Hello!
I would like to complete my PPL this summer, preferably at Biggin as it is only a couple of miles away from home. Can anyone recommend a school (other than Cabair)?
I'm particularly interested in Alouette and Classair flying clubs. Are there any current or past club members out there that could share their experiences?What is the Instructor/Student ratio like and the availablity of aircraft?I would be able to train monday to thursday.


Kind Regards


Alex

Make sure you also ask about availability of instructors at those clubs.

Monday to Thursday would be great for availability.

Orpington - Headcorn is only a 40 minute (direct) train ride.

I was very satisfied with my training at Headcorn and I didn't have to pay for time on the ground, which I've heard is an issue at Biggin Hill because it's so busy.

One that engine is turning, you are paying money.

Instructor/aircraft availability at Headcorn is very good during the week, especially if you want to learn in a Robin.

Good point Jollyrog, Time on the ground can cost a fortune at BH so check how the flight is being charged.

Cabair charge airborne plus 10 minutes (not tacho or hobbs) so any extended taxiing is free. At BH I swear I logged more time taxiing than flying.

At Biggin you will occasionally have to wait in a queue for departure.

You may also find yourself calling downwind to find you are number 6, and you may have to go around, extend downwind for jet traffic coming in.

However, at some point you have to learn to deal with a large airfield.

If you learn from a grass strip, flying into a big airfield becomes a more daunting task than if you learnt at a big airfield to start with.

So it depends on your experience to date. You already have some big airfield experience? So go to a small airfield and save yourself some money. You now need big airfield experience? So go to the Surrey & Kent flying club at Biggin.

I can really recommend EFG, been with them for 4 years now and really enjoy it.
:ok:

I would strongly recommend Surrey and Kent at Biggin. The CFI is just about the most experienced instructor/examiner on the airfield, the instructors are all career instructors rather than hour builders en-route to bigger things and there is a very nice 'club' atmosphere. The club is open 7 days a week and instruction is available all week. Yes, for sure, Biggin is busy but you need to offset that against the fact that you have two hard runways so even in the winter after prolonged rain you are never bogged in, an ILS on the airfield for more advanced training and at the end of the day, if you learn at a busy airfield you will never get a nasty shock when you start going to other places.

Good luck with whereever you end up !!

I can recommend Classair, very friendly atmosphere and some very experienced instructors, not too harsh on the wallet either... Well as far as flying goes anyway. You have to book a week or so in advance, but again you are saving a fair bit.

To echo what has been said before about the airfield by others, landing fees have gone up, as they always have although it seems to hurt more this April than usual, and due to the popularity of the airfield with flying clubs you can easily get 6 in the circuit, circuit extensions up to just south of the city CTA and altogether closing of the circuit. I can remember a 4 or 5 times I made it down to the airport when I was trying to do my first solo only to find it was ridiculously busy and they wouldn't have it.

But that being said, learn at Biggin and you can fly anywhere.

I can also reccommed Surrey & Kent Flying Club.

Although I recieved no ground schooling, pre or post flight briefings, discounts for pre-payment or even courtesy from staff, I did pass all my exams with high pass rate and was deemed a "high calibre pilot" in the GFT from the examiner. This was against all the odds considering the environment I had trained in and was due to my determination.

As I was largely "self taught" (not the flying bit, obviously), I feel I became a better student pilot, finding out answers myself and generally disciplining myself to study.

Imagine how terrible it would have been to be taught by professional instructors with an interest in your progression, and having to be given briefings etc!!

No, No, I can thoroughly recommend Surrey & Kent Flying Club, just not for training.

Mind you, that was 25 years ago, so it will porbably have new people and hopefully a new attitude now.

Thankyou all for your comments!
I have done some UAS flying at Boscombe Down so i'm used to a busy airfield!
How would you compare S&K and EFG flying schools in terms of the training they offer and a club environment?
Having only flown out of Biggin at the weekend, how busy is it monday to thursday?

Cheers:ok:

I, too, recommend Surrey and Kent Flying Club. I completed my training there about four years ago. The two-hour slots allowed adequate time for briefing, the walkround, an hour's flying, and a de-brief. The Club has its own website at:-

http://www.sandk.flyer.co.uk/

Unless things have changed, the airfield is not too busy during the week. With 'real' ATC and its NAV facilities, Biggin is a good environment for training. The long main runway is helpful for beginners, but make sure you get some practice on short-field landings. After Biggin it took me ages to learn to get down onto a 700m runway!

Squeegee, I smell a dis-satisfied customer from another era. S&K have been under different ownership for most of those 25 years that you have been absent. :ugh:

Vino, not dis-satisfied at all, had happy memories, just didn't get TAUGHT, I had to LEARN what I needed. Made me a better pilot for it.
The place in the 80's was just as I remembered it when I used to go flying from there with my dad when I was 3 yrs old back in the mid 60's. Very nostaligic, but dated facilities, uninterested ATPL wannabees as instructors and doctor's receptionist syndrome attitude from ground staff.
Glad to hear it is better run now, otherwise it would have closed long ago due to competition.
I may go back for a bit more nostalia with my young son one day!!

How long did it take you to complete your PPLs at Biggin?Could i have a license by the end of summer?

I learnt at biggin, took me about 13 months with EFG, i tried to fly at least two to three hours a month, with a large gap due to the weather. Since passing i've joined a group who use a surrey and kent instructor as the designated instructor for the a/c, i've used them a couple of times and find them to be very accomodating old timers who are there to stay and seem to generally have your tuition in mind and not their next step up the ladder.
As for EFG i believe that they have changed hands since i got my PPL, but if the some of the same guys are there then i can wholeheartedly reccomend them.

All the best Al.
G-ATJG