Greece and EU flight schools
 

Hello!
I am looking for integrated ATPL course. EASA, preferably in Europe. At the moment, I found a lot of school in Greece, that are in my price range (looking for something under 60k€). I can't find more information about some schools, I am particularly interested in:
1. Ionian Aviation Academy.
2. FAS pilot academy.
Also, I live in the Balkans, and I am also trying to find something here, like Slovenia and Croatia. But they are all modular, or not respected (as it is said on PPRUNE). So, i would really like to gain some knowledge about this:). All answers are welcome!

Egnatia and Global Aviation are well established schools. I would look at them. Also for a job as a FI at the end if you show interest and commitment.

I looked at both, Egnatia is way too expensive ~80k. Global Avition SA is cheaper - 59k. I am considering Global, still, I want to hear about those schools too:). Thank you for your reply

Make no decision without visiting the Establishment first.
Absolutely critical that you speak to their current customers (students) away from the prying ears of management.

There is an abundance of advice on PPRuNe about what the potential customer must do.
Scrutinise it very carefully.
Happy hunting

Proroch,

Try to be smart !
ATO who provide cheap flight training, are the ones who feed you peanuts, and your gonna act like a monkey !
Ionian Aviation is one of those so called ATO, less expensive training organization.
Stay away from Ionian Aviation by just 100 feet, and go to Global Aviation, which is next door, at Megara Airport.
This I know from experience , I have worked as Chief Pilot for Ionian Aviation
Egnatia is also top of the bill in Greece, I can recommend for sure.
Whatever you decide, before you put any money down, go and visit the place, and talk to so many people as you can.
Don`t do anything stupid, unless your father is a millionaire, then do whatever makes you happy !
Good luck.

Banana Joe

Sounds like good advice to me. Think ahead - the option of the FI route to stay busy and get an extra qualification - should things not have picked up by the time you're finished with your licensing.

Hello Proroch, did you make a choice?

I graduated last year from Global. Overall good school with good instructors. VFR flying done by civil and military guys, IR in the sim is exclusively by airline pilots, a point I really liked as you get a proper airline feeling.

Reasonably priced in my opinion for what you get. Ground school was fine and curriculum constantly updated. They will find you a place to stay and drive you to the airport if you live at their base in Megara, Athens.

However, if they tell you about career services and opportunities once you finish it's all a lie, do not believe a word not from them neither from anybody else. FAS does not have the best reputation around there. Ionian changed name to Flyence and they are "rediscovering" themselves. I would also check Superior and Airplan with more emphasis on the latter.

All the best!
YFD

Flyence Greece, review
 

Hello all.
My name is Igor Kushch, I am a private pilot.
And I'd like to publish a fraud occasion with a Greek aviation school flyence.com.

Flyence got my payment, but provided no training and have not returned any money back.
On the 17.02.2022 I agreed upon a refresher training with Flyence for 1350 EUR, including:
1. 5 hours of ground school
2. 2 hours training, both instructors fees and aircraft rental fees included.
3. 1 hour LPC.
4. The exam fees and examiner's fee.
5. The aircraft is Cessna 172.

I have fully paid the training on the 18.02.2022.
The approximate date to start the training was the 08.03.2022.
In the end of February it became evident that it will not be possible for me to come to Greece due to airspace closures and my scheduled flight SU2110 (planned on the 07.03.2022) has been cancelled.
On the 01.03.2022 (a week in advance) I asked Flyence to cancel the training and make a refund.
Flyence agreed and promised to return the money back.
Since that I've been maintaining a conversation with them and kept reminding about the money back once a week, and they kept promising.
I spoke to Annie Columbri, Flyence's Business Development Director all this time.
She stopped answering my messages and continued to ignore me.
So, I have fully paid the training, 1350 EUR. I received no training. I received no money back.
There was even no any particular lesson booked, nor appointment made for me.
I am reporting about the case, because want to protect other pilots from such cases in future.

Best regards, Igor Kushch, a private pilot.

What did the contract between you and the training school say about cancellations?

Your credit card company should refund the money.

Your flying Dutchman already mentioned that Ionian Aviation has changed their name to Flyence.
Looks like they are not rediscovering themselves, and continue to be a very bad ATO, who only think about making money, and do not give a **** about their students !
Nothing has changed, just the name.!!
Stay away of Flyence !!

We did not sign any contract officially.
We had mail-conversations and WhatsApp-conversations only. But there they clearly promised to refund money back in case of cancellations.

Really?
How to do that?

Hi all! Have you decide? Which school did you choose? I am also very indicesive, I have found Airplan, Austrocontrol and also Easypilot.com. Have any of you heard of them? It is good to know, that flyence is not that trutworthy!! Thank you for that info!

Hi guys,i were looking for flight schools ,searching the reviews and comments ,so i found this topic here,maybe it can help me as and to other people... A question goes to "carlapilot" , have you found something till now science your last msg ? Txnx!

Hello Hawkers, after searching and getting recommendations i choose the easy-pilot.com .Already enrolled the ATPL Theory with them and good thing for me is the possibility for giving exams in different EASA and non EASA countries . My friend (experienced pilot) recommend me this school cause ,actually he do the license conversion ICAO to EASA with them and he is very satisfied, but i don't know to much about it ...
Hope you will find something :)

Thank you for help Carlapilot! I found mentioned school ,and I'm in contact with them. Their team answered several of my questions with professionalism, I especially liked that I could give EASA exams in South Africa, I often go because of the nature of work and family, so it means a lot to me. Also ELP can be arranged which allows me to do more things in one place. It's easy to check info on their web page -well explained.

Hi sor3a!
Thanx for sharing the info! Sure exist some schools where is so chaotic, i hear about them but better not to mention now. What you have been finished there? ATPL Theory / CPL ?

I went to Egnatia in 2020 and it is a beautiful school with modern facilities. Some things that caught my eye? The building where classes are taught is just outside the centre of Kavala and is easily accessible by bus. Also, Kavala itself is easy to reach by tour bus from Thessaloniki, or you fly to Kavala. How they combine theory with flying lessons is ideal. It keeps you motivated! Of course, this is a personal thingy but if you have 9 months of theory, you will more quickly have moments when you are through it instead of having a few weeks of theory, a few weeks of flying and alternate this till you done the 13 subjects. Also, the fleet is very modern and they are unpacking to new locations. Please note that the CAA exams are NOT given in Kavala. These are given in Athens (don't know if this is still relevant today) and the cost to fly to Athens is not included in the total cost of the flight academy. Also, you can easily arrange modern accommodation yourself and instead of EUR 450 for a small room, you have a whole studio to yourself.

Does anyone have experience with TAE Aviation Academy? I am seeking to convert my CPL to EASA. Both TAE and Global Aviation seem like good options, but the conversion with TAE is cheaper.