Need help with PPL decision. Denham airport or somewhere close, experience required
Join Date: Jan 2008
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Pilot Centre Denham
I've recently started PPL training with the Pilot Centre in January,and so far I'm very satisfied with the instructors and the aircraft. Whilst the aircraft are not new and shiny like Cabairs, this is more than made up by the friendly instructors and club like atmosphere and a lack of 16 year old instructors with white shirts and gold braid. TPC includes landing fees in their training charges. Cabair does not. From anecdotal comments I've heard, quite a number of the Cabair instructors did their training with TPC.
I also did some research on other flying schools around the M25 and looked at Cabair Elstree, BAFC and Firecrest @ Elstree.
My suggestion would be to visit the clubs your considering and talk to the instructors, which will help you make up your own mind
I also did some research on other flying schools around the M25 and looked at Cabair Elstree, BAFC and Firecrest @ Elstree.
My suggestion would be to visit the clubs your considering and talk to the instructors, which will help you make up your own mind
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Berkshire
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I have booked a trial flight at Denham for next week. In the end I decided to go with the TPC.
Cabair were very friendly at Denham but sadly their charges will escalate beyond what I am willing to pay.
I did also notice some young lads walking around in white shirts. Surely they where the paperboys earning some extra money for the weekend.
Cabair were very friendly at Denham but sadly their charges will escalate beyond what I am willing to pay.
I did also notice some young lads walking around in white shirts. Surely they where the paperboys earning some extra money for the weekend.
Join Date: Jul 2007
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Be very careful if you decide to go to a foreign school to do your PPL. If you're limited to two weeks holidays, I'd say forget it. I went to a school in Florida In Nov/Dec 2007 to do a 21 day PPL and left after 6 weeks with 26hrs on my logbook. And I'm currently trying to get the remainder of my money back, with very little success.
Don't make a schoolboy error like I did, DON'T pay up front, and pay by credit card. I can't stress that highly enough.
And as for the guy who says that the standard of training will be much higher at an FTO than a local flying club, sorry but I don't agree. Most of the instructors at my flying club are well experienced commercial pilots who instruct on their days off. The standard of instruction is very high.
Yesterday when my lesson was cancelled due to 50 knot winds my instructor was happy to sit with me for hours and go over stuff that I was unsure of. And this has always been the case, even instructors who I've never flown with always have the time to answer questions. Correct me if I'm wrong but I'm not sure whether that would happen at a bigger busier "flashy" FTO.
Stu
Don't make a schoolboy error like I did, DON'T pay up front, and pay by credit card. I can't stress that highly enough.
And as for the guy who says that the standard of training will be much higher at an FTO than a local flying club, sorry but I don't agree. Most of the instructors at my flying club are well experienced commercial pilots who instruct on their days off. The standard of instruction is very high.
Yesterday when my lesson was cancelled due to 50 knot winds my instructor was happy to sit with me for hours and go over stuff that I was unsure of. And this has always been the case, even instructors who I've never flown with always have the time to answer questions. Correct me if I'm wrong but I'm not sure whether that would happen at a bigger busier "flashy" FTO.
Stu
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I would absolutely agree with Daysleeper.
Started my PPL with TPC &, due to work, had to move elsewhere. Have since flown at loads of other places & few in the same league. Friendly but professional, which is exactly what you want from a club if you ask me.
Yes, the C152's a bit worn (seem to remember the PA28's were much better), but it's the instruction that counts & will ring in your ears for years to come.
PS. C152's are meant to look that way, right (if you' been bounced as many times as they have, you'd look that way too
)
Started my PPL with TPC &, due to work, had to move elsewhere. Have since flown at loads of other places & few in the same league. Friendly but professional, which is exactly what you want from a club if you ask me.
Yes, the C152's a bit worn (seem to remember the PA28's were much better), but it's the instruction that counts & will ring in your ears for years to come.
PS. C152's are meant to look that way, right (if you' been bounced as many times as they have, you'd look that way too
)
Join Date: Nov 2006
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Tpc / Wlac / Bafc
Just to add my 2p worth...I have over 230hrs and hired a/c from most of the FTO's metioned - extensively from WLAC and TPC as I live equi-distance between the two.
I can tell you now you will be hard pushed to find a better run FTO than TPC at Denham. The instructors are excellent ( had an IMC refresher with an exc-Conc pilot last year), the atmosphere is friendly, the aircraft are in better than average condition IMHO (for example the C172 I fly had a new engine fitted last year), and there are regular club events (e.e fly-outs to France and so on).
You pay £300 for the privilege of setting foot in the door at WLAC, the instructors lack the experience of those at TPC, and the rates are very high - so not good value really. Although the facilities are fantastic, there is a bit of an air of elitism floating around the clubhouse which prevails to an even greater extent at BAFC. TPC has it just about right, its an excellent flight training organisation - but has a friendly non-assuming atmosphere.
I won't even bother discussing Cabair. They are the Starbucks of FTO's..on every every airfield, charge the earth, no atmosphere, but yeah - the variety of coffee on offer is impressive and they have comfy sofas.
I can tell you now you will be hard pushed to find a better run FTO than TPC at Denham. The instructors are excellent ( had an IMC refresher with an exc-Conc pilot last year), the atmosphere is friendly, the aircraft are in better than average condition IMHO (for example the C172 I fly had a new engine fitted last year), and there are regular club events (e.e fly-outs to France and so on).
You pay £300 for the privilege of setting foot in the door at WLAC, the instructors lack the experience of those at TPC, and the rates are very high - so not good value really. Although the facilities are fantastic, there is a bit of an air of elitism floating around the clubhouse which prevails to an even greater extent at BAFC. TPC has it just about right, its an excellent flight training organisation - but has a friendly non-assuming atmosphere.
I won't even bother discussing Cabair. They are the Starbucks of FTO's..on every every airfield, charge the earth, no atmosphere, but yeah - the variety of coffee on offer is impressive and they have comfy sofas.
Join Date: Jan 2005
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TPC at Denham....
Just to say.....
.....that the Ex Conc Pilot (actually a flight engineer) hasn't returned from more northerly climes for this winter season. Much missed!
.....can only think of one current Denham School of Flying Instructor (Cabair at Denham) who was trained by TPC, but there have been others in the past!
.....led to believe that there is actually now a Starbucks (the coffee shop, not Cabair!) at Oxford
Will resist the temptation to comment further, as most of what I would have said has already been said in prior posts.
DD
.....that the Ex Conc Pilot (actually a flight engineer) hasn't returned from more northerly climes for this winter season. Much missed!
.....can only think of one current Denham School of Flying Instructor (Cabair at Denham) who was trained by TPC, but there have been others in the past!
.....led to believe that there is actually now a Starbucks (the coffee shop, not Cabair!) at Oxford
Will resist the temptation to comment further, as most of what I would have said has already been said in prior posts.
DD
