Hi Guys and Girls,

Im just planning to start my ATPL by distance learning and really considering choosing CATS.
Are there high chances of getting an first officer job after completing the ATPL with CATS and doing the flight training somewhere else in the UK?
Since I heard that many airlines prefer students from integrated courses or only ones who completed everything in one school such as Oxford....
Any experiences?

Thanks

You're basically saving some money on the ATPLs which equates to 10 h on the hour building
The integrated versus modular route has been discussed elsewhere on these forums but I don't have heaps of money and at the end I shall do the flight instructor route at CATS then deal with the airline bit with hours under my belt in a couple of years
If its integrated you want then CATS provide the material to WAAC so you can have both but you have to up sticks to Australia for a year
As for airline job at end, I see CATS students filtering in every couple of weeks to tell their airline tales which is a considerably positive point about the set-up

Does one need to already hold a PPL in order to start studying distance-learning ATPL at CATS' ?

You will need a PPL to officially enroll, but nothing stopping you from starting to study already and get a head start.

Yeah, but how do you get the study material without enroling..?

I suggest you call CATs, I can't see a problem pre-registering, getting onto the system, then when you have your PPL, complete it.

I can't talk on their behalf, but I would not have thought it would have been a problem.

You could also just purchase the books for now, but thats an extra £500.

Have you started your PPL yet, if so how long have you got to go?

Hi Fellas

You can purchase the ATPL study material at any time. It is classed as pre reading however you will need a PPL before sitting any exams.

CATS course is £999. Includes everything you need except exam fees:ok:

Coodem – After much deliberating I decided to finally signup with BGS. I spoke with several of the schools and assessed which would best accommodate my individual needs. Eventually, I enrolled for the whole of module one, thereafter, I will re-evaluate what my requirements are prior to initiating module 2.

For those of you who intend pre-study of ATPL material, I would suggest the idea of purchasing used material as I have. Mainly to introduce the topics at a basic standard level.

Oxford Manuals for Pre - study.
 

I've got the whole set of Oxford manuals (2003 I think) ideal for this purpose. If anyones interested PM me.

yes gmac
i got the whole course too for £999 but as part of a PPL completion package

Not true, I'm afraid, gmac. You need to hold an ICAO PPL before you can start the ATPL course.

Apologies for thread creep here but some of you here will know if this rumour is true or not: I heard that the method for taking the ATPL exams was to change next year, computer based exam tests with instant results similar to the FAA and taken in house during the groundschool course? Is this true? Sounds like quite a helpful improvement if so.

why not purchase a 2nd hand copy of the notes, I'm sure there are loads of people who want to get rid of theirs, as they take up a lot of space. I have a set of CATs, PM me for more info

i signed up with cats in the last couple of weeks and think the notes are brilliant, i was a bit dubious about online only, but the notes are so concise. I suggest you complete the whole of the free online HPL demo version to see how you get on.

i purchased a second hand set of notes and they are immense, to big/wordy etc.

so far happy with the cats course.

The notes i have read so far are extremly to the point with limited waffle and background info - indeed at some places it is to brief, hence the reasoning behind getting a second hand set of notes - you can get a second hand set of notes, pay the CATS online course and still save money.

This way you get 2 methods of instruction which can only beniefit your learning by having 2 view points to learn from.

CATS have got the most up to date study guides going!

Thanks CATs
 

Got my last exam results yesterday, passed everything. Yep, even GNAV!! Just wanted to say a big thankyou to everyone at CATs especially Stuart and Mike Burton for helping me get all first time passes and scores i am proud of. Thankyou!

Congrats Looptheloop, I've got my last 5 in a couple of weeks time including GNav :-s so fingers crossed.

well done loop

ir or cpl now?

I liked CATS Stage 2 POF, PERF, GNAV, FP and MB
There has been some high GNAV passes recently there
It is the subject that took longer to understand for me but was very interesting and rewarding when the answers came out right :ugh:
Ive finished Stage 3 which was quicker and perhaps easier and am now waiting for my results. Simulator is waiting for me if Ive passsed!