Recommend a Cheap EASA Flying School?

[Springbok_Rider]

Hi,

I'm sure these threads come up all the time, although I have been research for a couple of years now. Like most looking to save money I was initially looking to get my FAA PPL and then convert. However, with the exchange rate what it currently is with flights, accommodation and everything else, it doesn't seem to make sense anymore. My plan is to get it done this year - hopefully in one block since I'm living in the countryside in Norway.

Anyway, I've been looking and asking but wondered if anyone on here could recommend an EASA flying school. Preferrably southern Europe for the weather, but one that offers an affordable PPL package with suitable accommodation nearby.

At the moment I'm looking at Aerodynamics in Malaga but I'm not too keen on them. It would be cool to learn to fly around mountains and such as well for the learning experience.

Anyway, any insight at all would be highly appreciated.

Thanks,
Antony

[9 lives]

Antony,

Consider Canada, our rates would be very competitive relative to the US$, and if I'm not mistaken the ICAO license you could earn in Canada may be closer to an EASA license than an FAA license.

That said, consider removing the word "cheap" from your thoughts. it is up to you to determine the cost effectiveness of the services you choose. You are proposing to join a skilled group, and we would rather not be branded "cheap" no matter what aviation service we provide. Of course, you will find a range of pricing for a similar service, but peripheral characteristics may be difference, and it's up to you to evaluate.

But at the end of the day, would you like to proudly announce to your passenger to be, rental aircraft provider, or insurer, that you learned to fly as "cheap" as you could? 'Sure puts you in a poor light as a pilot! I would be much more proud to state that I "carefully selected a flying school which fit my needs".

[Jan Olieslagers]

Another outfit in Spain is called "Fly in Spain" - a regular here has some connection there. There are several threads about it.

PS I second every word above about "cheap" - "cost-effective" might be better to go by, and is probably what you actually meant.

PPSS are you sure it is a PPL you want? If you would consider flying a microlight, there's an Englishman in Portugal's Algarve offering exactly what you are after. Would certainly be less expensive than a PPL, and Portugal is a more enjoyable country than Spain, for foreigners, by all accounts.

PPPSSS are you sure it is a "school" you are after? IF you have good French (and that's a big if!) you could consider the summer classes offered by certain French aeroclubs - one example can be found at http://www.aquitaine-hydravions.fr/ (they do landplanes, too).

[Baikonour]

I don't know where you are in Norway, but I have seen some of the cheapest hourly rentals on the newest aircraft in Norway.
E.g. at Jarlsberg (Tønsberg), rental is cheap - an almost new C172SP for 1,200NOK or a Tecnam 2002 for 890 NOK. Instructor at 400 NOK. With today's rate of exchange that is not far off half what you might pay in e.g. the UK. Torp next door is slightly more, but you get upmarket facilities which Jarlsberg does not have. (Although, to be fair, both are pitifully quiet compared to the average UK airfield.)

As mentioned by others, you get what you pay for and solely choosing on price is short sighted. There is also a logic which says you should learn to fly in an environment you will be actually flying in later. Furthermore, you will get to know local people which may make your subsequent transition into actually flying for fun easier w.r.t. finding a group or similar.
Rushing out on a 30 days' 45 hours' course in Spain to then return to Norway and fly every other weekend can be recipe for unhappiness.

Lykke til.

B.

[Springbok_Rider]

Hi,

Thanks for the responses.

I definitely understand what you mean by 'cheap' and that flying is anything but. I just meant if anyone can recommend some affordable/reasonably priced flight schools or any in general. The one in Malaga seems reasonably priced but I've got a bad feeling about it - especially when a few people complain about the CFI's.

Definitely looking for a flight school with a good reputation and if it costs more then fine, but there's naught wrong with trying to find one that will allow me acquire the license sooner. A couple of people have mentioned Canada but wouldn't the weather be a concern for no fly days? Especially if I'm trying to do it in a set time?

Thanks for recommending Norway. I had checked a couple of places but looked again and found the school in Tønsberg, but also one around 30 minutes drive from here which I was surprised about. I've contacted them so hopefully they respond promptly. Looks to be around 90,000kr for the basic requirements.

I'll consider Canada, and I've also asked a couple of places in Iceland.

If anyone has any other recommendations that would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Antony

[India Four Two]

Antony,

As Step Turn said, rates in Canada are particularly attractive at the moment, now that the Canadian dollar is 70 cents US.

For example, a flying club in Alberta currently offers a 172 at about £88/€57 solo and £118/€89 dual (plus 5% tax).

If you are considering Canada, my personal recommendation would be the Vancouver Area (Pitt Meadows or Boundary Bay) or Victoria Airport. Spectacular scenery and you would get a lot of experience with over water flying and both uncontrolled and busy controlled airspace plus the opportunity to get a mountain checkout, and if you are so inclined, some time in a float plane.

Step Turn is more qualified than me to point you to airports in Eastern Canada.

Weather is not a problem if you come in the summer.

[patowalker]

Where can I get £88 for €57?

[ChickenHouse]

First, define "cheap". Some flight schools will bait you by low hourly rates and rip you on additional "features" or prolonged training. Any FI can trick you into +20 hours, it he wants to cheat on you.

Second, what about talking to your local flight schools? If you approach them with the wish to do an affordable training, my experience is, they are open to a mutual compromise. If your local chaps help you to pass the EASA-PPL-license-to-learn in the bare minimum 45 hours on +10 percent NOK per hour to what you pay abroad, but need +10 percent flying hours ... ? Especially if you plan on doing an en-block training, you can get pretty good deals, if you are able to arrange in advance.

Yes, you can try to safe the last Øre on training, but history tells, this is very rarely a significant amount compared to the rest of the airmen's bill (you Norwegians know that quite well, when was it you did cancel using Norwegian Øre?).

In contrast, what do you get with a local flight school and the guys you will be meeting after anyways? Friendship, many hints to local oddities, tipps for the next Saturday breakfast fly-in, companions to fly formation on vacation, hangar talk audience, help for maintaining your wings later on, folks who shuttle you back from somewhere you got stranded ... imagine the long term advantages/disadvantages and than balance to decide the road.

[Springbok_Rider]

Hi,

Thanks for the responses. I'm South African btw (hence the name) - I wasn't prepared for the Scandinavian honey traps when I first visited Iceland in 2008 so my fiancee is Norwegian.

My local club got back to me and the price is around 1800kr per hour (more or less $206US). I got inspired when I saw their pricing on their website but see this morning it's dated back to 2008. The problem is they only have ground school from September to Feburary and I've missed the window. As they are quite small I don't think they make allowances. I've asked if I can complete the theory myself and sit my exam with them so we'll see.

However, Canadian prices look appealing. I'll do some research and see what I can find. We're living on a lake here in Norway so would love to get a plane with floats.

I just want to try get my ppl done as quickly as possible and that does mean searching for the most affordable option. Next year a friend and I want to do a cross country trip of the USA (he has his ppl already) so would like to have the ppl + some experience before then. I've told him to get his instructor rating and teach me for free but he's obviously selfish.

Thanks,
Antony

[S-Works]

You will need an EASA licence to fly in Europe and a Canadian licence does not meet that criteria. So you would end up having to convert to EASA when you got back and unless you have 100hrs it means starting from scratch.

So whilst it may be cheap in Canada its not going to be much benefit to you......

[Capt Kremmen]

Anthony,

Assuming the 'rules' in Norway are broadly the same as the rest of EASAland, and setting to one side considerations of weather, the cheapest or, for the tender hearted among us, the most cost effective way of obtaining your ticket is to buy a share in a suitable aircraft. By 'suitable', I mean one that apart from anything else is commonly used in the training role.

Check out that the other shareholders accept your use of the a/c for training and then hire your own instructor who will then shepherd you thru' an approved syllabus.

This route is not without its snags; aircraft availability being one of them. But, at least you won't be paying a commercial profit to a flight training organisation with, perhaps, an uncertain provenance.

[Springbok_Rider]

Hi,

I did check a few Canadian flight schools and the rates are much lower with the exchange rate. Looking at around $7800CAD for the bare minimum.

However, as Bose-X mentioned it looks like I would have to start from scrarch to convert unless I acquired 100+ hours. I looked at the cost of doing this, but unless I'm going for a CPL or have the time and funds to add additional ratings it's not going to work out cheaper.

That's not a bad call regarding shareholding. I'll have to see what options I have.

Otherwise, looks like I'm back to searching for a decent European school as the one local to me seem to have an odd approach that'll have be waiting until next year before I get my PPL.

Any recommendations? Lol.

Thanks,
Antony

[Springbok_Rider]

Currently checking out Bartolini in Poland who seem to be held in fairly high regard.