View Full Version : GA flying in the UAE
grosfion
28th Sep 2012, 15:51
I'm going for two weeks to Dubai and I was wondering if there is any opportunity to do some flying. I would not mind to take an instructor with me to do a bit of sightseeing in a C172 or similar.
Anyone has any leads?
thanks,
Marcus
alistair.baker
2nd Oct 2012, 13:10
There used to be a few flight schools around Dubai before 2008, but they all closed in the meantime. Now as far as I know there is only three schools left, all of them aimed at professional training: one in Sharjah (http://www.alphaaviationgroup.com/), one in Fujairah (http://www.fujaa.ae/aboutus.php) and one in Al Ain (http://www.horizonuae.ae/Index.aspx). I don't think they do rentals, so best case scenario you would have to be flown around by an instructor, but not even sure that is possible anymore.
If you are interested in microlight, there is a club at Al Jazirah (Al Jazirah Aviation Club), but they are very limited in terms of available airspace: I don't think you can fly higher than a few '000ft nor further than a few nmiles away from the airport.
Happy to be corrected though so let me know what you find...
I would not mind to take an instructor with me to do a bit of sightseeing in a C172 or similar.
Believe me, sand is pretty boring... :E
Morane
2nd Oct 2012, 21:00
Hi,
visited the UAE 3 times. It`s a very nice country but GA is close to zero.
The only way to get in the air would be the jazeera aviation club in Ras al Khaimah. I visited the club last december. They were quite busy, but only flying circuits. Maybee you can fly a few miles along the coast or over the arabian sea (the locals donīt fly over water, they canīt swim).
They use russian Aeroprak, all metal design aircraft with Rotax engine, quite close to a C150.
They have a website you can google for more information.
Joe
Curlytips
4th Oct 2012, 19:08
A few years ago I flew a 172 out of Fujairah (with instructor). We went up into Omani airspace for a few miles then did touch and goes at Sharjah, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi, then back to Fujairah - quite an experience and not that expensive. One point was that they didn't have Avgas available, so it ran on Mogas in those temperatures!
PS There's also a Hilton at Fujairah for a nice lunch when you get back :O