This Review Overall Rating
I was a modular student and underwent the CPL MEIR training at FTA. My overall experience was that FTA was very professional and standards were high. It’s a medium-sized flight school where students and staff form a close knit community that support each other.
Positives:
- Aircrafts are all maintained at Shoreham. Usually a quick turn around.
- Ops are very professional and helpful. They were diligent at helping with flight plans, booking slots and arranging schedules to accommodate students' needs.
- SOPs are well laid out and strictly followed by the instructors.
- Instructors are always around and keen to answer any questions
- Instructors I have flown with always make sure I am flying at a high standard
- Instrument approach available at EGKA (but see below)
- Back-seating is often welcome for others' lessons
Negatives:
- Not enough instructors/too many students. This results in training schedules not as frequent as I wanted (compared with other European flight schools where 2 or even more slots per day possible)
- High ground north of the runway gives a MDA of 810ft, coupled with English and coastal weather and , a number of IR flights have to be cancelled for just MVFR weather.
The 6 hours MEP course was completed first then I jumped straight into IR. With a few more hours to go before completion, the instructor told me I was at the test standard required. This is all thanks to good instructions and the relentless effort from the instructors.
15 hours of CPL training followed the IR. Other than getting used to looking outside for VFR, the training was a breeze.
Information and learning materials are more than abundant online and in ops room. FTA created a friendly environment where students can socialise and help each other out. All you need is self-motivation and the courage to go around and ask.
At the end it took me 5 months to complete MEIR CPL through winter. I would highly recommend any UK based student pilots to consider FTA.
Course(s) taken:
General
Aircraft
Simulators
Practical Training
