East Herts Flying School FIC
Join Date: Sep 2004
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The FIC course is run by the CFI, Hiam Merkardo, though I've heard that he seems to be getting bored of this new venture and another older instructor there is being groomed to take over the teaching of FI's.
£4999 may be cheaper than most and you are given a 12 month contract after successfully passing the course and as most intructors are just passing thorugh to build hours before securing an airline job then you can probably make do with low pay and crap conditionc for a year or so.
However, what do you get for your money, well I've spoken to a couple of the instructors there and it would seem that the lastest FIC's going through the course are extremely disgrunteld about how the course is going, or more to the point is not going, one of them has taken nearly 6 months to complete. Of course the weather plays it's part and you can't expect to get much training done over the winter period but from what I've heard the CFI just does it when he feels like it.
There would appear to be no course structure, god knows how they got that past the CAA!! and students spend hours at a time in the class room listening to the CFI go on about psychology and the universe and what is the meaning of life rather than actually being taught to be a professional flight instructor.
One would be instructor has just had to fly the CFI out to Germany as part of his course (for which he is paying) in one aircraft and then fly himself back so the CFI could pick up his extra 300 and bring it back having being serviced. I imagine that must have eaten about 5 hours of the student FI's course time and what did he learn??? how to fly and patter straight and level for 5 hours.
It would appear that the instructors think the CFI is taking the p**s with FIC courses.
Having said that, I have met a number of their instructors and they all seem to be a good bunch and I've had no issues with my training but the school is not for everyone. I have been considering doing an FIC course but having listened to some of the comments made by the present instructors and seen some of the things going on I wouldn't be in a rush to do it at panshager, I will take my business elsewhere and get my FIC done properly when the time comes.
£4999 may be cheaper than most and you are given a 12 month contract after successfully passing the course and as most intructors are just passing thorugh to build hours before securing an airline job then you can probably make do with low pay and crap conditionc for a year or so.
However, what do you get for your money, well I've spoken to a couple of the instructors there and it would seem that the lastest FIC's going through the course are extremely disgrunteld about how the course is going, or more to the point is not going, one of them has taken nearly 6 months to complete. Of course the weather plays it's part and you can't expect to get much training done over the winter period but from what I've heard the CFI just does it when he feels like it.
There would appear to be no course structure, god knows how they got that past the CAA!! and students spend hours at a time in the class room listening to the CFI go on about psychology and the universe and what is the meaning of life rather than actually being taught to be a professional flight instructor.
One would be instructor has just had to fly the CFI out to Germany as part of his course (for which he is paying) in one aircraft and then fly himself back so the CFI could pick up his extra 300 and bring it back having being serviced. I imagine that must have eaten about 5 hours of the student FI's course time and what did he learn??? how to fly and patter straight and level for 5 hours.
It would appear that the instructors think the CFI is taking the p**s with FIC courses.
Having said that, I have met a number of their instructors and they all seem to be a good bunch and I've had no issues with my training but the school is not for everyone. I have been considering doing an FIC course but having listened to some of the comments made by the present instructors and seen some of the things going on I wouldn't be in a rush to do it at panshager, I will take my business elsewhere and get my FIC done properly when the time comes.
146fixer - regretfully you will never set foot on the the airfield again, as when he goes, so does the airfield - into a housing estate. Anyway goes for me too unless it's to see the first sod of the new estate being turned!
redbull21 - check your PM's please
redbull21 - check your PM's please
Join Date: Feb 2002
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In response to some of the previous threads, I would like to give a different perspective on the FIC course. As one of the last students through the FIC course I've found it very beneficial and the CFI has done a good job with me, especially considering I had a break from flying in the year preceding the course. I'd also like to say that anyone who has spoken to me about the course knows that I have not been "disgruntled" at any stage, as has been suggested by a previous poster. From what I gather the other recent students are happy with things also. I found that the course was just right for my needs and was tailored around me leading to a pass of my FIC test (I happen to know that this is not the case at some other more well known schools, one of which I have had previous training with).
One last point, prior to signing up for the FIC course, I looked at several other places and none could give any positive indication of a job at the end.
One last point, prior to signing up for the FIC course, I looked at several other places and none could give any positive indication of a job at the end.
Join Date: Feb 2005
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edd200uk
Is your other name Hiam ? If you are a real newly minted FI who has been through the indoct..... sorry !, I mean training at Panshanger , well done for completing and the best of British luck to you. Hopefully someday soon you will fly something airworthy !
I would like to say that there is a normal human tendency to think that the place where you trained and the person who trained you are the bees knees so I am not surprised to hear that you support the school (very loyal).
What I am interested to know is what you are going to do with all of those extra skills that you must have picked up such as cleaning the floor, wiping the tables, driving the rundown relic of a fire truck, etc etc etc
If tou can put up with the biggest ego and most opinionated person I have ever met then you cannot be "banannas"
Is your other name Hiam ? If you are a real newly minted FI who has been through the indoct..... sorry !, I mean training at Panshanger , well done for completing and the best of British luck to you. Hopefully someday soon you will fly something airworthy !
I would like to say that there is a normal human tendency to think that the place where you trained and the person who trained you are the bees knees so I am not surprised to hear that you support the school (very loyal).
What I am interested to know is what you are going to do with all of those extra skills that you must have picked up such as cleaning the floor, wiping the tables, driving the rundown relic of a fire truck, etc etc etc
If tou can put up with the biggest ego and most opinionated person I have ever met then you cannot be "banannas"
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Congratulations
Well done on passing your FIC course and I'm glad you found the course to be good and tailored around your needs, however this forum is about letting others know about facts and experiences of establishments, people, types of training etc so that they are armed with some knowledge before making important decisions about thier training and spending thier hard earned money.
Although you seem to be happy with the service provided by EHFS in terms of the FIC course for which you paid £4999, you fail to mention the additional amounts you've paid before starting your FIC course, so to be fair to those considering where to do such a course do you not think it fair to let them know how many more hours you did (at whose suggestion) before you started the FIC course and therefore the total amount paid to EHFS for the FIC pass!
Good luck with your instructor job.
By the way you're not really expecting me to believe that the student instructor who flew the CFI out to Germany to collect his Extra 300 was not disgruntled are you !!!
Although you seem to be happy with the service provided by EHFS in terms of the FIC course for which you paid £4999, you fail to mention the additional amounts you've paid before starting your FIC course, so to be fair to those considering where to do such a course do you not think it fair to let them know how many more hours you did (at whose suggestion) before you started the FIC course and therefore the total amount paid to EHFS for the FIC pass!
Good luck with your instructor job.
By the way you're not really expecting me to believe that the student instructor who flew the CFI out to Germany to collect his Extra 300 was not disgruntled are you !!!
Unfazed - you missed out cleaning the toilets, chopping firewood, burning the rubbish and toxic waste, doing the 'Z', gardening, running errands and fetching the Cmdt a chicken, cleaning the fish pond out and many other wonderful skills.
edd2000uk as regards a 'job' at the end of the course you couldn't have looked too far as quite a few FIC schools will offer you a job at the end of the course these days. As regards 'job' the form of job we are used to at said establishment was abolished in the British Empire in 1833 mainly thanks to one William Wilberforce.
edd2000uk as regards a 'job' at the end of the course you couldn't have looked too far as quite a few FIC schools will offer you a job at the end of the course these days. As regards 'job' the form of job we are used to at said establishment was abolished in the British Empire in 1833 mainly thanks to one William Wilberforce.
Join Date: Jan 2006
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I would certainly agree with No Speed restriction regarding clocking up hours at Panshangar, when I taught there I knocked up a little over 700 hours in 11 months.
I too did the FIC course there and although I passed it's not what I expected and I have told the CFI that at the time. As for the other stuff about additional duties, all true I speak from experience.
Edd2000uk, I felt the same when I had passed my FI test, felt over the moon and didn't think the school was too bad however months of 'Hiamenation' can grind anyone down and although the school is good in terms of location, students, instructors and not forgetting the engineering guys, the set up is let down by one individual!
I am now instructing at another school and I tell you what, I am spoilt rotton, at least I feel like that and it's not until you go somewhere else that you can make a comparison. At this other school everything is done for the instructors including fueling, tie down and even lunch provided, a million miles away from what Panshagar was.
To be fair though my time at Panshagar served it's purpose, great deal of hours in little time.
If I was asked by a prospective FI student whether they should undertake an FIC course at Panshangar, I would say No, go do it somewhere professional even if it costs a few quid more and then come back and apply for a job at Panshangar as the hours are great.
I too did the FIC course there and although I passed it's not what I expected and I have told the CFI that at the time. As for the other stuff about additional duties, all true I speak from experience.
Edd2000uk, I felt the same when I had passed my FI test, felt over the moon and didn't think the school was too bad however months of 'Hiamenation' can grind anyone down and although the school is good in terms of location, students, instructors and not forgetting the engineering guys, the set up is let down by one individual!
I am now instructing at another school and I tell you what, I am spoilt rotton, at least I feel like that and it's not until you go somewhere else that you can make a comparison. At this other school everything is done for the instructors including fueling, tie down and even lunch provided, a million miles away from what Panshagar was.
To be fair though my time at Panshagar served it's purpose, great deal of hours in little time.
If I was asked by a prospective FI student whether they should undertake an FIC course at Panshangar, I would say No, go do it somewhere professional even if it costs a few quid more and then come back and apply for a job at Panshangar as the hours are great.
Last edited by IMC007; 4th May 2006 at 08:27.
Join Date: Feb 2005
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Advice for potential FI's on the subject of hour building
Quality is important, not just the quantity !
Sounds like some real world views are being passed along here so please check out the other options available before parting with hard earned cash !
Quality is important, not just the quantity !
Sounds like some real world views are being passed along here so please check out the other options available before parting with hard earned cash !
