Sheffield to ......

[TrickyIreland]

Hi guys /Gals,

Im currently training with Sheffield City Air school for my PPL and so far so good. There all nice people and the level of comfort with my instructor is endless.

When i land i always want to get back up straight away.

Anyway, weather up here these days is pretty bad. The last couple of dates ive had booked have been cancelled. Now obviously this is nobodies fault however im sure you all remember a time of excitement and impatience when doing your training.

Im going to be in Tunbridge Wells for the next couple of weeks (Visiting the Otherhalf), im looking for Flying schools in and around the area-ish (I say ish as i dont mind driving), that can take me on for a couple of lessons every day and get me to atleast solo.

Im currently only on 5 hours, however im told having no problems with these earlier lessons.
If anyone can give me a recommendation on good flying schools with asphalt runway?

I simply want o avoid the bad weather up here for a while.
I have spoken to EFG flying school however there priced considerably higher than most while also charging £16.50 for landing ONTOP of the hourly rate.
They sound a good bunch of people but that kind of put me off.

Any help would be great thanks in advance.

Tricky

[helicopter-redeye]

Strange, we so rarely have bad weather in Sheffield when i'm here ...

h-r:)

[TrickyIreland]

i live in manchester red-eye so its always difficult to work out what the weather will be like in sheffield without phoning ahead. When calling last weekend it was a bright sunny day in manchester and foggy as hell in sheffield, vis was non existent.

Also i was due in at 3pm today however again im told the weather is terrible.

[MichaelJP59]

No problem with the idea of getting a few lessons in while you're down south, but there's no guarantee that the current north-south split won't reverse and the bad weather will be down there - which would no doubt be annoying:)

BTW I got my PPL through SCFS and have nothing but high praise especially for CFI Steve. Also was lucky and had very few lessons cancelled due WX.

[helicopter-redeye]

I live in Manchester so its always difficult to work out what the weather will be like

We all live in the UK so its always difficult to work out what the weather will be like ....

[TrickyIreland]

hi michael,

I again continue your praise for the staff at SCFS, CFI Steve is in Amsterdam today so it seems everyone is aware of wx and i dont blame them getting on with things. Nothing worse than sitting around in the office waiting for things to clear.

Im with FI Mark Raynes and i feel very comfortable with his style in explaining things.

I dont want to use steve during my ppl training as id like to have him on my test flight.

Something about not being able to have your test flight with anyone youve taken a lesson with. Makes sense!

Any suggestions on Flying schools in kent other than EFG?

We all live in the UK so its always difficult to work out what the weather will be like ....

lol.. yeh i couldnt agree more!

[Evil J]

TG Aviaition at Manston were very good when I did my PPL, but that was getting on for 12 years ago - have no reason to believe anything there has changed for the worse though

[McFunkletrumpet]

TI try Headcorn.Not too far by road via Paddock Wood, Marden,Staplehurst and Headcorn Village. Say 40 mins tops.
You'll also gain grass strip experience.
Good hunting.

[Jodelman]

The nearest airfields to Tun Wells are Biggin, Rochester and Headcorn. The latter are grass so if you insist on a hard runway it has to be Biggin.

The problem with that is that it's more expensive that the other two and much time can be lost at the hold waiting your turn to take off. Try Headcorn, landing on grass really isn't much different to tarmac, and there is always something of interest going on. Rochester takes a little less time to get to and has a choice of schools.

p.s. To get to Headcorn from the Wells, its quickest via Goudhurst and Biddenden (A262).

[TrickyIreland]

thanks everybody i apreciate the other suggestions.
I think im going to take a trial flight at a couple of schools to get the feel for the instructer etc.

The only thing thats put me off grass strips is the weather. Were heading in to winter months now and rain im sure is going to be plenty.
Asphelt r/w's dont take days to dry out.
however i will still check out some of the grass strips and hopefully will be proven wrong.

I spoke to EFG earlier and they currently have 5 hour courses for £500 as i said earlier im wanting to complete a minimum of 20 hours before i return to manchester.

The lady on the phone kindly agreed to put together a package for me. Ill see what comes up.

I only pray the weather holds out lol

Thanks again everyone, greatly apreciated

[foghorn]

As someone who is used to paying Sheffield's landing fees, Biggin won't scare you on costs grounds.

How much does it cost to land an average spamcan at Sheffield these days - when I last checked it was nearly £30!

[helicopter-redeye]

Single engine aircraft and single engine helicopters (Residents or visitors) - FREE LANDING, (IF PICKING UP AT LEAST 50 LITRES OF AVGAS)

Ah! but big prices, that was in the bad old days when it was a commercial airport and landing an R44 would set you back £58 + VAT

Please, come again.

[foghorn]

Current website quotes £12 per tonne or part thereof. Plus VAT that's £28.20 for you average four-place spamcan, which are generally just over a tonne. As for the facilities that you'd expect for such a lumpy fee, well, freecall Sheffield A/G Radio...

At Biggin, considered an expensive GA field even to the South East's standards, it's radar vectors to the ILS straight off the airways for £24.56 all in.

I think Sheffield need a reality check with their prices to be honest. It's a real shame because apart from that it's a great little airport with friendly people let down by a crazy charging policy. Sorry, it's Gamston every time for me (as it was before EGSY accepted singles).

[snchater]

Landed yesterday in C182 (1335 kg)
Presented with an invoice for £21.15
Gave them my free landing voucher from Pilot magazine
:O :O :O

ps Very nice cafe and the A/G man was very helpful

[helicopter-redeye]

Single engine aircraft and single engine helicopters (Residents or visitors) - FREE LANDING, (IF PICKING UP AT LEAST 50 LITRES OF AVGAS)

Buy 50ltrs of Avgas and its free