still in Bristol. Maybe she could have done it all there in less time. But aren't the study dates fixed? or can you just say I've done module 1, 2 & 3 and am ready to do the two week study course any time?
Maybe I'll have to rethink this one.
Which brings me to another question.
Where apart from the Beehive at Gatwick can you sit the exams at?
I can't imagine they would make you travel from Scotland to Gatwick to take a test.
The problem as I see it is.
Gulf Coast Aviation in Ft Pierce, Florida does a course where you do most of it on-line and three two week study periods before taking the exams in Orlando, Florida. This would require three blocks of two weeks away from work, plus the time to take the exams.
I also looked into doing the Bristol Ground School system and again it would require several trips to the UK on her mothers company passes and many weeks in a hotel.
If she were flying Pt 135 charters, I can not see how she could get the time off work. So before she starts her flying career, with a FAA Comm/Inst/Multi I thought it best to get the EASA ATPL(f).
I was thinking that the quickest way to do it, would be the UK residentual route. I spoke to several ex-pats and dual citizens at the regional US carriers who had done this. Some had simply given up, and only one had completed it after several years of trying.
I have looked at BCFT and SFC, and will look at all others in the next year. I was just thinking what peoples experience were with any of them. When I see places like Luton as an option it scares sending my daughter there. And I'm not talking about Vauxhaul Viva's. But maybe it's the nicest place on earth, I simply don't know.
I had relatives in Bournmouth and Brighton where she could have stayed. But unfortunatly for us, and them, they both died. Now I'm looking at paying the residentual fees which are often more than the course fees. Now I'm hopeing that a friend in Oxford says she can stay at his place and go the ground school there. But six months is a bit of an imposition.
Rudestuff is correct in saying that you never know until your three weeks into it if it's the right choice. But quicker? If only my brother was still in Bristol. Maybe she could have done it all there in less time. But aren't the study dates fixed? or can you just say I've done module 1, 2 & 3 and am ready to do the two week study course any time?
Maybe I'll have to rethink this one.
Which brings me to another question.
Where apart from the Beehive at Gatwick can you sit the exams at?
I can't imagine they would make you travel from Scotland to Gatwick to take a test.
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 4,331
Likes: 74
From: White Waltham, Prestwick & Calgary
Exams can be taken at several locations in the UK, and indeed abroad - details would be deep in the depths of the CAA website.
You can take them in Perth (Scotland), I believe, off the top of my head.
In theory, the classroom stuff can be done any time, but it depends on the school's training manual - each course is "approved" and should be done in a certain way. We prefer to do ours at the start of studies, better results that way.
You can take them in Perth (Scotland), I believe, off the top of my head.
In theory, the classroom stuff can be done any time, but it depends on the school's training manual - each course is "approved" and should be done in a certain way. We prefer to do ours at the start of studies, better results that way.
