SFT or not SFT
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I took a long time to decide on which flight training school i would go to. I decided on SFT, because the seemed like the only school who would give you that personal touch!!! The ground instructors are very friendly and helpfull and know you by your first name!! Unlike some of the bigger schools where you are just a cog in a big wheel!!!
I have just finished my ATPL's there, so I can't comment on what the flying side is like at the moment, but from talking to other students, it seems to be ok!!!
If you want anymore info from someone who is studying there and not an instructor then drop me an email!!!!
I have just finished my ATPL's there, so I can't comment on what the flying side is like at the moment, but from talking to other students, it seems to be ok!!!
If you want anymore info from someone who is studying there and not an instructor then drop me an email!!!!
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I, like Lightning Ace used PPSC, PAT, and finally Bristol Ground School for Perf 'A'.
Whilst none were perfect, it worked fine for me, and at what appears to me a middle of the road price, as far as professional pilot training is concerned. However getting a job afterwards is an entirely different matter!
Happy Landings
MDS
Whilst none were perfect, it worked fine for me, and at what appears to me a middle of the road price, as far as professional pilot training is concerned. However getting a job afterwards is an entirely different matter!
Happy Landings
MDS
Jet Blast Rat
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WWW
My employer is not in my profile as most of my posts are in Jet Blast, and not associated with SFT! There are enough clues in my profile for those that see me post about SFT and look at my profile to guess, and any who email me I reply and state very clearly.
I am also posting along exactly the same lines I have done since I joined PPRuNe (as a_random) when I was a student at SFT. I have no interest in SFT's success - I will not be there for long, I hope, as I am not flying
.
My employer is not in my profile as most of my posts are in Jet Blast, and not associated with SFT! There are enough clues in my profile for those that see me post about SFT and look at my profile to guess, and any who email me I reply and state very clearly.
I am also posting along exactly the same lines I have done since I joined PPRuNe (as a_random) when I was a student at SFT. I have no interest in SFT's success - I will not be there for long, I hope, as I am not flying
.
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Fibod
At the moment most integrated graduates are from courses basically CAA or JAA courses run the same way. I really cannot see the airlines continuing to favour integrated courses as they change to become exactly the same in structure as the modular course.
At the moment most integrated graduates are from courses basically CAA or JAA courses run the same way. I really cannot see the airlines continuing to favour integrated courses as they change to become exactly the same in structure as the modular course.
Send Clowns makes a very very valid point.
The modular route if conducted at a well established FTO's is no different to the fully intregrated course.
Over time Chief Pilots will come to realise this.
At the moment we are in a hangover phase because for 20 years you either had CAP509 or Self Improver 700hr CPL'ers.
The association between integrated and modular with the old two routes is fundamentally flawed. It will take several years though before that registers in the airlines.
When that does indeed happen it would be far more useful to see the following advert rather than the usual Fully Integrated, or, 1000hrs+ TT minmum requirements for application:
"Applicants should hold a JAA CPL with Current IR <note no MCC required> and have passed either their CPL or IR skill test at the first attempt whilst achieving an ATPL examination average pass mark of 85%"
Same syllabi, same training standards, same tests so therefore select on results rather than which system best suited your purse/lifestyle commitments at the time.
WWW
ps things will be alright once I am the Chairman of the CAA.
pps I am not joking.
The modular route if conducted at a well established FTO's is no different to the fully intregrated course.
Over time Chief Pilots will come to realise this.
At the moment we are in a hangover phase because for 20 years you either had CAP509 or Self Improver 700hr CPL'ers.
The association between integrated and modular with the old two routes is fundamentally flawed. It will take several years though before that registers in the airlines.
When that does indeed happen it would be far more useful to see the following advert rather than the usual Fully Integrated, or, 1000hrs+ TT minmum requirements for application:
"Applicants should hold a JAA CPL with Current IR <note no MCC required> and have passed either their CPL or IR skill test at the first attempt whilst achieving an ATPL examination average pass mark of 85%"
Same syllabi, same training standards, same tests so therefore select on results rather than which system best suited your purse/lifestyle commitments at the time.
WWW
ps things will be alright once I am the Chairman of the CAA.
pps I am not joking.
Jet Blast Rat
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Ooops, sorry Brian. Am having problems changing to AOL. They are unmetered, but the email does not use smtp 
so is incompatible with other ISPs' email accounts. A bit of a struggle to sort things :o and I'll reply tonight or tomorrow.
so is incompatible with other ISPs' email accounts. A bit of a struggle to sort things :o and I'll reply tonight or tomorrow.
Kiltie - Yep. I hope I still am renowned for that trait.
I was speaking from personal experience having done a Multi rating and IR with them in 15 days for less than £7k and a 1st time pass.
They were excellent in both my personal and flying instructor professional judgement.
It gives me great pleasure to read both the posts and personal email from subsequent very satisfied customers.
My favourable comments were patently made in a spirit of passing on hot gen to fellow Wannabes as I had nothing personally to gain from promoting a company with which I had only a 3 week customer relationship.
This is exactly the sort of info which I wish to see conveyed on this forum.
It is/was also completely in line with 'policy' here.
Cheers,
WWW
I was speaking from personal experience having done a Multi rating and IR with them in 15 days for less than £7k and a 1st time pass.
They were excellent in both my personal and flying instructor professional judgement.
It gives me great pleasure to read both the posts and personal email from subsequent very satisfied customers.
My favourable comments were patently made in a spirit of passing on hot gen to fellow Wannabes as I had nothing personally to gain from promoting a company with which I had only a 3 week customer relationship.
This is exactly the sort of info which I wish to see conveyed on this forum.
It is/was also completely in line with 'policy' here.
Cheers,
WWW
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I have pretty much got as much fedback as I could hope on whether people view SFT as a good school. The answer seems to be a strong "yes" which tallies with my research from other sources - thanks to all those who posted their opinion and offered me their experience. What is interesting is the belief, from Send CLowns and WWW that in the next 12 months or so, good, continuous modular courses will converge with integrated with respect to the view of airlines. As a modular route would suit me better on a personal level, I'd be grateful if anyone could post any other info they feel valid on this issue.
sydneyc
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I was at SFT and had some bad experiences with them but that said, I would still recommend them. Whilst other people on my course moaned constantly, I decided to put up and shut up (ok so I got an upgrade to the Aztec instead of the Seminole) and as a result I landed a jet job within 6 days of finishing my training. Ok so I was incredibly lucky and that isn't typical, but just goes to prove that ultimately it doesn't actually matter which school you trained with- I'm not sure all airlines place any importance on that anyway. A license is still a license and regardless of who paid for your course, to get one requires a lot of hard work, I think airlines realise that. Once you have completed your first year in your first job, It matters not where you trained, hours and types qualify you, whether you took two or three attempts to pass your morse code does not. Training in my opinion is all about jumping through hoops to get into a great club, most of your training will be provided online with your employer.
So get jumping and forget the school snobbery 'cos a tick in the box is still a tick in the box!
So get jumping and forget the school snobbery 'cos a tick in the box is still a tick in the box!
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WWW,
Althought I've not yet met PAT, from the numerous phone calls I've had with them I can back up your recomendation of them. I was originaly going to someone closer top home, but after phoning and leaving numerous unreturned messages, deceided to look else where.
Regionalflyer,
Many moons ago, I had an unsatisfactory experience from SFT, and it prompted me to go else where to finish off. But, as it was nearly 10 years ago, I would not hold it against them unless I hear of someone with a more recent experience.
Tell me something, if I read your post correctly, why do you think flying a PA23 helped you get a job? Just curious.
PS
Althought I've not yet met PAT, from the numerous phone calls I've had with them I can back up your recomendation of them. I was originaly going to someone closer top home, but after phoning and leaving numerous unreturned messages, deceided to look else where.
Regionalflyer,
Many moons ago, I had an unsatisfactory experience from SFT, and it prompted me to go else where to finish off. But, as it was nearly 10 years ago, I would not hold it against them unless I hear of someone with a more recent experience.
Tell me something, if I read your post correctly, why do you think flying a PA23 helped you get a job? Just curious.
PS
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Regionalflyer,
Would you care to expand on your bad experience with SFT? Anything you say that could help me make a more informed choice would be very useful - email me privately if you feel that would be better. Plus did SFT offer you any guidance at all when looking for a job?
sydneyc
Would you care to expand on your bad experience with SFT? Anything you say that could help me make a more informed choice would be very useful - email me privately if you feel that would be better. Plus did SFT offer you any guidance at all when looking for a job?
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Polar_stereographic - I don't mean that as a result of being put on the Aztec helped me get a job, I mean as a result of not moaning too much and asking for refunds etc. I think it may have helped. My instructor also happend to be the chief pilot at the time and very occasionally was approached by airlines for suitable F/O's. I feel that if I had been whinging constantly I may not have been put forward for my RH seat job Im in now.
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Just like to say that my experience of SFT was generally very good except for OBA wtih whom they no longer associate with. Decent ground school, some excellent instructors. I would recommend anyone going to SFT should request to fly with instructor callsigned SIMFLIGHT 04 he is an excellent instructor and well thought of by the CAA examiners I have spoken to.
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Regional
I am curious to know when you had a bad experience. I know they had a poor reputation about 2 1/2 - 3 years ago now, but they have worked hard on the problems. I certainly haven't seen any flying-side problems (bar the now sorted (I think) Arrow bottleneck) in the year-and-a-half I've been there.
Glad to hear you got a job straight out. Any pilots needed where you are? (of course I am only at SFT until airborne!)
I am curious to know when you had a bad experience. I know they had a poor reputation about 2 1/2 - 3 years ago now, but they have worked hard on the problems. I certainly haven't seen any flying-side problems (bar the now sorted (I think) Arrow bottleneck) in the year-and-a-half I've been there.
Glad to hear you got a job straight out. Any pilots needed where you are?
(of course I am only at SFT until airborne!)