Revalidating issues at Donair East Midland
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
From: nottingham
blimey strollerweb,
i nearly went with Donair cos i work in leicester and live in mansfield. in the end I went with phoenix flying club at netherthorpe and passed my PPL a week ago.
to be honest, i wonder and question why things are so complex, also these guys i flew with were the friendliest guys i could have met, but organisation could have been better at times, but to be honest i think it is not the easiet profession to run.
amusingly i dismised donair, more from preference and gut instinct but they did come across professional - in fact i was thinking of doing my night rating with them to get good epxerience from East mids also.
i nearly went with Donair cos i work in leicester and live in mansfield. in the end I went with phoenix flying club at netherthorpe and passed my PPL a week ago.
to be honest, i wonder and question why things are so complex, also these guys i flew with were the friendliest guys i could have met, but organisation could have been better at times, but to be honest i think it is not the easiet profession to run.
amusingly i dismised donair, more from preference and gut instinct but they did come across professional - in fact i was thinking of doing my night rating with them to get good epxerience from East mids also.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Nottingham
The one hour with an instructor should be conducted as a mini test and not just a ride along. To be honest I really enjoyed the test , spiral dives, PFL and my favourite practice bad weather circuits 
in the gliding world we do check rides every year, cable breaks, aerotow, spot quiz, stalls and spins. It does not hurt to do the same with power flying, although I would like to make it my chose next time.
in the gliding world we do check rides every year, cable breaks, aerotow, spot quiz, stalls and spins. It does not hurt to do the same with power flying, although I would like to make it my chose next time.
Joined: Jun 2002
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 7,175
Likes: 294
From: Nanaimo (CAC8)
i've just read this thread in stunned amazement. I am SO glad I don't fly in the UK anymore.
What happened to the good old days of an instructor just signing your logbook?
What happened to the good old days of an instructor just signing your logbook?
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 245
Likes: 0
From: England
This is a typical example of why the human race will become extinct, because no common sense will be applied to anything, certainly the regulators.
You could have someone who has done 100 hours in the last 12 months and goes over by a few days because the date of expiry is printed in micro writing on a licence which might be opened once year to check a medical,
then are forced to do a LPC.
Someone else with the bare minimum, and who you suspect ought to have a flight test can just get signed off.
I came across someone using their UK licence to fly in the US whose 5 year licence expired 4 years ago! It would appear neither the pilot understood he had an expiring licence and the US club didn't know what they were looking at.
You could have someone who has done 100 hours in the last 12 months and goes over by a few days because the date of expiry is printed in micro writing on a licence which might be opened once year to check a medical,
then are forced to do a LPC.
Someone else with the bare minimum, and who you suspect ought to have a flight test can just get signed off.
I came across someone using their UK licence to fly in the US whose 5 year licence expired 4 years ago! It would appear neither the pilot understood he had an expiring licence and the US club didn't know what they were looking at.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Nottingham
Your assessment is about spot on imho. No one is allowed to exercise common sense these days, it seems.
i dismised donair, more from preference and gut instinct but they did come across professional - in fact i was thinking of doing my night rating with them to get good epxerience from East mids also.
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,991
Likes: 8
From: UK
Your assessment is about spot on imho. No one is allowed to exercise common sense these days, it seems.
The one hour with an instructor should be conducted as a mini test and not just a ride along.
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,991
Likes: 8
From: UK
i've just read this thread in stunned amazement. I am SO glad I don't fly in the UK anymore.
What happened to the good old days of an instructor just signing your logbook?
What happened to the good old days of an instructor just signing your logbook?
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,115
Likes: 4
From: Yorkshire
The one hour with an instructor should be conducted as a mini test and not just a ride along.
So make good use of it and convert to a new type, do some aerobatics, instrument flying, navigation, anything you think would be of benefit to you.
MJ
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 158
Likes: 0
From: UK
Did my NR at Donair and loved it. By the time I got to the solo circuit stage, I still had 1h20m of the 5 hour course.
After 6 stop-go's I then did another 5 touch and go circuits to make up the 1h20m. So I guess it's all in the timing.
Agreed it is cheating to do it there, though, it's too easy!
After 6 stop-go's I then did another 5 touch and go circuits to make up the 1h20m. So I guess it's all in the timing.
Agreed it is cheating to do it there, though, it's too easy!
