PPL at small school? or big school?
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Joined: Sep 2024
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From: Portugal
PPL at small school? or big school?
I want to do my PPL in Europe, with the aim to do modular ATPL. Ideally Spain or Greece (or anywhere with good weather)
The larger/reputable schools charge approx 14,000 euros for PPL, such as : Egnatia, Skies, Fly In Spain, EAS Barcelona and so on. They also give an approx 6 months for completion, except Fly In Spain which promised 1 month
Smaller schools like FlyEPT cost 1/2 the price and promise completion in 1 month (intensive) or in general promise flexible scheduling.
I am torn about whether I should do PPL in a small flight school or a larger school? For future employment in airlines, does it matter where the PPL was acquired?
The larger/reputable schools charge approx 14,000 euros for PPL, such as : Egnatia, Skies, Fly In Spain, EAS Barcelona and so on. They also give an approx 6 months for completion, except Fly In Spain which promised 1 month
Smaller schools like FlyEPT cost 1/2 the price and promise completion in 1 month (intensive) or in general promise flexible scheduling.
I am torn about whether I should do PPL in a small flight school or a larger school? For future employment in airlines, does it matter where the PPL was acquired?
Joined: Dec 2005
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 4,973
Likes: 326
From: Hong Kong
PPL is the hardest course. You are learning to fly from scratch and every other course builds on that basic skill. It's quite common for people to go "over-hours" on a PPL but virtually unheard of on any other course (you'll probably need every one of those 45 hours for a PPL but you might be ready for the IR after 20).
To answer the question, no one cares where you got your PPL from (personally I would go to Como and do it all on floats!). But choose wisely because your target should always be to pass your test at 45 hours. You do that by:
1) Getting a Class one medical and passing all ground exams before touching an airplane.
2) Choosing a school which can keep you flying 5 days a week and get you through the PPL in under 6 weeks.
3) Avoiding a school where the instructors are inexperienced or obviously hour building and motivated to make you fly excess hours. It happens a lot.
4) Choosing a school with great weather and aircraft availability. Weather is a huge factor.
5) Learning in a 4 seater (even if it is more expensive) - you can backseat others and get twice the learning
The airlines often say 3 schools max, but they will only know what you mention on your CV, so you might say CPL@School A, MEIR@School B, MCC@School C - when actually you did your PPL at school D, Night reading at school E, some hour building at school F, IRR rating at school G and CBIR at school H. You just don't write that down.
To answer the question, no one cares where you got your PPL from (personally I would go to Como and do it all on floats!). But choose wisely because your target should always be to pass your test at 45 hours. You do that by:
1) Getting a Class one medical and passing all ground exams before touching an airplane.
2) Choosing a school which can keep you flying 5 days a week and get you through the PPL in under 6 weeks.
3) Avoiding a school where the instructors are inexperienced or obviously hour building and motivated to make you fly excess hours. It happens a lot.
4) Choosing a school with great weather and aircraft availability. Weather is a huge factor.
5) Learning in a 4 seater (even if it is more expensive) - you can backseat others and get twice the learning
The airlines often say 3 schools max, but they will only know what you mention on your CV, so you might say CPL@School A, MEIR@School B, MCC@School C - when actually you did your PPL at school D, Night reading at school E, some hour building at school F, IRR rating at school G and CBIR at school H. You just don't write that down.
