Quality Training

That critical decision.

You are starting a long period of training to be a commercial pilot. It will cost you some £40,000 (or over £80,000 if you elect to go on an integrated course), some two years of your life, and a lot of effort. At the end you will have a qualification but no guarantee of a job. It may be months before you get that vital interview and check ride. How well you perform will depend in part on the quality and depth of your training, so finding the right school for you is a critical first step.

How we are different:

1 – PPL.

Ideally we would like to train you for your PPL. This is because if you intend to train for the CPL we will make sure your PPL training is to that standard. This will help you fly to the CPL standards of accuracy and management when doing solo hour building and so avoid the disappointing and expensive additional training that we have to give some students on the CPL course.

2 – CPL.

We strongly advise that you do a combined MEP/CPL course. It is barely more expensive than the separate CPL plus MEP rating, involves one less test, and above all else means that you start the IR with approximately twice as many ME hours under your belt. We can make sure that you get all the routines, checks, emergencies and aircraft management polished at this stage to make the transition to the IR as smooth as possible. Even the 5 hours of simulator flying will be honing your skills in the twin.

3- IR.

Be clear from the outset that if you want an intense course to push you through the IR test and no more then we are not the school for you. We believe in in-depth comprehensive training which should stand you in good stead for all your career and make you more attractive to any employer. The IR is all about management – of the aircraft, the flight, yourself and the environment. When you climb into the aircraft for the flight you need to feel as if you are putting on a comfortable pair of slippers; if you are still having to think how to operate it you won’t have the capacity to manage the flight adequately. If you have done your MEP/CPL with us you will already know the aircraft and its systems so we can concentrate on giving you a thorough rounded course.

Your IR training will include all the basics of tracking, holds and approaches plus enroute RNAV, PRNAV approaches, RNAV approaches, no- gyros approaches and wherever possible a serious route through London, Manchester or a French TMA. The practical use of autopilots, flight directors and flight data computers will be covered, though we note the airlines concern at the loss of manual skills in flight deck crews and will still concentrate on manual flying and spatial awareness as top skill needs.

Threat and Error Management, airframe icing, tailplane stalls, GPS theory and practice and weather management are some of the many ground school topics in our syllabus. Your time in the simulator will include many of the emergencies in engine, avionics, electrical and airframe systems that we cannot simulate on the aircraft.

4- The Simulator.

Our simulator has triple projectors giving full 180 degree vision. This means that EFATOs and circuits can be realistically practised and flown and many emergencies given which are much more realistic than can be achieved in the aircraft. So good is it that Airlines rent it as part of their crew selection processes. The sim is configurable as a Duchess (ME) or Arrow (SE) with the correct controls for that aircraft. Its parameters were set up to mirror our own aircraft.

5 – The aircraft.

The twin has full autopilot, flight director, flight data computer, weather, traffic alert, two RNAV systems and mode S. It and our other IR training aircraft are EASA approved for RNAV and GPS approaches.

6 - And Finally:

The Instrument Rating you get is not like a university degree – it requires constant use to be of any value. Having spent £40,000 getting this far do not begrudge £1,000 to keep yourself current or you will join the other 1,000 CPL/IRs who failed their airline sim check last year…

Aerodrome.

Exeter International Airport has all the facilities expected of an international passenger airport and is surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery in the UK.

Accommodation.

Excellent accommodation is at hand ranging from B&B at £15 a night to a four star hotel.

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Aviation South West Ltd 01392 447887

www.egte.com

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