Denham Pilot Centre
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Bucks
Age: 34
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Denham Pilot Centre
For those who are flying at Denham with the Pilot Centre, either as PPL's or more, or students, please could I ask for your opinions.
What Is it like flying from Denham and with the Pilot Centre, or cabair too if your looking!?
Are the prices competitive enough (even though the lowest around the region) to warrent a move when you have to extend your journey to route round Heathrow CTR all the time? Unless going north
I suppose what i'm really looking for is peoples experience, to goad me on into looking into it further. :-)
but please be honest!!
Also, if I may what is the club atmosphere like?
any more information that you think i might find interesting or relevant, I would appreciate.
thank you for your time!
TC
What Is it like flying from Denham and with the Pilot Centre, or cabair too if your looking!?
Are the prices competitive enough (even though the lowest around the region) to warrent a move when you have to extend your journey to route round Heathrow CTR all the time? Unless going north
I suppose what i'm really looking for is peoples experience, to goad me on into looking into it further. :-)
but please be honest!!
Also, if I may what is the club atmosphere like?
any more information that you think i might find interesting or relevant, I would appreciate.
thank you for your time!
TC
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Hertfordshire
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The Pilot Centre is spot on as far as I'm concerned. Excellent selection of well looked-after a/c which are readily available. Nice bunch of instructors. Good social side, and of course, Denham being short, narrow, between lakes and trees and in the London zone and a tight circuit, makes your flying crisp ! Prices are good, although the annual membership fee of £ 195 seems to come round a lot more than once year. Hopefully Eva will give me discount for this post ! Happy Landings.
Join Date: Sep 2006
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I learnt to fly there. They are a nice bunch of people and the training is excellent 
- but I would say that... from what I hear they are good value for money. But since I live nearby I didnt look very far.
I looked at Cabair and decided they didnt have the social feel I was after, many who have started with them moved over for similar reasons. But they do seem professional so dont let me put you off having a look round - I think they are better suited to career types.
Flying from Denham is a lot easier for locals than you might think (nice lakes for visual reference). It is well position for most journeys - as you say LHR airspace make you and everyone else funnel down over Farnborough (That is a busy piece of airspace and Farnborough deserve all the praise they get). But if you are further south then you have the problem going north!
As for club atmosphere - mmmm not its strongest side - no bar/cafe, there is a social side - monthly meet for beers and organised group flying days, BBQs, Xmas Party etc - I also believe they want to improve things in this area and anyone who wants to be part of the social scene will be most welcome
Many people also form loose groups for trips etc. I did Marrakech with another plane (halfway - we then took mine the rest), and Oban-Scottish Isles with a couple of other planes this year amongst other trips
I have my own plane so I cant really give much info on the rental side (although I did fly most of them whilst training) - but they have lots of 152s,172,PA-28 etc. with varying degrees of age and avionics.
There is a rail station a short ride away and very easy access from M40 and or M25.
You dont mention why you want to fly, or where you currently are, so I cant add any comparison.
Hope that helps...
- but I would say that... from what I hear they are good value for money. But since I live nearby I didnt look very far.I looked at Cabair and decided they didnt have the social feel I was after, many who have started with them moved over for similar reasons. But they do seem professional so dont let me put you off having a look round - I think they are better suited to career types.
Flying from Denham is a lot easier for locals than you might think (nice lakes for visual reference). It is well position for most journeys - as you say LHR airspace make you and everyone else funnel down over Farnborough (That is a busy piece of airspace and Farnborough deserve all the praise they get). But if you are further south then you have the problem going north!
As for club atmosphere - mmmm not its strongest side - no bar/cafe, there is a social side - monthly meet for beers and organised group flying days, BBQs, Xmas Party etc - I also believe they want to improve things in this area and anyone who wants to be part of the social scene will be most welcome
Many people also form loose groups for trips etc. I did Marrakech with another plane (halfway - we then took mine the rest), and Oban-Scottish Isles with a couple of other planes this year amongst other trips
I have my own plane so I cant really give much info on the rental side (although I did fly most of them whilst training) - but they have lots of 152s,172,PA-28 etc. with varying degrees of age and avionics.
There is a rail station a short ride away and very easy access from M40 and or M25.
You dont mention why you want to fly, or where you currently are, so I cant add any comparison.
Hope that helps...
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I fly at Wycombe, So not too far really, I just thought that with my PPL which I have had over a year now, it would be nice to venture out a little and see what other places have to offer! The whole point of a PPL is its freedom, and i thought seeing how other clubs work would be nice for experience likewise!
Sounds really nice! :-) And the prices seem as i said before very competitive, and £195 is quite reasonable also. However, their discount makes joining AOPA seem like a smart move.
Most of my experience is on C152 and C172, which they conveniantly have on fleet also. But I was thinking about a pa28 conversion seeing as they have alot more of them available to use.
I can understand fully with proceedures in and out and appreciate they are very strict due to the location of Denham inside Heathrow CTR but flying at wycombe gets you good at noise control restrictions also due to the moaning neighbours so am used to that sort of thing! Makes the departure and rejoin more exciting i think!
Many thanks for your comments, if anyone else wants to shed some light please do! :-D
TC
Sounds really nice! :-) And the prices seem as i said before very competitive, and £195 is quite reasonable also. However, their discount makes joining AOPA seem like a smart move.
Most of my experience is on C152 and C172, which they conveniantly have on fleet also. But I was thinking about a pa28 conversion seeing as they have alot more of them available to use.
I can understand fully with proceedures in and out and appreciate they are very strict due to the location of Denham inside Heathrow CTR but flying at wycombe gets you good at noise control restrictions also due to the moaning neighbours so am used to that sort of thing! Makes the departure and rejoin more exciting i think!
Many thanks for your comments, if anyone else wants to shed some light please do! :-D
TC
Join Date: Aug 2006
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As an airfield Denham lacks facilities, (Cafe, observation area, maintenance & hangarage).
There's rumours that a cafe is coming soon though, and hangarage is hampered by planning authorities apparently.
However, TPC are an excellent club, with a far more relaxed atmosphere than Cabair, who are based on the opposite side of the airfield.
There's the very dry-witted Chris on the desk, and the lovely Eva to brighten up anyone's day!
If you're on the aviation career ladder and have a penchant for epaulettes then it's the south side for you, but if you're looking to make friends and have fun in little aeroplanes than go northside to TPC.
There's rumours that a cafe is coming soon though, and hangarage is hampered by planning authorities apparently.
However, TPC are an excellent club, with a far more relaxed atmosphere than Cabair, who are based on the opposite side of the airfield.
There's the very dry-witted Chris on the desk, and the lovely Eva to brighten up anyone's day!
If you're on the aviation career ladder and have a penchant for epaulettes then it's the south side for you, but if you're looking to make friends and have fun in little aeroplanes than go northside to TPC.
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As much as I'd love to advance my flying career and I do have age on my side, money is what holds me and others alike back! :-) I just want to enjoy flying where and when i can. :-D
Cheers for all the info guys!
TC
Cheers for all the info guys!
TC
