Flying in the NW (West Cheshire)
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Flying in the NW (West Cheshire)
Hi all.
I am keen to get back into private flying. Mainly for the social aspect and to do the odd flight around the country on a nice day.
Which clubs would you suggest I have a look at?
I haven't flown VFR/SEP for 6 years so need to revalidate my rating as well, so any advice would also be much appreciated. I do fly commercially, however I probably will need a few lessons to get back up to speed.
I live near Ashcroft Airfield however looking at their website, and after driving there one day to visit, when all the gates were closed and locked, I am left very confused as to what type of club that is...
Another option that could work for me is Harwarden, however there doesn't seem to be any flying club there. Its mainly training and commercial operations..
I could potentially make it up to Barton etc, although that would take me around 1 hour if not more with traffic. Which could make it slightly less appealing to go an visit the airfield for a few hours.
Also considering glider flying. I used to fly gliders 10+ years ago, but again I am struggling to find a club that isn't too far away, and actually fly on weekdays as well as weekends. The latter being a problem with my work commitments..
I hope you can point me in the right direction.
Many thanks.
I am keen to get back into private flying. Mainly for the social aspect and to do the odd flight around the country on a nice day.
Which clubs would you suggest I have a look at?
I haven't flown VFR/SEP for 6 years so need to revalidate my rating as well, so any advice would also be much appreciated. I do fly commercially, however I probably will need a few lessons to get back up to speed.
I live near Ashcroft Airfield however looking at their website, and after driving there one day to visit, when all the gates were closed and locked, I am left very confused as to what type of club that is...
Another option that could work for me is Harwarden, however there doesn't seem to be any flying club there. Its mainly training and commercial operations..
I could potentially make it up to Barton etc, although that would take me around 1 hour if not more with traffic. Which could make it slightly less appealing to go an visit the airfield for a few hours.
Also considering glider flying. I used to fly gliders 10+ years ago, but again I am struggling to find a club that isn't too far away, and actually fly on weekdays as well as weekends. The latter being a problem with my work commitments..
I hope you can point me in the right direction.
Many thanks.
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Cheshire is a bit of a GA desert. The all-pervading EGCC controlled airspace sees to that as you'll know as a commercial pilot.
Realistically, there's Liverpool and Barton to the west and east, and Sleap and Blackpool to the south and north. Liverpool's probably the closest for you.
Revalidate there then buy a share on a farm strip? If you can find one.
Options are a bit limited, I'm afraid.
Realistically, there's Liverpool and Barton to the west and east, and Sleap and Blackpool to the south and north. Liverpool's probably the closest for you.
Revalidate there then buy a share on a farm strip? If you can find one.
Options are a bit limited, I'm afraid.
Hello BAP
You mentioned revalidating your SEP rating as a first step - why not contact Flintshire Flying School at Hawarden? They can go over your current hours and licences and advise you how to proceed. Do you have an original CAA PPL or do you have an EASA licence to which SEP could be added?
As you surmised, a few sorties for "de-rusting" followed by a Skill Test should get you legal then you can look for somewhere to continue flying...
You mentioned revalidating your SEP rating as a first step - why not contact Flintshire Flying School at Hawarden? They can go over your current hours and licences and advise you how to proceed. Do you have an original CAA PPL or do you have an EASA licence to which SEP could be added?
As you surmised, a few sorties for "de-rusting" followed by a Skill Test should get you legal then you can look for somewhere to continue flying...
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S S D. Thanks. Didn't know about Shropshire Aero Club. That could work as its 45 mins away, and it should never get too busy with traffic that way.
Is that a sociable club do you think? Certainly something for me to have a look at.
Thanks ETOPS. My thought exactly, I will pay them a visit in the new year. I have an EASA licence, with a ghost/previous listed SEP(land). So it will have to be endorsed as a current rating I guess.. More fees to the CAA..
Is that a sociable club do you think? Certainly something for me to have a look at.
Thanks ETOPS. My thought exactly, I will pay them a visit in the new year. I have an EASA licence, with a ghost/previous listed SEP(land). So it will have to be endorsed as a current rating I guess.. More fees to the CAA..
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Sleap is a nice club in a super location. I've never been a member as it's a long road journey for me to get there, but have flown in many times and the cafe in the Tower there seems very sociable!
There's a gliding club on site as well.
CFI is Bob Pooler - a great guy.
There's a gliding club on site as well.
CFI is Bob Pooler - a great guy.
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Hello BAP,
I would echo ETOPS comments about Flintshire Flying School at Hawarden (EGNR). The school has a good atmosphere and does private hire as well. Hawarden is a good place to fly from and there are also a number of private owners based there who may be open to you flying their aeroplanes. The journey from your neck of the woods wouldn't be too bad, probably around 35-40 minutes, on the basis I'm about 15-20 minutes east of Ashcroft. Incidentally I don't know of any club/school activity there.
Going back to Hawarden, it also has a great café/eatery in the form of Chocks Away.
If you want to have a chat, feel free to PM me.
I would echo ETOPS comments about Flintshire Flying School at Hawarden (EGNR). The school has a good atmosphere and does private hire as well. Hawarden is a good place to fly from and there are also a number of private owners based there who may be open to you flying their aeroplanes. The journey from your neck of the woods wouldn't be too bad, probably around 35-40 minutes, on the basis I'm about 15-20 minutes east of Ashcroft. Incidentally I don't know of any club/school activity there.
Going back to Hawarden, it also has a great café/eatery in the form of Chocks Away.
If you want to have a chat, feel free to PM me.
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I live near Ashcroft Airfield however looking at their website, and after driving there one day to visit, when all the gates were closed and locked, I am left very confused as to what type of club that is...
I think you should consider the winds you are likely to encounter when deciding upon an airfield...
Hawarden states in Pooleys 'Possible turbulence from buildings when westerly or easterly wind above 15 kt.' Which for the Tomahawk aircraft, makes it practically un-flyable above 12 kts.
Sleap on the other hand has open countryside and two runways. Flying their Cessnas is easy in any wind up to 20kts or more. They also have a choice of over 6 excellent aircraft, including their Cessna 172 SP, which has all the best kit.
Hawarden states in Pooleys 'Possible turbulence from buildings when westerly or easterly wind above 15 kt.' Which for the Tomahawk aircraft, makes it practically un-flyable above 12 kts.
Sleap on the other hand has open countryside and two runways. Flying their Cessnas is easy in any wind up to 20kts or more. They also have a choice of over 6 excellent aircraft, including their Cessna 172 SP, which has all the best kit.
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Sci-fi draws our attention to the remarks in Pooleys (and AFE Flight Guide) about winds creating turbulence at Hawarden, and suggests that this "for the Tomahawk aircraft makes it practically un-flyable above 12 Kts". I always thought the Tomahawk had a demonstrated crosswind component of 15Kts which, on the basis of a wind, for example, 270/20Kts and runway 22 in use would give a component of 15Kts. The factor to consider is turbulence, which might make it slightly harder work, but is unlikely to be outside the demonstrated component. It is worth mentioning that there a number of Tomahawks which seem to be operated quite successfully from Hawarden.
Of course, there are aircraft other than the Tomahawk. The PA28 series have a 17Kt demonstrated component, and others may have higher figures. I would suggest that with a full (and very good) ATC service providing measured winds on a two minute average basis and instant wind readings on request, pilots operating out of Hawarden have more information available to enable them to judge wind factors than many other airfields.
Before you ask, yes I do fly from Hawarden, yes I do fly Tomahawks.
Of course, there are aircraft other than the Tomahawk. The PA28 series have a 17Kt demonstrated component, and others may have higher figures. I would suggest that with a full (and very good) ATC service providing measured winds on a two minute average basis and instant wind readings on request, pilots operating out of Hawarden have more information available to enable them to judge wind factors than many other airfields.
Before you ask, yes I do fly from Hawarden, yes I do fly Tomahawks.
A tailwheel aircraft had a "loss of direction" incident and a taxiway sign was damaged.
Airbus don't like their taxiways signs getting bent hence the ban.
Airbus don't like their taxiways signs getting bent hence the ban.
Hawarden airfield exists to support Airbus Industries manufacturing plant. The whole pan-european operation is dependant on the regular Beluga movements (as are 6000 jobs in north wales).
Tailwheel aircraft are allowed to use Hawarden but pilots are required to have 100 hours tailwheel experience.
GA could easily be excluded from using Hawarden - as a regular visitor I am grateful for the privilege.
G-XLTG
