Is a PPL a benefit with BA? Glasgow Flying Club?
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Is a PPL a benefit with BA? Glasgow Flying Club?
Hey there,
I am currently applying to BA for their training scheme for the second time - I only got to the Aptitiudes the last time. However, this time I am determined I am going to get through this stage and progress onto the final board. I was just wondering if anyone knew whether it would be beneficial to me to either have a PPL or currently training for a PPL. I recently spoke to two Britannia pilots and they both said that it would definately be bonus points. However as you all know it is very expensive. I was looking into Glasgow Flying Club and they said that by the end of it, it could cost me between 8000 and 10000 pounds. I realise that I could take out a loan, but I do not want to make any rash decisions about it, if it is not going to benefit me. Also has anyone flown at Glasgow Flying Club before? if so can they tell me what it is like? Any information would be useful.
Regards
Rossco
I am currently applying to BA for their training scheme for the second time - I only got to the Aptitiudes the last time. However, this time I am determined I am going to get through this stage and progress onto the final board. I was just wondering if anyone knew whether it would be beneficial to me to either have a PPL or currently training for a PPL. I recently spoke to two Britannia pilots and they both said that it would definately be bonus points. However as you all know it is very expensive. I was looking into Glasgow Flying Club and they said that by the end of it, it could cost me between 8000 and 10000 pounds. I realise that I could take out a loan, but I do not want to make any rash decisions about it, if it is not going to benefit me. Also has anyone flown at Glasgow Flying Club before? if so can they tell me what it is like? Any information would be useful.
Regards
Rossco
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Bloody hell mate what are you planning on doing your PPL in??? a 747??? i did mine at Lancs Aero Club,a flying school in manchester and it cost me at most £6000 but i did buy my own headset and full library of trevor thoms, crp-5 etc.... I would consider giving edinburgh a miss if they're charging you £8k+
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I think that 8 to 10k is a bit steep.I would budget more toward the 4 to 6k mark.Forget about going to glasgow come to cumbernauld instead. 
.And yes i do work there.I've heard mixed reports about glasgow,nothing bad about the instructors thay have some really good ones there but it is expensive and i think a bit eliteist(is that the right spelling).good luck and yes i do need the hours...
.And yes i do work there.I've heard mixed reports about glasgow,nothing bad about the instructors thay have some really good ones there but it is expensive and i think a bit eliteist(is that the right spelling).good luck and yes i do need the hours...
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Certainly look in to Glasgow. But as a student at Glasgow University, I've been hiring from Cumbernauld Flying School for two years and can only recommend them.
They use Katanas (which are more complex than their C152/PA38 equivalents due to a variable-pitch prop) and their facilities, instructors and general atmosphere can only be described as more welcoming than Glasgow. Besides, you're not wasting money and time waiting at the holding point behind a 737 waiting for clearance. I know people will whine that you don't get the same experience with ATC at Cumbernauld (air-ground radio) but the argument is that at Cumbernauld you have the choice. There is nothing stopping you (if Glasgow let you) from flying a local over the city and across the approach path towards the west coast (Oban and Prestwick both within easy reach).
My advice is that you simply must train at Cumbernauld. Better planes, newer planes, more available planes/instructors, cheaper, friendlier. Not only are the staff at the school welcoming, but the staff working at the airport (the name Stuart springs to mind) are always willing to help you out if you're in need.
Email me if you want. You're welcome to come up with me next time I'm flying.
They use Katanas (which are more complex than their C152/PA38 equivalents due to a variable-pitch prop) and their facilities, instructors and general atmosphere can only be described as more welcoming than Glasgow. Besides, you're not wasting money and time waiting at the holding point behind a 737 waiting for clearance. I know people will whine that you don't get the same experience with ATC at Cumbernauld (air-ground radio) but the argument is that at Cumbernauld you have the choice. There is nothing stopping you (if Glasgow let you) from flying a local over the city and across the approach path towards the west coast (Oban and Prestwick both within easy reach).
My advice is that you simply must train at Cumbernauld. Better planes, newer planes, more available planes/instructors, cheaper, friendlier. Not only are the staff at the school welcoming, but the staff working at the airport (the name Stuart springs to mind) are always willing to help you out if you're in need.
Email me if you want. You're welcome to come up with me next time I'm flying.
Join Date: Apr 2000
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I started my PPL at the Glasgow Flying Club. As far as I am concerned, the place is riddled with dodgy people and VERY STEEP prices!!! As mentioned above go visit the Prestwick Flying Club 30mins down the A77. Many ex GFC members there, who "saw the light!!" You will be taught by and mix with TRUE professionals. It seemed to me that the PFC members enjoyed flying, unlike the GFC who were more intent on stitching each other up!!! 
By all means visit Cumbernauld, Edinburgh, and the Prestwick Flight Centre (North Side.) However I stand by my recommendation. Before anyone says it ...... NO I DONT WORK THERE!!
Eff Oh.
By all means visit Cumbernauld, Edinburgh, and the Prestwick Flight Centre (North Side.) However I stand by my recommendation. Before anyone says it ...... NO I DONT WORK THERE!!
Eff Oh.
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Well, it all depends on the viewpoint - I have heard two opinions at work (world's favourite)Firstly, there is the school of thought that says if a chap has got the drive/intellect/perseverance to get the PPL then he is a good bet. However, the flip side of this is that Most majors insist that psychometric tests etc, and close monitoring of both recruitment and ongoing training standards at the schools lead to a lower chop rate. IMHO it appears that most of the big players will take pilots whom they did not train from Ab-initio as long as they join as Direct Entry Pilots, and have hours on type. Otherwise, my personal opinion is that you are, to a certain extent better off without, if you are aiming high. Conversely, I have seen adverts in Pilot mag from Cabair/KLM etc., offering part sponsorship as long as you have PPL/IMC/Night and 95 hours P1......Its all a gamble. But if you wanna fly - do it.....why wait for an offer that (No offence) may never come to fruition?
Tailwinds
Tailwinds
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cant reccomend Prestwick Flying Club highly enough, friendly people, nice aircraft and not too terribly expensive.
Would give you the phone number but I aint got it to hand - they're under the book as scotia safari i think
have fun pal
Tunny
(by the way - ditch the uni and come to spain, much more fun!!!)
Would give you the phone number but I aint got it to hand - they're under the book as scotia safari i think
have fun pal
Tunny
(by the way - ditch the uni and come to spain, much more fun!!!)
Join Date: May 2000
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Just to reiterate what was said earlier...
Forget glasgow flying club, there well up there own @rse, and as far as I know they have to fly a good bit out of Glasgow to get any training done as well as competeing for runway with all the commercial traffic.
Cumbernauld is a good place, quiet we gaff, not bad, I had a trial there and I couldn`t fault it.
Prestwick is probably your best bet, it seems to be a good laugh down there, and as far as I can make out the training seems pretty good. There is also a small amount of commercial traffic there as well which is good experience. Besides Prestwick is turning into the loony bin for all the Glasgow wannabes which can only be good.
Best to make your own mind up, visit them all!!
Good luck.
Forget glasgow flying club, there well up there own @rse, and as far as I know they have to fly a good bit out of Glasgow to get any training done as well as competeing for runway with all the commercial traffic.
Cumbernauld is a good place, quiet we gaff, not bad, I had a trial there and I couldn`t fault it.
Prestwick is probably your best bet, it seems to be a good laugh down there, and as far as I can make out the training seems pretty good. There is also a small amount of commercial traffic there as well which is good experience. Besides Prestwick is turning into the loony bin for all the Glasgow wannabes which can only be good.
Best to make your own mind up, visit them all!!
Good luck.
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Maybe the people at glasgow flying club should read this and adjust there attitudes.There are a lot of good people down at glasgow and unfortunatly it's the attitudes of the few who ruin it for everybody.Then again i would say there is no harm in a bit of backstabbing!!!What can i say leave the politcal stuff to the bowling clubs and concentrate on the FLYING!!!
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Alrighty,
Have to say that i had a trial lesson at GFC and thought it was great. since then joined the club and have had a few lessons towards my PPL. The complaints I have are not about the pilots - they all seem to be really decent. Well, my instructor was anyway. I'm more annoyed at the lack of organisation. When I joined I was told I could work opperations to get free flight time - useful when you're a student. However it's ben over 3 months and I still don't have a key to get into the club, because they are supposed to be fitting a new entry system. That was announced over a month ago... so what is taking so damn long? I've been accepted for training so I'm ditching the lessons for now - primarily due to the expense of the while thing, but also because the hassle is starting to over-ride the benefits. Having said that the experience was most uselful for the interview. The first question I was asked was about my interest for flying and why there was nothing in the application form. My answer was that I'd done it all since applying and he seemed to be happy with that. Don't think you need to go for the full PPL though. Besides, they are going to train you up from scratch anyway.
Bunty
Have to say that i had a trial lesson at GFC and thought it was great. since then joined the club and have had a few lessons towards my PPL. The complaints I have are not about the pilots - they all seem to be really decent. Well, my instructor was anyway. I'm more annoyed at the lack of organisation. When I joined I was told I could work opperations to get free flight time - useful when you're a student. However it's ben over 3 months and I still don't have a key to get into the club, because they are supposed to be fitting a new entry system. That was announced over a month ago... so what is taking so damn long? I've been accepted for training so I'm ditching the lessons for now - primarily due to the expense of the while thing, but also because the hassle is starting to over-ride the benefits. Having said that the experience was most uselful for the interview. The first question I was asked was about my interest for flying and why there was nothing in the application form. My answer was that I'd done it all since applying and he seemed to be happy with that. Don't think you need to go for the full PPL though. Besides, they are going to train you up from scratch anyway.
Bunty
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Rossco,
At my FB at BA a couple of years ago the pilot asked "do you have any flying experience?"
"No"
"No, not even a trial lesson???"
"no, I didn't know that was possible!"
No need to say that at that point when he glanced across at the lady from Human Resources it was going to be a "we regret" through the post.
Go start flying but do not break tha bank by trying to get too much flying done.
On the downside, if had in excess of say 20 hours then they could start ascking you some tricky technical questions - I'd rather talk about my hobbies thank you very much.
PFO
At my FB at BA a couple of years ago the pilot asked "do you have any flying experience?"
"No"
"No, not even a trial lesson???"
"no, I didn't know that was possible!"
No need to say that at that point when he glanced across at the lady from Human Resources it was going to be a "we regret" through the post.
Go start flying but do not break tha bank by trying to get too much flying done.
On the downside, if had in excess of say 20 hours then they could start ascking you some tricky technical questions - I'd rather talk about my hobbies thank you very much.
PFO
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What ever you do not go to Glasgow, its reputation is worse than S***E Go to Prestwick, that is where i am learning to fly and cannot recommend it more highly. All the instructors are commercial pilots and love flying and seeing people gain their ppl's and they will train you for your ppl as if you are a cadet pilot for their airline, and they will give you all their knowledge to help you acheinve your goal of either commercial or private flying Its a great club and everyone is friendly, not like Glasgow!!!! The Airport itself is good, very little traffic except Ryanair who will always use the opposite runway to all other traffic, the weather is usually good though you will love the crosswind when you come to do circuits. Finaly its much cheaper than Glasgow which is a big help!!!!!!!!
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hey you lot
never have i read such a bunch of pish written about any subject in my life before!
lets get our facts right from the start.it was probably I who told rossco-18uk the cost of his flying, unfortunately he has as you will have guessed he got his facts wrong.what I will have told him is an approximation of the cost as not every one who walks through our doors is going to get a ppl(a) in 45hours, therefore it is better to give a more realistic estimate of the costs.
I it is my pleasure to say, carry out the ops role virtually every weekend, so it is I who answers the phone etc, but let me make it clear to you all I am a student member who feels very strongly that small flying clubs and GA need active support from all involved.
If you want to make your own mind up about gfc and the people who are the ordinary members then why not take the opportunity and come along any weekend and check us out
or come to the Scottish aero club annual quiz at the clansman club on the 22/9/01 at 1300 local. see you all there, ta ta!
never have i read such a bunch of pish written about any subject in my life before!
lets get our facts right from the start.it was probably I who told rossco-18uk the cost of his flying, unfortunately he has as you will have guessed he got his facts wrong.what I will have told him is an approximation of the cost as not every one who walks through our doors is going to get a ppl(a) in 45hours, therefore it is better to give a more realistic estimate of the costs.
I it is my pleasure to say, carry out the ops role virtually every weekend, so it is I who answers the phone etc, but let me make it clear to you all I am a student member who feels very strongly that small flying clubs and GA need active support from all involved.
If you want to make your own mind up about gfc and the people who are the ordinary members then why not take the opportunity and come along any weekend and check us out
or come to the Scottish aero club annual quiz at the clansman club on the 22/9/01 at 1300 local. see you all there, ta ta!
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Bigman,
Is that you Andy? When did you join the club? If it was after me can you explain to me why you managed to get a key where I did not? Also, if it is so great there wcould you also tell me why it is that if you turn up for a lesson on a busy weekend it can take up to an hour before your flight actualy takes place? Smooth running? I hardly think so. The expense is greater at GFC than prestwick as well - the landing fees when it comes to doing circuits are just silly. Quoting a high price for PPL like you said you may have done is not a good way of getting busines for the club - or attracting interest to aviation in general.
Ranting and raving about how good something is is fine, but you can't ignore the down sides. If you are there virtually every weekend then you should know that smooth running is not one of the club's fortes. Having said that I will acknowledge the fact (as I did in my last post) that when in the air the instructors are good, and every one at the club seems nice enough.
There, I'm done venting.
Bunty
Is that you Andy? When did you join the club? If it was after me can you explain to me why you managed to get a key where I did not? Also, if it is so great there wcould you also tell me why it is that if you turn up for a lesson on a busy weekend it can take up to an hour before your flight actualy takes place? Smooth running? I hardly think so. The expense is greater at GFC than prestwick as well - the landing fees when it comes to doing circuits are just silly. Quoting a high price for PPL like you said you may have done is not a good way of getting busines for the club - or attracting interest to aviation in general.
Ranting and raving about how good something is is fine, but you can't ignore the down sides. If you are there virtually every weekend then you should know that smooth running is not one of the club's fortes. Having said that I will acknowledge the fact (as I did in my last post) that when in the air the instructors are good, and every one at the club seems nice enough.
There, I'm done venting.
Bunty
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rossco,
Flying isn't everything in the BA final board. If you go all out for a PPL at the expense of other activities or your studies then it could disadvantage you.
I'm not sure what stage of studying you are at, but there are various options which will get you flying experience for very little outlay and that have other benefits. Have you looked at the air cadets or University Air Squadron. Most universities also run gliding clubs which is a good way to learn basic principles. All these organisations have active social sides and other, non-flying related activities which will stand you in good stead. As for going to the bank and taking out a loan to get your PPL, I think it shows a lot more enthusiasm if you get yourself a part-time job to finance the flying. BA and most major companies prize initiative and, even if you only manage to get a few hours, it shows that you care enough about flying to get off your a**e and do something about it.
Flying experience is not necessary for a BA cadetship, just buckets of enthusiasm.
I can't speak for any of the other flying clubs mentioned here, but I did my flying scholarship with Tayside Aviation in Dundee and I thought they were excellent. Probably a bit too far away for your purposes though.
Good luck.
Flying isn't everything in the BA final board. If you go all out for a PPL at the expense of other activities or your studies then it could disadvantage you.
I'm not sure what stage of studying you are at, but there are various options which will get you flying experience for very little outlay and that have other benefits. Have you looked at the air cadets or University Air Squadron. Most universities also run gliding clubs which is a good way to learn basic principles. All these organisations have active social sides and other, non-flying related activities which will stand you in good stead. As for going to the bank and taking out a loan to get your PPL, I think it shows a lot more enthusiasm if you get yourself a part-time job to finance the flying. BA and most major companies prize initiative and, even if you only manage to get a few hours, it shows that you care enough about flying to get off your a**e and do something about it.
Flying experience is not necessary for a BA cadetship, just buckets of enthusiasm.
I can't speak for any of the other flying clubs mentioned here, but I did my flying scholarship with Tayside Aviation in Dundee and I thought they were excellent. Probably a bit too far away for your purposes though.
Good luck.