Fly Lah!

To All Ladies/Gentlemen in MFA (Cadet pilot)

I plan to visit MFA within the next few weeks and would like to hear some updates from you guys who actually lived and currently undergoing a full CPL/IR(A) course. I am trying to avoid any 'marketing talk' by the management as I know what they are going to say.

1. How many 'SERVICEABLE' aircraft (singles and twins) are avail for the course?

2. How long does it take to complete the course right now?

3. How many instructors are there serving in MFA (both gnd and FI)?

4. How many engineers and technicians are there to look after the whole fleet of aircraft?

5. I heard that electrical supply to the individual room (hostel) will be cut off during day time as part of cost cutting measures/maximising profits. Is this true?

6. How many candidates are there (total) and in the latest intake?

7. Any other info that I need to be very careful when visiting/dealing with the management?

I am trying to gather as much info as possible in order to determine which school is better (MFA vs APFT) and worth spending RM 1/4 million for the next couple of years.

Your answers will not only make my decision making process easier but it may help other wannabes as well.

Thank you for answering.

The Unlearned

drebarbas wrote:5. I heard that electrical supply to the individual room (hostel) will be cut off during day time as part of cost cutting measures/maximising profits. Is this true?

Oh no, HMA disease is now in MFA?

I visited MFA last week and managed to get first hand info WRT the whole situation in MFA.

1. MFA currently does not have any airlines sponsored cadets. All cadets are self-sponsored. Therefore, there won't be any 'prioritisation' as far as flying schedule is concerned. Everyone will have equal opportunity......

2. Fees - As of Mar 2011, the total fee is RM260k, managed to complete the course (CPL/IR) in LESS than 20 months since 2 years ago. APFT will cost you RM250k (RM15k discount if registered by end of Apr 2011) but will take MORE than 20 months to graduate.

3. Localised infrastructure - The hostel, dining hall, surau, classroom/ops room/offices/library, sim building and hangar are in the same compound and within 5 mins walk. Scattered facilities in Kota Bharu.

4. Reasonable serviceability rate of the aircraft both singles and twins although they are quite 'aging'. Basic analog instruments onboard compare to digital glass cockpit aircraft possessed by APFT although not the whole fleet.

5. Reasonable number of instructor/student ratio.

6. Melaka Airport is basically deserted, hardly any aircraft flying in/out of the airfield apart from MFA's aircraft. Good environment for ab-initio training compare to Kota Bharu.

7. Electrical supply at the hostel will not be cut off during day time but closely monitored to avoid any abuse by cadets.

8. RM250/week for 12' x 8' fully air-conditioned room (individual unit), twin sharing, attached bathroom, 5 meals/day for 5 days/week is quite steep. However, could you live with RM10/day for the whole day meal, find your own eating places - apparently this is what you will get from APFT if you are on detachment in Kuala Terengganu.

Conclusion

Both MFA and APFT offer good environment and value for basic flying training. My personal opinion - MFA offers better package as finishing 4-6 months earlier means a lot to a seniority based and limited window of opportunity industry. If one could afford RM250k for the fee, an extra RM10k won't make much different.


The Unlearned

For me...

I would say APFT...Everything is good except for the food...

Drebarbas....everything that u mentioned are true....but u need to know something...behind every difficulty there is beauty...(kalau orang melayu cakap...ada hikmah...)


I would really love to also give some points about APFT...but frankly speaking...Im not good in writting english...

I would like to help the newbies especially in choosing their right school on persuing their dreams in becoming an airline pilot

Sorry for not using English...but i will try to use rojak (Malay+ English)
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2)Bagi saya, saya tidak kisah...berapa lama yang diambil untuk tamat pengajian di flying school..
Average cadets graduate in 2 years,,some may took until 2 years and half...tetapi...
as for now...they have a lot of new aircrafts...student progress are getting faster...there are flying 2-3 sorties every day...
thats what i heard from the students now

3)Benar accomodation terletak berjauhan dengan airport...tetapi itu tidak bermakna itu satu kelemahan buat APFT
Hikmahnya di sini:
-cadets tidak dibenarkan membawa kereta...hanya boleh menaiki bas yang disediakan..bas akan bertolak seawal 6.30 pagi...bagi yang mempunyai kelas ground school dan early flight...
kenapa?:APFT melatih anda untuk lebih punctual...
mereka melatih anda untuk anda datang pagi supaya anda lebih bersedia untuk flying...
Contoh:Sim training...there's a lot of preparation you need to do...airways chart...nav log and some other documents..
if it withing 5 mins walk from accomadation...
Some will think like this...
"Ah...5 minit nak sim/flight baru aku pergi...relaks dulu...tido kejap"

Bukankah syarat nak jadi pilot mesti Physically and mentally fit?

Nak senang je semua.. susah la..

4)APFT will start using fully piper warrior with analog instrument in near future...they are sending the diamonds to the other base in India...this is what I heard...

5)i dont see lack of instructors in APFT

6)Crowded airspace...lot of traffic...yeah...kota bahru is crowded....TETAPI
flying in kota bahru memantapkan your airmanship...how u arrange yourself with the other aircraft for let say in a circuit..
after all cadets are flying visually (VFR)...jadi dengan cara ini lah mereka meningkat daya situation awareness mereka...airmanship...lookout ability dan lain-lain...
Tidak dinafikan...those who just enter flying phase the will feel a lil bit awkward doing the RT call(radio call)...but after the next 2-3 sorties...they will get used to it...why? Because...every seconds there will be an RT calls from the ATC..or aircraft...
So here is also the best place to practice Your RT...

7) Electrical supply will not be cut off day and night

8) I have to agree that the foods which APFT provide are very disappointing

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9)APFT graduates have good image...good market value in the airline industry..

10) APFT is helping their graduates to get a job in the airline

11) Instructors are very well experienced...Most of them are from the air force
Some of them are from the airline...Sim instructors are the best so far(they are from airlines)
They will share with u every knowledge and experience so that u will get the idea what will it be in the airline (kelak)

12)one of the reason why..apft cadets will take longer to graduate..its because of the weather..
Mostly raining and visibility its not so good for flying...

tetapi..
bagi saya anda akan mendapat pengalaman berdasarkan ini...let say u are flying...
it happen to be raining along your route to kota bahru
so anda akan belajar bagaimana to plan and make a decision

Kerap kali di kota bahru angin yg kuat dan crosswind..
U will get to learn how to land in this situation...crabbing technique...low wing...and so on...

13)Kota BAhru is not a the best place to get entertainment..
So its the best place to study...eventhough kota bahru offer a lot of delicious foods...yummy

14)APFT cadets will be trained on how to handle real emergency...and they have to be always well prepared.
memorising the emergency checklist is a MUST

15)Strict flying examiner...which the cadets have to be in a "tip top" condition...
many had failed for the flying test due to failure to achieve the standard of flying

16) looking smart and discipline is a MUST...Tidaklah selekeh...mesti menjaga penampilan diri sebagai pilot
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Jadi apa yang saya ingin tegaskan disini
Walaupun ada keburukan yg ada di APFT namun...
If u are a postive person...
U will see this as a benefit to u..

Takkan semua nak senang je
Bersusah susah dulu,....bersenang-senang kemudian la...


At APFT Dreams are realised

Thanks Mr Aviator, not meant to debate about this issue. The money and time are yours, so please decide wisely.

I am just putting some info for others to decide.


The Unlearned

Me too...
just want to give some infos to help the newbies to decide..

it depend on individual. if you want to say that academy is good then it will be very good. If you want to say its bad then it will be very bad.

2) Time is valueble. You can't buy time with money. What for you want to waste time sitting down there do nothing? Yes, APFT is getting more and more aircrafts, but more and more students coming in. So, its still the same.

3)Wasted so much of time on travelling. Why not use the time to study?

4)Rumours

5)Yes, I can see there are many instructors there. Clocking 20 hours per month?

6)Oh yea, practise airmanship and RT. How much time wasted on holding?

7)Will not be cut because most of the time students are not in the hostel.

9)/10) Good image and good value... why so many APFT students still jobless outside there?

13)It depend on students... if you dicipline yourself wherever you go it will be the same.

14)Emergency? every flying academy do so...

15)Strict? not all right?

16)Smart and dicipline... same goes to every academy.

There are a lot more I don't want to comment...

Somehow i dont wish to have a debate here...
I know your an ex mfa student..an instructor..and also now under training with one of the cargo company..
You have the right to say something about your school...

My intention is good...
Just to give some guidance to the newbies...

Everything that i said about APFT are true..
no rumours..you can say what you want..
I myself is an APFT alumni..
I have to agree that during my training,,,i was so dissapointed on what APFT had given to us...
but after completing(after comparing with other school) I am grateful that I am here...same goes to most seniors..

If your a negative person (love to complain like mentioned above)...please do not enter APFT...this is not the best school for you..
(sikit-sikit nak complain...susah la)

If you are a positive person...you are most welcome to be a Part of our Family

chill lar.. I'm not complaining. I have heard a lot.
Whatever it is, what I'm trying to say was... if you want to say that academy is good then you will pin point all the good points and disregard the bad part and same goes to the other way round. Thats all...

Just came across this: http://www.mfa.edu.my/faq.html#a27

CAAS has changed something!

Those newly fresh graduates (holding fATPL) from any of the Malaysian flying schools (including MFA), will have big problem with CAAS. :=\:

-- Thu Jun 09, 2011 1:10 pm --

1. Singaporeans holding or going to have DCA licence, and thinking of CAAS licence conversion, it is going to be super BIG headache issue!
2. Those Malaysians holding DCA licence, and who are applying for any piloting jobs with any Singapore air operator, the road is going to be tough!
3. CAAS is no longer recognising fresh M'sia DCA CPL (or fATPL) holders for CAAS licensing conversion. Meaning those, fresh fATPL graduates from MFA/KLIFA/HMA/GGIFA/APFT/IT&S/KISTAA will be affected.

To facilitate further, I am providng info below for all enquirers to ask:

Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore
Safety Policy & Licensing Division
Basement Terminal 2 Room B16-006-03 (Licensing Section)
Singapore Changi Airport
Singapore 918141

CAAS Safety Policy & Licensing Division
Tel: 65412482
(calling from Malaysia, add '02' infront -> 0265412482)

More telephone numbers to try:
http://app.sgdi.gov.sg/listing_expand.a ... 0000017186