Picking a flight school for PPL(a) in Lithuania/Poland/Czech Rep

[the_gimper]

So Bartolini finally replied to my email and said that they are fully booked this year(!) for PPLs for non-EU students, so now I'm looking for another school and hoping some of you might have recent reviews (as you all know everything in the aviation world changes fast, especially with flight schools constantly opening and closing). I've looked around the forum but a lot of stuff is years old, so I was hoping to get some current reviews.

Ideally I'm looking for a school on the level of Bartolini in terms of reputation/cost, located in the Baltics (+ Poland +Czech Rep). Location-wise this is mainly due to cost, but also because it's close to home, and I could just drive there fairly cheaply.

So, if any of you that received your PPL in one of those countries and were really happy (or unhappy) with the school, let me know!

P.S: some schools I've seen mentioned on these forums: Pakker Avio (ee), Fly For Fun (cz), Aviaticky Klub (cz), OK air (cz), BAA training (lt).

[Tharaka737]

I got the same reply.They said to come with an EU passport.

[Ihatemondays]

You can check Pan Aero in croatia.

[the_gimper]

Do you have experience with that school?

[Ihatemondays]

Yes. I cant send you message, you can contact me if you like.

[Sirijus]

Do try BAA Training, the name is growing for a reason PM if you want something specific

[the_gimper]

Had a look at them, unfortunately their prices seem to have grown along with their name they are the most expensive out of Greece/Spain/Poland/Slovenia/Croatia/Czech schools that I contacted. Also the ppl is 6 months with them, next group in september, which is too long to wait for me.

[Sirijus]

Oh okay, didn't know about that Well they were my only card so I'm out of the game. Good luck!

[woon82]

You can try this - flyforfun.cz
They are very much similar to Bartolini in term of price and I'm not sure About their reputation, but they seem to have some kind of award winning post in their page.
Anyone know about "fly for fun" please advice.

[dimk]

Hello neighbour
Would not recommend Pakker avio in Estonia, price is unreasonably high.
I was finishing PPL in SmartAero (PL) and going to start my ME / IR / CPL next week with them. Price is good and in general can't tell anything bad about them except for it used to take long for them to reply to e-mails, but seems that feedback has improved a lot now.

[therapist]

If you want to do your training properly, choose a British school. Accept the weather problems and the added cost but do it properly and never regret it!.

[nord121]

Originally Posted by dimk

Hello neighbour
Would not recommend Pakker avio in Estonia, price is unreasonably high.
I was finishing PPL in SmartAero (PL) and going to start my ME / IR / CPL next week with them. Price is good and in general can't tell anything bad about them except for it used to take long for them to reply to e-mails, but seems that feedback has improved a lot now.

Hi dimk,

Im not able to send you a message, are you able to DM me? I am located in Tallinn and have also found Pakker Avio and NAA very unreasonable in terms of cost id be interested in hearing your journey/ where you chose and how you commuted there.

Thanks

Nord

You can’t use the Private Messaging system, add url links or images until you have an established posting history.

[HowardJR]

Aviation Career Center in Slovenia... it's EU and Schengen.

[Banana Joe]

Try F Air in Czech Republic.

[Banana Joe]

Originally Posted by therapist

If you want to do your training properly, choose a British school. Accept the weather problems and the added cost but do it properly and never regret it!.

It's not like other countries can't fly. It's not like in other countries you can't ask for a zone transit in MATZ, TMA and CTR.

I did my PPL and the rest of my training in a country filled with TSAs and TRAs, active most of the time. It certainly helped me learn how to plan a flight accordingly.

[BAALKIS]

SMARTAERO

Hi everyone, I request some information about SMARTAERO flying school in Poland (and not SMARTAVIATION) .
I plan to go there in the next winter after my ATPL course and I'd like to know if someone there has information about the serious of this school and if this school is approved by ICAO and EASA .
Thanks you so much

[youngretired]

You should ask this directly to ATO if they are EASA approved or not. They may also provide their approval on their website. If smartaero states that they’re an ATO, which also means “Approved Training Organization”, either they’re a fraud or approved by EASA.

[ersin737]

I finished PPL in the Czech Republic. İt was a good training but usually, PPL minimum two months and you should be ready for extra flight hours. Hungary is very fast, generally, students finish 29 between 35 days, most of the Turkish students going to Hungary because of fast time and Schengen Visa procedure. I meant you can not stay longer.

Currently, I m continue my ATPL training in Poland, probably I will finish the beginning of next year, but in Poland if you re not EU citizen, you should apply CAA for fly permission, firstly you will apply for MEP(L) after the Mep training then you can apply for IR and CPL permission. usually, your ATO apply for you but you should wait at least one month, (that is the minimum time for permission could be more or less depending on the caa) and of course you should have at least 75 hours PİC.

[Juppie902]

I am a foreign (non EU member country) student aswell and heard about Smart Aero or SmartAero (styling not uniform enough) in Poland. Did someone inquire about them being EASA approved ATO ? I will inquire regardless just want to know if someone already did and how they responded.
I plan to do a PPL(a) as a first step after YEARS of only thinking about it, I want to do it cheap (not dirt cheap, because that will come with minimal professionalism) and professional.
Also is there any SOLID option in Czech Republic ? From what I read its 50:50 ratio of scummy schools and legit professional ATOs

[unluckyjr]

I know some non-europeans was trying to get their PPL almost in one year from those schools (Smart aviation, smartaero, something always smart).
They are very famous about it.
As I always telling people, stay away from Poland if you are not Polish. I'm not Polish, I'm in Poland, and I regret each and every day, as many of my friends around me.
Go to Hungary, or pay little bit extra and try Bartolini or Adriana.
Don't go cheap in Poland.
These scammers knows it better and will use it against you once they got your money and your signature on their contract.