Weston/NFC, Dublin for PPL+: Opinions please?
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Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Dublin, Ireland
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Weston/NFC, Dublin for PPL+: Opinions please?
Hi all,
If anyone has flown/trained with the schools in Weston could you bandy your opinion around this forum or PM me please. I want to get the low down before I commit. My plan is to start PPL there in Aug and take thing further abroad from there.
Thanks,
Rich.
If anyone has flown/trained with the schools in Weston could you bandy your opinion around this forum or PM me please. I want to get the low down before I commit. My plan is to start PPL there in Aug and take thing further abroad from there.
Thanks,
Rich.
Join Date: Apr 2001
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Flash_heart, do you work for them? 
Actually I hope to be working for them by the end of the summer. So naturally the standard will improve LOL!
My advice is to get stuck into the scene there. Don't just turn up fly around the Liffey, Leixlip and the Spa Hotel and go home. Hang around and make friends. Go drinking after hours and help out if anything needs doing. It's called networking and it's fun too.
Some of the most fun and hardest flying I ever did was with Aerial/NFC. As you enter the lounge stop and look at the picture of the former encumbents on the wall surrounding Margaret wearing their best blues and greys. I should be there as most of them are mates. You can be in photo number two if you put in the effort. I intend to be in it.
You will hear criticism, sometimes justified but as it's effectively the only game in town you don't have a choice. But I believe you only get out of it what you put into it.
Two of their Instructors just got into Ryanair, take from that what you will. Good Luck. See you soon.
Actually I hope to be working for them by the end of the summer. So naturally the standard will improve LOL!My advice is to get stuck into the scene there. Don't just turn up fly around the Liffey, Leixlip and the Spa Hotel and go home. Hang around and make friends. Go drinking after hours and help out if anything needs doing. It's called networking and it's fun too.
Some of the most fun and hardest flying I ever did was with Aerial/NFC. As you enter the lounge stop and look at the picture of the former encumbents on the wall surrounding Margaret wearing their best blues and greys. I should be there as most of them are mates. You can be in photo number two if you put in the effort. I intend to be in it.
You will hear criticism, sometimes justified but as it's effectively the only game in town you don't have a choice. But I believe you only get out of it what you put into it.
Two of their Instructors just got into Ryanair, take from that what you will. Good Luck. See you soon.
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Steepclimb. No I don't work for Kieran, Did some work a while back when they were looking to get JAA approval. Had some wonderful times in Dublin and down on Kieran's island.
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Extract
Extract from a previous post I made expressing my opinion:
Avoid like the plague. They are the most unprofessional outfit run by the (in my opinion) the most ignorant person I have personally ever met. It is difficult at the best of times to find a good training organisation (I found NAC superb by compassion, albeit most are...).
Things have changed recently, but if I were you, pack your bags and buy some cheap dollars.
Your questions
state of aircraft - very surprised they are airworthy. There was always a problem, including one day with no vacuum, one radio out, transponder "that never worked" and flaps not working. With the knowledge I have now, I won't even feel safe in them - just take a look!
availability of aircraft - I had to book ahead weeks in advance always. Then the juggle you between instructors and aircraft and by the time you arrive, neither are available as "regulars" have tip-ex'd over your slot. I became a regular and they even did it for me - so trust me it does happen.
quality of training/ground school etc - most intructors don't like giving grounds school. The "part-time" weekenders are much better - they do it because they enjoy flying. The rest just want to clock hours - nothing more.
Any comments would be much appreciated.
Things may have changed and by all accounts, visit the field and see for yourself. I wish it was better, I really do - but have no positive comments at present - and more experience there than I wish to remember.
VT
Read this before training there:
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...&highlight=NFC
Avoid like the plague. They are the most unprofessional outfit run by the (in my opinion) the most ignorant person I have personally ever met. It is difficult at the best of times to find a good training organisation (I found NAC superb by compassion, albeit most are...).
Things have changed recently, but if I were you, pack your bags and buy some cheap dollars.
Your questions
state of aircraft - very surprised they are airworthy. There was always a problem, including one day with no vacuum, one radio out, transponder "that never worked" and flaps not working. With the knowledge I have now, I won't even feel safe in them - just take a look!
availability of aircraft - I had to book ahead weeks in advance always. Then the juggle you between instructors and aircraft and by the time you arrive, neither are available as "regulars" have tip-ex'd over your slot. I became a regular and they even did it for me - so trust me it does happen.
quality of training/ground school etc - most intructors don't like giving grounds school. The "part-time" weekenders are much better - they do it because they enjoy flying. The rest just want to clock hours - nothing more.
Any comments would be much appreciated.
Things may have changed and by all accounts, visit the field and see for yourself. I wish it was better, I really do - but have no positive comments at present - and more experience there than I wish to remember.
VT
Read this before training there:
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...&highlight=NFC
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Everybody has good and bad thigns to say about certain flight schools. NFC would be no different. I started as a astudent just after they launched the new clubhouse and the name NFC, so I have no experience of Aerial. What i heard of it wasnt nice though, however I would have no serious complaints about NFC. Ive been there almost a year and have been happy with the service. Obiviously there is a few things e.g. the 2 euro landing fee on touch and gos on top of 175 an hour for a 172 can really add up. The aircraft are also a bit on the dodgy side, sometimes the avionics can act up, but I suppose what can you expect for 20 25 year old training aircraft.
All in all, NFC is a good outfit, great bunch of instructors and yes Stephen Power and Ken Mc Kensie have just left for Ryanair. As for steepclimbs comments, I reckon you need to be part of the 'click' to help out and get in with that crowd, some of the instructors can be a bit up their own arse! And would someone tell people that the non smoking area means NO SMOKING!!
All in all, NFC is a good outfit, great bunch of instructors and yes Stephen Power and Ken Mc Kensie have just left for Ryanair. As for steepclimbs comments, I reckon you need to be part of the 'click' to help out and get in with that crowd, some of the instructors can be a bit up their own arse! And would someone tell people that the non smoking area means NO SMOKING!!
Join Date: Jan 2003
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mrbungle,
I too started to learn to fly out in weston, logged up a few hours and soon got fed up with the service and the hign expense. I decided to keep my money and go abroad for my ppl. I've just return from South Africa with a brand new PPL, only took me 4 weeks to get, and cost a fraction of the money it would cost me to do my ppl in Ireland.
If you have the time and money and dont care about the service you are getting, I'd say stay do your ppl in weston, but if you want to gain your ppl at a quicker pace and save lots of money, then go abroad!
I too started to learn to fly out in weston, logged up a few hours and soon got fed up with the service and the hign expense. I decided to keep my money and go abroad for my ppl. I've just return from South Africa with a brand new PPL, only took me 4 weeks to get, and cost a fraction of the money it would cost me to do my ppl in Ireland.
If you have the time and money and dont care about the service you are getting, I'd say stay do your ppl in weston, but if you want to gain your ppl at a quicker pace and save lots of money, then go abroad!
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'the only game in town'
not true take a look at www.geocities.com/dubflyer
great experience flying in and out of Dublin and the rates are close to US!!
not true take a look at www.geocities.com/dubflyer
great experience flying in and out of Dublin and the rates are close to US!!
Hooray for ladybumps...
Join Date: Aug 2002
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EIDW_PILOT what FTO did you use in SA? Thinking along the same lines myself but finding it hard to justify the expense to my bird.... How much did it end up costing?
Thanks
Fishtits
Thanks
Fishtits
Join Date: May 2003
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Has anyone here tried the PPL Theory course in DIT Bolton Street?
The only information I could get out of the DIT staff on the phone was that it costs EUR750.00 and runs one night a week sept to June.
DIT Website
"B163 Private Aircraft Pilots’ License Theory
Provides instruction to private individuals who wish to sit the Irish Aviation Authority / JAR Private Pilots License theory examinations. It is a part-time evening course with syllabus content including meteorology, navigation, air legislation, and theory of flight, aircraft limitations and human factors"
The only information I could get out of the DIT staff on the phone was that it costs EUR750.00 and runs one night a week sept to June.
DIT Website
"B163 Private Aircraft Pilots’ License Theory
Provides instruction to private individuals who wish to sit the Irish Aviation Authority / JAR Private Pilots License theory examinations. It is a part-time evening course with syllabus content including meteorology, navigation, air legislation, and theory of flight, aircraft limitations and human factors"
