PPL @ British Airways Flying Club High Wycombe Or Stapleford Essex?
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Dorset
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Didn't slate the flying club. Slating the airline - reread my post.
My first ever flight was with BAFC and actually found them very good. Will reiterate my thoughts on Booker though - that is it being unfriendly and snotty. Hopefully the new management will talk to their staff and remind them that the paying customer actually keeps the whole place going.....
I'll try flying in there again after xmas and will retract all comments if the experience changes!
My first ever flight was with BAFC and actually found them very good. Will reiterate my thoughts on Booker though - that is it being unfriendly and snotty. Hopefully the new management will talk to their staff and remind them that the paying customer actually keeps the whole place going.....
I'll try flying in there again after xmas and will retract all comments if the experience changes!
Join Date: Aug 2003
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Thought airfield management was unchanged - press release mentioned that Managing Director (a BA pilot?) of AAA is staying in place and that there's a non-exec on the board who's the Director of BA Ground Ops.
That aside, I hear that BAFC runs a good professional operation that's well worthwhile considering. WAC has a good fleet too (including twins if that's the direction you're planning). General operation at WAP is busy but well managed through highly competent ATC and sensible procedures. I think if you can get used to the volume of traffic here it'll stand you in good stead for anywhere else!
That aside, I hear that BAFC runs a good professional operation that's well worthwhile considering. WAC has a good fleet too (including twins if that's the direction you're planning). General operation at WAP is busy but well managed through highly competent ATC and sensible procedures. I think if you can get used to the volume of traffic here it'll stand you in good stead for anywhere else!
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Join Date: Aug 2007
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Thanks for all posts so far, there's a lot about BA here, anyone care to comment about Stapleford?
Which location is better for actual flying, Stapleford's or BA's?...Reason I'm asking is coz I've flown at Redhill and the flying restrictions because of Gatwick are pretty tight.
Which location is better for actual flying, Stapleford's or BA's?...Reason I'm asking is coz I've flown at Redhill and the flying restrictions because of Gatwick are pretty tight.
Join Date: Jun 2002
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Airspace around Wycombe is restricted to the South East by Heathrow but apart from that isn't too bad. With the Farnborough LARS and Benson nearby there'll be plenty of radar people to talk to if you want to. Out to the north there's loads of space to play without too much height restriction. Stapleford does have Luton, London City and Stansted to contend with.
AAA Ltd MD is, as was before the Arora connection, a BA pilot. The BA director of ground ops is now an ex-director of ground ops having recently retired.
As gpn01 said, it is busy here at Wycombe, but you soon get used to it and aren't worried about going anywhere else that's 'busy'. At some time during the training there'll be a northerly or southerly wind so you'll also get used to operating from grass on 17/35 (there's also a parallel grass runway for 24/06).
Many people are put off by things 'out of their ordinary' like full ATC or conversely short(er) grass strips, co-located gliding/para dropping etc but most of the time once you bite the bullet and have a go it isn't a problem in reality.
AAA Ltd MD is, as was before the Arora connection, a BA pilot. The BA director of ground ops is now an ex-director of ground ops having recently retired.
As gpn01 said, it is busy here at Wycombe, but you soon get used to it and aren't worried about going anywhere else that's 'busy'. At some time during the training there'll be a northerly or southerly wind so you'll also get used to operating from grass on 17/35 (there's also a parallel grass runway for 24/06).
Many people are put off by things 'out of their ordinary' like full ATC or conversely short(er) grass strips, co-located gliding/para dropping etc but most of the time once you bite the bullet and have a go it isn't a problem in reality.
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I stand corrected about the BA Director of Ground Ops - I just read what BA's Investor Relations website says:
http://www.bashares.com/phoenix.zhtm...irol-govmanage.
Additional point about Wycombe's grass runway 17/35 is that it has been NOTAM'd as closed until the Spring. So, I guess with prevelant Winter Northerlies around, there'll be plenty of practice for crosswind takeoffs & landings over the next few months.
http://www.bashares.com/phoenix.zhtm...irol-govmanage.
Additional point about Wycombe's grass runway 17/35 is that it has been NOTAM'd as closed until the Spring. So, I guess with prevelant Winter Northerlies around, there'll be plenty of practice for crosswind takeoffs & landings over the next few months.
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Smarthawke
I did not mean the lack of communication with members to be a really strong criticism. I just thought it might have been polite, if not to send a email, to update the members news on the website. After all, we pay an annual membership fee on top of flying costs which is competitive, but not incidental. A little timely news sharing might improve member participation and commitment. I was really quite surprised to read of the sale in a flying mag first.
Also, it was not entirely clear to me from the press release that BAFC would continue as such in the long term. I am grateful for any reassurance.
HH
I did not mean the lack of communication with members to be a really strong criticism. I just thought it might have been polite, if not to send a email, to update the members news on the website. After all, we pay an annual membership fee on top of flying costs which is competitive, but not incidental. A little timely news sharing might improve member participation and commitment. I was really quite surprised to read of the sale in a flying mag first.
Also, it was not entirely clear to me from the press release that BAFC would continue as such in the long term. I am grateful for any reassurance.
HH
