Oxford area ppl options?

[GR55B]

Hi all, first post on here. I'm seriously looking at taking the plunge towards a ppl. I live in the oxford area and would value opinions of the training options locally to me. Closest is kidlington. Turweston, Enstone or Hinton, would also fit with my location. I'm not looking for a route to a career just the magic of being in the skys.

[matkey]

Im learning with the OSF folks at Enstone...and they are a good bunch of people! Takes about 35 mins to get to the airfield from Oxford (also in Oxford)

[Milton1995]

Hi there, welcome to the forums! A quick google search reveals a few options, perhaps something you could have done before. However if you're looking for opinions perhaps you could rephrase your question.

Welcome to Pilot Flight Training, Oxford Airport, Kidlington (http://www.pilotflighttraining.com/)
Learn to fly Oxford | in our range of training aircraft | from Enstone aerodrome Oxfordshire (http://www.enstoneflyingclub.co.uk/)
Learn to fly with Oxfordshire Sportflying at Enstone (http://www.enstoneaerodrome.co.uk/learntofly.htm)

Short of posting all the others, here is in an interactive map showing the PPL schools by location. UK CAA Approved Private Pilot Licence Flight School Directory, with Information and Reviews (http://www.profpilot.co.uk/schools/pplmap.php)

I would like to wish you the best of luck should you undertake your training and before others tell you, seriously consider the option of paying in small installments rather than upfront. Taking a look on the search function will reveal some fantastic threads on choosing flight schools, training materials e.t.c

Again, best of luck & welcome to the skies :ok:

M1995.

[GR55B]

Milton1995

Thanks but I have indeed searched and am aware of the training organisations you mention. However as my post stated I am looking for opinions from other forum members on the various organisations. Any views or experience would be welcome. I'm fully aware of the dangers of paying in advance.

GR55B

[KembleKid]

I've been a member of Enstone Flying Club for approx 5 years and completed my PPL there.

Best advice I can give you is go and visit the clubs in person, talk to the instructors, look at the aircraft. Hopefully all will be happy to spend time with you - I know the folk at EFC will. You'll enjoy the whole process much more if you find an instructor you get on with.

From my own experience, avoid anywhere which has a high turnover of instructors 'just passing through' as they build their hours. What you need is continuity with an instructor you feel happy with and one who won't push you to fly in conditions you don't feel comforable in just because they need the hours - it's happened to me (not at EFC I hasten to add!).

Good luck!

[Tupperware Pilot]

I would recomend Pilot Flight Training at Hinton, Did ny NPPL there last year...Clive is the guy to talk to.
Drop me a PM if you want anymore details......or if you want to pop up to Hinton let me know, and I would be happy to show you around.

REF...Pilto FLight Training at Oxford is a differant company than "Pilot Flight Traningn(Hinton)"

[tmmorris]

REF...Pilto FLight Training at Oxford is a differant company than "Pilot Flight Traningn(Hinton)" [[sic]]

Really? They used to be arms of the same organisation (also at Wellesbourne). But it's a few years since I flew there.

If you have any claim to military status (e.g. cadet forces staff) then PM me as the Benson club is good value.

Tim

[billiboing]

All the Pilot Flight training schools were owned by one guy until he retired. He then sold off Hinton Pilot Flight training, Pilot Flight training Oxford and the Wellesbourne schools to different people. All are supposed to be good schools.

[JimCrawford]

not a ppl but "the magic of being in the skys. "

Windrushers Gliding Club
Bicester Gliding Centre
Bicester Airfield
Skimmingdish Lane
Bicester

Jim

[tmmorris]

steakandchips, thanks, didn't realise it had all been split up since Tom retired.

Tim

[jwag]

I'm tempted to take a look at Hinton for a PPL (A). Never been there mind you.

Is there any benefit in getting an NPPL (in aeroplanes) and then 'upping' to a PPL (A) ?
Would I then hold both an NPPL and a PPL ? Just thinking that an NPPL is maintained a lot easier & has less medical requirements should that one day become a problem.

Cheers,
J.

[Tupperware Pilot]

I did at Hinton last year.....worth doing....drop me a PM for more details...

[Classic]

Turweston is a lovely airfield with a friendly club and experienced instructors.

Turweston Flying Club (http://www.turwestonflyingclub.org.uk)

Worth a look.

[The B Word]

Clive Stainer at PFT(Hinton) is your man. He is a total gent, been doing it for years but at the same time is as humble as you would like. They have just got a Tomahawk to add to their fleet - you could also do some flying in the Motorglider at a mere £70 per hour.

I have nothing to do with PFT apart from exchanging pleasantries as I go about flying my own aircraft - so I have nothing to gain.

I always found Turweston a bit pricey and they have a limited amount of movements. Enstone is a super little airfield but I have no knowledge of the flying training there.

Best of luck

The B Word

[max roll rate]

Hi Jwag

Another thumbs up for Turweston great bunch of blokes and a lovely airfield
I would agree with others about Clive top chap, he does do some work for the club at Turweston to, the only thing I would add is that Turweston is a licensed airfield and I know that you don’t have to train from a licensed airfield now but it does mean that the airfield services are kept at a level dictated by the CAA.

B WORD come back and visit your views may change, a lot of the old restrictions are no longer in force and the club is going great guns
With 2 ex fighter pilots on the instructional staff lots of interesting
flying activities being made available to everyday pilots.

Jwag i think the best thing to do is visit all the fields mentioned and see which one fits your needs all have good points and bad but its somewere you will spend your hard earned crash so make sure its right for you .

Max Roll Rate

[Shents]

As Max Roll Rate has mentioned the best advice is to visit all the Clubs within a convenient radius, then select on the basis of what you think will work for you! The relationship you develop with your instructor/instructors being one of the most important factors. Not always easy to anticipate but a good reason not to pay up front and commit too early. Always worth a phone call before visiting....

Turweston is a super location with the added benefit of being licensed and with no other airfield activities that may cause taxiing delays. The Flying Club is going from strength to strength. With very experienced flight instructors covering PPL training and beyond, as well as active post PPL support and numerous Club fly outs and other activities.
Feel free to PM me if you want a look around. The web site and Facebook page are also worth a look.