Calling Irish pilots... Aerial flight school in Dublin
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Anywhere but Ireland...
Hi everyone, just wanted to get the lowdown on Aerial flight school, which operates in Dublin (Lucan)... they're offering the only ATPL(f) in Ireland and I'm tempted. Anyone know anything about them, good or bad? I'm looking specifically at Irish pilots, but rumours will do. Thanx.
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: uk
dont know anything about it . .but if its in ireland , be prepared for bad weather which may extend the length of your course . .its a tough question cos theres no one there to ask that went b4 u , be conservative . .its alot of YOUR money on the line.
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Anywhere but Ireland...
I don't have a web addres cuz they don't have a website, but I can give u their contact number... I rang them and they said that an fATPL was included in a 36000 Euro price tag!
Contact: 00 353 1 6282930
Contact: 00 353 1 6282930

Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 237
Likes: 0
From: Poughkeepsie
Do you want to be pay €36,000 to be guinea-pig? <img src="confused.gif" border="0"> And let's be honest Weston is a backward airfield compared to facilities in the USA and Continental Europe. <img src="eek.gif" border="0">
EIDW
EIDW
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 194
Likes: 0
From: the Milky Way
Getting up in a light aircraft in Dublin at all at the moment is well nigh impossible, and has been for a good while, due to the cross winds and general bad wx. And I have a fATPL so as an SPL, be prepared for very long delays between flights. It will take you a very very long time to complete an ATPL in Ireland. You may appear to save money on not going elsewhere but make damn sure you're not liable for the extra costs of the inevitable delays. . .Also, EIDW is right, Weston ain't no fully equipped airport. I imagine you'd be better off learning at a controlled field with proper navaids.
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Anywhere but Ireland...
I appreciate everything that everyone's said, but can anyone suggest a way around the problem if u can't get unsecured loans in Ireland, etc? Staying in Ireland saves me maybe 15000-20000 Euro over time which I can use for a CFI or whatever. I'm gonna take a very long tour around the place before I do anything anyway. But thanx for the comments guys.
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
From: Dublin
Have to agree ElNino,
When I came back from sunny overseas with my PPL I thought I'd be out at Weston every other weekend going for jolly's and occasionally getting me mates to chip in for the costs too. Well after numerous visits spread over 3 months, I think I managed to clock up just over 3 hours just trying to get a conversion to a Socata TB9. Eventually (and somewhat devastated about it too) I had to give up. Waiting around weekend after weekend for the cloud cover to shift it's arse so I could demonstrate an emergency landing is not my idea of fun.
Can't imagine how long it would take to do an fATPL there (or a PPL for that matter - a year+?). Plus there was no VOR, DME, NDB, ILS, PAPI, b*gger all really except a good runway. So where do you get your IR - I really don't fancy your chances of getting a light single in and out of DUB without a serious amount of expensive holds.
I'm sure one or two Irish pprune nutters will accuse me of being all sorts for saying above but I can only go on my own experience.
[ 26 February 2002: Message edited by: BillyFish2 ]</p>
When I came back from sunny overseas with my PPL I thought I'd be out at Weston every other weekend going for jolly's and occasionally getting me mates to chip in for the costs too. Well after numerous visits spread over 3 months, I think I managed to clock up just over 3 hours just trying to get a conversion to a Socata TB9. Eventually (and somewhat devastated about it too) I had to give up. Waiting around weekend after weekend for the cloud cover to shift it's arse so I could demonstrate an emergency landing is not my idea of fun.
Can't imagine how long it would take to do an fATPL there (or a PPL for that matter - a year+?). Plus there was no VOR, DME, NDB, ILS, PAPI, b*gger all really except a good runway. So where do you get your IR - I really don't fancy your chances of getting a light single in and out of DUB without a serious amount of expensive holds.
I'm sure one or two Irish pprune nutters will accuse me of being all sorts for saying above but I can only go on my own experience.
[ 26 February 2002: Message edited by: BillyFish2 ]</p>
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: uk
If I was good friends with the man in charge of the weather I would set up a flight school in shannon . .the runway is so long , spirals would be no prob
. .its not half as busy as EIDW and has all the NAV AIDS necessary with faranfore and galway nearby
. . <img src="cool.gif" border="0">
. .its not half as busy as EIDW and has all the NAV AIDS necessary with faranfore and galway nearby . . <img src="cool.gif" border="0">
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Ireland
What's the joke wannabeboy? The club is one of the most professional in Ireland. A dedicated team of pilots/instructors and the lowest hourly rate around. Combined with flying out of Dublin airport and 2 of the best maintained Cessnas on the Irish registry, I don't think you'll find a better deal. Go do your PPL at Weston...
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Anywhere but Ireland...
Determined,
I apologise for blowing the website out of proportion, but maybe it doesn't do justice to the club itself... details are quite sketchy etc. I agree that the price is low and the ability to operate out of EIDW is a HUGE bonus. Maybe I'd be better off there! I'll contact them and consider it. Anybody been a student there?
I apologise for blowing the website out of proportion, but maybe it doesn't do justice to the club itself... details are quite sketchy etc. I agree that the price is low and the ability to operate out of EIDW is a HUGE bonus. Maybe I'd be better off there! I'll contact them and consider it. Anybody been a student there?
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
From: Dublin
ATPLwannabeboy,
I can find absolutely nothing wrong with the airportflyingclub site or it's contents. All the required information is there, clear + simple, the way it should be. Actually quite tempted myself (barring the weather + v.busy airport), would love to get back into some serious controlled airspace.
Anyway, how many C150's + C172's are you planning using?
A qualified flight instructor is a qualified flight instructor: volunteer, part-time or full-time. And volunteer sounds even cheaper to me!
I can find absolutely nothing wrong with the airportflyingclub site or it's contents. All the required information is there, clear + simple, the way it should be. Actually quite tempted myself (barring the weather + v.busy airport), would love to get back into some serious controlled airspace.
Anyway, how many C150's + C172's are you planning using?
A qualified flight instructor is a qualified flight instructor: volunteer, part-time or full-time. And volunteer sounds even cheaper to me!
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Anywhere but Ireland...
True... with one small problem... no contact details, unless someone can provide me with a phone number? (The email address is inactive in case someone wants to point it out.) I'm not downing the club which seems as professional as some people have pointed out, it just seems as though they don't want anyone to contact them. Maybe they're too busy. If someone know how to contact then without writing a letter (which An Post will only lose), please let me know, I'd be very grateful!
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Ireland
Apology accepted. I disagree about the website. It is well put together and contains everything you'd need. The club is a non-profit organisation. There is no secretary to answer the phone. The contact webpage contains a postal and e-mail address (is active, try again). 90% of members joined as qualified pilots. We have Aer Lingus, Ryanair and Aer Arann skippers amongst members. If you get accepted for ab-initio training, you'll get some excellent instruction. I think 3 or 4 students have gained PPLs in the past 12 months with us. The instructors are volunteers who give up their free time to the student pilots.
[ 26 February 2002: Message edited by: Determined ]</p>
[ 26 February 2002: Message edited by: Determined ]</p>
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Anywhere but Ireland...
Determined,
Thanx for the info. As I mentioned the email address seems to be inactive, but my next hour will hopefully be spent in training at your club. Again I apologise for being so negative, it comes with looking for a worthwhile club and trying to find an unsecured loan in Ireland! If there is a more convienient method of contacting anyone at the club, can u let me know? I'm sure it's a great place to network as well! <img src="wink.gif" border="0"> Do u do CPL/IR as well? Just a thought! I suppose I would be very lucky just to get a slot!
Thanx for the info. As I mentioned the email address seems to be inactive, but my next hour will hopefully be spent in training at your club. Again I apologise for being so negative, it comes with looking for a worthwhile club and trying to find an unsecured loan in Ireland! If there is a more convienient method of contacting anyone at the club, can u let me know? I'm sure it's a great place to network as well! <img src="wink.gif" border="0"> Do u do CPL/IR as well? Just a thought! I suppose I would be very lucky just to get a slot!
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Ireland
ATPLwannabe:. .Believe me this is a worthwhile club. If they can take you on as a SPL they will. Yes alot of contacts are made throughout the industry. I'm not going to say yes or no as to post PPL training as I'm not 100% sure. Our CFI is CPL/MULTI/IR however. Most pilots are recreational flyers or hour building around Ireland towards the 150 mark.
BillyFish2: . .The club has been in existence in one form or another for over 20 years.
If you both send me your real names and contact numbers to [email protected] I'll make sure they get to those that count.
BillyFish2: . .The club has been in existence in one form or another for over 20 years.
If you both send me your real names and contact numbers to [email protected] I'll make sure they get to those that count.



