Shoreham PPL training

[JetSetJim]

With summer and hopefully some fine weather on the way, I'm planning to finally begin my PPL at Shoreham. Any ideas on who's hot and who's not?

I've received details from virtually all the schools and am somewhat bewildered! I'll not be paying the full amount up front, but am looking for quality and value for money.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

JSJ

[Gulf Julliet Papa]

Airbase finished me off very quickly with no mucking around and wasting money / air time. I moved to them after a different school went bust and would highly recomend them!

[cosworth211]

Personally did my PPL with Sussex Flying Club. They have superb facilities including a sim, about 4 briefing rooms, and access to EFT's twin engine duchess if your interested. The staff are very friendly and the instructors are thorough.

Off the top of my head the other choices are -

The aforementioned Airbase
The Flying Hut
Southern Flying Centre
... and another opposite SFC, but the name doesnt spring to mind.

Shoreham's a great airfield to train from with great facilities, enjoy!

[Papa Charlie]

I would personally recommend The Real Flying Company. They have two PA-28s for spamcan training plus the (much more expensive) option of doing your PPL in a Chipmunk or a Stampe.
You should visit each flying club in turn, talk to them and take a close look at their fleet. Then make your mind up.
Good luck and have fun! :ok:

[justsomepilot]

NEVER EVER pay anything up front.

[effortless]

Sussex Flying Club has a good selection of instructors and the aircraft are reliable. I would not be against having a lesson or two with more than one operation as you may just click with one instructor. Have fun, Shoreham is a bit of a challenge for the novice but you really will learn how to handle traffic. ATC can be a bit Heathrow sometimes but they are really helpful most of the time despite being run off their feet over the weekends. The runway is really narrow though but that just adds to the fun.

[Gulf Julliet Papa]

Sussex Flying Club has a good selection of instructors and the aircraft are reliable

Hence the hand swinging of a C150 on saturday...i say no more

[effortless]

Hence the hand swinging of a C150 on saturday...i say no more

Really, which one was it? Who was swinging, was it the policeman?:eek:


Ok, so who left the master switch on?

[bazzaman96]

I am just about to set out seriously on my ppl with Sussex Flying Club, having looked at all the other options at Shoreham.

Basically, I feel that SFC are a bit more professional than the other organisations there - the offices are smart, they have excellent facilities, including a simulator, and every time I have contacted them they have been friendly and helpful.

Additionally, they have been recommended by friends who have learnt with them...and just to be lazy, they are also right opposite the terminal - the least distance to walk!

I'm starting my ppl proper shortly, having had a couple of flying lessons elsewhere, so will let you know how I get on with SFC.

[Miserlou]

I suggest visiting all the clubs and going for the one which feels right.

By right, I don't mean for your ego. What you are looking for is not white shirts and gold bars. You want a instructors who are at least middle-aged and/or greying.

In a nutshell, instructors who are there for your sake not theirs, who will teach from their experience not that of others.

[JetSetJim]

Thanks for all the advice. I'm planning to pop in and see a few people this week, which will hopefully give me a flavour. I'll let you know how I get on.

Thanks.

JSJ

[18greens]

This is a bit off post but how I envy you the beginnings of an Aviation adventure.

I used to love the getting up early saturday morning for the 8.30 lesson after looking forward to it all week , wondering what you will be learning, how it will go , whats next , am I progressing, whens first solo and how it all happened too fast. Great fun.

I loved the unexpected, the gin clear mornings that turned to fog when the mixing started, the days the RAF weren't there and we had no radio and the circuit to ourselves, the unexpected SRA for controller training, it goes on.

I hope you love it as much as I did.

[Southern Scottie]

The Flying Hut is the only club which doesn't charge a membership fee. Why pay£100 plus for almost nothing? The Hut has a range of aircraft to suit most tastes.;)

[Flash0710]

Can't agree more with comment on the flying hut

Paul Crosskey MD CEO etc etc is well focused on just flying and no BS if only more could follow.....

F.

[Flying Robin]

The Flying Hut are charging an annual fee this year, but at £50 it is, I believe, less than the other clubs.

I did my PPL with The Flying Hut, having first looked around all the clubs. I like the Hut because they seemed to have the best setup for post-ppl training flying. They don't put any restrictions on flying times, so you can hire a plane for a whole day even if you only fly for a couple of hours (e.g. IOW and back) - some clubs do restrict you to a minimum of 4 hours to book a plane for a whole day at the weekend (not sure though if this is true for the other clubs at Shoreham).

Really though the best advice has already been offered - spend some time visiting the clubs, chatting to the people there and get a feel for their setups. I have not actually heard anything negative about any of the clubs currently operating at Shoreham.

Edited to add:

I could not agree more with the previous comments about Paul Crosskey, and his wife Elaine.

[SKYYACHT]

Yep - The Flying Hut. Paul is a nice guy, and very fair. Elaine makes everyone welocme, and they have a nice fleet of aeroplanes, and some good instructors. I have used them for a few years now. They have some interesting aeroplanes, In addition to the usual Spamcan Aerial Ford Fiestas and Escorts, they now have a Firefly T67 and an Aviat Husky.

Good luck with it all.


Cheers

[JetSetJim]

Thanks again for all the advice.

I've now paid a number of visits to the key schools at Shoreham and SFC seem to fit the bill and were most helpful on Sunday, despite having people coming and going.

Next step is to get the trial lesson under my belt, so fingers crossed!

18Greens - your post was truely inspirational. It's taken me so long to get to the stage where I can finally begin the long journey into the world of commercial aviation - it's easy to lose sight of what I really want to do!

Your reply along with a wander around Shoreham, mingling with those doing what I love, was enough to get me back on track and I came away with a spring in my step!

Many thanks,

JSJ

[Bob Stinger]

Saw the Husky on Tuesday at Goodwood, it could almost got off on a helipad! Certainly looked fun to fly.

[Kazakhstan]

Hi All,

I did my PPL with the flying hut last year and my father has been flying with them for a few years now. I learnt to fly in the Tomahawk which is a nice plane to fly, makes you work hard and is certified for spinning which I found a lot of fun.

Unfortunately my instructor Steve has now left and he was very good. The Instructors and all very friendly and very professional, Elaine does a great job and is allways very helpful. Also when people make mistakes we can all have a joke about it and discuss what went wrong.

I really recommend them and Shoreham as the chaps in the tower are also helpful. When I did my Night rating they did their best to make sure I was able to complete my touch and go's that evening, and should you go buzzing around the circuit at 900ft by mistake you won't get into too much trouble.

[Ace Rimmer]

Took the husky for a blat around the patch this morning and indeed one up the tails up before you can get the throttle all the way open about 'nother 100m and you're levitating like a b@a$tard great fun -

[JetSetJim]

What can I say?! Lesson number one under my belt and loved it. If only I'd been this excited about learning and reading up after lessons during GCSEs and A-levels all those years ago!

Thanks to all for your advice.

JSJ