Highland Flying School - Opinions?? (Merged)
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Highland Flying school are not honest buisiness people. I have been training over last 2 years and had got to know PB etc. They have taken a pyment of £150 for the hire of the Warrior 3 weeks ago for a present to be used 1 week later, only for us to be told the Warrior was stuck in Stornoway in bad weather.Liars and theives They deserve all the sleepless nights coming to them.
I only had preskills and test to complete which was paid for. They were always very keen to take your money early.
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I can't really think of people setting up a business just to scam, and keep it running for several years to then run off with a few thousands pounds of student pilot's money...
Perhaps the club got into trouble, as with all things, holes in the cheese lining up?
How about struggling anyway to make it tick, some unexpected costs due to an unexpectedly rapid change of premises combined with an economic recession?
Till a very short time ago, the school was listed as an excellent one with a great atmosphere, and the pprune forum posts are there to find if you look for them to confirm this.
Then there was a great explosion in the relation with the local flying club and they relocated.
Now they ve gone out of business. Sad for all you pilots and student pilots out there, the owners and GA in general. If their long good history is anything to go by the owners will feel shame and pain and will try to repay those who have lost money. Let's hope they find the means. Despite what no bearde woman (check her previous posts) and a one time anonymous ppruner have to say.
No one should be declared guilty before being convicted and i'd think that's quite a way off.
Perhaps the club got into trouble, as with all things, holes in the cheese lining up?
How about struggling anyway to make it tick, some unexpected costs due to an unexpectedly rapid change of premises combined with an economic recession?
Till a very short time ago, the school was listed as an excellent one with a great atmosphere, and the pprune forum posts are there to find if you look for them to confirm this.
Then there was a great explosion in the relation with the local flying club and they relocated.
Now they ve gone out of business. Sad for all you pilots and student pilots out there, the owners and GA in general. If their long good history is anything to go by the owners will feel shame and pain and will try to repay those who have lost money. Let's hope they find the means. Despite what no bearde woman (check her previous posts) and a one time anonymous ppruner have to say.
No one should be declared guilty before being convicted and i'd think that's quite a way off.
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They have taken a pyment of £150 for the hire of the Warrior 3 weeks ago for a present to be used 1 week later, only for us to be told the Warrior was stuck in Stornoway in bad weather.
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Difficult to give any sort of statistics but at my local airfield since the early 1990s there have been at least 7 different 'flying clubs'. All of them went bust, most of them quietly without hundereds of creditors. One particularly however - Flight Academy Scotland - took a lot of punters and traders money with them.
Deeday
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They don't need to be run by Mafioso to disappear and leave people in the lurch.
I've met enough crooks in this business to make sure any cash of mine remains firmly in my pocket!
I've met enough crooks in this business to make sure any cash of mine remains firmly in my pocket!
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Out of those 7 clubs only one was run by 'a crook' and he probably inadvertently ended up being one.
But the motivation is completely irrelevant. These are people who patently cannot run businesses. They'll have a whole bunch of excuses - but at the end of it they have spent their own money and usually a bunch of other peoples'.
Now you may get lucky and catch one of these companies when things are not in a 'death spiral'. But that is simply the luck of the draw. If you want to do a mini version of Gordon Brown and 'reflate' part of the economy - pay up front. On a good day you'll get a discount, on a bad day you wave goodbye to the money.
But hey if you want to play roulette with being a secret millionaire - pay up front.
But the motivation is completely irrelevant. These are people who patently cannot run businesses. They'll have a whole bunch of excuses - but at the end of it they have spent their own money and usually a bunch of other peoples'.
Now you may get lucky and catch one of these companies when things are not in a 'death spiral'. But that is simply the luck of the draw. If you want to do a mini version of Gordon Brown and 'reflate' part of the economy - pay up front. On a good day you'll get a discount, on a bad day you wave goodbye to the money.
But hey if you want to play roulette with being a secret millionaire - pay up front.
Join Date: Nov 2007
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FLYING SCHOOL CLOSED 19 March STORNOWAY
HI ALL,
well i would like to say that this has an effect as the school also closed on the western isles (STORNOWAY)
I Have an aircraft here in stornoway it is a challenger 2 with the rotax 582 engine and i was hoping that the instructor at the school here was going to give me lessons which now will not happen
so i am a student with the aircraft that i cant fly, so dissapointed is not the word i would use, any members on here who fly a challenger and are prepared to give me lessons at a reasonable rate i would like to hear from you or any info you have but remember i am on the isle of lewis (NICE IN THE SUMMER)
OTHERWISE LOOKS LIKE THE ONLY FLYING I WILL BE DOING IS FLY FISHING!!!!!!!!!!!!
GARY
well i would like to say that this has an effect as the school also closed on the western isles (STORNOWAY)
I Have an aircraft here in stornoway it is a challenger 2 with the rotax 582 engine and i was hoping that the instructor at the school here was going to give me lessons which now will not happen
so i am a student with the aircraft that i cant fly, so dissapointed is not the word i would use, any members on here who fly a challenger and are prepared to give me lessons at a reasonable rate i would like to hear from you or any info you have but remember i am on the isle of lewis (NICE IN THE SUMMER)OTHERWISE LOOKS LIKE THE ONLY FLYING I WILL BE DOING IS FLY FISHING!!!!!!!!!!!!
GARY
Join Date: Nov 2007
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Highland flying School Ceased
The School Closed on the 19tH MARCH
(Inverness and Stornoway)
I am on stornoway with my own challenger 2 looking now for a F.Instructor as the HFS is no longer trading so i have prblems!!!
gary
(Inverness and Stornoway)
I am on stornoway with my own challenger 2 looking now for a F.Instructor as the HFS is no longer trading so i have prblems!!!
gary
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Talk to james about the Stonaway thing.
Quite a few of the Highland FO's still have their FI tickets and they have quite a large break over lunch time. I don't have a clue if the company would let them do it or if the lesson would be counted for a sector in the FTL. Even if it does it drops the duty day by only half an hour.
Personally if there was something to do apart from sitting in the office eating potato wedges and annoying Chucky (Gillian) I would jump at the chance to go and do an hours lesson.
Quite a few of the Highland FO's still have their FI tickets and they have quite a large break over lunch time. I don't have a clue if the company would let them do it or if the lesson would be counted for a sector in the FTL. Even if it does it drops the duty day by only half an hour.
Personally if there was something to do apart from sitting in the office eating potato wedges and annoying Chucky (Gillian) I would jump at the chance to go and do an hours lesson.
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Hi Gary sorry to hear about Highland. I've got a Challenger II, based at Longside near Peterhead. I got my ppl last year at Kinloss and am now doing some difference training on the challenger.
The way I see it you've got two choices.
1. Go abroad and get a quick ppl, then do some difference training.
2. Go and get an nppl (m) in the UK over the summer.
As far as I'm aware not many instructor about in the North of Scotland who would be willing to instruct in a challenger (no instruments in the back, lack of familarity with type etc)
I might be flying up to lewis this summer, visit my mum, so I'll give you a shout when I come up (the minch is making me sweat when I think of how wide it is) I'll ask around at Longside and Insch and see if anyone knows of an instructor who could instruct in the challenger.
IM
The way I see it you've got two choices.
1. Go abroad and get a quick ppl, then do some difference training.
2. Go and get an nppl (m) in the UK over the summer.
As far as I'm aware not many instructor about in the North of Scotland who would be willing to instruct in a challenger (no instruments in the back, lack of familarity with type etc)
I might be flying up to lewis this summer, visit my mum, so I'll give you a shout when I come up (the minch is making me sweat when I think of how wide it is) I'll ask around at Longside and Insch and see if anyone knows of an instructor who could instruct in the challenger.
IM
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HFS
Hi Fitlike,
well if you do come up here drop me a line nice to see you! if you can get any F.Is, i will be pleased to hear from you i think either way i am having to leave the island for the training for the challenger i am trying to contact H.A.C in invervess but no reply as yet!! i will be trying a few microlight clubs i have been told of a colnel who are on oban no reply as yet to them either!!
drop me a line if you do fly up here come accross to the island from oban i think this would be your best bet!
G.
well if you do come up here drop me a line nice to see you! if you can get any F.Is, i will be pleased to hear from you i think either way i am having to leave the island for the training for the challenger i am trying to contact H.A.C in invervess but no reply as yet!! i will be trying a few microlight clubs i have been told of a colnel who are on oban no reply as yet to them either!!
drop me a line if you do fly up here come accross to the island from oban i think this would be your best bet!
G.
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Highland Flying School
The School has ceased trading and it appears it has went into receivership, a meeting of all crediters is due to take place in Perth on the 6th of April. I am hoping that someone will takeover the School as there are loads of Pilots both in training and qualified who want to fly in Inverness.
The School had plenty of pilots under training, had the best of flying by way of the Islands Airports and stunning scenery and should have made a packet. An alternative is Moray Flying School at RAF Kinloss.
Total agreement
As a creditor, I have over £3000.00 in flying hours with the school, I will find out on the 6th of April if their is any hope of getting the money back. My beef is the same as you I have paid for hours upfront and may well lose the money.
The School if run properly could be a good business.
Your point is noted however
Who is going to pay good money to fly in bad weather, better to wait until the conditions are good for flying unless you are training to land or fly in poor conditions. It is always you the pilot who decides to fly or not. Save your money for decent weather.
Merged three posts together. Smudge', can you post in one big post not lots of individual posts?
The School had plenty of pilots under training, had the best of flying by way of the Islands Airports and stunning scenery and should have made a packet. An alternative is Moray Flying School at RAF Kinloss.
Total agreement
As a creditor, I have over £3000.00 in flying hours with the school, I will find out on the 6th of April if their is any hope of getting the money back. My beef is the same as you I have paid for hours upfront and may well lose the money.
The School if run properly could be a good business.
Your point is noted however
Who is going to pay good money to fly in bad weather, better to wait until the conditions are good for flying unless you are training to land or fly in poor conditions. It is always you the pilot who decides to fly or not. Save your money for decent weather.
Merged three posts together. Smudge', can you post in one big post not lots of individual posts?
where to go now?
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We all got an email last night from Allan Falconer of Leading Edge titled
Flight Training Inverness
(Details to follow)
Looks like Leading Edge are going to be delivering flght training for Highland Aero Club. I'm not sure who I feel more sorry for...
Good luck Leading Edge, you're going to need it!
Flight Training Inverness
(Details to follow)
Looks like Leading Edge are going to be delivering flght training for Highland Aero Club. I'm not sure who I feel more sorry for...
Good luck Leading Edge, you're going to need it!
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Leading Edge at Inverness??
Will this actually happen I wonder?
Leading Edge have a great setup at Cumbernauld. I have not seen the Perth setup so I cannot comment other than to say that the whole club seem to be a happy bunch if the forum is anything to go by.
LE do have a professional and organised approach to the way they run the training and the club. I wonder how it will work at HAC if this comes to pass? How long will it take before the HAC comittee members take exception to LE's students lounging around the clubhouse and having the temerity to be in the briefing room at comittee meeting time?
After all, with the demise of HFS will it not be the very same students that HAC took exception to in the first place?
If LE do indeed become the training provider for HAC, I for one will be interested to hear about how HAC cope with a slick operation like LE who I think will not take take well to HAC's comittee dominated heirarcial approach to doing things. After all , there is no such comittee at LE!
Squawk
Leading Edge have a great setup at Cumbernauld. I have not seen the Perth setup so I cannot comment other than to say that the whole club seem to be a happy bunch if the forum is anything to go by.
LE do have a professional and organised approach to the way they run the training and the club. I wonder how it will work at HAC if this comes to pass? How long will it take before the HAC comittee members take exception to LE's students lounging around the clubhouse and having the temerity to be in the briefing room at comittee meeting time?
After all, with the demise of HFS will it not be the very same students that HAC took exception to in the first place?
If LE do indeed become the training provider for HAC, I for one will be interested to hear about how HAC cope with a slick operation like LE who I think will not take take well to HAC's comittee dominated heirarcial approach to doing things. After all , there is no such comittee at LE!
Squawk
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Just a thought!!!! No doubt to fly with leading edge in Inverness we will have to pay to join the club (HAC), but will that mean we will also have to join clubs in Cumbernauld and Perth in order to fly their aircraft at these locations also???
If already a member at Cumb/Perth would I then need to join HAC?????
Does anyone know if there is a merger option?
If already a member at Cumb/Perth would I then need to join HAC?????
Does anyone know if there is a merger option?
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???????????
How's that? LE aren't the cheapest, but having had a small hand in the pricing structure I can assure you that there isn't exactly any fat there. LE simply charge a realistic price, something that most clubs/schools don't do.
You might think "well how's that good for me?" The simple answer is that it's good in that the club will still be there and can invest back into the facilities.
How many small flying clubs do you know that have a fully stocked pilot shop attached and a bl**dy good flight sim setup? As well as extra's such a new taildragger, aero's training, IMC etc.etc.
I'm as biased as hell, but LE is a good setup, all of us who were involved from early on had a good input into how it was formed. It's not a money making business, but a club that tries to provide what people want. It hasn't always been perfect, no-one would deny that mistakes haven't been made, but they were never swept under the carpet and lessons were learnt.
I wouldn't stick up for a school that wasn't worth it, but having worked and flown from many clubs around the country, LE are well up there and in terms of attitude, then it's hard to beat.
I just feel sorry for Allan, he's going to be up and down to Inverness like a yo-yo and knowing his work schedule, then it's going to be tough!
How's that? LE aren't the cheapest, but having had a small hand in the pricing structure I can assure you that there isn't exactly any fat there. LE simply charge a realistic price, something that most clubs/schools don't do.
You might think "well how's that good for me?" The simple answer is that it's good in that the club will still be there and can invest back into the facilities.
How many small flying clubs do you know that have a fully stocked pilot shop attached and a bl**dy good flight sim setup? As well as extra's such a new taildragger, aero's training, IMC etc.etc.
I'm as biased as hell, but LE is a good setup, all of us who were involved from early on had a good input into how it was formed. It's not a money making business, but a club that tries to provide what people want. It hasn't always been perfect, no-one would deny that mistakes haven't been made, but they were never swept under the carpet and lessons were learnt.
I wouldn't stick up for a school that wasn't worth it, but having worked and flown from many clubs around the country, LE are well up there and in terms of attitude, then it's hard to beat.
I just feel sorry for Allan, he's going to be up and down to Inverness like a yo-yo and knowing his work schedule, then it's going to be tough!