Is £140 an hour too much?
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 731
Likes: 0
From: Surrey, England
Flying rates
Hi Guys,
In my experience, flying rates are always considerably higher in the London area and for about 50 miles around London. The same is true for hangarage.
They are always higher at a licensed aerodrome, not least because the aerodrome owners have to pay extortionate fees to what I consider to be a rapacious CAA. Training at an airport serving commercial air transport costs even more. Needless to say, by law all PPL training has to take place from a licensed aerodrome or airport.
Add to this the cost of American made spares imported into the UK for our increasingly ageing fleet of spam cans.
In general, rates are slightly higher nearer the Western seaboard rather than the East because weather there is poorer so aircraft utilisation is lower. Actually, perhaps the biggest difference between the UK and other countries is that because of our weather we always have lower aircraft utilisation then Florida etc anyway.
Put it all together and you have high flying rates. If you want to avoid them you HAVE TO go abroard.
Broomstick.
In my experience, flying rates are always considerably higher in the London area and for about 50 miles around London. The same is true for hangarage.
They are always higher at a licensed aerodrome, not least because the aerodrome owners have to pay extortionate fees to what I consider to be a rapacious CAA. Training at an airport serving commercial air transport costs even more. Needless to say, by law all PPL training has to take place from a licensed aerodrome or airport.
Add to this the cost of American made spares imported into the UK for our increasingly ageing fleet of spam cans.
In general, rates are slightly higher nearer the Western seaboard rather than the East because weather there is poorer so aircraft utilisation is lower. Actually, perhaps the biggest difference between the UK and other countries is that because of our weather we always have lower aircraft utilisation then Florida etc anyway.
Put it all together and you have high flying rates. If you want to avoid them you HAVE TO go abroard.
Broomstick.
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Coventry/Edinburgh
As has been mentioned, the latest 'Pilot' has their annual guide to schools with facilities and rates etc. which allows you to compare prices. While this allows you to compare the cost of flying time etc, one thing it does not help with is quality of either the flying training, the ground school tuition or the quality or maintenance of the aircraft. I would happily pay a higher price for quality tuition and aircraft. If you pay a lower rate and discover there are regularly lessons cancelled because of poor aircraft then it isn't any advantage. Worse still, you go for a school because they are cheap and discover that instead of a practice fanstop you get the real thing. Look at all the angles before making a decision.
I think the school I transferred to was probably in the middle of the price range but I never had any doubts over the quality of the instructors or the aircraft and, 8 years on, still rent aircraft from them and use their instructors for review flights etc.
Good luck with the flying
I think the school I transferred to was probably in the middle of the price range but I never had any doubts over the quality of the instructors or the aircraft and, 8 years on, still rent aircraft from them and use their instructors for review flights etc.
Good luck with the flying
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,546
Likes: 2
From: Oxford, UK
Okay, this is very old experience, but possibly still valid. Good idea to visit any possible new flying school. Check out the quality of maintenance. What you are looking for is sound aircraft, not fancy premises. ( Wellesbourne seems to have some good operations, for example.)
Are the instructors just building time, or do they like what they are doing? Instructors do burn out, and start hating their students after a time. And yet some of the old boys are some of the best. For sure, you can't earn a living being a flying instructor.
Don't sign up for a whole package in advance until you have flown there a few times. Especially if you plan training in the US.
Are the instructors just building time, or do they like what they are doing? Instructors do burn out, and start hating their students after a time. And yet some of the old boys are some of the best. For sure, you can't earn a living being a flying instructor.
Don't sign up for a whole package in advance until you have flown there a few times. Especially if you plan training in the US.
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: UK
CaptainTC,
I don't imagine there are too many places in the UK with those same landing charges... and therefore I suspect I know which school you're considering.
Personally speaking I think it most important that you get on with your instructor. Visit the school, get them to show you around, take a trial lesson. If you still like it, keep going back.
Feel free to PM me.
I don't imagine there are too many places in the UK with those same landing charges... and therefore I suspect I know which school you're considering.
Personally speaking I think it most important that you get on with your instructor. Visit the school, get them to show you around, take a trial lesson. If you still like it, keep going back.
Feel free to PM me.
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Essex/Bournemouth
i've recently got my PPL few weeks ago. i got trained on pa28 and cesna 172, (whichever was available). i paid £150 per hour. that included everything. landing fees, dual instruction, pre ppl solos, night rating hrz. they charged me from brakes off to brakes on. also included ground briefing and full concentration of the instructor.
i got trained at EGHH.
i got trained at EGHH.
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: UK
I'm in a syndicate of 7 operating a PA28 Warrior 2. With the fixed and variable costs we charge ourselves, including fuel, engine fund outside parking and home field landing fees, our price works out at £160 per hour if you fly 12 hours a year, falling to £120 per hour if you fly 24 hours.
We're in our 4th year without a cash call and have added some useful bits ranging from our own lifejackets to an engine management system.
R5
We're in our 4th year without a cash call and have added some useful bits ranging from our own lifejackets to an engine management system.
R5
