What would you do?
 

Hi all. I will start soon my ATPL studies but I have some doubts regarding where to do it.

In the city that I live, there is a school that if I do the ATPL with them, there are big chances of being an instructor once i get the ATPL+FI.

The alternative is to study the ATPL at any another school that has good reputation in the ATPL studies and then trying to find a job, but this alternative gives me less chances of being an instructor so it will be more difficoult to be inside the aviation somehow.

The first option gives me more securitiy as to at least be an instructor whilst finding an airline job, but does not give me the highest quality of learning.

So what would you do in my position? Thanks!

flyfly4 wrote: And with that attitude, just what quality of learning do you imagine you would provide to your students?

Rather harsh Beagle, and it doesn't help the OP. From your background I take it that the state paid for your training so you have not had to face the difficulties that so many aspirant aviators now face.
Getting into the industry and the progression into an airline is now determined by your bank balance rather than your motivation. Both schools will lead to the same licence at course completion, and if one offers the chance of employment I would take it.I know a lot of people who spent a lot of money to get a licence and then never had the opportunity to use it.
If having chosen the former option ,and you think that the course was missing detail ,there is always the possibility to self study to fill the perceived gaps.
I came through the self improver route and I don't remember any complaints about the quality of the instruction I was giving to my students before I went off to an airline job.

I haven't said that I will not receive a quality of learning, but I know that out there there are famous flight academies that for sure will offer more quality than others. Lets say that this is not the top notch of flight academies so the learning will not be the same.

But the point of self study will complement any lack of quality that I might recieve from the teachers.

You'll either meet the required standard, or you won't. If you want better training than you'll get at a commercial flight school - join your nation's air force. The big name schools are often very directed - but that can actively work against you seeking a more interesting flying job than an airline job.

The two standard routes to an airline flight deck are "zero to hero", or via being an instructor. A recent American study showed that people who have been instructors tend to do better in line training.

But if you are going to be an instructor - like BEagle said, take that job seriously, and be the best instructor you can be.

This answers your question if you are thinking of an airline job in the UK. Having recently followed the process with 3 CEP's I know, where you train does count, with many applicants for every 737/320 slot, you want everything in your favour, and have more on offer than the others.. It certainly counts with FR/NO/EZ/ etc

In spite of the possibility of the instructor chance (unless that's the career you want), your first priority should be an integrated course with the best quality UK based school.

The situation in the UK is skewed though in favour of those who can pay a few schools a huge amount of money to buy their way into a seat in an airliner with minimal experience. There are many pilots who are denied entry because they have chosen a different route for various reasons and they are forced to follow the flight instructor and turboprop freight pilot route. I know which I would rather have sitting next to me on the proverbial dark and stormy night.

Are you thinking about Integrated or Modular training, and in which country?

If the training school is approved, it must meet minimum acceptable standard, but think QUALITY every time.
Pass all the ground exams first time with above average marks. There are specialised ground school organisations to improve your marks.
First time passes in the flying, and if Ryanair is your goal, a MCC/ JOC course on a 737 sim.

Thank you all for the answers. I will go to integrated.
I never heard of those organizations to improve my marks, ill have a look at it.

The best desicion is to study in my city and have the chance of being an instructor, forgetting about the best academies like ctc or oaa (because i dont have that amount of cash). Of course the quality of those academies will be at a higher level but it's a lot of risk to do it there in my opinion. In my case at least i have the chance of being an instructor, and I will complement the learning myself with some CBT. :ok:

At the end what it really comes down is to the hours you have logged. :cool:

Go for the instructor-job-possibility option :)

Obviously I have not trained twice so I can't give a direct comparison, but as someone who didn't go to one of the big integrated schools - I think their is a lot of over-hype about the enhanced quality of training at them.

Certainly from some of the guys that went to those schools that I have or do now work with, they often don't have amazing things to say about them. Some had a very positive experience and others not so much. I also know a couple of people who are now instructor at these schools themselves and they have expressed that there were surprised at that (lack of) quality of training compared to the small PPL clubs they taught at previously.