Hi Guys,

I am booked to Leave on the 24th April, this thread has been very helpful!

However i have a question for anybody who has done the IR in the US and then in Shoreham in the UK.


1) What is the training difference like from US to UK?

2) What accomodation is recommended in shoreham, as EFT stated on their website that they dont provide any accoomodation. Could someone help me out on the accomodation for thee middle of june )



Cheers

Chris

EFT no longer operate Shoreham as an UK IR training base.
The EFT IR operation closed quite some time ago. Shoreham was an unsuitable location for IR training, seen as though the test centre was based at Bournemouth.
Now that PTC at Bournemouth is closed, I am not sure where in the UK EFT complete the IR. However some general advice, if you are training in the US do an FAA IR, then do the 15 hour conversion in the UK, or do the complete IR course in the UK. FAA multi IR training at Ari Ben was in the region of 165 to 195 dollars an hour in the Dutchess. The JAA multi IR training was 295 dollars an hour in the Dutchess with EFT. For the price of 30 hours of JAA approved training at EFT you can do a complete FAA IR.

EFT, like any other flying school, markets programs and list minimal hours. I am at EFT, and have seen students finish courses in minimal times with no problem. A lot of learning is a state of mind, in other words, when you come to train, your mindset needs to be such, not "where is the Bar" or "how far to the beach". The people who come with these attitudes do not finish on time, often postpone flights, or do not pass written exams. And they have crap attititudes due to lack of sleep and extensive partying. That is the reality. If you are a serious student, you have no problems.

The prices at EFT are competitive, and I know for a FACT that all price scenerios are given to prospective students ahead of arrival. The paperwork that goes to students when they enroll for a course or programme includes details of housing costs and deposits, training costs, and any other fees such as airport retreivals and test fees.

Guess what....We CANNOT control the weather.

Once again, attitude is everything. How many flying schools can you attend without paying money???? When you find one, let me know. The only people who are stopped from flying due to money issues are those who are seriously in a financial hole, and make no effort to pay. Charlotte works with everyone on money issues the best she can, and does her best not to stop someone from flying.

EFT is a school who has suffered hurricanes, fast growth, and the tragic loss of a student. But through all this, EFT has survived and prospered, and continues to train people SUCCESSFULLY. Each week, former students obtain jobs, and EFT recieves their reference requests. Congratulations to those pilots!!!

I'm not going to comment on the pro's and cons of EFT, but CharlieAlpha you need to get a life!
The 3 (and a bit) months I spend at EFT were the best of my life, I made great friends, I spent alot of time at the beaches and the bars. I did concentrate on my training too, but didn't forget to make the most of this opportunity to train in Florida that most non pilots would kill for. I haven't regretted a thing about my choice of choosing EFT.
PS I got 98.5% average across the PPL exams and completed every rating on the stage 1 APP (including multi) in minimum hours. I guess some of us are just more talented eh! :hmm:

Cosworth211, you are the exception, not the rule. The difference is that you made flying your priority. Some don't, and they suffer.

And by the way..My life is pretty darn good, thank you.

See you back here after the ATPL's.

Cosworth211 will you go back for stage 2 though? Poor training, lies and money pinching are not uncommon for flying schools I agree, but when you
are 4000 miles away from home it seems all the more evil

CharlieAlpha, my first comment was tongue in cheek! No offence intended!

During my stay at EFT during Phase 1 I didn't find one person that fitted the criteria you mentioned. I met alot of sociable characters, that enjoyed the bars and beaches, but they all seemed to strike the balance right, and when it came down to their flight training they took it seriously.

Obviously I can only comment on the characters I met during my last visit, you may have trained along side people with different attitudes to their training, hence our differing opinion on the subject.

I will return after my ATPL's ATPLMAN, I am aware of the negatives of the school, however I personally found the level of instruction to be superb (cheers TJ!), the accomodation was good (but why do we pay more then Aviator students??? :* ) and I like the area. I also want continuity in my training which I understand is a factor in gaining employment.
My main advice to new students to EFT is that you are spending a huge amount of money. YOU are the customer, say something if you are not happy with an aspect of your training or your account.

Lets face facts folks, I went to EFT last year for my CPL\ME and IR. I now have a job offer and am currently doing my 737 CL Type rating.

Was it good value, well although it was not the cheapest, it was still cheaper than the UK would have been. We had more flying days than in the UK.
Not all the students had the determination and drive to finish what they had started, that is sad, but there is no such thing as a free lunch.
I had no complaints with the instruction, Iain, Thomas and Mark were all second to none and if anything just as good as other instructors I have come accross over here. If the quality and age of aircraft is a concern, (it isn't, they are all airworthy) then pay more money somewhere else for nice new aircraft.
I was based in the holiday trailer park, just up the the road, this was a bargin for $25 per day. I am told that they are not using it no more which is a shame, but the regular student housing seemed to be very good.
Fort Pierce is a dump, what do you expect for the price you are paying?
It is only 90 mins from Orlando and the Cape if thats what you want. It does have a nice a beach though.

I enjoyed my time in Florida, I worked very hard and am now reaping the rewards, as with everything in life you only get out what you put in.
Si
Oh any by the way the call at 1000' is "N1 Speed 210, Flaps 1 and where's my cup of coffee"

FF

I think the call is "EPR, LNAV,VNAV, Climb thrust ,Centre to command coffee please and a pen for the crossword!!"

As for EFT, Mark was my instructor for the CPL and with his guidance I got a first time pass so I was very happy. All the instructors are very good even though the 172's are abit tired looking,they work well and I did not have an issue flying any of them.You pay for what you get.

Simon.

European Flight training (EFT)- The airline pilot programme
 

Hi all, can't find this thread, so would imagine it was not been mentioned, but if it has feel free to move the post.

Just want some advice/positives/negatives about EFT- The airline pilot programme. I have applied to BCUC for the air transport with commercial flight training, but am keeping my options open, as I might not get onto the course.

Does anyone have any expereicne or any advice about EFT and their airline pilot programme, positives/negatives, etc.??

Would be greatful to hear off anyone who knows anything about EFT??

Cheers, Nick, G-FCLA....... :ok: :ok:

Just been out there. In short, good instructors, accommodation fine, but using the Arrow on the CPL was problematic. PM me if you like.

Is anybody going to EFT Fort Pierce in the following months? Any comments about their JAA FI course? Has anybody had any problem with the CAA to endorse the FI rating?

Thanks in advance.

The FI course is a CAA course. and the test is done by a CAA examiner, so it will be recognized by the CAA with no worries.

I thought EFT had suspended operations temporary due to fuel handling bills:confused: :confused: :confused: Anyone know any differnt?

Hi guys,

I was planning as many different routes to getting to the top and the cheapest / best schools etc and I *think* the APP will be just my cup of tea. Has anybody on here done this?

I figured it would cost me around £50,000.00 so that means with no loans on offer I'd be looking to start it in Sep '09 :{ ... unless ofcourse as an instructor you get paid for it?

What is included in this price? $62,995
Flight training for all licences (including aircraft hire & instructor)
During your period as intern instructor, remuneration for your work

Any help would be good.

Thanks

Andrew

"I thought EFT had suspended operations temporary due to fuel handling bills Anyone know any differnt?"
This just proves this a rumour forum - never has happened - and certainly not happening at the moment.

@alphaMale

You do get paid.

10usd for private ground and flight an hour

15usd for commercial

My roommate was an instructor there, and made about 1500-2000 usd a month...or somewhere in that neighborhood

PPL at EFT?
 

Hello Everyone,

I am considering EFT to do my PPL (Fast Track..) with them. Does anyone have any recent experience with them? Is it ok?
What are the upgrate costs e.g. to a Cessna172?
Anything else to consider?

EFT is fine.
Have never had any problems with them.
The planes work fine and are maintained to the highest standard.
The instructors are great - and trust me, I know some of them who wouldn't get into a car that had a dent, let alone a dodgy plane!

They rent all of their planes from Ariben Aviator, the school next door.
This does not mean that you will be waiting on planes. The majority of Ariben's work is on the ME fleet of Beech 76 Duchess'.

The accommodation is fine too and EFT are currently using the apartments that used to belong to the old Pan Am Academy - which is a ten minute walk across the airfield from the Aviator ramp. (You will have to pass the Tiki Restaurant on the way which is the airport eating house; there is a ROCKING chick who works there!...and the burgers are good too!)

You will need a car if you want to actually do anything as there is no public transport in the area. In fact there is very limited public transport anywhere in Florida - everybody drives as fuel is still cheap by our standards!

You have the Winn Dixie shopping mall and a great Chinese restaurant at one end of the area.

You also have the Flying J truck stop which has everything from food, to CDs to T-shirts, all aimed at truckers but great for those of you who want 'redneck' souvenirs haha!

You will become very familiar with Winn Dixie and Flying J as along with Harbour Branch and South Bridge, these will be your VFR arrival routes to the airfield.

You also might have the privilege of meeting a certain controller who is known affectionately by some as Captain A' hole! - who has been known to order people out of the flying circuit and back onto the ground for a nice tower visit......do you remember that, Ray??!! :E :}

Enjoy....you'll have a great time at EFT.

Has anyone done the Aerobatics AOPA certificate at EFT? It looks good, but just wanted some feedback.

Only worry is, will I be treated as an "add-on" to all the full timers?

In what way do you mean that?

I don't think the Full timers (18 month students) will be teaching the aerobatics as it's not in the course for them (Although if I have the extra dosh I will be doing it there).

And if you were what would be the problem? I look at from a student point of view where I need to be twice as good as a regular instructor due to wanting to be the top of my class. I will still have enthusiasm and hey when I have 600 hours of instructing under my belt you probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference anyway. I am sure having around 1,000 hours of instructing under my belt when I come home will be more than some the part time instructers that teach in the UK.

Only my view ;)

Andrew

The questions only from previous experience and not at EFT. Having got my PPL in the states, the school where I was learning seemed to care more for the full time students who were pumping 40K into the school as opposed to the PPLers.

So if there are any issues with instructor and plane availaiblilty (does the aerobat get used for normal training as well), then i`d like to know up front.

If not, then great. Where do I sign?

If you do the aerobatics course then you will undoubtdly be tought by one of the senior instructors (most likely either the CFI of H of T). These guys don't genrally teach the normal flow of students on PPL's, CPL's etc so you shouldn't have any problem with 'fitting into the schedule'.

The aerobat is generally only used for such courses and for the odd student that requests it for hour building, so aircraft availabilty should not be a problem. One question to ask would be how many hour builders they have using the 152 as this is the only thing I can see affecting your schedule.

It is a lot of fun so enjoy!

Got a mail from EFT this morning. They no longer run the aeros course. So i`ll get back on the hunt for a Florida school that does.

APP 1500hours
 

Hi to everyone, I´m a spanish student very interested in this school and specially in his APP programm (1500h). But my question is about the phase 4 of this programm, the IR CONVERTION, wich is carried out in the UK.
Can someone explain to me this phase 4? In what it consist? Is this a proper license convertion?
Many people advice me about the risk of doing a license convertion. That convert a FAA license into a JAA is crazy because you must repeat all the exams again, fliying test and it cost a lot of money. So there´s any European student like me, who has been there doing the APP programm?

I´m really excited about starting there my training but first I wanna be sure where Im going. Thank you very much guys

PS: Any honest oppinions are welcome. :)

Haven't looked at the details exactly but from my previous experience of EFT, phase 4 is probably converting the FAA IR to JAA IR, therefore the initial skills test for issue of a JAA instrument rating has to be done in a JAA member state. The JAA CPL however can be done in the US.

Although few people manage to convert an FAA IR to a JAA IR in the minimum required 15 hours doing the FAA ratings first and then converting is generally fairly cost effective. Remember while the JAA license has 14 exams the FAA has one written exam per license and rating and oral test per license and rating. Never done the FAA tests but the written tests are generally thought to be quite easy, though I have heard the oral test can be quite challenging ( having to explain answers to an examiner on the spot means you need to know the subject as opposed to learning some facts parrot fashion).

However it is generally quite easy to get an instructors job without needing to sign up for any kind of internship scheme, all the APP scheme is really is JAA modular training, FAA conversions with instructor ratings.

Any European Who Has Been Doing The App In Eft?
 

I would like to get in contact with someone who has been in EFT doing the APP program.
Thank you

When I did my training it was all JAA based with a JAA initial IR. Not FAA then JAA. This is the main differnce between EFT and other JAA schools in the US. ALL JAA Qualified instructors teaching a JAA course.

The instructors then converted to FAA.

EFT
 

Hi, again! Today I recieved an email from EFT, saying this:

You do all your JAA and FAA licences except for the covertion the JAA IR, this is done at the end of the APP and can be done in any JAA member state including Spain.

So anyone knows what this means? In wich consist this process? Anybody can explain to me with detail, what u have to do, and how many exams?

Thank you very much guys!

It means EFT (presently) will issue you with a FAA IR, after which you have to undergo a conversion procedure in a JAA state (this means Spain, UK, France and so on) This is quite clear form their website.

No US-based school is approved (by the CAA) to conduct JAR IR courses. See Standards Document 31

I think it has something to do with the examiner requirement so would be very surprised if another JAA state took a different line.

Multi APP
 

Guys,
I have a couple of questions on how the course is structured, from the APP in detail page - http://www.flyeft.com/library/ME-APP.pdf - in phase 2 it appears to me that you study for the ATPLS and work as an instructor.
If I am correct on how the course is structured I will study for module 1 of the ATPL while training in the USA head to the UK for the revision course and exams, return to Florida continue my flight training and distance learning for module 2 and head to the UK for the revision and exams again. Is this correct?

OR
Do I complete phase 1 of the APP, then head to the UK and do the ATPL study and exams. After the exams I return to Florida to complete the course. This is what it looks like from this page: http://www.flyeft.com/app/financial_app.html
PS - I have also sent this query to EFT and I am currently waiting for a response.

guys, you ask to many questions...
make your licenses in US, canada, or whatever you would like to fly and teach...
then go to bristol gs and study your ATPL.
then go in a european school and convert your IR.

and that's all...

Any European Who Has Been Doing The App In EFT?
 

I would like to get in contact with someone who has been in EFT doing the APP PROGRAM.
Thank you

European Flight Training, EFT, Anyone tried?
 

Farrel did you do the APP program? If yes, how was the phase 4 of the program? I mean the IR convertion. I´m afraid about this con many people warned me not to convert licenses, cos its quite difficult and expensive. Is this true? They said that you have to do like 14exams... So they told me to do my training in Europe If I want to work in Europe, and not in US because the conversions. But I really want to do my training in the US cos it´s much cheaper, and for example EFT in their APP progam offers you to work as FI and get about 1400hours of fliying time, thing that in Europe any school offer. Well hope you can give some information about EFT and your own experiencie with them. Thank you very much.

weel, you can do your training in the US under the JAA system no problem (obviously apart from the JAR IR)..but if you do the FAA way and convert, you will have to eventually do the 14 ATPL exams...afarid there is no way of getting out of that..

Sure, if you eventually want a JAA Frozen ATPL, sure you'll have to do the exams either way

Afraid I can't comment on phase four of the course as I haven't done the APP course...

I think when it comes to converting your IR from FAA to JAA it all depends on the students ability as to how long it takes and how difficult it will be. If you go to EFT i would say it would be beneficial to do some single engine instrument time so you know the basics for when you do it in the UK. However, a full ME IR is going to set you back a good few thousand dollars, and personally, this would be money I would keep towards a full IR in the UK. From what I have heard from pilots who have done the conversion, it is very rare that they achieve this in the minimum 15 hours.

Although an IR pilot should be able to fly in any airspace, anywhere in the world, the reality is an inexperienced 150-200 hour pilot will probably struggle with the change of flight school, aircraft and procedures. With this in mind, it may take 10 or more hours for familiarisation, so by this time you may aswell have done the whole thing in Europe. Most good IR schools in the UK give you time in simulator first before you go into the aircraft. This is probably cheaper than doing IR flying in the real aircraft in the US anyway. With this in mind, that money saved avoiding a full FAA IR is probably money well spent in the UK.

Cheers
DB :ok:

EFT offer a JAA Instrument:
25 hours single in the US
5 hours multi in the US
10 Hours Sim in the UK
10 hours Multi in the UK.
Current prices copied from the EFT website.
$6,995(USA section)
£4,750 (UK Section)

The last students to complete this course only went an hour or two over at most.
A bit cheaper than the full course in the UK - and more flying certainly.

Well first of all, thank you very much for all your replies. So pipergirl you mean that if I do the APP with EFT, I wont have to do the 14exams, cos EFT is under the JAA system? I´m sorry but I have no idea about a conversion process is. So I supposse that there are two different ways,? First and the hardest is getting the FAA license and then convert to JAA doing all the 14 exams, and second way and easier is going to a school who is under the JAA system, and when finish the training go back to Europe to do an easier convertion (IR convertion) to get the JAA license? Is it something like this? Or I´m completely lost?
Im just very afraid about choosing the wrong school and then have to do a long, expensive and hard convertion. Many of my friends warned me about this. I think they were talking about the first way of conversion cos they mentioned something about 14 exams as well, and that is crazy to do it!
I hope you can understand what Im triying to say, I know my english is not very good. I will be very glad if you can answer me this BIG QUESTION. :O

Hey Gernie,
either way, you have to do the 14 exams! Every jaapilot has to do it as it is part of the training even here in europe!
Taking the us-atpl means, that ypu have do do all the theoretical hours, do some more fliying and convert the licence. doing the jaa- atpl in a us-school iost like doing the whole thing in europe. you do not have to convert! only the last thing, the ir, can´t be done in us an has to be done over here.

I have to say, that i do not have a atpl yet, but i probably take my training in the usa as well in the future.
good luck.

I was wondering, is there anyone out there who took the jaatraining in the usa and got a job in europe?
is it harder compared to other schools to find a job? or would you say, the airlines don´t care as the training is as good as in europe?

Gernie,

By doing the APP in the US you will sit the 14 exams (distance learning) via Bristol G.S. to my understanding. It's really not that hard to follow. I am still saving but I will get there eventually.

Good point about saving money on the FAA IR and putting it toward the JAA IR :ok: ... I might get out there a little sooner than I think. :D

There is no getting away from the 14 ATPL exams. Unless you do the US version or the Canadian version etc. You want a flying job in europe then you WILL have to sit the 14 exams :cool: .

Good luck

Andrew