PPL at Redhill/Biggin Hill
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Join Date: Jul 2009
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PPL at Redhill/Biggin Hill
Hi all, sorry to clutter the forum with yet another wannabe post, but... I have searched through the forums and read thread after thread about choosing flying schools. I live in the northern part of East Sussex and am looking to do the bulk of my PPL training this summer in time for my 17th birthday in spring next year. My budget stretches far enough for most schools/clubs are within my reach however there are a number of them.
I am looking at Redhill, Biggin Hill and Shoreham for convenience of location but have been told that the former is significantly less expensive. Redhill Aviation (Redair) are my preferred at the moment and have told me to budget about £8000, however I am also looking at EFG at Biggin who apparently recently told a student to budget £11000 even though the figure on their website was £6370 (excluding landing fees, exams, medical etc.). At Shoreham I have enquired with Perry Air and the South Coast Flying Club (a new non-profit organisation which sounds rather good but I would certainly want to pay in instalments).
What would you all advise?
I am looking at Redhill, Biggin Hill and Shoreham for convenience of location but have been told that the former is significantly less expensive. Redhill Aviation (Redair) are my preferred at the moment and have told me to budget about £8000, however I am also looking at EFG at Biggin who apparently recently told a student to budget £11000 even though the figure on their website was £6370 (excluding landing fees, exams, medical etc.). At Shoreham I have enquired with Perry Air and the South Coast Flying Club (a new non-profit organisation which sounds rather good but I would certainly want to pay in instalments).
What would you all advise?
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Where to fly in Sussex/Kent
Hi Aero Mad,
I suggest you should also consider the Tiger Club at Lashenden (a.k.a Headcorn) in Kent. Long established club with a very good name and likely to be significantly cheaper than some of the clubs you are currently considering.
BroomstickPilot.
I suggest you should also consider the Tiger Club at Lashenden (a.k.a Headcorn) in Kent. Long established club with a very good name and likely to be significantly cheaper than some of the clubs you are currently considering.
BroomstickPilot.
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Maybe Cubair Cubair Flight Training at Redhill? They train on DA20 Katanas.
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I don't think there will be a huge difference in what you pay - £11k all-in is a fairly realistic ball-park figure. I trained at Surrey and Kent at Biggin Hill and would recommend them to anyone. The most important factor will be your instructor and how well you get on with them. Go along to your short-listed places and get a feel for the place - what suits one person will not necessarily suit others so it is important that you are happy with what you are getting.
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EFG are commendably honest, if maybe a bit at the high end - school prices are normaly minimum hours.
When comparing these prices, make sure you compare like-for-like. The big ticket items are, roughly in order large to small
- The hourly rate for the original minimum hours
- The hourly rate if you need more hours [can be higher!]
- How do they charge for taxi time [more of an issue at Biggin than at Redhill or Headcorn]
- Landing fees [how many do they include?]
- Any fixed course fees (rarely charged)
- Charges for theory exams
- Charges for the skill test
In addition to that, you will need to budget for your medical, the skill test, the theory books, charts, protractor, CRP5 etc.
Do not underestimate the trip to the field - anything within 20-30 minutes will probably be ok, but if you have to drive over an hour you will find that your flying will be a lot less flexible and tolerant to changes. I would ignore a 10-15% price difference for continuity and flexibility in training.
Redhill can be waterlogged often and long, Biggin tends to get more than its fair share of poor visibility / low cloud due to its elevation but can be in sunshine when everywhere around is fogged in. Don't know about Headcorn, was there a couple of times and it was lovely.
When comparing these prices, make sure you compare like-for-like. The big ticket items are, roughly in order large to small
- The hourly rate for the original minimum hours
- The hourly rate if you need more hours [can be higher!]
- How do they charge for taxi time [more of an issue at Biggin than at Redhill or Headcorn]
- Landing fees [how many do they include?]
- Any fixed course fees (rarely charged)
- Charges for theory exams
- Charges for the skill test
In addition to that, you will need to budget for your medical, the skill test, the theory books, charts, protractor, CRP5 etc.
Do not underestimate the trip to the field - anything within 20-30 minutes will probably be ok, but if you have to drive over an hour you will find that your flying will be a lot less flexible and tolerant to changes. I would ignore a 10-15% price difference for continuity and flexibility in training.
Redhill can be waterlogged often and long, Biggin tends to get more than its fair share of poor visibility / low cloud due to its elevation but can be in sunshine when everywhere around is fogged in. Don't know about Headcorn, was there a couple of times and it was lovely.
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Another vote for Surrey and Kent at Biggin Hill. One big difference with them to many other flying schools is that their instructors are all 'career' instructors - by that I mean that their career is flying instruction unlike a lot of instructors who are just passing by on their way to a commercial licence. The benefit of this is that you will almost certainly have the same instructor throughout all of your PPL course whereas at other clubs/schools you could end up going through 2 or 3 instructors as people move on to the airlines. They are a very professional but friendly club and I would definately recommend them to anyone.
Biggin is a great airfield to learn at, it is quite busy and if you learn in a busy environment to start with it will not come so hard when you come to going to other airports. Bit like learning to drive in London I guess !!
Biggin is a great airfield to learn at, it is quite busy and if you learn in a busy environment to start with it will not come so hard when you come to going to other airports. Bit like learning to drive in London I guess !!
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I'd certainly agree with 'Airgirl' - go for career instructors. Not only will you benefit from not chopping and changing instructors, but also you will benefit from the experience they have from having 'been round the block'.
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My first trial flight was at Biggin Hill, I then decided to have a second at Headcorn. After careful thought I chose Headcorn. It was a bit further to travel however I preferred the feel of the place and was impressed by the instructors. I've been flying there for 6 years now and the instructors are all still there and are happy to help with any problems I have in my early PPL days.
Go and have a look round all your "options" and decide from there. Personally, I prefer Headcorn because of the fact it is grass, uncontrolled and quite relaxed. Also there was a lot more for my dad to watch when I was away having a lesson!
Go and have a look round all your "options" and decide from there. Personally, I prefer Headcorn because of the fact it is grass, uncontrolled and quite relaxed. Also there was a lot more for my dad to watch when I was away having a lesson!
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I would also vote for Surrey and Kent flying club, as what you want is someone who has been instructing for many years and has seen it all before. The last thing you want is to be taught by a 20 year old who learnt two years ago, who was taught by a 20 year old four years ago etc etc etc. They may have 1,000 hours but I can tell you the experience is NOT just hours it is having been in the enviroment for a large period of time that really gives the knowledge. Speak to Roger Patterson at Surrey and Kent. You will like him calm style of instructing with his dry sense of humour. When I learnt to fly I had a different instructor every week which was really bad for my consistency, so try to keep to one instructor.
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Thank you all for your replies - Surrey and Kent hadn't entered my equations but they certainly look very promising. I'll bear them in mind.
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Have to add a vote for Surrey And Kent, I'm halfway through my PPL and have to say they are a great bunch of people, nice aircraft and Biggin is a great place to learn. Long runway, short runway, busy, will get your RT great ...
