Oxford standards slip
Join Date: Sep 2002
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Might apply for the pilot training advisor job at OAT. Seems I could leave my scruples at the door, be slightly economical with the truth, dodge the tricky questions, pocket a fat wad of cash and get one hell of a suntan. Beats the hell out of flying at the moment.
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FFF
I've spoken to the sales guy at Tyler and he says he has no outstanding e-mails but not knowing who you are he don't know whether he has heard from you.
Try [email protected] and I think you'll get a quick reply.
I've spoken to the sales guy at Tyler and he says he has no outstanding e-mails but not knowing who you are he don't know whether he has heard from you.
Try [email protected] and I think you'll get a quick reply.
Jet Blast Rat
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I must add the same caveat as fogbound, working for BCFT (I teach groundschool in fact).
You say slug that you have paid a non-refundable deposit. Since then they have changed the conditions. In that case whatever it says on the contract I suspect you can get your money back if you do wih to change. It might be an idea to at least threaten it even if you decide to continue with Oxford - you might grab their attention, and they may start to treat you like a client.
If you are not satisfied act like a good consumer - go elsewhere. There is no magical "Oxford dust" that makes you pass exams. That takes hard work. Oxford groundschool is good but so are most of the groundschools in the UK as far as I can ascertain, having given private tuition to struggling students who have sat courses in most of them. Of course we are the best
You say slug that you have paid a non-refundable deposit. Since then they have changed the conditions. In that case whatever it says on the contract I suspect you can get your money back if you do wih to change. It might be an idea to at least threaten it even if you decide to continue with Oxford - you might grab their attention, and they may start to treat you like a client.
If you are not satisfied act like a good consumer - go elsewhere. There is no magical "Oxford dust" that makes you pass exams. That takes hard work. Oxford groundschool is good but so are most of the groundschools in the UK as far as I can ascertain, having given private tuition to struggling students who have sat courses in most of them. Of course we are the best
Why do it if it's not fun?
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Rattlesnake,
Thanks - can't remember off the top of my head what address I sent my mail to. It would either have been the address on the CAA's list of schools, or one I got off the website, though. When I get home tonight I will re-send it to the address you've give me. Check your PMs!
FFF
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Thanks - can't remember off the top of my head what address I sent my mail to. It would either have been the address on the CAA's list of schools, or one I got off the website, though. When I get home tonight I will re-send it to the address you've give me. Check your PMs!
FFF
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Reading through the above there seems to be a general thread of lets have a moan - but slugman have you spoken to the Modular team?
When I dealt with Oxford the sales team were useless, but talk directly to the Modular Instructors and they will solve your problems.
I studied with Oxford, and once you got past the sales team the service was excellent. Slugman - You say you are registered with Oxford, so why are you still dealing with the sales team? As a registered student forget sales and go direct to the instructors. In my day the number was 01865 840 334 - I don't suppose its changed.
Good luck with the course
When I dealt with Oxford the sales team were useless, but talk directly to the Modular Instructors and they will solve your problems.
I studied with Oxford, and once you got past the sales team the service was excellent. Slugman - You say you are registered with Oxford, so why are you still dealing with the sales team? As a registered student forget sales and go direct to the instructors. In my day the number was 01865 840 334 - I don't suppose its changed.
Good luck with the course
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Facts facts facts
Ok, I'll try and give some info on all of my experiences at OATS. Firstly, I must say I have no bad feeling toward Oxford or anyone there. I had overall a pretty ok time, passed everything first time but had to fight my way through the Oxford system pretty damn hard.
Groundschool went smoothly, CPL in Tyler went smoothly too, my problems started with the commencement of my IR training. Lack of aircraft, tech aircraft, aircraft being taken offline to be sent to Tyler, too many students per instructor etc etc.
Im not saying that these problems are unique to Oxford but it was the way they dealt with the problems that for me, made them very unprofessional.
Now I knew for a fact there were some instructors with 4 and even 5 students, now there were many other problems that I noticed at Oxford which if ya'll want I will write and go into detail later. When I had an arranged meeting with Mr Langley, he denied this and his words were that it was "impossible" that some instructors had more than 3 students. Well I can tell you that they sure as hell did.
Basically, without going on and on the way the whole place is managed is a joke. Now I come from 6 years experience in a management role with a major carrier and I can tell you it is a shambles there.
Granted they are trying to sort it all out but maybe you can ask them if their fees have risen to cover the cost of their "new company image" which for those of you there know has meant new uniforms, name badges, decor, glossy marketing adds and the like.
Now as for them getting you a job..........make up your own mind regarding that one!
One last thing i'd like to add is that you all have the right to pick and choose who to pay your hard earnt (or borrowed) cash to and train with.
In my opinion there is no ideal FTO. When I was deciding who to train with I visited them all, spoke to them many times, spoke to current students etc.
The advise I have to all of you deciding who to train with is this.......
Thoroughly evaluate all your options, make your choice and go for it but do expect problems and hurdles and deal with them, do not let any company take you for a ride.
Cheers
Groundschool went smoothly, CPL in Tyler went smoothly too, my problems started with the commencement of my IR training. Lack of aircraft, tech aircraft, aircraft being taken offline to be sent to Tyler, too many students per instructor etc etc.
Im not saying that these problems are unique to Oxford but it was the way they dealt with the problems that for me, made them very unprofessional.
Now I knew for a fact there were some instructors with 4 and even 5 students, now there were many other problems that I noticed at Oxford which if ya'll want I will write and go into detail later. When I had an arranged meeting with Mr Langley, he denied this and his words were that it was "impossible" that some instructors had more than 3 students. Well I can tell you that they sure as hell did.
Basically, without going on and on the way the whole place is managed is a joke. Now I come from 6 years experience in a management role with a major carrier and I can tell you it is a shambles there.
Granted they are trying to sort it all out but maybe you can ask them if their fees have risen to cover the cost of their "new company image" which for those of you there know has meant new uniforms, name badges, decor, glossy marketing adds and the like.
Now as for them getting you a job..........make up your own mind regarding that one!
One last thing i'd like to add is that you all have the right to pick and choose who to pay your hard earnt (or borrowed) cash to and train with.
In my opinion there is no ideal FTO. When I was deciding who to train with I visited them all, spoke to them many times, spoke to current students etc.
The advise I have to all of you deciding who to train with is this.......
Thoroughly evaluate all your options, make your choice and go for it but do expect problems and hurdles and deal with them, do not let any company take you for a ride.
Cheers
The school I went to for Multi and IR had 4 instructors and 5 aircraft. Thats a good ratio!
The CFI's office was next door to the students recreation room and his wife manned the front desk and took the money as and when.
The CFI was in the habit of talking to every student at least once a week and would walk every one over to the CAA test centre.
It was excellent for me - who by this time had 1,000hrs instructing. They had a naff A4 folded pamphlet for advertising. Were housed in a circa 1950's asbestos roof old shed with moss on the walls. Instructors wore a broad spectrum of pilots uniforms.
It was excellent.
It was cheap.
It was small.
It was overlooked by hundreds of people each year who chose a much flashier FTO on the same airfield with cool brochures, free coffee and swish looking livery on both their aircraft and their instructors.
I only mention this as an illustration of how difficult it can be to find an FTO that will work well for you. Only a year earlier I went to a FTO for a BCPL and FI rating that was poor value, gave poor service and suited me not at all. I have no monopoly on flight training wisdom.
Suffice to say, time spent in reconnaisance is rarely wasted.
Good luck,
WWW
The CFI's office was next door to the students recreation room and his wife manned the front desk and took the money as and when.
The CFI was in the habit of talking to every student at least once a week and would walk every one over to the CAA test centre.
It was excellent for me - who by this time had 1,000hrs instructing. They had a naff A4 folded pamphlet for advertising. Were housed in a circa 1950's asbestos roof old shed with moss on the walls. Instructors wore a broad spectrum of pilots uniforms.
It was excellent.
It was cheap.
It was small.
It was overlooked by hundreds of people each year who chose a much flashier FTO on the same airfield with cool brochures, free coffee and swish looking livery on both their aircraft and their instructors.
I only mention this as an illustration of how difficult it can be to find an FTO that will work well for you. Only a year earlier I went to a FTO for a BCPL and FI rating that was poor value, gave poor service and suited me not at all. I have no monopoly on flight training wisdom.
Suffice to say, time spent in reconnaisance is rarely wasted.
Good luck,
WWW
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Oh an I forgot one thing..........if your account is not £1000 in CREDIT at OATS then your banned from flying until it is resolved, weather its your first flight or your IRT. Now thats what I call customer service!!!!
Thread Starter
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Result…I think !?
Oxford have been in touch and have apologised for the error. They have explained that there will now be no price rises for their modular courses and that the only change is that the CAA Exam fees are payable at the start of the course to ensure that the exams can be sat at Oxford.
T-key
It was never my intention to moan, just to try and understand for my self what the situation was/is & not get taken for a ride. I know it’s easier for people to be negative about FTOs and as WWW said what’s right is different for everybody. All of this said -will be keeping an eye on the situation v. closely.
Cheers all
Slug
Oxford have been in touch and have apologised for the error. They have explained that there will now be no price rises for their modular courses and that the only change is that the CAA Exam fees are payable at the start of the course to ensure that the exams can be sat at Oxford.
T-key
It was never my intention to moan, just to try and understand for my self what the situation was/is & not get taken for a ride. I know it’s easier for people to be negative about FTOs and as WWW said what’s right is different for everybody. All of this said -will be keeping an eye on the situation v. closely.
Cheers all
Slug
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Wee Weasley Welshman,
Perhaps you could tell the other's what school it was that you went to?! As you said, it doesnt matter what the buildings/books were like - it is more the quality of service etc that matters in my view.
Thanks,
Mike
Perhaps you could tell the other's what school it was that you went to?! As you said, it doesnt matter what the buildings/books were like - it is more the quality of service etc that matters in my view.
Thanks,
Mike
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heared only bad things about Oxford, expensive, service sucks, plane are crap,...and the list is long.
Bristol is the best, 24 hours answer, binders sent the next day, good price and their success rate is around 100 first pass.
BRISTOL GS is No1 in PILOT TRAINING
Bristol is the best, 24 hours answer, binders sent the next day, good price and their success rate is around 100 first pass.
BRISTOL GS is No1 in PILOT TRAINING
Why do it if it's not fun?
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Superpilot,
You can't compare Bristol and Oxford in this context. Bristol offer an excellent distance learning ground-school course, I agree - I passed all of my exams with them.
Oxford also offer a distance-learning ground-school course, which I have heard good things about. They also offer a residential course, and flying training, and integrated courses - none of which are offered by Bristol.
So, unless we are specifically talking about distance learning groundschool, any comparison between the two schools is meaningless.
FFF
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You can't compare Bristol and Oxford in this context. Bristol offer an excellent distance learning ground-school course, I agree - I passed all of my exams with them.
Oxford also offer a distance-learning ground-school course, which I have heard good things about. They also offer a residential course, and flying training, and integrated courses - none of which are offered by Bristol.
So, unless we are specifically talking about distance learning groundschool, any comparison between the two schools is meaningless.
FFF
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