North Weald v Stapleford

[SoftwareDev]

Hi all, looking at getting my PPL and possibly make a career change at 26 from Software Development to become a Pilot. North Weald and Stapleford are the most accessible for me from where I am based.
I have a trial lesson booked with North Weald in the coming days, but I'm curious to know if there is any reason I should pick one flight school over the other?
If it's anything like becoming a developer, your mentor and the environment you learn in can have an impact on the outcome. I would be able to do at 2 hours a week at least if I can get that booked on weekends and the cost isn't really an issue. I already have my log book.
Am I correct in thinking I can log an hour from the trial flight? What if I took two trial flights at two separate schools?
So far the only downsides for North Weald I have read are a lack of lighting so no night flying and they don't offer CPL as far as I am aware (I know that's far off).

Apologies in advance if these are stupid questions, I have a lot to learn, especially when it comes to exactly what the path is if I wanted to turn it into a career.

[MrAverage]

Any flying you do with a CAA instructor counts towards your licence training requirements, as long as it's within a DTO or an ATO. Any PPL holder has the option to go commercial, so you can do the PPL at pretty much any airfield that has the right equipment. However, if you overdo the amount of trial lessons while your shopping around, your initial flights will be somewhat un-connected and lacking in value. Send me a PM if you'd like to discuss it in person, no charge or obligation for a fact finding chat and no hard sell from me.

[admuffin]

I started flying at Stapleford but after about 15 hours I switched to North Weald were I got my PPL eventually. I would definitely say I preferred North Weald. Stapleford felt like a big commercial operation while the service at North Weald was a bit more personal. Plus they have an online booking system.

[Genghis the Engineer]

I don't know either school, have flown from both airfields on occasion - both are friendly and well enough run.

I would say that it really comes down to the instructor. Think hard about the instructor you fly with, and ask the very blunt question of yourself - do I like and respect this person enough to spend 50 hours in a metal box learning from them? Ultimately what really matters is your relationship with that instructor, not the broader realities of the school and airfield.

I believe that both use a mix of C152, C172 and PA28 aircraft. I've plenty of hours in all three, and would advise that if you fit in it okay (they are a little cramped) go with the C152, which in my opinion is by far the better training aeroplane of the three, and it's easy enough to convert once you're qualified.

G

[WestWind1950]

I agree with Genghis...enjoy your training! flying is so much fun