NE Scotland Flying Schools/Clubs

[bankjoh]

Hi,

With the downward spiral (or should that be spin?!) of Aberdeen flying club I am now looking to other clubs in the NE Scotland area.

While I can logon and see the following flying clubs/schools (and therefore get a feeling for costs etc):

Moray
Perth
Dundee

I would appreciate any thoughts on experiences/opinions of them (eg quality of teaching, friendliness etc).

I am studying for the full ppl (a) and am finalising solo circuits so am hesitant to chuck all that time and effort away.

Thanks for any help

[Genghis the Engineer]

I had to visit Perth a few months ago for a professional look around.

My impression was very favourable, nice facilities, very well looked after aeroplanes, and instructors who took what they did seriously, clearly enjoyed their jobs, and were trying to teach their students as well as possible.

No idea about prices - that wasn't my territory, but from what I saw, I'd be happy to do my own flying there (if it wasn't for the minor inconvience that I live near London).

And as for the scenery! You lucky blighters up there! We get the (*&&**& M25!

G

[egld0624]

Second Perth

was in there this week; great service, very friendly and happy to share their hangar. Wonderful topography & about 1 hours drive from Edinburgh.

EG

[HelenD]

While I do not know those three flying schools I do know Highland Flying School in Inverness is very good and the airfield like Aberdeen is full ATC. What I would suggest is visit all of the posibilities and try to get a feel of the place and talk to other students there. It may also be worth enquiring about the QXC landing fee costs since they will be on top of the rest of the training, the south cost schools students end up paying arround £20 at each of the two airfields they have to land at for the QXC. I got Wick and Kirkwall for my QXC with landing fees arround £4 a piece.

[rednine]

Met someone the other day - just had an hour lesson and 5 circuits in Aberden - cost was in excess of £200 at Aberdeen!!! Probably Highland would be a good choice - anywhere actually!

[S205-18F]

Hi I have not long completed my NPPL with Tayside Aviation. I started at Perth (Scone) where the instructors were fantastic but when Tayside Aviation moved back to Dundee I followed! I wasnt as impressed with Dundee but I completed my license with them. I found that having Leuchars nearby gave me a chance to do Matz training and of course there are both Glasgow and Edinburgh closeby too. Perth training is now done by Tayflite on behalf of the Scottish Aero Club and the arrangements are great (no landing fees) saving a packet when it comes to circuits! The instructors Luke and Simon along with others are a great bunch.
I live in Cumbernauld and although the airport is only 5 mins away it was still cheaper to travel to Perth (and friendlier) than doing the training locally. This has now changed slightly due to the arrival of Leading Edge club at Cumbernauld who have made the site much more friendly. This is a long one but I hope it helps.
John.

[wbryce]

ill second leading edge! although I fear Cumbernauld may be too much of a drive for you.

[A Sayers]

NE Flying Clubs

Responding to the original question. Google search for RAFFCA and then follow links to Moray and Leuchars flying clubs. Open to civilians still.

[bankjoh]

All,

Thanks for your replys. Somewhat unexpectedly I have been forced to consider another school.

Thanks again,
J

[3PARA]

By "Aberdeen flying club" I assume You mean "Flight Academy Scotland, Aberdeen"?

[DB6]

Moray and Inverness will be good bets, it depends where you live. Dundee will be quicker if you're South of Aberdeen. I'm biased since I instruct there now and then, but the Grob 115D2 Heron is a cut above what you'll usually find as an ab-initio trainer. It is also fully aerobatic if you have any interest in that direction .

[wbryce]

I've been speaking to Moray about the possibilities of doing my night rating with them...

Does anyone have good feedback on them?

[Thumpango]

I completed my PPL with The Highland Flying School in Inverness and can thoroughly recommend them. Found everyone very helpful, also went back to do my night qualification. Inverness seems to have its own climate and is very often flyable when other parts of Scotland are experiencing bad weather.

As HelenD mentioned above, the QXC is generally to Wick and Kirkwall with landing fees just £4 for training flights, the scenery is stunning! and I think my QXC was one of the most enjoyable flights I have had!

PM me if you need further details.

[PH-UKU]

Originally Posted by Thumpango

I completed my PPL with The Highland Flying School in Inverness and can thoroughly recommend them. Found everyone very helpful, also went back to do my night qualification. Inverness seems to have its own climate and is very often flyable when other parts of Scotland are experiencing bad weather.
As HelenD mentioned above, the QXC is generally to Wick and Kirkwall with landing fees just £4 for training flights, the scenery is stunning! and I think my QXC was one of the most enjoyable flights I have had!
PM me if you need further details.

OOoooooooooohhhhhhhh - that takes me back to my 3 eeks PPL training at Inverness in 99 - Scotland in May ... ? You canny beat it Superb location and that QXC to Kirkwall ........

And yes the weather in the Moray Firth is a good bet.

[stocker]

I did my IMC in Inverness with the owner Peter Brookes and must say he is probably the best instructor I have come accross anywhere in Scotland.
They do very good deals at Highland and have the cheapest club flying you will find in the North, cheap enough to cover any travel costs.
Hiring an aircraft from them allows you free landings at any of the Highland and Island Airports of which there are many.
Call Peter Maclellan on 01667 462226.

[high voltage]

WBRYCE:

Have heard lots about Inverness, all good but the airport is getting quite busy. A nice club atmosphere.

Perth also good and wonderful scenery.

Moray I would think are also good being a RAFFCA club, but there's a thread next door which indicates some unrest. Prob best to visit for yourself and suss it all out.

[Unusual Attitude]

Started my PPL with Aberdeen then finished it off with Moray but that was about 8-9 years ago so much may have changed. Moray were however very professional and the prices were the cheapest around by far, wx and scenery are also excellent.

I also fly into Perth, Dundee, and Inverness all very regularly and can agree that Perth is an extremely nice little airfield.

DB6, didn't know you guys had a Grob 115, are you running an AOPA aeros course there as I'd be very interested...?

Regards

UA

[Gugnunc]

Tayside have been promising an AOPA course for a while to my knowledge cannot yet actually put one together for you. I think the problem is more a specific AOPA Aeros FI bit of paperwork as the Dundee Instructors have excellent standards. Some have to be vetted by the RAF CFS for the Cadet contract.

From a PPL point of view the Grob's are truly excellent. If you can persaude Tayside to part with one for a day or for a weekend then they make very swift tourers. I wouldn't want to land one on grass (spats etc). Plus side, superb vis, 3.5 hrs plus 45 mins reserve. 120 kts cruise and soooo nice to fly.

They aren't as sharp as a T67 on aeros, but they are more roomy. A downside is that 4 of the 5 have military radio jacks and seat cushions where the parachute is. If you can get Grob 5 then you get comfy seats and you can use your own headset.

Interested to see the poster didn't think much of the service at Dundee. You should try Glenrothes for a friendly welcome (not!).

[DB6]

UA, yep there are 5 at Dundee and we do the AOPA course. Approval was gained a few months ago and there is one full-time aeros qualified instructor (although he is busy with FIC work too) and myself doing some part-time stuff.
Gugnunc, true they aren't as good as the mighty Firefly (well not the 260 anyway) but on the plus side you can inverted spin and tailslide them .

[high voltage]

[quote=Unusual Attitude]Started my PPL with Aberdeen then finished it off with Moray but that was about 8-9 years ago so much may have changed. Moray were however very professional and the prices were the cheapest around by far, wx and scenery are also excellent.


Looking at their website they don't appear to be that cheap unless you are a full member and membership subscriptions are the highest I've ever seen.
Quite messy pricing, difficult interpret and there's somethign about fuel surcharges too. Full members seem to get cheaper instruction too so I'd join as a full member and not a temporary. Temporary rates are not exactly competitive for example £42 / month for membership. When you add that cost onto your aircraft hire you end up with a price way above what you might otherwise be thinking.

I was a memebr of another club who duped the members with their pricing policy. Read the small print.

Intrigued why you thought they were so cheap? I suppose if you are paying £200 / hour at Aberdeen then it might still be more cost effective but I'd look further than Aberdeen and Moray for price comparison.

Always the chance of doing a cash deal with some schools too, no harm in asking for a bit of discount is there.