It does seem that aviation is seen as the past time of the rich, when in reality it is the past time of the heavily debted! So it makes sense to put us all further in debt!!

I had a class 1 medical taken at work, one of the perks of working for NATS which was free, I had to have an electrocardiogram, as it was due, to which the doctor said was 'absolutely spot on'; 'lovely all done then', I said. I was then told that I had to pay the bloody Campaign Against Aviation £27 so they could read the plot given by the ECG, and come to the same conclusion that a very experienced NATS doctor had already concluded!!

IT'S ALL A BIG CON FROM THE GATWICK GREY WARSHIP!!

CAA Charge for sending fax to Oklahoma City: £16

FAA Charge for reading said fax, reading application form, approving documents and transferring to local office, issuing temporary airman's certificate, printing FAA licence card (plastic and credit card sized) and postage to UK: £0... Yes, Free

Value of the FAA teaching the CAA a lesson in charging: Priceless

If I remember correctly, the problem with the CAA is that it was stipulated a good few years ago that it has to be self funding whereas the FAA has funding from Government.

Further to Send Clowns post...

What is worse is that those of us sitting the exams at Gatwick were provided with such a small desk with such a small space between them, glad I didn't do General Navigation at Gatwick.

The Orlando exam venue was much nicer, we had large desks that we could spread all of our charts out with plenty of room to spare.

Does anyone know of an exam venue in the UK which allows the use of large desks? I have flight planning coming up in the next (and last) seven and thus would really like a nice large desk to work from...

Had no complaints about the Glasgow venue (did Nov exams there). Very quiet room, 2 desks (pushed together) per candidate, as much space as you need. Coffee bar just across the courtyard.

Yes, but people are asking what exactly do they spend their money on. Hence the proposed audit. They are meant to facilitate aviation, not fleece it as some quasi job creation scheme.

The Campaign Against Aviation indeed :*

The reason the CAA give us little desks to do our planning exams on is because that is all you get on the Airbuses we will all be flying soon:).

Count yourself lucky - you have to do it on your knee in a Boeing so the FAA guys don't even get a desk.

Just another sad example of 'Suit Britain' as I call it ...

The whole country is being run by boring little grey men who know more about microsoft excel than anything else.

What next - a doctors assessment to see if you are going to breach any health & safety 'codes of conduct' when your sitting at your exam table?

:yuk: :yuk: :yuk: :yuk:

At Shuttleworth they arranged pairs of desks for the flight planning exam, at a student's request. However this was not standard, and that centre is no longer in use. You could try at Silsoe; probably not worth it at Gatwick!

CAA might be self-funded, but the exams have for years been a lot more expensive per hour than your lessons, and there you have a skilled instructor to each class of between 5 and 15 students (in most schools)! He has to prepare classes, which shold be more work than running the exam - you should not be charged for the incompetence of the JAA in setting up teh exams, giving exrta work marking. That is immoral and disgraceful, being charged extra due to the poor service you are receiving!

JAA ATPL Ground Exams
 

I'm just about to enrole to Bristol ground school to start the study for the atpl written exams using their distance learning package.

I have looked at other schools, but Bristol looks the best all round package and is not too far from me.

Before i send off my hard earned and start has anyone got any advice or experience on using Bristol GS.:confused:

Looking forward to your comments

Richz3

Dist Learning
 

If its Distance Learning, everyone I know that used it thought Bristols was great.

I did a fulltime course in the end, but guys off my course still used the Bristol online facilities for revision.

Currently half way through my studies with them and I can't find a bad thing to say about them.
Great course material, excellent insructors/tutors and top notch support and resources to help you pass the exams.
The online question database is a godsend!

Good Luck

Matt

Cannot fault them, always willing to help, even after you've finished with them and just need advice?

YYZ

Top notch school. When PPSC went bust, Bristol took a load of us on at short notice and I, for one, passed all the exams first time with them.

A mate of mine went to Bristol, he said they were fantastic, one of the best places you can go. You gota put the work in though!

JAA ATPL Ground Exams
 

Hi everyone.
There is a rather persistent opinion that one may sit JAA ATPL exams without formal theoretical training. However, according to JAR-FCL 1.485(b), one has to be recommended by an approved FTO to take the exams. Is this a clear prohibition, or are there any alternative means of compliance?

The only way around it is if you are very experienced and hold an ICAO ATPL. I believe you'll also need many hours on a jet / turboprop aircraft but am unsure about that.

Even if you hold an ICAO CPL/IR, you are still required to sit the entire course and the classroom element before going to the exams and the school has to sign the application form to say you are ready to take them.

If you are to do the exams via distance learning as I did, it must be through an approved course. This requires at least 200 hours of formal ground instruction as opposed to the 600-odd required by the residential course. Sadly, you are not simply allowed to buy the books, learn the subjects and sit the exams.

Yes 10% of any distance learning programme needs to be completed in class, under guidance of an instructor. This is the offical line

Yes, most of that is correct. You are completely exempt approved ground training if you have an ATPL with 1500hrs+ on aircraft certified for two pilot operation. If you hold an ATPL but don't have the 1500 hours two pilot time then you have to do an appproved course but the time spent on the course may be reduced at 'the discretion of the Head of Training of an approved FTO'. Frozen ATPLs/CPLs get no credits.

A full approved modular course must consist of at least 650 hours of instruction, 10% at least must be done in the classroom.

ATPL Exams
 

Thanks all for replies.

Looks like BristolGS will be getting my business, lets hope i'm up to the challenge!! :ok:

Richz3