PPL Training Midlands
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: UK, mainly
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Everyone will have their own bias. Personally, I've been very happy indeed with HGFC (at Wolverhampton International Business Spaceport etc) - friendly good instructors, relaxed atmosphere, very quiet field, and the ability to stay based there during CPL/IR if you decide to go that way later on. Ultimately, it's down to how you feel and how happy you are. Why not do a trial lesson or 2 at each place to see where you fit in best? It might cost a bit more initially, but worth it if it serves you well in the future.
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Birmingham
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Im biased towards almat. They have very good prices, and in response to an earlier comment, who wouldn't want to be at an airfield with airliners? it's great being knocked about in a 737's wake 
Join Date: Aug 2005
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Airliners
Sometimes those 737's can be a problem - normally when they're occupying the runway waiting for a release from Birmingham, while I'm flying round in circles somewhere mid-downwind. . .
Having said that, learning at a field with full ATC is, I think, the best way to go. That way you get used to the control, and don't get scared / worried on your first trip into such a field later on.
Cheers,
David
PS - Membership of Almat is £240 for full, Coventry Aeroplane Club charge £200, but their costs are then higher per hour.
Having said that, learning at a field with full ATC is, I think, the best way to go. That way you get used to the control, and don't get scared / worried on your first trip into such a field later on.
Cheers,
David
PS - Membership of Almat is £240 for full, Coventry Aeroplane Club charge £200, but their costs are then higher per hour.
Join Date: May 2002
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Confused - you will be!
To avoid confusion I guess BigBloke is referring to Coventry Aeroplane Club when he mentions the "Coventry Flying Club". As I said earlier the Aeroplane Club operates its training side as Coventry Flying School.
In case you haven't found it their web site is www.covaero.com with details of membership and flying rates.
In case you haven't found it their web site is www.covaero.com with details of membership and flying rates.
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Join Date: Feb 2008
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Having looked into Almat / CVT schools i have to say there looking like the people im going to go and see. Regardless of people bias's they do look good. Theres a lot of bonus' going in / out with full ATC and X amount of other commercial aviation going on... in the long run anyway.
Im looking at doing a few hours a month so we shall see how it goes will be starting up soon so i shall let you all know
Im looking at doing a few hours a month so we shall see how it goes will be starting up soon so i shall let you all know
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Staffordshire
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PPL Midlands
Hi RN
Tatenhill (EGBM) has to be worth serious consideration, a good and competively priced fleet (no landing fees). An excellent hard runway (1000m+) in a nice rural setting.
http:www.tatenhill.com/
A friendly social club (£50 per year membership which gives discount on training/hire) with an active social side and regular fly-outs/events (students encouraged to go as pax to improve nav skills). Margaret is in the cafe Fri-Sun and offers good choice of food. Club house has room for flight planning (pc/printer, broadband, manuals etc).
http://www.esfc.org.uk
Might be biased as I fly out of there!
Tatenhill (EGBM) has to be worth serious consideration, a good and competively priced fleet (no landing fees). An excellent hard runway (1000m+) in a nice rural setting.
http:www.tatenhill.com/
A friendly social club (£50 per year membership which gives discount on training/hire) with an active social side and regular fly-outs/events (students encouraged to go as pax to improve nav skills). Margaret is in the cafe Fri-Sun and offers good choice of food. Club house has room for flight planning (pc/printer, broadband, manuals etc).
http://www.esfc.org.uk
Might be biased as I fly out of there!
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Midlands
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Another benefit of Tatenhill is the cost of joining the club is only £50. Good instructors and you will get your PPL quicker as no big boys around to mess you about. Plenty of time to transition to international airports when you have the license.
Rod1
Rod1
Join Date: Aug 2002
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Originally Posted by llanfairpg
Take Flight at Wellesbourne are good too, the CFI is ex WA and well respected
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: The Burrow, N53:48:02 W1:48:57, The Tin Tent - EGBS, EGBO
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There are three FTOs at Halfpenny Green: HGFC aka The Flight Centre which is where I did my PPL, they now have only Diesel PA28s (they got rid of the C152 
and the DA40 is STILL grounded waiting for its new engine to be fitted), The Flying School - which has a C152 and Halfpenny Green Flying School with PA28s (I think both diesel and Avgas) and C152s. There are three runways at EGBO, the shortest being 22/04 which is 635m and the longest 16/34 at 1162m which also has a brand new lighting system being installed (probably completed by now.) HGFC doesn't charge Landing Fess nor, to the best of my knowledge, do the others. It's a FISO service at EGBO.
I would also suggest Shobdon as probably being by far the cheapest around but you may think it's a bit far away from you. I make a round trip of almost 400miles to fly from there but then I DO own a caravan and Shobdon does have its own, neat, clean and tidy Caravan / Camping site. It also has a good cafe, clubhouse with bar which is open in the evenings (although you can sit in there during the day) and is located in Herefordshire's Cider country.
and the DA40 is STILL grounded waiting for its new engine to be fitted), The Flying School - which has a C152 and Halfpenny Green Flying School with PA28s (I think both diesel and Avgas) and C152s. There are three runways at EGBO, the shortest being 22/04 which is 635m and the longest 16/34 at 1162m which also has a brand new lighting system being installed (probably completed by now.) HGFC doesn't charge Landing Fess nor, to the best of my knowledge, do the others. It's a FISO service at EGBO.I would also suggest Shobdon as probably being by far the cheapest around but you may think it's a bit far away from you. I make a round trip of almost 400miles to fly from there but then I DO own a caravan and Shobdon does have its own, neat, clean and tidy Caravan / Camping site. It also has a good cafe, clubhouse with bar which is open in the evenings (although you can sit in there during the day) and is located in Herefordshire's Cider country.
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: The Burrow, N53:48:02 W1:48:57, The Tin Tent - EGBS, EGBO
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LL.I forgot to add that Herefordshire Aero Club also has a static caravan which will be available to rent so, if you don't have one of your own, you could stay there for some time and be able to get in a good deal of flying. Being available on site will mean that if bad weather, or forecast poor weather, fails to materialise you would be able to take advantage of any lessons which may have been cancelled. Once you have your PPL you can join the syndicate (currently £18/month, + £65.80/hr for the C152) and benefit not only from the excellent rates, but also from the fact that as a syndicate member you would be eligible to do your IMC for just the cost of the normal, non-syndicate, PPL hire rate. Excellent value!
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yeah a member of my family learned at Halfpenny green. Was way back in the mid 90's thought so havent heard anything about them for a long time. Person in question got happily into 250+ hours there though. Plus a few in the states.
As for shobdon a guy i know has been there and loves the place. Im half sold for trips there already based on the cider ... dispite not being able to drink any i dont touch a drop when driving let alone an A/C ... night stop ahoy! 
As for shobdon a guy i know has been there and loves the place. Im half sold for trips there already based on the cider ... dispite not being able to drink any
i dont touch a drop when driving let alone an A/C ... night stop ahoy!
Join Date: Mar 2006
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£65.80 an hour!!!! thats obscene!
Roll now(you must be ATC with that handle!) wrong!!!!
night STOPS ahoy, that cider is strong! remember you have to be able to get out of the caravan!
Roll now(you must be ATC with that handle!) wrong!!!!
night stop ahoy!
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: The Burrow, N53:48:02 W1:48:57, The Tin Tent - EGBS, EGBO
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It's brilliant for someone like myself who is trying to keep flying on a NHS pension. Non-syndicate rate for the C152 is £81.50/hr. The PA28 costs a bit more.
Non-syndicate rate for the C152 is £81.50/hr. The PA28 costs a bit more.
Join Date: Jul 2003
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Always ask what extras you might have to pay for.
I worked at AFT Coventry, the biggest problem there was students were charged something like a £5 landing on top of the hourly rate.
Don't know what arrangement the other clubs have.
And the constant coming and going of 737's was a nightmare, mainly due to the lack of a parallel taxyway.
Waited 40 mins one day to get airbourne with student and managed 2 landings in one 1 hour circuit detail on another occassion.
And only two allowed in circuit at one time so you have to be quick to get yourself booked in with ATC.
In the Midlands i think the choice is down to Wellesbourne or Halfpenny Green.
I worked at AFT Coventry, the biggest problem there was students were charged something like a £5 landing on top of the hourly rate.
Don't know what arrangement the other clubs have.
And the constant coming and going of 737's was a nightmare, mainly due to the lack of a parallel taxyway.
Waited 40 mins one day to get airbourne with student and managed 2 landings in one 1 hour circuit detail on another occassion.
And only two allowed in circuit at one time so you have to be quick to get yourself booked in with ATC.
In the Midlands i think the choice is down to Wellesbourne or Halfpenny Green.
Join Date: Jan 2001
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No landing fees to pay at Shobdon unless you fly in in a non-club aircraft when club members are charged half price.
LL, I won't ask when that was, but it must have been a year or two before I joined. It would be great if that rate still applied but I'm still paying only about half of what I would elsewhere and it is enabling me to do my IMC which I couldn't otherwise afford.
Come and pay us a visit, there is always plenty going on.
LL, I won't ask when that was, but it must have been a year or two before I joined.
It would be great if that rate still applied but I'm still paying only about half of what I would elsewhere and it is enabling me to do my IMC which I couldn't otherwise afford. Come and pay us a visit, there is always plenty going on.