London-Heathrow - Oxford Aviation Academy

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London-Heathrow
Information Guide
www.oaa.com

Welcome to Oxford Aviation Academy (OAA)
London Heathrow
Our aim is to provide you with the highest quality of training and the highest standards of service during your
stay in London.
Heathrow Training Centre
The Oxford Aviation Academy facility is located at
West Drayton, close to Heathrow airport
.
Oxford Aviation Academy operates a simulator
training centre within the BMI training facility at
Heathrow. Ground Floor reception is run by BMI, but
OAA has its own Customer Service team situated on
the 2nd floor Monday to Friday. OAA Engineering
staff are available outside these hours. The training
centre operates in a 24 hours a day basis.
The training centre houses one A320, one B737CL and
one A330/A340 convertable Full Flight Simulator,
together with classroom and CBT.
Address
Oxford Aviation Academy UK Ltd
BMI Training Centre
Stockley Close
West Drayton
Middlesex
UB7 9BL
www.oaa.com

Phone: +44 (0)208 990 7908
Fax: +44 (0)208 990 7924
Email: bmicustserv@oaa.com
Check-in / Security Pass
Please sign in and obtain a security pass from the
ground floor reception. Personal ID should be carried
at all times whilst in the building.
Customer Services
OAA Customer Services Centre is located on the 2nd
floor of the bmi training facility. There is a lift in the
main Reception area for access to the 2nd floor.
The office is open from 0730 until 1900 weekdays.
Outside normal office hours our Gatwick based
security staff will assist you with any queries.
Alternatively, the on site engineers (24 hours) should
be contacted.
Customer Services office hours
Mon-Fri, 0730 to 1900:
+44 (0)208 990 7908
Email: bmicustserv@oaa.com
Gatwick Customer Service Centre (24/ 7) :
+44 (0)1293 543541
Email: lgwcustserv@oaa.com
Engineering Support:
+44 (0)208 990 7844/7823
Email: bmieng@oaa.com
Training Department
Office hours, Mon-Fri, 0800 to 1630
Phone : +44 (0)1293 596729
fax : +44 (0)1293 596746
Our Customer Service staff are available to help
to make your stay productive and pleasant. We are
able to make advance local hotel and transport
arrangements for you at preferential rates.
Internet Facilities
In the Customer Services office, there is a PC which
allows free Internet access.
Food and Beverage
There are vending machines, with a small seating
area, located adjacent to the main briefing rooms at
the Heathrow Training Centre. Facilities include tea,
coffee, soft drinks, water and snacks. Prices from 40p.
There is a restaurant on the 3rd floor serving
breakfast, hot lunches, salads, and freshly made
sandwiches. Opening hours are between 0800 &
1600 Mon-Fri and the average cost of a main meal
is £3. Out of hours sandwiches are available in the
vending machine located in the restaurant area.
Location
The Oxford Aviation Academy facility is located
at West Drayton, close to Heathrow airport, in a
Business Park called Stockley Close, approximately
5-10 minutes by taxi from the main airport terminals.
T4 & T5 are approximately 15 minutes away.
There is also a good bus service – see section on
transportation. Heathrow Airport is 45 minutes by
car from Gatwick Airport and the two airports offer
excellent flight connections to all parts of the world.
skills for flight

Accommodation
Oxford Aviation Academy has discounted rates in
place with most hotels in the area. Additionally,
further discounts have been agreed for self sponsored
pilots at the Ibis Hotel Heathrow and the Novotel
Heathrow. Quality self catering accommodation is
also available. Our Customer Service staff are happy
to discuss requirements; any reservations need to be
made in advance to qualify for discounted room rates
and other benefits. A separate hotel list is available.
Transportation
There is a hotel ‘Hopper’ bus service from Heathrow
airport to all local hotels. There is a charge of about
£4 per person. Taxis are available from Heathrow but
are expensive. Our customer services staff are happy
to arrange taxis to Heathrow and to local hotels at
preferential rates. OAA also has discounted rates in
place with transport companies offering reduced rates
between all London airports and journeys further
afield. For transfers to Gatwick, to be cost effective,
it is recommended that a minimum of 2 people share
a car. A less expensive option is to take one of the
regular National Express buses from Heathrow to
Gatwick. There are around 100 services per day each
way. Cost of a one way journey approximately £19.50.
You should allow 75 minutes for the transfer although
this can take longer.
Heathrow has its own train station and there is a
regular underground service to central London.
www.oaa.com

Rental cars
It is recommended that you bring an international
driver’s licence. We have preferential rates with
a number of rental car companies. Cars can be
delivered to the Heathrow facility. For full details
please contact Customer Services.
Public transportation in Heathrow Area
There are good bus services around the Heathrow
area. Some services are free depending on where you
are staying and where you are travelling to. There are
also regular services to Kingston-upon-Thames for
shopping and to Windsor for sightseeing.
Getting to London
Central London is easily accessed by the underground
train which runs regularly from the airport. Trains
run from Heathrow Airport (stations between
T1 & T3 and T4 & T5) to London Paddington. The
Heathrow Express runs every 20 minutes and takes
only 15 minutes to reach central London, but is very
expensive! If you want to save some money, take the
“Heathrow Connect” train from Heathrow to Victoria
which still only takes 25 minutes. Return ticket
around £14, for those holding airline ID there is a 50%
discount available. For a longer stay in the city centre,
OAA has a rate in place at two central London hotels
(Kensington area).
Getting to Windsor
A bus ride to Windsor is worthwhile. This is a historic
town with its famous castle which dates back almost
1000 years. The Changing of the Guard should be
experienced and Savill Garden, within Windsor Great
Park, is worth a visit. There is a regular bus service
from Heathrow which takes around 25 minutes. For
an overnight stay, OAA has a discounted rate in place
at the Castle Mercure Hotel located in the centre of
Windsor.
Nice to know, UK
Clothing
Your clothing requirements will depend on the season.
In wintertime (Nov-Mar) warm clothing and boots
or heavy shoes is a must. There are many delightful
days in the spring and autumn, but it can also be
rainy and windy. Summer temperatures are normally
comfortable and the humidity low. Early autumn is
pleasant but the nights are usually chilly.
Weather in London
Winter: Ranges from -3 degrees (Cold and clear) to 8
degrees C (Rainy and often windy).
Summer: Ranges from 15 degrees (Cloudy and
some rain) to 25 degrees (not too often but it does
happen!)
Currency
The currency is British Pound, GBP. Each pound is
divided into 100 pence. Most international credit
cards are accepted in the UK. For exchange there are
several banks and exchange companies at Heathrow
Airport or in banks in local towns.
Telephone
The country code for the United Kingdom is +44.
Electricity
The voltage in the United Kingdom is 220V.
Shopping
The United Kingdom has a Value Added Tax (VAT),
which is included in the price of all items and services
and chargeable at 15 %.
The nearest local shops are at West Drayton. For a
wider selection of shops, Uxbridge is only 15 minutes
away from the training centre. The local bus, number
U5, picks up from the end of Stockley Close every
10 minutes and stops at both West Drayton and
Uxbridge.
skills for flight

Tipping
A tip is included in the price you pay in
restaurants and for taxi. However, it is usual
to add an extra tip of about 10% if you are satisfied
with the service.
Medical Care
Customer Service staff will assist if you need
information about 24 hour dental or medical services
and pharmacies.
June 09
Welcome to London
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