Benefits of choosing EFT for modular Students

Cadets training for any of our modular courses choose EFT for a number of specific benefits:

Professionalism. EFT's instructors are all European; they hold the JAA licences you are training for; and know what's involved with training for European Licences. All our Commercial Level instructors hold JAA Flight Instructor licences and have over 1500 hours of instruction - and recently achieved a CPL first series pass rate of 98% over the last two years (07-08); no other FTO in the USA can offer this, and many competitors use FAA American instructors; who have no JAA licences.

JAA Training . Unlike other schools, EFT trains you directly for JAA Licences. We don't train you FAA and then make you convert your licences in Europe at a later stage - this leads to expensive overages in conversion costs due to fundamental differences between FAA and JAA Flight Training. Our students require JAA training and licences, we provide high quality affordable JAA flight training.

One on One Instruction. Unlike other schools, EFT does not run large classes and specific class dates, we run our schedule round you - the student. This leads to an personal instructor/student relationship leading to higher quality trianing standards.

Flexibility and real-world exposure. Training in the USA is more cost-effective and much faster in comparison to training in Europe. Proximity to larger airports (Miami, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale; allows for real-life exposure to busy airport and airspace operations for advanced training.

Fast course completion. The excellent availability of our aircraft, and large number of aircraft available - assured by our own in-house maintenance facility - contributes to timely progression through the training programme. The fair weather at our USA base, which permits operations seven days a week, is an added benefit, normally allowing over 340 good VFR flying days a year.

Cost-effectiveness. EFT's combines cutting-edge instructional facilities with highly competitive training costs. We are able to offer these unique advantages due to the relatively lower cost of operating aircraft in the USA, and streamlined operational management. We operate to higher standards than our competitors, and charge less. The result: a direct financial benefit to our customers.

First-time flight test pass rates. The oustanding first-time flight test pass rates -over 95%- routinely attained by EFT cadets is a testament to the standards of instruction at EFT, but also reduces retraining costs to pilots who have completed their courses.

Specific benefits of choosing EFT for Airline Pilot Programme™ students

Graduates of our Airline Pilot Programme™ become part of the EFT team as paid intern flight instructors upon successful completion of their course, providing them with the necessary flight experience to successfully seek employment with an airline. This experience consists of not only single-engine flight time, but also multi-engine, night, and instrument flight time, which is sought after by the airlines. No career placement programme offered by any other training provider can provide you with the experience and professionalism gained through real flight time. EFT also has an impressive list of modular students who have found airline employment immediately upon completion of their courses. Over 95% of APP™ cadets have found airline employment within 6 months of leaving EFT.

How should you select a training provider?

Different schools are right for different people. Although EFT offers a unique set of benefits, you may find that a different school serves your needs better. Regardless of which training provider you select, the following time-tested tips will help you avoid disappointment when selecting a school:

TIP 1	Get everything in writing. Any reputable school will confirm to you in writing the costs of each course or training programme, as well as its hourly training rates and extra costs. At the time of enrolment, these prices should be contractually fixed and non-changeable. There are schools who do not provide you with a written contract confirming the training rates at the time of enrolment. Instead, these companies offer potential customers a "personalised" (often oral) quotation for a course price or training rates, rather than advertise its normal rates. If you encounter such a facility, proceed with caution. The rates could change whilst you are enrolled, extras could be charged, or worse. The school might not even give you a refund for monies already paid if you decided to leave after the rates - suddenly - increase. EFT, and many of its reputable competitors (such as Oxford Aviation and Lufthansa Flight Training), advertise their prices online, and always provide you with a written training contract, confirming all costs, prior to commencement of training. Some schools don't, and come up with various hidden charges after training begins.
TIP 2	Look for a track record. If a school has been successful in training cadets, and provided good customer service, it will have a good track record. Every school is going to speak highly of itself - but what about other parties? Get information from as many sources as possible before enrolling at a school. Do a search on the Internet. Speak to ex-students (EFT will happily give you contact details from ex-students). Visit and inspect the facilities. A reputable school should have no problem in allowing you to do so.
TIP 3	Check facilities and instructors. If you part with thousands of dollars, euros or pounds, you rightfully expect excellent service from your training provider. Compare the facilities available at different schools, and make sure the instructors are highly qualified. Some schools employ instructors who have only the minimum qualifications, and who are poorly trained and standardised themselves. Ask your school about instructors' qualifications, experience and track record. If you have the possibility, pay the school a visit and inspect the facilities for yourself.
TIP 4	Ask specific questions. You are going to spend a lot of money, so you need to be as well-informed as possible. Read this web site and others, and see what EFT has to offer. Ask other training providers if they can offer you a similar combination of quality, cost-effectiveness and proven track record. Look for evidence. Ask which airlines have employed their cadets - then ask for contact details. Do as much research as possible.

What makes EFT unique?

We believe that working with EFT gives you an edge over pilots training with any other training school. As a relatively small facility, EFT is not a "pilot factory" unlike some facilities, but is a professional organisation which accepts only a limited number of students. This personal approach allows us to work with our students much more effectively than is possible at a very large organisation.

Our staff are unrivalled in their experience in the industry, and include both lifelong professional instructors, as well as active and retired jet pilots who can draw upon their unique experiences during instruction. Their varied backgrounds - including Britain, Germany, France and Denmark amongst others - adds a unique flavour and breadth of experience to our facility which is rarely found elsewhere.

EFT's training bases in the USA are outstanding in terms of airport facilities and air traffic control services. Cadets who train at our USA base are exposed to the east coast Florida airspace - amongst the busiest in the world - and will be well prepared for real-life airline operations, no matter where their future job may take them. Excellent weather facilitates training every day of the year, thereby ensuring training continuity and timely course completion.

Whether you have never piloted an aircraft before or are a qualified pilot seeking additional qualifications, selecting the right flight training provider is one of the most important career decisions you must make if you are serious about becoming a professional pilot. This is even more true in the current, unstable climate of the airline industry: Is now a good time to start training? Where should you train? And, most importantly, how should you make an informed decision?