I'm using FAB/AGL. Nothing but praise, very welcoming, good aircraft (compared to other schools), good instructors, good prices and the bar is great :)

Think when you do the sums correctly you'll find FAB a brilliant club. Im currently hour building with them in a AGL group and couldnt find flying anywhere cheaper!

Landing fees are a variable costs as they differ from different airfields so that shouldnt be part of your argument.
deposit is refundable, just give notice of leaving!

I compared FAB with all the clubs at Blackpool and FAB came up the best option for a real flyer hour building more than 12 hrs in 2 years!

Its an insult to the club for people to throw stupid accusations about without the full understanding!

Maybe an apology is in order....:ok:

This story about the guy who paid £6,000 over a year ago and hasn't had a refund worries me slightly. I paid FAB/AGL £6,500 in November 2007 on the understanding that they would have their approvals through by late spring 2008, in the mean time I would do my hours building with them. The approvals never came sadly, but no worries, I did my hours building and moved on to another school, no refund required as I had got the hours I needed and any further money was going to be for the actual training. I finished my training last year and am now an FO with a UK based Turboprop operator. If the guy who allegedly paid the £6,000 is in fact supposed to be me, then, well you've got it wrong. Admittedly I wasn't happy with the smoke and mirrors surrounding the much promised approvals, they never came through and I had to train elsewhere at an increased cost, but I did get the hours that I paid for.

FAB/AGL has some flaws, but they are not major and they are by no means scamming anyone. Least of all me!

My only real gripe lies with the fact that I have been emailing them since August to cancel my membership but they still haven't and I have some fuel that I paid for which was never credited to my account. Oh, and I haven't seen my £710 deposit back yet! Generally though, I was very happy with their service and these problems are to be expected of a new, growing company that is going through a lot of transition.

Before i joined OAA i went to visit FAB and i was bitterly disappointed. After finally locating the front door i went in (i wish i haden't). I won't go into the details but in the 10 minutes i was there before getting thrown out of the door it looked and sounded like a complete mess! Instructors were complaining and i also was told they would definetly have their approvals by a certain date - they didn't!

Stway away IMO.

Fab/agl
 

Nothings perfect but where else can you get well equipped, latest generation aircraft for the money?

I joined AGL a few months ago after a few years of group ownership - AGL even bought our aircraft from us and I got back the full value of my share. Now I don't have to worry about unexpected maintenance bills.

The facilities are the best at Blackpool and for this sort of organisation the best I've seen - ever.

I'm not an hours builder but as a hobby flyer it fits the bill. :)

FAB have approvals for virtually everything now , anyone with any nouse in aviation should know that the CAA very rarely give deadlines . If FAB said they will be getting approvals soon you shouldnt be holding them to a specific date .
Heli hope you enjoy getting the same qualification for an extra 40 grand at OAA . Their marketing still very good then

Scam
 

This organization is a joke, its a scam!

Basically, they quotted me a price before I decided to go and when I showed up, all of suddenly the prices had gone up. By the way; they charge you the same price for flying solo as flying dual. Their excuse is that the instructors still has to be there when you fly solo, well this is the case in every flight school around the world, but you do not see them charging the same price for solo as dual during the PPL faze. They are full of it, trust me....

Heard somebody also got screwed for the deposit that has to be payed as a member, I have also heard rumours from a source within the organization that the school is going bankrupt which is why that person decided not to work there anymore. I am not suprised, do yourselves a favour and keep your money. If you give them any money you may not see the lights of it ever again.

Be aware this organization is also blacklisted..

Hope this helps.

Do you mean that they charge you the same for solo (still training for PPL) or they charge the same for solo hire (you already have your PPL)? These two are very different things. I know for a fact that the solo hire is cheaper than an instructional flight and can you show me another school that prices the solo instruction cheaper than flight with an instructor?

This thread has just made me want to start up my training to finish my PPL there (10 hours to go) and exams etc....£92 per hour is better than the area I live in...so i am going to have a look at that place :)

I bet they throw in the headset use too unlike some usa JAA places

Ok, here goes.

If a well regarded ppruner makes a comment critisising FAB and is willing to enter into senible discussion about their point of view, then fine. Take notice of what they say and use it to decide whether FAB is the fight FTO for you.

However, if a username with no previous posts randomly starts ripping into FAB with bizzare and vague stories, disregard it. It is a sad individual with a reputation for having a big red nose and face paint. Of course, like all other clowns, his posts are good for a cheap laugh.

FYI, it is standard practice for a solo STUDENT to pay the instructional rate as they are flying on the FI's license.

EK

Hesam Jet, If you manage to find an instructor that will send you solo, on his/her licence, while they bite their nails watching you out of the window, FOR FREE. Let us know who it is. I will buy him a drink.

SF

I've known a bunch of clubs which charge instructor rates whist you fly solo in training!! They can't fly someone else when they are technically working with you as you are flying on their licence.

Stop spreading incorrect information on something you obviously know nothing about. Get a the right story and get a grip!

Your stupid incorrect rants could be affecting peoples choices in training which make them worse off and you also seem not bothered about peoples jobs at fab!

I find your rebuttal interesting and yet amusing. When one is spending large sums of money for flight training, honesty from the FTO is absolutely crucial. FAB gave me a specific date with regards to CPL/ IR etc approvals, they didn’t say “sorry we can’t give you a specific date due to the musings of the CAA” they said we will have approvals on this date – they didn’t! Honesty in this business is everything and saying you can deliver when you can’t is a bad sign for me. :=

I won’t defend going to OAA (as it’s been done to death on here) or spending the extra money but they have delivered what they promised on time and that for me is worth the additional investment.

With regards to your claim that FAB have approvals for virtually everything now, anyone considering flight training with FAB should check out this official document from the UKCAA:

http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/Doc%203...rsion%2091.pdf

This is my last post on this subject. I would advise anyone training with FAB to do their research.

Good luck. ;)

To Hesam.Jet

If you do your research properly, you will find that every school will charge you dual flight time for every flight, Dual and Solo, while you are still PPL training. This is basically due to the fact that you don't have a license and you are effectively flying on your instructors license. The instructor has to be there to sign you out and when you end your flight. All this is part of an instructors duties and therefore has to be paid for.

Where is GGFPB
 

Hi
Rang the office today to book Archer GGFPB told it was on Maintenance, I know different ! it has been sold! how are the No Equity members going to take this? all paying their monthly subs and no aircraft :{

The Man who knows eh AKA the man who knows Fxxx All , first time poster as well i see well here goes
PB has been sold
PC is about to be sold
PB is on the booking system but is clearly posted as UNAVAILABLE you will notice it is a different legend to that when the aircraft is normally on maintenance
PC wont be soon
These aircraft are being replaced by SR20's
That is how it is , that is factual up to date and beyond contestation .
Any rebuttle from the newly named
"Pilloch who knows very little"
Ps if you knew the aircraft had been sold why did you try to book it ????
Axxhole!

Registration Details
Mark: G-GFPB Current Reg. Date: 29/10/2007
Previous ID: De-Reg. Date: 20/05/2009
Status: De-registered To: FINLAND
Reason: Transferred to another country or authority

SR20s
 

Yer right can see these type available to hire out of Barton during the winter months, ask Alan Sugar LOL:D
Same price I hope £110pcm and £70 an hour wet inc ???????? doubt it:{
Hold on where is SV, I need to borrow another £200K and I will pay you back £250K in 4 weeks.

Ahh suddenly everything becomes clear , I think max was hinting at the right guy , new screename same old RM , why dont you get a life