AirAsia, MAS and future Malaysian Pilots - BEWARE: MFA
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AirAsia, MAS and future Malaysian Pilots - BEWARE: MFA
To all future aspiring commercial pilots in Malaysia beware of the Malaysian Flying Academy (MFA).
Some basic FACTS:
1) CAA requirement: The ratio of students to instructors is 6:1.
FACT: Currently MFA instructors have up 12:1. Students are flying close to 8 hours per MONTH if they are very lucky!
2) Principle continues to accept students for new courses even though facilities, instructors and aircraft can not cater for anymore.
FACT: Flight hours are around 7000 hours BEHIND schedule! MAS, Air Asia are given priority but most courses are still at least 1000 hours behind.
3) Max flight time for instructors is 650 hours.
FACT: Most instructors have exceeded this DCA and UK requirement. Yet DCA turns a blind eye and will NOT enforce this. I have spoken to instructors and they said they have no power because DCA won't back them up.
4) Aircraft are old and facilities are terrible.
FACT: Piper aircraft are in such bad shape and instructors have offices inside cargo containers UNTIL new building is constructed.... Plans have been drawn up but as yet no news on building date. Maintence is WELL below any flying school standard!
5) Malacca airport is a good training facility.
FACT: Malacca is a great training airport in Malaysia BUT can only cater for a certain amount of traffic. At present FAR too many aircraft are using this facility.
6) Principle is not suitable and can NOT run the flying school!
FACT: So many people hate this guy and morale at the school is at an all time low. He has NO management skill, decision making abilities and lies through his teeth.
So before deciding to be an airline pilot, think carefully about what this "ACADEMY" can offer you. Remember if you are a private student you will be treated 2nd class as cadets WILL have first priority.
The standard of students coming out of this academy is VERY low and MAS and Air Asia are finding they are not receiving QUALIFIED commercial pilots.
It seems that DCA believe that by training pilots in Malaysia they are going to be suitably qualified. MAS are dying to get out of MFA and send there students abroad to Australia or LATC for some real commercial training so they come back as qualified and safe commercial pilots.
Unless DCA do something I would NEVER fly MAS or Air Asia again....It won’t be long until there is a serious aviation accident in Malasyia…
Some basic FACTS:
1) CAA requirement: The ratio of students to instructors is 6:1.
FACT: Currently MFA instructors have up 12:1. Students are flying close to 8 hours per MONTH if they are very lucky!
2) Principle continues to accept students for new courses even though facilities, instructors and aircraft can not cater for anymore.
FACT: Flight hours are around 7000 hours BEHIND schedule! MAS, Air Asia are given priority but most courses are still at least 1000 hours behind.
3) Max flight time for instructors is 650 hours.
FACT: Most instructors have exceeded this DCA and UK requirement. Yet DCA turns a blind eye and will NOT enforce this. I have spoken to instructors and they said they have no power because DCA won't back them up.
4) Aircraft are old and facilities are terrible.
FACT: Piper aircraft are in such bad shape and instructors have offices inside cargo containers UNTIL new building is constructed.... Plans have been drawn up but as yet no news on building date. Maintence is WELL below any flying school standard!
5) Malacca airport is a good training facility.
FACT: Malacca is a great training airport in Malaysia BUT can only cater for a certain amount of traffic. At present FAR too many aircraft are using this facility.
6) Principle is not suitable and can NOT run the flying school!
FACT: So many people hate this guy and morale at the school is at an all time low. He has NO management skill, decision making abilities and lies through his teeth.
So before deciding to be an airline pilot, think carefully about what this "ACADEMY" can offer you. Remember if you are a private student you will be treated 2nd class as cadets WILL have first priority.
The standard of students coming out of this academy is VERY low and MAS and Air Asia are finding they are not receiving QUALIFIED commercial pilots.
It seems that DCA believe that by training pilots in Malaysia they are going to be suitably qualified. MAS are dying to get out of MFA and send there students abroad to Australia or LATC for some real commercial training so they come back as qualified and safe commercial pilots.
Unless DCA do something I would NEVER fly MAS or Air Asia again....It won’t be long until there is a serious aviation accident in Malasyia…
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To further elaborate, from what I gather while sitting for my exams, I did see some of these MFA students cheat and/or attempt to cheat. Just goes to show some of these kids with rich daddies have no clue about aviation and no sense of dignity and respect for the system.
No doubt cheating is a serious matter and the really sad part is these attitude rich kids will be our future airline pilots not only for Malaysia but other parts of the world too. Most of them really need a reality check and must realize how DAMN LUCKY they are to be a seat warmer on a Boeing or Airbus while they are still wet behind their ears.
And please don't tell us how you are too good for a Dash 7 or a Fokker 50 or a Twin Otter.
No doubt cheating is a serious matter and the really sad part is these attitude rich kids will be our future airline pilots not only for Malaysia but other parts of the world too. Most of them really need a reality check and must realize how DAMN LUCKY they are to be a seat warmer on a Boeing or Airbus while they are still wet behind their ears.
And please don't tell us how you are too good for a Dash 7 or a Fokker 50 or a Twin Otter.
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Good to see other people have the decency to write up their true realistic perception of aviation training in Malaysia. Even better to see that Australia is seen as a safe and skilled aviation training .. I was getting the feeling that we're all hated over here for our knowledge and experience....
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Longlatif,
Have you been bit in the butt severely by MFA for something you did wrong. Your line certainly comes off as the sour grapes syndrome. You are trying too hard to run down MFA, although there may be justification in some of what you say. I have no idea of the quality of training at MFA nor do I want to defend them. I know MFA had a golden opportunity with my present establishment, but they blew it. You finally killed the goose by your presumptions of unsafe & unqualified pilots in the air at MAS & AA, who did their training with MFA.
I am sure AA like MAS will have it`s own training section to fine tune these MFA qualified pilots. I was a trainer at MAS and also DCA appointed check airman. I can guarantee you that we never passed anyone who was substandard. No matter what poor abinito training one had, no one slipped through the net. Sure there were a few with poor basics, but that only meant he had to work harder to get up to airline standards. Each of these abinito would go through a well structured program of Ground School, Simulator, Base Training and extended Line & Route Training before they can call themselve Airline Pilot. See you soon for your fine tune!
Have you been bit in the butt severely by MFA for something you did wrong. Your line certainly comes off as the sour grapes syndrome. You are trying too hard to run down MFA, although there may be justification in some of what you say. I have no idea of the quality of training at MFA nor do I want to defend them. I know MFA had a golden opportunity with my present establishment, but they blew it. You finally killed the goose by your presumptions of unsafe & unqualified pilots in the air at MAS & AA, who did their training with MFA.
I am sure AA like MAS will have it`s own training section to fine tune these MFA qualified pilots. I was a trainer at MAS and also DCA appointed check airman. I can guarantee you that we never passed anyone who was substandard. No matter what poor abinito training one had, no one slipped through the net. Sure there were a few with poor basics, but that only meant he had to work harder to get up to airline standards. Each of these abinito would go through a well structured program of Ground School, Simulator, Base Training and extended Line & Route Training before they can call themselve Airline Pilot. See you soon for your fine tune!
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I was a trainer at MAS and also DCA appointed check airman. I can guarantee you that we never passed anyone who was substandard
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MASenger,
Leave the kid alone. If you feel that he is not correct than address the points he has made.
I for one agree with him and so do the MAS cadets trained at MFA from the late 80's. Even then the whole lot of them complained about the accom, aircraft, instructors (Airfarts) and flight training. The ground school had one good bloke Mr H.S.L. the place was over crowded ect. ect. I had many of them with me in the RHS telling me all about it those days.
MAS has many short comings and many pilots are passed with as much knowledge in flying as a middle eastern camel flea. And that includes a few instructors. MAPA (Malayu Ada Pilot Ada) makes sure of that doesn't it!!!!!!!!!
And cheating, thats a Malaysian past time from paying off cops to ATPL's thats why it's no longer valid in the UK.
Keep it up Longlatif. If it smell like sh!t then it usually is, don't be intimidated by anybody in this game. If you see something wrong call it out and if you feel it's dangerous do something about it. It may just save your life. MASenger has no concept of CRM this is a problem with Asian captains.
Wooblah.
Leave the kid alone. If you feel that he is not correct than address the points he has made.
I for one agree with him and so do the MAS cadets trained at MFA from the late 80's. Even then the whole lot of them complained about the accom, aircraft, instructors (Airfarts) and flight training. The ground school had one good bloke Mr H.S.L. the place was over crowded ect. ect. I had many of them with me in the RHS telling me all about it those days.
MAS has many short comings and many pilots are passed with as much knowledge in flying as a middle eastern camel flea. And that includes a few instructors. MAPA (Malayu Ada Pilot Ada) makes sure of that doesn't it!!!!!!!!!
And cheating, thats a Malaysian past time from paying off cops to ATPL's thats why it's no longer valid in the UK.
Keep it up Longlatif. If it smell like sh!t then it usually is, don't be intimidated by anybody in this game. If you see something wrong call it out and if you feel it's dangerous do something about it. It may just save your life. MASenger has no concept of CRM this is a problem with Asian captains.
Wooblah.
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Captain Wobaalah
if your idea of CRM is to reduce training standards and SOPs, that`s how much you know about CRM huh! Yup, you boys out there better be afraid of flying!
if your idea of CRM is to reduce training standards and SOPs, that`s how much you know about CRM huh! Yup, you boys out there better be afraid of flying!
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The standard of students coming out of this academy is VERY low and MAS and Air Asia are finding they are not receiving QUALIFIED commercial pilots.
Your views are your own, of course, but it comes off, as MASsenger put it, sour grapes, unless you can suggest a better flight school in Malaysia. Or even offer suggestions to improve the training. Comments such as accusing the principal of having no management skills and lying through his teeth won't make your arguments seem more valid.
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CAPTAIN WOOBLAH
Can you confirm that an ATPL obtained from MFA is not rubber stamped into a UK ATPL ?
The way MFA have spelt out their courses etc it looks as though they use the UK ATPL syllabus and imply that one could receive a UK ATPL on the basis of their course.
But this was on an old pamphlet I read some time ago.
Any comments appreciated.
Regards
Can you confirm that an ATPL obtained from MFA is not rubber stamped into a UK ATPL ?
The way MFA have spelt out their courses etc it looks as though they use the UK ATPL syllabus and imply that one could receive a UK ATPL on the basis of their course.
But this was on an old pamphlet I read some time ago.
Any comments appreciated.
Regards
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MASenger, What are you dribbling about you post consists of nonsense!!!!!!!!!!!
Lloyd,
Thats right no rubber stamp to UK ATPL as a result of massive cheating some years ago. The UK CAA actually sent their own invigilators to oversee to papers and exams until the not for the issue of UK license rubber stamp was introduced on the result papers. You are correct that the exams and syllabus is identical to the CAA.
But, if you have experience and the right of abode in the UK/EU or join as an expat you can get a JAA/CAA validation based on your employment contract.
Wooblah.
Lloyd,
Thats right no rubber stamp to UK ATPL as a result of massive cheating some years ago. The UK CAA actually sent their own invigilators to oversee to papers and exams until the not for the issue of UK license rubber stamp was introduced on the result papers. You are correct that the exams and syllabus is identical to the CAA.
But, if you have experience and the right of abode in the UK/EU or join as an expat you can get a JAA/CAA validation based on your employment contract.
Wooblah.
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Hi All...
Many many years ago MAS cadets were sent to UK, Scotland, Australia, Indonesia and some locally for abinitio training.
We all came back and got posted to F27s as SOs. We the worked our way up the fleets as FOs. Later we took ATPLs and then went down to either F27s and B732s for our initial command.
There was no differences really amongst the cadets from the different schools. This I noticed when we were FOs and later when I became captain. Also when I was IP and AE on 734s, DC10 and 744s, I found that there was really no difference that would make one batch more superior than the other.
All in all, I can say that it was a pleasure training and flying with everybody.
I can also say this. On many occassions I was privy to discussions about complaints about MFA to MAS management. I can only attribute that to the fact that it was a new training school and only the second (MAC was the first) that was involved in training commercial pilots in Malaysia for MAS. Also I guess that MFA was staggered by the number of pilots that MAS has sent them ( due to the shortage as a result of pilot leaving them for better paying airlines). I can also say that MFA can still improve if they put in more money and address the complains and also get better qualified FIs.
I am not worried. If the pilots from MFA are substandard, the IPs and AEs in MAS will fine tune them accordingly. This has been and shall be done for all batches that come back.
MAS wasnt looking for standards when they sent the boys to MFA, they were cutting cost that's all.
BTW, aviation accidents/incidents happen all the time regardless of where the pilots were trained or come from. It's our job to prevent one. I dont rely on MAS to support me or DCA to enforce anything as both parties are up to their noses with their own problems.
See guys, when you are in your ship, your are The Boss. Make sure you concerntrate on making you flight safe and avoid accident/incident at all cost.
Willflyer,
They said bad things about my training school too in those days, but heck look what happened. All of my batch boys are on the 744s now. Some are/were management, some are AEs and IPs, while only 3 of the 15 are line folks. (Oh, many though has left for KAL and CAL or Air Atlanta).
Happy Landings...
Many many years ago MAS cadets were sent to UK, Scotland, Australia, Indonesia and some locally for abinitio training.
We all came back and got posted to F27s as SOs. We the worked our way up the fleets as FOs. Later we took ATPLs and then went down to either F27s and B732s for our initial command.
There was no differences really amongst the cadets from the different schools. This I noticed when we were FOs and later when I became captain. Also when I was IP and AE on 734s, DC10 and 744s, I found that there was really no difference that would make one batch more superior than the other.
All in all, I can say that it was a pleasure training and flying with everybody.
I can also say this. On many occassions I was privy to discussions about complaints about MFA to MAS management. I can only attribute that to the fact that it was a new training school and only the second (MAC was the first) that was involved in training commercial pilots in Malaysia for MAS. Also I guess that MFA was staggered by the number of pilots that MAS has sent them ( due to the shortage as a result of pilot leaving them for better paying airlines). I can also say that MFA can still improve if they put in more money and address the complains and also get better qualified FIs.
I am not worried. If the pilots from MFA are substandard, the IPs and AEs in MAS will fine tune them accordingly. This has been and shall be done for all batches that come back.
MAS wasnt looking for standards when they sent the boys to MFA, they were cutting cost that's all.
BTW, aviation accidents/incidents happen all the time regardless of where the pilots were trained or come from. It's our job to prevent one. I dont rely on MAS to support me or DCA to enforce anything as both parties are up to their noses with their own problems.
See guys, when you are in your ship, your are The Boss. Make sure you concerntrate on making you flight safe and avoid accident/incident at all cost.
Willflyer,
They said bad things about my training school too in those days, but heck look what happened. All of my batch boys are on the 744s now. Some are/were management, some are AEs and IPs, while only 3 of the 15 are line folks. (Oh, many though has left for KAL and CAL or Air Atlanta).
Happy Landings...
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Well said Shintaro.
I remember the low pitch stops, fuel trimming and the scream of the darts.......... how the years have flown by................
Wooblah...................
I remember the low pitch stops, fuel trimming and the scream of the darts.......... how the years have flown by................
Wooblah...................
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Shame on you Captain Wooblah, you are an expat which means you are out of your own country. Instead of appreciating the offer a job by your host country, you choose to criticize and insult the integrity of Trainers, Pilots & Management of your host country’s main stream airline. IP`s & AE`s at MAS do an excellent job to cater for whatever shortfalls abinitios come in with. Pilots from MAS are well positioned with other airlines of the world presently, I`m sure that itself speaks for the high standards. But then, one can only appreciate all these with mainstream experience!!!
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Wot absolute crock. Obviously some MAS pilots have not had a reality check lately on wot is coming out of MFA.
DCA malaysia is corrupt. MFA is bending the rules to suit themselves. DCA dont care and MFA management know this. DCA did not close them down for a long time as they were the only flying school in Malaysia. Even with LATC starting, nothing will change. Its all tooooo hard lah! Conditions will continue to deteriorate at MFA that is a fact.
Appreciating a job in a foreign country is not about just sitting back and watching everything fall apart. Its about taking an active part if you are able. Am sure this will not appeal to the "arm chair" airline pilots.
Shintaro9
"MAS wasnt looking for standards when they sent the boys to MFA, they were cutting cost that's all"
Need i say more!
DCA malaysia is corrupt. MFA is bending the rules to suit themselves. DCA dont care and MFA management know this. DCA did not close them down for a long time as they were the only flying school in Malaysia. Even with LATC starting, nothing will change. Its all tooooo hard lah! Conditions will continue to deteriorate at MFA that is a fact.
Appreciating a job in a foreign country is not about just sitting back and watching everything fall apart. Its about taking an active part if you are able. Am sure this will not appeal to the "arm chair" airline pilots.
Shintaro9
"MAS wasnt looking for standards when they sent the boys to MFA, they were cutting cost that's all"
Need i say more!
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Yes, be constructive by all means through the appropriate media. No ones asking you to stay fat, dumb & happy. But bloody crock it is, when you just shoot off your big fat mouth!
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Haven't really got the hang of democracy, freedom or the internet have you??
6 points made in the initial post and not one refuted or rebutted.
If it is rubbish it is child's play to knock those points down one by one - or are you part of the whole problem?
Rob
6 points made in the initial post and not one refuted or rebutted.
If it is rubbish it is child's play to knock those points down one by one - or are you part of the whole problem?
Rob
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Well I think I might have opened a can of worms on this one....
MASsenger: RELAX!!! WOW! I think you are about to pop a blood vessel. I simply noted the POINTS (as Rob stated) on what I saw when I was at MFA.
If you have a problem with any of these points, please feel free to address them in turn.
Bird Doo: I couldn't agree more with you. Unless something is done at the top (DCA) then the problem is only going to get worse. This being Malaysia, I really can't see that happening...
CAPTAIN WOOBLAH: Thanks for the information regarding the rubber stamp from the UK. I was unsure about that also.
I would encourage any instructors currently working for MFA to address any of these points that I have made.
MASsenger: RELAX!!! WOW! I think you are about to pop a blood vessel. I simply noted the POINTS (as Rob stated) on what I saw when I was at MFA.
If you have a problem with any of these points, please feel free to address them in turn.
Bird Doo: I couldn't agree more with you. Unless something is done at the top (DCA) then the problem is only going to get worse. This being Malaysia, I really can't see that happening...
CAPTAIN WOOBLAH: Thanks for the information regarding the rubber stamp from the UK. I was unsure about that also.
I would encourage any instructors currently working for MFA to address any of these points that I have made.
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Massenger,
Read the first line in my first post this has ben reiterated by others. And, keep your blood pressure in check as advised by Longlatif.
The trouble with you is that you are the product of the bumi misinformation age believing you are superior to everybody else.
Time for a reality check.
Appreciate a job offer from the 3rd world airline you are an employee of, I think not lad I would not even consider it!!! I was there when you were being toilet trained and well I had many fond memories but it was too much of a pain putting up with people like you who suffer from acute racism and just cannot stand to see anybody promoted including you own kind.
From your post I can only imagine what sort of TRI/TRE you would be. Most probably a screamer intimidating your students revelling in the sweat pouring from their bodies and the look of fear in their faces. I bet you insist on being called captain outside of work and wear your uniform to the corner store.
And, in the near future MAS will be hiring tons of expats on higher salaries than you and as usual the flight attendents will be serving them in ways you only dream of. Of course we will hear you wailing and moaning about them too. But this time they won't give a flying fart and just use up the experience and the girls then move on to greener pastures with real airlines.
With all the good pilots gone or going from MAS I just wonder what is left. I would wager there are a few good competent chaps left but the majority are those that can't leave because their standards are so poor they fear the sim checks.
What would be good and profitable for MAS would be to let a white man run it because you guys have certainly proved that you can't and are totally incompedent. Perhaps the government could get Mr. Dixon in?
The pilots with good standards in MAS have either retired, are about to retire or have VOTED WITH THEIR FEET!!!!!!!!
Wooblah.
Read the first line in my first post this has ben reiterated by others. And, keep your blood pressure in check as advised by Longlatif.
The trouble with you is that you are the product of the bumi misinformation age believing you are superior to everybody else.
Time for a reality check.
Appreciate a job offer from the 3rd world airline you are an employee of, I think not lad I would not even consider it!!! I was there when you were being toilet trained and well I had many fond memories but it was too much of a pain putting up with people like you who suffer from acute racism and just cannot stand to see anybody promoted including you own kind.
From your post I can only imagine what sort of TRI/TRE you would be. Most probably a screamer intimidating your students revelling in the sweat pouring from their bodies and the look of fear in their faces. I bet you insist on being called captain outside of work and wear your uniform to the corner store.
And, in the near future MAS will be hiring tons of expats on higher salaries than you and as usual the flight attendents will be serving them in ways you only dream of. Of course we will hear you wailing and moaning about them too. But this time they won't give a flying fart and just use up the experience and the girls then move on to greener pastures with real airlines.
With all the good pilots gone or going from MAS I just wonder what is left. I would wager there are a few good competent chaps left but the majority are those that can't leave because their standards are so poor they fear the sim checks.
What would be good and profitable for MAS would be to let a white man run it because you guys have certainly proved that you can't and are totally incompedent. Perhaps the government could get Mr. Dixon in?
The pilots with good standards in MAS have either retired, are about to retire or have VOTED WITH THEIR FEET!!!!!!!!
Wooblah.