RollNow!

Hi all Kind of new here but maybe someone can offer me an opinion....

Im looking to start my PPL asap (now ive gathered some funds) ive done quite a bit of research and have looked at:

TatenHill
Halfpenny Green
Wellsbourne
CVT

Just looking for 'horses mouth' opinions of what the training is like, a/c's, instructors, facilities at these places. If there is anyone who is or has trained at these places or anywhere around the midlands id be interested to read any info.

Thanks in advance !

RN

wet wet wet

First off - do a search on this Forum, this very topic has come up several times over the past couple of years with a lot of sound advice in the various responses which still stands.

I may be biased but my choice for my PPL was Coventry, it's a big airport environment with full ATC etc, and just busy enough to keep you on your toes. If you learn there then you'll be quite confident to go into any of the larger airports with your PPL. Plus 24 hour opening and ILS/radar mean that you can move seamlessly onto your Night Qualification / IMC if that's the way you choose to go later on. There are several training organisations at Coventry, check them out. My choice would be the Coventry Aeroplane Club (trading as the Coventry Flying School). Why? Well it's member owned and run (so it's not there to generate a profit for it's owners), has an active social side including a great bar (!) and you get to train on airways equipped Warriors which are only a couple of years old.

Go for it and good luck!

RollNow!

Thanks for the reply wet.

I know i should have done a forum search on that one.. my bad. Just wanted the most up to date stuff i could get

I havent looked at the school you suggested. It was Midland flight training i saw, if you know that one?

Ive had mixed responses from people i have spoken to at work about learning in an airport that size. To be honest i think your probably right when it comes to being in the thick of things (i.e commercial comms etc) & as for the night rating + others thats got to be a good thing.

Anyway ta muchley my friend

bigbloke

I'd go with what WWW said above. I am a student at Coventry Flying Club and find the instructors very good, the well equipped and fairly new aircraft very good and the club atmosphere and bar are good as well.

BlueRobin

"Midlands" is a big area. Where are you located? Do you have your own transport? Somewhere within say 30 minutes would be better especially when weather is a significant factor in flying lessons.

RollNow!

Big - sounds good to me. I just wanted somewhere with decent A/C's friendly faces and not too far away / over priced etc. A lot to ask for in todays world especially in a market this competetive. Thanks for the input.

Blue - West midlands about 15 miles out of B'ham. The only school which would be a real trek i think would be wellsbourne. As much as i like what people say about it it wouldnt be that economical on the petrol come to think of it.

Its just nice to get opinions from actual paying students. When its this pricey i would expect brutal honesty thats why i made the post. Time to get on the phone i think.

Thanks all much appreciated.

llanfairpg

Tatenhill is the only airfield with only one school on the airfield, pretty rare these days and they charge off the tachometer. If you plan to fly weekends at some of these airfields go and see how busy they are on a Sat or Sun, and factor in the costs of waiting for take off.

You can always join another club when you qualify but for my money a quiet airfield for learning to fly is best for learning and instruction.

RollNow!

I can see why people say its best in a quiet one and why its best to learn in the thick of everything else. its the deep end as opposed to a slightly deeper end

I think what ill have to do is go and have a poke around, like you say on a weeked. Im quite lucky in that respect though. I work shifts ( at BHX ) so i am able to do weekday flying which ive been told is often better and also sometimes cheaper since their less busy student wise.

llanfairpg

Always said from the ground!!! remember you have to fly solo, not them!!!!

RollNow!

Fair point

BlueRobin

Let's put it another way, what is your commute time to each of the four airfields you highlighted above?

RollNow!

Blue - About 30(ish) mins for all maybe a little less for Tatenhill and a bit more for Wellsbourne. Its not ALL about the traveling obviously i would want the best school for the sake of a fiver in the tank.

llanfairpg

Have a lesson at more than one school and try different aircraft. Don't get tied into big membership payments, find out first

aerobat 1971

I'm biased, but take a look at Almat Flying Club at Coventry airport. I trained there myself, and still fly with them. There's a great team of instructors and a good ground school facility if you need it. Importantly, the costs are significantly lower than many similar schools if you're prepared to learn in a Cessna 152 instead of something larger. If you do want to learn on something bigger, you can choose between C172 and PA28, also at very competitive prices.

Cheers,

David

llanfairpg

Yes there about £13 per hour cheaper but you have to pay a £240 membership fee to get that rate. Tattenhill also charge on the Tachometer so your rate will be about the same over an hour without any airliners on the airfield!

Always ask how much the membership is

BlueRobin

Cool Roll, so not a big bind.

Adding to llanfair's advice, also check that landing fees at base are included wherever you go. This is not the case at Almat. In fact I think most/all clubs at Coventry charge extra for landing.

If you do visit Wellesbourne for a nose about or trial lesson, Wellesbourne Aviation should be at the top of your list (trust me )


BR

llanfairpg

Take Flight at Wellesbourne are good too, the CFI is ex WA and well respected but they only do two days a week(trust me)

By the way Almats website says this about landings

ABOVE RATES DO NOT INCLUDE LANDING FEES WHICH ARE AT PRESENT,
£4.30 each for the CESSNA 150's
£5.70 each for the CESSNA 172's
£5.80 each for the CHEROKEES
£10.75 each for the PIPER SENECA
(P.S. All take offs are free!)

RollNow!

excellent loads of advice!

I did take a quick peak at Almat last night it does look good - i also did notice the membership fee. Its quite expensive but you do get a good rate as a full member there.

As for wellsbourne i think the trip to s.o.a might been a bit far its about 40 miles. Im torn between tatenhill / cvt but as suggested its probably worth going for a couple of flights in Cessnas at both n seeing which one i get on with most. I cant be too choosey with limited funds although ive never flown a Cessna. A Warrior and a trial flight in a Tomohawk is the limit of my light A/C experience.

Im genuinley chuffed fellas thanks for your help in this, sorts out a lot of confusion when you hear it from the horses mouth.

llanfairpg

Yes all you have to do now is hope you get an instructor as helpful as us--keep posting and good luck!

RollNow!

I most certainly hope so would be mighty impressed