PPL - Liverpool

[Fly1989]

Hi,

Just looking for some advice really, I'm hoping to start my PPL but can't make my mind up on which school to start with.

I have been looking at flying with Ravenair as I work at Liverpool Airport on the ramp and Ravenair have said that I will get a 7.5% discount because of this. However when I called in to speak to them, the instructors didn't seem to have any answers to my questions and told me to phone Manchester to book a lesson, which put me off a little, and seemed a little odd. Also there seemed to be alot of underlying costs on top of the advertised price (Landing fees, and an extra 10% for not being a memeber). This has really put me off from flying with them.

So, has anybody got any ideas for alternative schools, or any experience with Ravenair? I just want to look at all my options before starting with a school.

Cheers.

[poss]

If you PM me your email I can put you in touch with a guy that got his PPL down at Liverpool airport, i'm sure he would be happy to advise you.

[champair79]

The reason Ravenair want you to phone Manchester is because the main flying school for PPL level is based at Barton even though the larger base of Tomahawks is Liverpool. All the bookings are handled at Barton. I'm sure they would be able to advise you of all the costs.

Liverpool Flying School is also based at Liverpool and does PPL tuition. It's up to you mate. I'm doing mine with Ravenair and I've been satisfied with my tuition.

Regards,

Champ

[Poose]

I've been hour building with Ravenair at Liverpool for two years. Just done my Night Qualification with Liverpool Flying School...

A friend's brother has started his PPL with LFS and is not impressed with them... after only 8 hours.

PM me. Happy to help you out. :ok:

[one post only!]

Hi Fly1989,

I think I met you last night when you came onto to the flight deck with your mate?? Hope the pictures came out ok!

[Bob F]

I find LFS spot on, personal touch & great instructors. The school can trace its origins back to the 1960's, must be doing something right.

Bob F

[Pilotpaul787]

I've done most of my PPL at Livepool with a flight school called Merseyflight. Relativly new but a great set up. Check them out before you make a decision you can't go wrong with them. Flying School Liverpool | Pleasure Flights Northwest | Flight Lessons Merseyside - Mersey Flight (http://www.merseyflight.com/)

[Fly1989]

Hey One Post Only, and yes that was me, and they turned out great. Thanks. :ok:

[jaym321]

Hi Mate I worked at Liverpool Airport to for Cercusair haha, I was also training for my ppl with ravenair I have since left the school as they were not helpful at all. During the week it is almost impossibe to get any lessons as they see to all the university students first, And the weekend is just as busy. I flew 2 times a month at a push I was hoping to get about 8-10 hours in. At that rate it would of took me almost 2 years to get my ppl, They are an ok school but very unreliable and dear. Also they don't have a study, And only 1 ops room. I have since passed all my exams and i am only waiting to do my cross country. I have be learning to fly in Blackpool in a school called Air Navigation & Trading Co Ltd, they also have a website airnav.co.uk.
This flying school has great ppl course's from £5995 all the course's also come with study materials, tests, and landing fees which are a hidden extra in some schools. They have a great study rooms and a great bar and lounge were you can meet and study with other people. It is a small school but a very good school I would recommend it to anyone. I hope I have been some help, and who no's I Might see you up there some time good luck.

[Hudson Bay]

Fly1989

Try Merseyflight. They have a great setup, very modern and very friendly staff. There prices are very reasonable too.

[Shaggy Sheep Driver]

Our Chippy is looked after by LFS, So I'm a member there. They are a friendly bunch, and though I've not done any training with them I did my 'bi-annual hour with an instructor' with them a couple of years back in a PA38, and they seemed pretty competant.

SSD

[wlshyd]

I have been to a few places now to find the best place to do my PPL, namely MerseyFlight, Flintshire FS, LFS and Ravenair. I have to say that FFS had nice little Tomahawks, not too tatty, and a nice quiet base in Hawarden. I found the staff at LFS very unhelpful, i had to prompt every last inch of info out of them, and Ravenair's aircraft seem a little haggered to say the least.

So it is MerseyFlight that i have settled on, Darren and Neil (or is it Phil?) are brilliant, extremely helpful and seem very keen and passionate which hit me like a brick, so they will be getting my £6,500 or so to get my licence. I also like the fact they use 152's instead of Tomahawks, i just prefer the high-wing aircraft over the little 'Hawks.

I will keep posting how i get on as i think we all know how confusing it is finding somewhere to get going initially.

Dan

[Newflyer123]

hi mate,

I want to start flying and went into my local airfield in perth. I've always wanted to learn to fly after doing a trial lesson in a cessna plane 152.
I walked about the club house for about 10 mins and not a sole spoke to me. Eventually I plucked up courage and ask this guy about flight trianing. Lucky for me he was the top insructor at the school and was very nice...at first. I asked about learning to fly a 152 plane and was told that it was much cheaper and safer to fly a microlight which the school had just bought. I tried to explain that I wanted to fly a metal plane cause I thought they would be safer. He said I was being stupid and became very cool with me.

I left with no booked lesson and feeling a bit down hearted. I live 15 mins from the airfield and have watched planes fly from there for years. I never realised you had to learn to fly a mirolight first.

good luck in Liverpool.

newflyer perth

[Pace]

I asked about learning to fly a 152 plane and was told that it was much cheaper and safer to fly a microlight which the school had just bought. I tried to explain that I wanted to fly a metal plane cause I thought they would be safer. He said I was being stupid and became very cool with me.

I left with no booked lesson and feeling a bit down hearted. I live 15 mins from the airfield and have watched planes fly from there for years. I never realised you had to learn to fly a mirolight first.

Newflyer

Either he misunderstood you or you misunderstood him but this is total rubbish. No you do not want to be flying a microlight first to get a PPL! Different aircraft different licences.

Pace

[magpienja]

Or take his advice and safe yourself a bomb and learn on a microlight,

It will have a modern engine not a forty year old design and use half the fuel and will be as safe, dont discount them so easy.

Nick.

[Pilotdom]

Whatever you do, NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER PAY A LUMP SUM UPFRONT TO A FLYING SCHOOL! If they go bust, which they frequently do, your money is gone too. Even if it costs more, pay as you go!

[ballyctid]

A few points.

Firstly DO NOT pay up front for the reason stated, schools do go bust.

I would recommend Merseyflight purely because of Neil who I have known for some years and he is a top class guy, he has done my last 2 bi annuals and he always has time for you, MF have only been around for a short period hence my first paragraph and also I agree re the Cessnas, I prefer them far more than Tommys.

Give them a try because you can always change if you're not happy, the time will still be in the book and the experience in the brain!

[sgtbob]

Ive just completed my PPL (did my skill test on friday) at Liverpool Flying School and would have no hesitations in reccomending them! Excellent instructors, great staff, brilliant atmosphere and extras like fly-outs, xmas do's, etc. Disagree whole heartedly about what was said a few posts previous about the instructors at LFS. Very knowlegable indeed. I always considered Ravenair to be a bit iffy too. I rang them first when enquiring about my ppl but they didnt seem to want to help at all, so off it went to LFS, as at that time, Barton had a shadowy future and the flying school there was actually more expensive than the ones at Liverpool. So as i say LFS have been great with me, and i was very pleased to complete my ppl with them, and look forward to staying a member there for the foreseeable future and using their a/c untill i can purchase my own.

Rob.

[PhilDawson]

I am currently doing my PPL at Barton Aerodrome (now called City Airport Manchester), though I am not using RavenAir, but Lancs Aero Club.

www.lacflyingschool.co.uk (http://www.upperstack.co.uk/lac/)

The instructors are excellent and was very down to earth with recommending ways to proceed with training. They even recommended to check more than 1 school as it's a lot of money, so they're very impartial aswell.

It's very easy to pop down to Barton and go into the LAC reception and speak to somebody. I managed to get a trial lesson the day I went in.

[piper999]

I've recently started my PPL training with Lomac Aviators at Liverpool. I've noticed a few people here have recommended 'Neil' from mersey flight as their flying instructor, so would I, but he's actually employed by Lomac now and has been for some time I believe. Great instructor, and the flying school is great too!