PPL courses - Where to go ? BFS or ... ?

[Commandant JC]

Hi,
I am currently considering to follow courses in order to get my PPL in Belgium.
Lukely, I am leaving near a small airport where the BSF (Belgian Flight School) is providing such courses.

However, I am wondering if the prices from BSF are not a bit overkilling.
They ask 700 Eur for theory lesson and around 12000Eur for the practical in flight lessons.
When looking to other belgian aerodrom, it seems that a PPL(A) cost is around 9000 Eur (all in).

Does anyone of you can tell me if BSF is the best place to go and the best ratio price/quality ?

Also, they announce the medical (Class 2) check at 410 Eur when I always see reference to 250 Eur in other informaiton source. Is it not a price being legally established by the belgian aeronautical ministry ?

In advance, many thanks for your replies.

CMD JC

[jan_olieslagers]

Is it BSF or BFS?
Actually, which is that small aerodrome?

Generally, it looks like this is a professional flying school, who offer the PPL as a first step towards a professional license (ATPL). If you wish to be a recreational pilot and nothing more, your PPL will be cheaper and probably more sociable in a flying club. Most aerodromes have a least one club, just skip in and get information.

[C-46commando]

One of my friends was an instructor there and he doesn't recommend it. Not because of the quality, but because there is no follow up of the student's progress. You will sort of be left alone to wonder around with no follow up, as long as you keep paying of course. They consider students more like cash cows than anything else. When talking to former PPL students of BFS they all had a negative memory of the place. In short, not the best school around.

[OO-PAL]

I am a BFS-qualified PPL and I would recommend them above anywheren else in Belgium.

Being the largest flight school in the country and fully integrated ATPL training centre, what BFS has to offer greatly outweighs some of the drawbacks of its size. The number of available aircraft and instructors is probably its greatest advantage: you will fly (almost) whenever you want, as opposed to waiting for your turn in a small club.

What you are looking for is becoming a good PPL fast, no ? You will have plenty of time to worry about finding a cosy and friendly flying club afterwards. Or you might decide - like me - to continue flying at BFS as a PPL for the benefits and quality they provide above many others. As for the prices, I haven't checked lately but would be very surprised if BFS were priced above the market as this would potentially impact their reputation.

In fact, I would recommend that you train at their hub in EBCI. Flying in and out of a controlled airspace with FR 737s around you is an excellent schooling for the future (particularly in terms of radiotelephony proficiency). Again, what you do afterwards with your licence in hand is another story depending on what your personal flying project is. But the quality and diversity of your base training is essential and I believe BFS delivers. It has for me.

Hope this helps.

Best of luck with your choice and with getting your PPL licence !

OO-PAL

[JAF737]

JC,

Indeed, their prices are overkilling. You will pay much more for a Flight Instructor there than in other FTO's and flying clubs. Why? There is no reason. They are not more qualified than anywhere else. Not better, not worst. It's a question of money. You would pay around 75€/hour for an instructor (!) while other FTO's pay them 45€/hour and some clubs around 35€/hour. Again, their quality has nothing to do with their pay! You will also pay more for the aircrafts. According to the BFS website, a PPL will cost you around 11.000€. Note that you will always have to add more costs to what they mention (due to extra training, for example...). It will cost you around 6000€ or 7000€ in some flying clubs...

Flying at Charleroi is NOT an advantage anymore. Yeah, you'll see big birds landing on your runway, but Charleroi is just too busy to be relaxed with a Cessna in the area! You'll have to get permissions to do touch & go's, engine failure exercices, etc etc...while you would be in peace on small airfields. Yes, flying in a controlled airspace is a good training, but it is also included in your PPL training at any other FTO/flying club that is based elsewhere. You will hold at the holding point with your engine running (you have to pay for that!) while you basically never waste too much time on the ground on minor airfields.

It's as simple as that. FTO's make money. Clubs make PPL's to have more members flying their aircrafts for pleasure. There is a HUGE difference between the spirit of a FTO which attracts you for what you have in your pocket and a flying club who attracts you to be a member of its community.

Ask for appointments in different FTO's. See their arguments.
Ask for appointments in different flying clubs. You will quickly see they don't want you for your money.

Don't hesitate to talk about BFS at different places. You'll find a lot of students who left BFS for other skies...

Keep in mind that - of course - they create a good image. That's what they count on. They paint their aircrafts in their own colours, they have a red carpet on the floor at Charleroi, but who cares. It's commercial, you know... Keep in mind they have nothing more than anybody else.

Will it take more time to do your PPL in a flying club? Probably, yes. Because theoretical courses are not given at the same frequency than in FTO's. Not because you will have to wait for your turn to fly! It will happen, that's for sure... but it happens everywhere. Not only in flying clubs...

By writing you this long text, I only want to promote general aviation at it should be. PLEASURE! Of course you'll have to pay for this pleasure, but pay the right amount for it.

Kind regards.

[Commandant JC]

Thank you all for those feedback ! I find them very useful.

Cheers.
CMD JC

[jan_olieslagers]

OK, Mr. Commander! Will you kindly keep us posted of your decision(s) and progress, if and whenever? Thanks in advance!

And do remember the remark from JAF737: learning to fly should absolutely be fun! It is too expensive to be anything else. But some fun is only realised afterwards.