Training at Liverpool
Join Date: Oct 1999
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No. For ab initio that's not important. It only takes 40 hours to get the PPL ; after that, learn the 'big airport' skills. Of course, if you spend your whole life in the backwaters then rock up to Manchester or Liverpool you will be out of your depth. But during my ab initio at Barton I made sure Man LPL and BPL were regularly visited. I loved the RT and procedures as well as learning to fly!
My first ever aviation qualification was my RT licence! Before I even went solo (at 10 hours - try doing that at Big Airport).
Learning at Barton and being ace at RT and big airport proceedures are not in any way mutually exclusive. But you can add a lot of time to your basic training and miss out on some well developed stick and rudder skills if you do your ab intio at a Big Airport.
My first ever aviation qualification was my RT licence! Before I even went solo (at 10 hours - try doing that at Big Airport).
Learning at Barton and being ace at RT and big airport proceedures are not in any way mutually exclusive. But you can add a lot of time to your basic training and miss out on some well developed stick and rudder skills if you do your ab intio at a Big Airport.
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Sounds like you had Peter as your Instructor. 
Not quiet sure I agree when you say "For ab initio that's not important"
Situational awareness development is just as important as stick & rudder when nurturing core skills.
The old barton/ringway riverly will always be underlining
Barton did the better bacon sandwiches though
Cheers
Not quiet sure I agree when you say "For ab initio that's not important"
Situational awareness development is just as important as stick & rudder when nurturing core skills.
The old barton/ringway riverly will always be underlining
Barton did the better bacon sandwiches though
Cheers
Join Date: Oct 1999
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Peter?
My instructors back then included the wonderful Charlie Rollo (flew Wildebeasts in the Sudan the '30s) and the amazing Tom Dougdale (WW2 and V Bomber pilot). As well as many other talented aviators. You can't find that today! So much experience and talent, not like the airline wannabes with a handful of hours you might get today.
But, even today, there's Martin Rushbroke at Barton. No wannabe he. A true master of the air!
Situational Awareness? - re-read my post.
My instructors back then included the wonderful Charlie Rollo (flew Wildebeasts in the Sudan the '30s) and the amazing Tom Dougdale (WW2 and V Bomber pilot). As well as many other talented aviators. You can't find that today! So much experience and talent, not like the airline wannabes with a handful of hours you might get today.
But, even today, there's Martin Rushbroke at Barton. No wannabe he. A true master of the air!
Situational Awareness? - re-read my post.
Last edited by Shaggy Sheep Driver; 23rd Sep 2011 at 09:16.
Join Date: Dec 2010
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I have been completing my PPL for the past 6 months at Merseyflight and they are great. I work full time and they are always willing to arrange my lessons to suit me, after work and at weekends. Darren and Josh are willing to bend over backward for you which is great when you love flying as much as i do..My mate has now joined me over at merseyflight from Ravenair as he said they were disorganised....
Merseyflight have a selection of aircraft not just the tomahawks like LFS and Ravenair..I would definitely recommend them to other people wanting to do their PPL.
Merseyflight have a selection of aircraft not just the tomahawks like LFS and Ravenair..I would definitely recommend them to other people wanting to do their PPL.
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Granted Lomac do have some nice planes on the apron.. Darren is my instructor at Merseyflight he is very patient, flown with Josh a few times too he is also a pleasure to fly with!!
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Ravenair PPL Liverpool
Darren and Josh are willing to bend over backward for you which is great when you love flying as much as i do..
My mate has now joined me over at merseyflight from Ravenair as he said they were disorganised....
Main reason for swapping was partly on recommendation from past student that passed in min hours but mostly on cost difference, I was paying £135 an hour at mersey flight vs now I'm only paying £96 at Ravenair, on a 10 hr block that was near £400 a go and thus £1755 over priced on my whole PPL.
I also found out that landing fees at Liverpool are only £15.40 vs the £20 merseyflight told me and charged, so all in all with the other free thing like membership I was going to be paying £2000 more with Merseyflight.
Having different type of aircraft is def a good thing, I asked about the cessna at merseyflight but I was told I should just stick with the PA38, did have to swap around a bit as they often broke down, multiple things not working etc. While there are more important things than ravenairs nice clean and new painted aircraft what is good is I've not had one PA38 so far with anything not in perfect working order at Ravenair.
The place next door was helpfull and as welcoming as mf but nearly just as expensive.
Jess
))
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Servicable aircraft
I have never had any problems with any of the aircraft at Merseyflight and they have never broke down on me. And certanaily no engine failures after take-off...
I definalty don't pay a £20 landing fee either. They are the only flying school that fly out of hours at Liverpool. We often have Kilo to ourselves after 5 pm. Just because an aircraft is all shiny, does'nt mean its working underneath the metal.
I definalty don't pay a £20 landing fee either. They are the only flying school that fly out of hours at Liverpool. We often have Kilo to ourselves after 5 pm. Just because an aircraft is all shiny, does'nt mean its working underneath the metal.
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nice clean and new painted aircraft what is good is I've not had one PA38 so far with anything not in perfect working order at Ravenair.
I'm not doing Ravenair down, the aircraft are perfectly suitable for what they get used for, but saying 'perfect working order' is a bit much.
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I learnt at MAN with MSF (now defunct) some 15 years ago, and we did circuits at either LPL, Sleap or Ha'penny Green, so gaining experience of both types of environment. I would think that anyone operating from LPL would go elsewhere for 'circuits & bumps' if it was busy.
However you learn, do enjoy it, and good luck!
RF
However you learn, do enjoy it, and good luck!
RF
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"I would think that anyone operating from LPL would go elsewhere for 'circuits & bumps' if it was busy"
Indeed, but that adds a lot to the costs, not forgetting the frequent 'holds at the hold' and 'holds at the VRPs' going out from and back into Big Airport.
Somewhere like Barton, you taxy out and you fly which, for ab initio is just what you want. later, you can go into MAN or LPL once you can fly, to polish those RT skills.
Do I detect that some ab intios on here just want to play at being airline pilots while they learn the basics of stick & rudder? fair enough, but that comes at a cost!
You have to decide if you want to pay it.
Indeed, but that adds a lot to the costs, not forgetting the frequent 'holds at the hold' and 'holds at the VRPs' going out from and back into Big Airport.
Somewhere like Barton, you taxy out and you fly which, for ab initio is just what you want. later, you can go into MAN or LPL once you can fly, to polish those RT skills.
Do I detect that some ab intios on here just want to play at being airline pilots while they learn the basics of stick & rudder? fair enough, but that comes at a cost!
You have to decide if you want to pay it.
Join Date: Mar 2011
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I looked at every flight school in Liverpool and can say that merseyflight is by far the best school. Darren and all the staff there bend over backwards for there students flying after hours and helping them any way they can.
I've completed about 10 hours flying with Darren never had any issues with the planes in fact they are some of the best i have flown. Having done some flying abroad with nice shiney planes i can tell you that its not how it looks is how it flys.
In my opinion if you want to enjoy flying with good instructors then Merseyflight is the place to go
I've completed about 10 hours flying with Darren never had any issues with the planes in fact they are some of the best i have flown. Having done some flying abroad with nice shiney planes i can tell you that its not how it looks is how it flys.
In my opinion if you want to enjoy flying with good instructors then Merseyflight is the place to go
Join Date: Oct 2011
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I wrote quite a detailed account of my quest to find a flying school at Liverpool Airport but for some reason it isn't showing.
Anyway, I chose Lomac Aviators, mainly because they're flying instructors aren't commercial wannabe's who are just doing the job to build up their hours. Their full time flying instructor, Neil, does the job because he loves it - it's nice to have someone willing to pass their enthusiasm for flying onto their students.
They were also the most welcoming and don't mind me hanging around the flying school once my lessons are over, or indeed just popping in for a visit even when I'm not due to have a lesson - it's amazing just how much free knowledge you can pick up chatting with other pilots over a coffee - talking of which, the refreshments are free, I've heard you have to pay for it at some of the other schools.
The owners, Jimmy and Paul have been in aviation for years and apart from having a wealth of knowledge on the subject, have a sense of humour that cannot be beaten.
Landing fees were also a consideration and these were cheaper at Lomac than the other flying schools at Liverpool. Training for the PPL costs us mere mortals enough without having to pay over-inflated landing fees.
I'm happy with my choice, Lomac is No.1 for me!
Anyway, I chose Lomac Aviators, mainly because they're flying instructors aren't commercial wannabe's who are just doing the job to build up their hours. Their full time flying instructor, Neil, does the job because he loves it - it's nice to have someone willing to pass their enthusiasm for flying onto their students.
They were also the most welcoming and don't mind me hanging around the flying school once my lessons are over, or indeed just popping in for a visit even when I'm not due to have a lesson - it's amazing just how much free knowledge you can pick up chatting with other pilots over a coffee - talking of which, the refreshments are free, I've heard you have to pay for it at some of the other schools.
The owners, Jimmy and Paul have been in aviation for years and apart from having a wealth of knowledge on the subject, have a sense of humour that cannot be beaten.
Landing fees were also a consideration and these were cheaper at Lomac than the other flying schools at Liverpool. Training for the PPL costs us mere mortals enough without having to pay over-inflated landing fees.
I'm happy with my choice, Lomac is No.1 for me!
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I wrote quite a detailed account of my quest to find a flying school at Liverpool Airport but for some reason it isn't showing.
Ditto for you other post with same biased content on a thread thats 3 years old hmm
oh and I assume you personally have checked the background of all the other instructors at lpl to confirm that they are all wana be 747 drivers
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Piper999 is in fact stating the truth in so far as Lomac is concerned. Neil is that rarity, a dedicated flight instructor who has no ambitions to fly the big stuff. (I was fortunate enough to have a similar individual when I learnt to fly and they give you 100%.) Neil is supported another instructor recently retired from airline flying and by Jimmy and Paul, the owners, who make sure that their members always get the best..
Thread Starter
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Just caught back up with this thread.
I have today done exercise 10 at Lomac Aviators and am more than satisifed with my time with them.
It is reassuring to see at least two posters praising Neil as instructor, he is my instructor and I am very happy with his method and personality.
Being retired I can take my lessons whenever I want and I have found Lomac and Neil to be most accommodating about when to reschedule a lesson if the weather is bad.
Today was the only time we have had a delay coming back into the zone and that delay was because of all the GA aircraft up in this great flying weather. The only other delays have been a couple of minutes at the hold waiting for landing commercials.
I must say as a totally 'newbie', there is something 'cool' about being cleared to land while an Easyjet or Ryanair waits at the hold for you
Air Law and Human Factors & Limitations passed so only 5 more to go!
I have today done exercise 10 at Lomac Aviators and am more than satisifed with my time with them.
It is reassuring to see at least two posters praising Neil as instructor, he is my instructor and I am very happy with his method and personality.
Being retired I can take my lessons whenever I want and I have found Lomac and Neil to be most accommodating about when to reschedule a lesson if the weather is bad.
Today was the only time we have had a delay coming back into the zone and that delay was because of all the GA aircraft up in this great flying weather. The only other delays have been a couple of minutes at the hold waiting for landing commercials.
I must say as a totally 'newbie', there is something 'cool' about being cleared to land while an Easyjet or Ryanair waits at the hold for you
Air Law and Human Factors & Limitations passed so only 5 more to go!
Join Date: Dec 2009
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Hope you don't mind the slight thread drift but I was just reading this post and hoping to see some reference to my PPL instructor, Bill Robinson, who taught me at Blackpool in the early eighties. I then moved "darn sarf" and lost touch. I believe he started his own school at Liverpool. If any of you who trained/taught at Liverpool have any info on Bill, I would be very grateful.
Regards, PP
Regards, PP
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It is reassuring to see at least two posters praising Neil as instructor, he is my instructor and I am very happy with his method and personality.
Ian
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Liverpool GA
I've flown with most of the clubs at Liverpool over the past 15 years (not been to Merseyflight though) as well as a short stint at LAC @ Barton (culminated when I wanted to do my Night and IMC). I have flown with some great instructors in all of those clubs (many of which went on successfully into airline jobs) and a couple of poor (disinterested) ones (I just asked to change at the time if it wasn't right). Last Saturday I went down to Lomac to recommence flying after an 18 month break and I have to say I was overwhelmed by the warmth and sincerity of the welcome from Rod, Neil, Paul and Jimmy et al at the new clubhouse. One thing to think about is what to do after you get the PPL.... as such I need a club which is just that rather than a flying school who possibly lose interest in you after you qualify. Good luck with your PPL B2V. Mike