Visiting Schools before committing
 

Hi All,

I am currently doing my ATPL exams, and am starting to think about choosing a school. I have been reading up on most of well regarded ones on here, however I was wondering to what extent I should be making an effort to visit the schools? And when I visit what should I aim to gain from my visit?

I am asking as most of the ones I have emailed have said they only do weekday visits, and since I don't get paid for my days off, the cost of visiting these schools could rack up a considerable cost. Currently I am considering Diamond in Sweden, STO Flight Sweded, Bartolini air, Bournemouth, Aeros, Stapleford, Atlantic Flight Training Academy...and perhaps a few I have forgotten.

My current thinking is to choose the one which in writing, and online research seems the best for me....out of all of the schools which have places at the time I'm looking, and then just visit the one school before committing, more a cursory, to make sure there isn't anything I really don't like about it.

Appreciate any one else's opinions on here. Due to the long waiting lists of places, I feel that many people must have just committed without visiting first?

PS

Choosing a school for what buddy? Full fATPL? PPL? CPL? MEIR?

Anyway, if you can, ALWAYS visit the school. You're about to drop an enormous wad of cash for your training so you want to make sure you feel comfortable in that training environment, the fleet are good, the instructors are knowledgeable etc. I visited about 4 before making my choice. Also sounds like your pretty flexible on location. Take some time additionally to explore the surrounding areas/towns/cities to make sure there is things to see/do on your days off. Or at the very least a decent pub...

I'd narrow your shortlist down to 2/3 tops based on budget and geography, and make a point of visiting at least 2. All the schools will deliver the same training on the surface of it, but you wont know whats going to suit you best until you visit them in person.

Whichever one - make sure you talk to other students already there....

Thanks for this... it makes a lot of sense. I think you're right about narrowing it down to 2 or 3 and then visiting at least two of them, I think I'll do that.

Thanks everyone else for the comments.

PS

Ask for an orientation flight. It is the fastest way to observe the quality of their standards and instructors. If they don't have a spare aircraft, or the interest in accommodating a reasonable request, that is a red flag.

What is AOG?

Aircraft On the Ground.

*Furiously and gratefully takes notes*
Any more?