Which school for the CPL & IR?
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 164
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From: UK
Which school for the CPL & IR?
Hi folks,
I'm considering doing my CPL and IR at one of the following:
1. Cabair
2. Bristol Flight Centre
3. Professional Air Training
4. Multiflight
Is there anyone out there with experience of any of the above schools willing to shed some light on their training?
Any help appreciated
.
JT8
I'm considering doing my CPL and IR at one of the following:
1. Cabair
2. Bristol Flight Centre
3. Professional Air Training
4. Multiflight
Is there anyone out there with experience of any of the above schools willing to shed some light on their training?
Any help appreciated
.JT8
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 381
Likes: 0
From: No longer on Pprune
No 3 get's my vote. Doing my IR at the moment.
2 & 4 I've heard about and good things at that, but no personal experience.
No 1 I'd stay clear off, again, no personal experience.
PS
[ 26 November 2001: Message edited by: Polar_stereographic ]
2 & 4 I've heard about and good things at that, but no personal experience.
No 1 I'd stay clear off, again, no personal experience.
PS
[ 26 November 2001: Message edited by: Polar_stereographic ]
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Reading, Berkshire.UK
I've just finished at Bristol.
They got us all through with the minimum of pain. The aircraft are kept in serviceable nick and everybody gets there in the end.
I'd recommend them.
Unlike other bigger schools, you only have to be in credit on the day of your flight so there's no big upfront payments. This can be an advantage believe me.
Drop me a line if you want to know anything specific.
They got us all through with the minimum of pain. The aircraft are kept in serviceable nick and everybody gets there in the end.
I'd recommend them.
Unlike other bigger schools, you only have to be in credit on the day of your flight so there's no big upfront payments. This can be an advantage believe me.
Drop me a line if you want to know anything specific.
PPRuNe Handmaiden
Joined: Feb 1997
Posts: 4,910
Likes: 184
From: Duit On Mon Dei
I haven't flown at any of the schools mentioned. I don't work at any of them either.
However, I believe they are all good schools. I gather these ones are close(ish) to where you live. If so, I would take the time out to visit them. Talk to the instructors and the students already there. Have a look at their aircraft and so on. In other words, get a feel for the place and see if it suits you.
Will you get one/two instructors or many?
Aircraft available when you want it?
Do they demand a lot of money up front?
Ground briefings included in cost?
Sims available?
Aircraft maintained well? (Look in the MR to find out.)
Do they seem to want your business or are you a "nuisance" to them?
Some schools suit certain personalities and others don't. It is vital that you get a feel for the place before you spend your money. Relying purely on what "anonymous" PPRuNers say may not help you in the long run.
Good luck.
However, I believe they are all good schools. I gather these ones are close(ish) to where you live. If so, I would take the time out to visit them. Talk to the instructors and the students already there. Have a look at their aircraft and so on. In other words, get a feel for the place and see if it suits you.
Will you get one/two instructors or many?
Aircraft available when you want it?
Do they demand a lot of money up front?
Ground briefings included in cost?
Sims available?
Aircraft maintained well? (Look in the MR to find out.)
Do they seem to want your business or are you a "nuisance" to them?
Some schools suit certain personalities and others don't. It is vital that you get a feel for the place before you spend your money. Relying purely on what "anonymous" PPRuNers say may not help you in the long run.
Good luck.
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
From: UK
Thanks for the replies - I will be visiting the schools in question to take a look myself. Could I also ask how long the course has taken? Finally, should I be adding Oxford 
to the list?!?
cheers, JT8
to the list?!?cheers, JT8
Guest
Posts: n/a
JT8,
I am one of the guys that was down at SFT doing my course, and I had to quickly change schools to cary on with my training.
I looked at those schools that you mentioned and found most of them to be ok. However I opted for a local place to continue my training and have found that there facilities are very good.
For example unlike some of the schools for the IR, they use an modern FNPT II sim rather than a Frasca....don't know about anyone els but i wouldn't want 35 hours on a frasca in my logbook. Also they have decent a\c (Arrow iv Turbo + Seneca) and the price is good.
The school is called 'The Flight Centre' and it is based at Wolverhampton Business Aerodrome.
Do with this info what you wish, and I wish you luck with your training.
MM
I am one of the guys that was down at SFT doing my course, and I had to quickly change schools to cary on with my training.
I looked at those schools that you mentioned and found most of them to be ok. However I opted for a local place to continue my training and have found that there facilities are very good.
For example unlike some of the schools for the IR, they use an modern FNPT II sim rather than a Frasca....don't know about anyone els but i wouldn't want 35 hours on a frasca in my logbook. Also they have decent a\c (Arrow iv Turbo + Seneca) and the price is good.
The school is called 'The Flight Centre' and it is based at Wolverhampton Business Aerodrome.
Do with this info what you wish, and I wish you luck with your training.
MM
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: Can't remember
No experince of No.1
Had a bad experiance at no.4 spent quite a lot of money with two failed IR attempts & felt I was being messed around some what, then gave up with No. 4 and went to No. 2 spent a week there and got a full pass.
No.3 I allways hear good things about
Had a bad experiance at no.4 spent quite a lot of money with two failed IR attempts & felt I was being messed around some what, then gave up with No. 4 and went to No. 2 spent a week there and got a full pass.
No.3 I allways hear good things about
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: UK
Did my IR at Bristol Flight Centre.
Found them to be friendly, helpful, efficient and the aircraft are well maintained.
Failed my IR test the first time due to a couple of silly mistakes which could not be blamed on the training.
Can't comment on the others.
Found them to be friendly, helpful, efficient and the aircraft are well maintained.
Failed my IR test the first time due to a couple of silly mistakes which could not be blamed on the training.
Can't comment on the others.
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Athome
Everyone's an expert...
Just to add to the confusion here is a cut and paste from another posting of mine.
If anyone reading this is looking for for a flight school to continue trainning I would suggest the following.
Find a flight school that has ex SFT instructors, appart from one or two exceptions they were exceptional (the exceptions were merely not quite as good as the very high standard).
I say this as it is not management, policy, airfield or aircraft that make a good FTO. Good instructors make a good flight school, also creative scheduling and good contacts within the CAA helps. (being an ex SFT student I am also biased).
I believe PAT have taken on one as well as Carrel and BFC.
Oh... and learn and understand your checklists.
I can't comment on Multiflight (as I have never heard of them) and would avoid Bristol like the plague (based on stories from Bristol students).
[ 10 December 2001: Message edited by: twinkletoes ]
Just to add to the confusion here is a cut and paste from another posting of mine.
If anyone reading this is looking for for a flight school to continue trainning I would suggest the following.
Find a flight school that has ex SFT instructors, appart from one or two exceptions they were exceptional (the exceptions were merely not quite as good as the very high standard).
I say this as it is not management, policy, airfield or aircraft that make a good FTO. Good instructors make a good flight school, also creative scheduling and good contacts within the CAA helps. (being an ex SFT student I am also biased).
I believe PAT have taken on one as well as Carrel and BFC.
Oh... and learn and understand your checklists.
I can't comment on Multiflight (as I have never heard of them) and would avoid Bristol like the plague (based on stories from Bristol students).
[ 10 December 2001: Message edited by: twinkletoes ]
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 497
Likes: 0
From: Right Here.
I can definately recommend Leeds flying School. Had a great time when there and they really pushed me through quickly with great instruction. You can even twist the guys arms for a cold one. Well worth a look.
MAX
MAX
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
From: UK
twinkletoes,
In the same message, you suggest that students should go to schools that have employed ex SFT instructors, including BFC, but would advise that everyone should avoid Bristol like the plague(based on STORIES from Bristol students).
Nice one.
In the same message, you suggest that students should go to schools that have employed ex SFT instructors, including BFC, but would advise that everyone should avoid Bristol like the plague(based on STORIES from Bristol students).
Nice one.
PPRuNe Knight in Shining Armour
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 503
Likes: 0
From: Everywhere in the UK, but not home!
So Twinkie, you put down a flying school that you haven't any experience with! Tut tut!! 
I have experience with them, in fact I am one of BFC's students. The flying staff are really excellent. Nas, Em and Leigh worked really hard for me as they do for all of their students.
One small gripe for me though was the organisation of the FNPT2 sim time, it could have been better, but they know about that and I believe that they are doing something to rectify it.
I would thoroughly recommend them.
I can still hear it ringing in my ears "little and often, little and often, little and often" in a bloody welsh accent
[ 10 December 2001: Message edited by: Snigs ]
I have experience with them, in fact I am one of BFC's students. The flying staff are really excellent. Nas, Em and Leigh worked really hard for me as they do for all of their students.
One small gripe for me though was the organisation of the FNPT2 sim time, it could have been better, but they know about that and I believe that they are doing something to rectify it.
I would thoroughly recommend them.
I can still hear it ringing in my ears "little and often, little and often, little and often" in a bloody welsh accent
[ 10 December 2001: Message edited by: Snigs ]