Booker Aviation - Opinions?

[Eyon]

I passed the halfway point of my hour building yesterday with a short hop to Wycombe Air Park. I was paying my landing fees and I grabbed their information sheet with their course prices etc for CPL, ME and IR

They seem good value for money being sub-10k doing the ME IR on a DA42, but I've heard very little about them.

Anyone have an opinion/experience, both good and bad?

[RedBullGaveMeWings]

I asked the same question about two months ago but didn't get a lot of answers...

http://www.pprune.org/professional-pilot-training-includes-ground-studies/513291-booker-aviation-anyone.html

[Matt7504]

Did my PPL at Wycombe Air Park last year
Lovely instructors I can tell you that! I highly recommend it, its also quite a busy airfield with a lot of aircraft movements, you have a glider circuit to the left and the GA circuit to the right as well as an 800 foot QFE helicopter circuit. They recently acquired 2 DA42s for their fleet so I believe they are doing all their ME training with those now.
But honestly, the instructors are a great laugh.

[RedBullGaveMeWings]

Err why a great laugh? In a positive or negative way?

[paco]

In a positive way - there are a lot of experienced instructors at Wycombe.

[Matt7504]

In a positive way of course. Loads of experience amongst those instructors.

[Genghis the Engineer]

I've been in and out of Booker for one aviation reason or another for years, and had quite a lot of contact - and occasionally flown with - what is now Booker Aviation. It's a merger of three companies: the one that manages the airport, the old Airways Flying Club (now the private flying side of the shop) and the old Wycombe Air Centre (now the commercial training side of the shop + the maintenance company).

Like many GA organisations there have been a few "issues" from time to time, and a share of strong personalities. However, overall I've always regarded the place and the company(s) as pleasant, well run, good value (for that close to London anyhow) and they tend to employ both engineers and instructors who are well above average. I also had an emergency there about 18 months ago (in my own aeroplane) and have nothing but praise for how the airport handled it.

So if the question is "would I recommend Booker for professional flying training", then I'd say absolutely yes - one of the best places I know and I'd have no problems using them for training for myself.

I thought that they were using a Technam P2006T for ME training? - but I've again heard nothing but good for the quality of pilots trained on the DA42 if that's what they're now using. I suspect that as an aeroplane it's just disfunctional enough to create good pilots without becoming unsafe (but that bit is hearsay, I've not flown one myself).

[RedBullGaveMeWings]

Great! Thanks!

I was definitely looking for a place to train nearby London. The best alternative for me are BCFT and PAT in Bournemouth and Stapleford.

[DiamondC]

I've been flying with Booker Aviation (formerly Airways Flying Club) for about a year, building hours in a PA-28. I have flown with several of the Booker Aviation instructors to get signed-off to rent solo (I did my PPL in the USA) and also to improve my skills e.g. crosswind landing practice. The instructors are friendly and professional, and there's quite a range of personalities :) so you can find one you get along well with. The office staff are also helpful, the aircraft are well-maintained and the PA-28 has reasonable availability if you plan a little ahead.

Some things to be aware of: the noise abatement procedures are quite complex and are applied very strictly. The airspace nearby is also complex (CTA / TMA for Heathrow and Luton, Brize, ...). You might spend some additional time getting familiar with the airport - but it's all relative and I have heard that Stapleford and Bournmouth are fairly complicated too. There isn't an ILS at Wycombe which for you might want to keep in mind if you are planning to do the IR at the same place are your MEP / CPL.

Overall, my experience has been positive. If you want any more information, feel free to PM me.

[smarthawke]

A slight correction to GtE's post - the company maintenance facility was from the AAA/AFC side of the fence, not WAC.