Which ones better ?
 

Hello,

I've been reading some of these forums on and off for a wee while now and I thank you all for the information they provide. My name's Andrew and im looking to start out on my journey to gaining my commercial licence.

I think I generally know the ins and outs so that's not an issue, the problem I face now is choosing where (in Scotland) to base my training, it will be modular and I will be paying as I go.

Living just outside Glasgow; Prestwick may be the obvious choice, although I see that Tayside Aviation in Dundee have a partnership with Logan Air and advertise themselves as the best for quality.

I don't like the idea of splitting my training between two schools, or maybe im just overthinking this ! Just a little bit of advice if you know the area or schools involved. And maybe if you could give some advice about splitting training between schools.

Know nothing about the said schools but my advice would be to keep yor training to one establishment, at least from the CPL anyway.

1. Don’t split commercial training between schools. Pick a good provider, stick with them, and get consistent training - I believe some airlines specifically look for training from only one provider .

2. Think about accommodation/travel (both the cost and time). Tayflite at Perth have good onsite accommodation (right on the airport). Remember that some weeks you’ll get bad weather, you don’t want a 2 hour drive, spend 5 hours looking at the rain, then drive 2 hours home.

3. I’m presuming you’ve got a PPL? - if you have not started the PPL then stop thinking about commercial training and just pick a local school to do your PPL and enjoy it. (After all, you might not enjoy it - so no point thinking about a uniform just yet).

4. If you have a PPL and haven’t yet started ATPL ground school - stop thinking about shiny Senecas and focus on your ATPLs (I believe some airlines prefer modular with 90% or above grades). And the answer to your next question on that subject is - Bristol Ground School.

Good luck.

You may also wish to consider ACS Flight Training at Perth who are now offering a structured ATPL course in conjunction with Perth College. The college is now an authorised ATPL groundschool provider. 3 or 4 guys are already well through the course. See ACS website for details.

Having spent a bit of time on the gliders, I know what you mean about the rain - disheartening doesn't quite cover it ! I had applied RAF this year, less said about the forces situation the better.

Safe to say though, this is what I want to spend my years doing ! I think ill take your advice and start my PPL next month at Prestwick and while im underway with that, start the look into Tayflite / Tayside for my commercial.

I know this was a basic question though I just had to clear up any doubts in my head. I'm sure ill be using this forum on a regular basis with questions once I start !

Thanks for your reply, and ill use that luck wisely !