CTC Takeoff
 

Does anyone have any experience of training on CTC's modular offering, either UK or NZ?

Pannenkoeck,
That is a rather unhelpful and pointless post. CTC wings cadets is a completely seperate thing altogether...

CTC Takeoff
 

I did the IR with them in Bournemouth recently....absolutely 1st class outstanding training and customer care.

My bad....

Hi Mad

Looking to do my IR with them.

How much of your hard earned did they pocket?

I'm looking into starting a modular course late spring of this year and currently looking at all the different schools etc so would be grateful if anyone else could share their experiences of this scheme. I know it's only fairly new so suppose not many people may have gone through the modules.

Also, I couldnt find anywhere on the website that mentioned prices for ATPL Theory, do they provide this for modular students does anyone know?

CTC TAKEOFF - modular training

ATPL theory
 

If you with Bristol Gs you will get £500 off the Modular CPL/IR/ME at CTC. Bristol gs you wont go wrong with:ok:

I completed my CPL/ME/IR with them on the TakeOff scheme. Absolutely first class tuition. You do NOT get treated ANY differently from the integrated guys. And there is no preference to them either. I had the whole lot completed within 3 months with first series passes. If you'd like any more info pm me.

At my age, my only choice is modular; preferably modular that may get me a job! The (part) sponsored schemes have a better promise of work at the end, but it means taking 18 months out, which I cannot do.

So I've been looking at CTC Takeoff and OAA Weypoint as the next best alternatives.

What I didn't get is that for less money, you get the same bits of paper and opportunity as the integrated route. Now it's reassuring that people on here have had positive experiences in their modular training at CTC, but something has to give for this to make economic sense. Maybe the below quotes from the CTC web site may explain:

and
i.e. You'll get trained well, treated well, but be at the back of the queue in cadet hold pool (if you qualify).

Has anybody on here completed the Takeoff course and been selected for TR via the cadet pool?

Many thanks

Sounds good NovemberRomeo, I would be interested in knowing more about the CTC Takeoff Scheme if you have time.. Did you do your CPL in NZ or UK? Do you plan on doing the ATP/AQC or FI(R)?

By the looks of it CTC Wings Cadets are top of the holding pool and will be selected first; but do those who have gone through the Take Off modular scheme with CTC get a higher priority than applicants that have done their CPL/IR elsewhere? Or is it a level playing field if your modular? Is there anyone out there that has done Take Off and the AQC?

:)

I did all my training in the UK. My understanding is that it is a level playing field once you are in the holding pool with the other modular students. I didn't go down the AQC route. I chose to do the MCC/JOC elsewhere and a FI rating instead.

Highly recommend them.
I finished the CPL/ IR end of September 2011. All the instructors we're top class as well as the facilties. I had a couple of issues with the length it took to get the CPL (3 students to 1 instructor, with the instructors only allowed to fly 2 sorties a day). It took 9 weeks in total (including 2 days for a Partial retake of the skills test).
The IR took 6 weeks from start to IR skills test. I had 2 excellent instructors and miss it immensely.
The CPL cost me around £8K (excluding test/ aircraft hire for the test) and £13K for IR (excluding test/ aircraft hire for the test).
I did a shortened CPL/IR as I already held a MEP rating and completed in min hours (bar the partial retake of the CPL).
I opted to go elsewhere for the MCC/JOC and happy I didn't do the AQC.

Good luck :)

Why are you happy that you didn't do the AQC?

Well I can echo Shuttle 3's views (in fact, we were on the same course!). Excellent training and a great bunch of people. I would happily recommend them to anyone.

In fairness, when a couple of issues did arise, they worked to sort them out quickly for us. Like every organisation, not everything goes to plan all the time, but the impression I got was that they always did their best to fix it when it didn't. As far as I'm concerned, that's always the best test of any business :ok:


WX man:

I think he was happy he didn't do the AQC course as, considering the number of people in the pool and the length of time they've been there, it is perhaps not the magic solution that some people think(/hope) it is. From what I hear though, the course itself is very good. In reality though, it is just that: a course. Anything that may come from it through the hold pool etc should be viewed as a bonus and not relied upon IMHO. At the end of the day, it comes down to individual choice as to whether one believes it to be a worthwhile investment... :)

as you have inside experience,could you please explain how ctc's holding pool works for takeoff cadets?

Could someone who has been through the takeoff programme give me a shout.

I am looking to gain a better understanding of the AQC and the potential for placement with an airline after training.

Is there something wrong with the MCC/JOC training during the AQC? Or just the fact recruitment isn't as rapid post completion as hoped for?

I was looking at the AQC course at CTC based entirely on the fact that it seems to give a better opportunity of being placed with an airline post-training.

I have no evidence to actually back this up, and of course CTC would tell you this, but I know that you can do a CPL/ME/IR cheaper at the likes of Stapleford or BGS and certainly the MCC/JOC courses are cheaper than the AQC. However, as far as I can see the extra money invested in CTC is purely down to the (supposedly) better opportunity it provides post-training.

Happy to be corrected, of course, but as far as I can see it is the only reason they would cost more than elsewhere, given that I'm led to believe the standard at the likes of Stapleford and BGS is also very high.

Are takeoff students who complete the AQC getting a look in with EZY or is it still early days with the programme?

Im due to start my ATPLs with TakeOff on the 28th August. My understanding of the AQC is that there are two pools: One for the Cadets and then one for non-cadets. However, apparently in 6 months, CTC will be closing off the ATP programme to Modular students who do not complete their CPL/IR with them, so from that point on, to get in the pool you must be either a cadet or a CPL/IR student. In theory the secondary pool should have less people in it in 6 months time.

The ATP scheme according to their website, is currently closed. Perhaps they are getting too many external modular applicants.

I think you need to have completed the ATPL's prior to starting the Takeoff course, which entails only the flying components of the (f)ATPL (ME CPL and IR)

CTC's greatest asset is their ability to place cadets with partner airlines.

What with the recruitment situation the way it is at the moment, the more I think about it the more it makes sense; why would CTC offer this coveted service to external modular candidates? In some ways the AQC and ATP degrade the Wings course, why would you do the Wings/iCP when you can do modular for half the price and then sneak in right at the end for the bargain price of £8k to essentially get in the same holding pool.

They can make more money by putting someone through the CPL/IR on the takeoff course, and to be honest it understandable why they have closed the ATP scheme for the time being (or permanently). I imagine its looks better on the training report (and for contniuity of training) and to be fair to them, by the time the CPL/IR are complete, the cadet is a known quantity to CTC, warts and all. This probably makes it easier for the assesors to make judgement and to decide the suitability of placement etc.

As much as we might hate it, that does seem to make sense. Why else would people pay twice as much for an integrated course if they could get the same licences and pretty much the same opportunities by going modular and then doing the AQC?

Worrying news for us modular mob I suppose, and the drawback of placements being monopolised by the likes of CTC and Oxford via their subsidiaries. Ho hum!

Yes exactly, I think the Takeoff scheme is a sort of intermediate though.

From what I understand, if you complete the CPL/IR through Takeoff with CTC, the ATP and AQC scheme is still open "internally".

Wait and see then I suppose!

Though when the Takeoff course costs about £4-5k more than a CPL/ME/IR set up with the likes of Stapleford or Bristol GS, and the AQC is about £3k more expensive than a MCC/JOC course with similar providers, it could become expensive just for the 'honour' of going through CTC...though I suppose that is the premium for getting better access to the coveted low hours RHS jobs!

Can anyone tell me do CTC takeoff offer ATPL ground school? And is there a selection procedure to be accepted onto CTC wings ATP after AQC?

Im starting ground school with CTC Takeoff in September, so I assume thats a yes?

Oh apologies that must be my mistake then. I assumed, because the Res ATPL groundschool module isn't explicitly advertised on their website, it wasn't available.

I've already completed the ATPL's but was under the impression if you were modular, they would send you over to Bristolgs, as they have ties with them. Out of interest, how long ago did you book the course. Good luck with the groundschool :)

wrt to the AQC, yes I believe there is a selection process before (and during) the AQC if you wish to go onto the ATP holdpool.

Has anyone else applied for the CPL/IR course and got a start date?

I sent an application form in at the beginning of April and contacted them last week for an update to be told that the waiting list went into February of next year as they are only taking 6 modular students on per month.

Just wondering whether any earlier places crop up from people putting their start dates back or pulling out of the waiting list..

I sent my application in March earlier this year and got an estimate of February next year aswell.

Someone else I know sent their application in Dec 2011 and starting Oct 2012 so there seems to be a 10 month wait at the moment, (although he was offered a place to start in May/June this year due to a cancellation.)

Sent mine in April, they estimate Feb 2013. Long waiting list.

Although they list the expected schedule of the courses in hours do they give any stats on what the average amount of time ( in weeks ) for the average student to complete the course. I'm not talking about student ability but things like daily instructor/aircraft availability along with weather factors?

They estimate 6 weeks for the CPL and 8-9 weeks for the IR in the email i've got, both full time. Although someone earlier in this thread stated it took 9 weeks for the CPL due to tech/wx issues.

Yep very long wait.. Not sure if its a good sign or a bad sign, hopefully it'll be worth it!

Do they make an mention of accommodation, can Takeoff students use the same accommodation as integrated students and what are the rates?

As a TAKEOFF student they don't offer accommodation.

Have been in contact with CTC via email just asking for some information.. No mention of ATPL groundschool. Just ME/CPL IR MCC or AQC?

It was mentioned that accommodation would not be available.

Was also told that Spring 2013 would be the earliest available date for commencement. Looks like they are busy anyway.

I have just noticed that the CTC Takeoff website has been changed since I last looked at it. It says their two crew training centres are in Bournemouth and Southampton. Does this mean that Modualr student do not go to New Zealand anymore?

Still shows NZ and UK for me.

CTC TAKEOFF - crew training centres

When I was at the open day in March they said they were postponing any modular training in NZ.

They didn't say why but I'd heard rumours that they were short on instructors over there and were struggling to get the cadets trained.

There are two websites on the go for some reason, but I think the one which just lists the UK for training is the most up to date one with regards to info and pricing:

Costs and Bookings - CTC Aviation