That's what is happening at Aberdeen! The school is delivering PPL training and there are several thriving flying groups.
I fly in one of the groups based at Aberdeen and on a number of occasions have been the only light A/C in the air out of ABZ on perfectly good flyable days. Is a shame, with a bit of good marketing & management I've no doubt the club could do very well indeed.
I am afraid this is not quite the full picture. The school has had a lot of down time for maintenence of aircraft throughout the winter and with no on site maintenence there is a 45 min flight to Perth to undertake every time something breaks. As mentioned lots of the instructors have left for airline jobs hence finding available instructors has been a problem. Put all that together with the horendous wintertime Aberdeen weather and you don't get many airborne days.
I walk in and the lady who has run the school office for years is in tears apparently having been suspended for financial irregularities in the till. Next day go in and the old boy I’ve seen working there for years and chatted to numerous times has also been also sacked for gross misconduct!!
It is wrong to publicly post that on here and I think tht all parties involved would appreciate some tact and descretion whilst the matter is resolved.
There are some serious odds stacked against GA in Aberdeen, not least the incredible costs enforced by BAA. This added to delays at the hold waiting to take off, delays whilst waiting to land, having to ask permition the day before for circuits and only being allowed one aircraft in the circuit, then being charged £16 every time you land (yes even for touch and go's) makes life difficult. That's why any new flying school at Aberdeen deserves a fair chance to get through any teething troubles.
Aberdeen has one of the closest knit flying communities I have come across and lots of people come to the school to socialise as well as fly. Hopefully this will lead to a very successful 2006 for everyone.