It would really suit me, and many others I suppose, if there will be an exam center in Bournemouth anytime soon. On the other hand I do understand the concerns of Frank Furillo.

There's no chance that EPTA could have a well-defined area for attendees which is "clean" of anything that could remind of an advertisment. Also make sure that the staff of EPTA isn't available in that area more than necessary.

I don't know the full story here, but isn't it to the benefit of all three schools if some sort of collaboration is possible?

Sorry guys, but as I am from the north i feel that if the CAA were to use another centre I and many like me would prefer Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham.
I understand that as most of the groundschools are in the south it follows that the examination venues are there, i just feel a bit of the North/South Divide coming on, must be my scouse roots.
Just my two pence worth
FF

This idea is masked as 'good for the students', and I'm sure it would save a few students a drive up the M3, but it's really being pursued by EPTA because it's a benefit to them, hence the reluctance of the other Bournemouth FTOs to play Keith's game. They're not stupid. The benefit lies in the kudos, being made to look like a serious school and appearing to have a hot line to the CAA. The existing centres are not at capacity and, if there is a case to be made for another exam centre then Bournemouth just isn't it, there are many more students from up north that aren't catered for at all and many schools with more students than EPTA.

OATS had the best feedback in the early days of JAR for a number of reasons, one of which was that nearly all the candidates were their students.

The Swedish CAA have contracted an adult educational association which provides FTO's with invigilators. This means that if an FTO got at least 6 students on one particulator test day an invigilator will come to that school at no additional cost. I guess this is something that the UK CAA wouldn't consider?

ALEX I am afraid you are way off the mark again.

GTS is quite happy for the exam centre to be in EPTA. EPTA is quite happy for the exam centre to be anywhere within reasonable travel distance of Bournemouth Airport. That includes any of the other schools at Bournemouth. I even suggested Kingston Maurward Agricultural College at Dorchester because it is about midway between Bournemouth and Cheddar.

Of the three schools at Bournemouth, it is only BCFT that objects to the use of the EPTA classroom.

You probably are not aware of the negotiations that have taken place. The CAA passed a list of requirements to the three Bournemouth schools. Contrary to some of your previous posts they did not require that the venue be provided free of charge, nor did they stipulate a minimum of 70 seats. They actually stipulated between 50 and 70 with a distance of 3 feet between desks. Using these dimensions the EPTA classroom could hold only about 40. But the spacing at Gatwick is closer to 2 feet between desks. Using this distance 50 desks could probably be accommodated. When thius was suggested, they stated that they were happy to come and look at the proposed room.

The CAA were quite serious about conducting a trial during the September exams. They also stated that if the Bournemouth venue was of insufficient capacity to take the BGS students then they would also consider sites closer to Bristol.

There is no reason why more than one new venue could be established. Instead of trying to prevent a centre being created at Bournemouth your efforts could be used more productively in trying to establish a site at a location more suitable to your students. EPTA would have no objection whatsoever if this additional venue turned out to be at BGS.

As for your comments regarding Kudos.....Are you seriously suggesting that we all envy the school at Glasgow or believe that they have close links with the CAA? As Peggy Murphy would put it, AW c'mon Ted???

Suit yourself. I think you'll find the CAA were just being polite and letting your proposal quietly wither through lack of support. In either case, repeatedly restating your position on PPRuNe isn't going to get the other schools in line behind you. If you think you've got a case you should be talking to them, not attacking them.

It seems to me, that regardless of where the school is, generally, students prefer to head for an examination centre either near home or near relatives where they can crash for four days.

re: ground schools in USA
 

Did anyone attend distance learning course with U.S. schools? pfea and ASA are offering ATPL ground exams for JAA?

Are these school same as the UK schools?

Alex and Keith,

Thank you, belatedly, for that ding-dong. Pprune at its very best - intellectual muskets drawn.......10 paces...... turn and fire.

I wish more would follow your lead.

:ok: