Choosing a Flying Academy is one of the biggest decisions in your journey as a pilot. The best flying schools have a way of building up the confidence, skills and career options of their graduates long before they even enter the workforce. With so many options available, you need to find out what factors matter the most to your flight school of choice prior to selecting a school. Consider the following items when making an educated decision on where to train: quality of training, support for your career, etc.
Training Infrastructure at the Best flying schools
In order for an aviation academy to have success, it must have excellent infrastructure to operate its facility. You should consider the types of technology used at the aviation school, including, but not limited to, the quality of simulators, the age and maintenance of aircrafts and the quality of the classrooms. The types and variety of aircraft available for you to use during training will also provide you with the greatest opportunity to experience the same conditions that you would in an actual flying environment.
Like quality infrastructure, an aviation academy should also have a regular maintenance schedule and safety checks. The school’s commitment to safety and a high level of professionalism is evident through its safety policies and procedures. When an aviation school maintains its facilities and equipment at a high level, the environment for the student to learn becomes easier and more effective.
Experienced Instructors and Student Support
Your learning experience will be greatly influenced by the instructors from your flying school. Quality instruction can only be provided by people with real-life airline experience and/or individuals who have had successful aviation careers prior to becoming flight instructors. Quality instruction also includes being able to give you real-world experiences and examples from within the Airlines.
Additionally, look at the student-to-instructor ratio. Fewer students in each class means that you will receive more attention and quicker improvement in your skills. Access to helping you when you need it (i.e. help with your work, mentors to help you develop as a person and professional, and check on how much you’ve progressed throughout your training) can help tremendously with your training experience.
Course Options and Career Pathways
Typically, a quality school will offer different courses in aviation so that students can experience many levels of training in the same training environment. A few examples of aviation (aeroplane) programs offered are private pilot, commercial pilot, and advanced ratings. Ensuring that the school offers a complete program with all the needed flight and ground training hours required for you to get your Best CPL flying will help you determine if they are providing an effective training program.
Placement Record and Industry Connections
Most students do not realise how important having a career support department is for them, so check what type of support the school has for their students in finding a job. The best flying schools will have established relationships within the industry that can provide unbelievable experiences after finishing school. A good guidepost would be that if they have been able to place a significant number of graduates within airlines, then they are likely providing an effective way to help connect their students with employment after training.
Good indications of the quality and credibility of a school’s graduates are through the school’s alumni and any relationships they have developed with airlines or organisations related to the aviation industry.
Safety Standards and Maintenance Practices
Training safety should be of top priority for any school you’re looking into. Before enrolling, you should find out what the school’s safety protocols and aircraft maintenance practices are and also what their standards for operating an aircraft are.
The safest and most productive flying school environments are supported by institutions that regularly perform inspections and conform to established aviation standards. Building a solid foundation of professional discipline begins during training due to the added protection provided by the quality of training received by students.
Bottom Line
Choosing between the best flying schools is more about having quality training, safe flying conditions, and career assistance at the facility than anything else. Spend time researching, comparing facilities, and talking to current students when possible. Selecting a well-established flight school like Redbird Aviation to attend will prepare you with the technical skills you will need to be a professional pilot, as well as prepare you mentally for being responsible for the operation of an aircraft as a professional pilot. Our solid foundation will allow you to watch your aviation dreams take flight! Contact us now!