So why don't some of you get together and buy one?

Really sorry to hear this. Had my first ever flying lesson at EMFS back in 1992 and because of this I never fail to look fondly and respectfully at the school every time I taxy past it.

Many thanks and good luck Bill and Gill .... hope to call in soon to wish you the best in person.

:(

Yeah, what is happening to G-**ON?

I need to pop in and see Gill next time I am back in the UK.

Oscar November
 

I flew the old girl today - she is still a faithful member of the school fleet, and my personal favourite. She's getting on a bit in years, but she's the aircraft I learned on, and passed my skills test in, so I'm a bit emotionally attached to her.
It's a great shame about the loss of the School - it's one of the few around based at a large commercial airport with controlled airspace. I'm sure if many others learned in such an environment, we would have less airspace busts.
They are still trying to slavage the situation, but I believe the cost of any alternatives (if any are found) will render the operation uneconomical. My thanks go to their patient instructors and Bill and Gill, the owners, whose "stickler" approach to their students discipline ensures they turn out good pilots (with the possible exception of me of course)
The ATC guys and girls are also excellent, and their patience with students stumbling R/T knows no bounds. Mind it was change for a BMI Baby 737 to have to hold for my approach today, luckily the wind was straight down the runway and my landing in front of this plane load of passengers was not too bad at all!!!

I too agree whole heartedly , this is very , very sad. I have been flying on and off for 17years in the likes of ON, IM, ZP, RY, GO, GP. Did all my PPL ratings there at EMFS. It was EASILY the best run school I have ever come across with Highly professional instructors and the Legendary Bill and Gill. It is the end of an era where well trained pilots were a matter of course.

One or two little stories that make me smile when I think about them:

The first is the generosity if Bill and his lovely wife Gill. I had booked some hour building out in the states to prepare for BCPL training when the company concerned went out of business, taking my ( and a lot of others) money with it. I was shattered and popped in for a coffee to share my story. Bill and Gill not only listened but even did me a brill deal on block booking PA38"ER". Thats the sort of people they are .

The second involved two instructors there in the early 90's . I shall call them SNORKEY and PR. How many of you got roped into 'POPPING" into Nottingham or Leicester for a bacon sani or full english? I know I did and they were HAPPY DAYS!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for starting my aviation career in the best way, Bill and Gill . All the best.

JS:D

Tatenhill is also v.good and not to far away as an alternative. Good, large fleet of aircraft and not too exspensive.

^^^

shamless plug from flying school owner me thinks:rolleyes:

Oh yes, you can! ;)

As a long time Member of the School, this has come as abit of a shock to all of us.

The Airport have made commercial decisions that are right for the airport and we have to accept the economics of that, given their customer in question. It is sad that another location on the airfield couldn't be found for us, possibly down towards the previous location at the western end or in amongst the BMI hangers.

As that previously mentioned, the notion of relocating as a whole elsewhere isn't a go-er as the club would not be welcomed on the basis of competition. Having already had a look around, it is going to be difficult for a number of us, as we have healthy number of PA28 drivers and these appear relatively few in the local area.

A tie in with the RR club at Hucknall where realtionships with EMFS are very good and go back along way would be just the ticket, but again, unlikely. Hopefully, we'll all get sorted.

A great Club with fanstastic owners and staff; will miss the place big time.

Covaero
 

As I've said earlier, I'm very sad at the schools demise, being one of those who hire their PA28's - they patiently taught me to fly too. However, living South of East Mids, I have found "refuge" at the Coventry Aeroplane Club based at EGBE. Obviously, for those North of East Mids, it may be too far, but I can recommend the club to anyone who feels Coventry is not too far.
A very big attraction is the two new Warrior 111's in the fleet. Beautiful, low hours aircraft, well equipped (2 x Garmin 430's, electric standby vac pump etc etc) and based at a Club with good facilities - good bar etc!!
I have only done a couple of trips so far, one with their CFI (nice chap too) for a check ride, and one a couple of days ago to Gloucester. They do encourage Club members to fly together, and are happy for the aircraft to be taken for longer trips.
I have no commercial interest in the club except as a new member, but can recommend it for those who wish to fly new PA28's.

I dont work for Tatenhill (just before anyone asks!) but would recomend them as I did my PPL there a while ago and do go there from time to time to say hello. They have a good School set up and reliable instructors.
As an ex FI I think it is a really good place to learn as you dont have to wait at the hold etc and you get lots of touch and goes in an hr. (landing being a big part of some PPL students hrs) So having a longish runway is a good thing when trying to learn!

Heard good things about Cov. to but depends where you live.

I started my PPL at EMFS and enjoyed it, I have good memories and will be sad to see this School close.

:{

Unfortunate
 

I agree that the expansion of EMA is a good thing; it will obviously benefit the local economy and the airfield.

But I disagree with the airfields methods of just running roughshod over EMFS and closing down a thriving business.

Plus this removes a decent well run training establishment in controlled airspace from the East Midlands region, this can not be beneficial to the aviation community as a whole, how many now professional pilots trained (and hopefully) benefited from training with full ATC etc etc at EMFS?

I've written to the managing director of EMA outlining my disappointment with their decision not to re-locate, not only a thriving private aviation business, but a well respected training establishment from the East Midlands!

Spru!

Just a quick note to say thankyou to EMFS for helping me on the road to where I am today. I completed an IMC with them, whilst also flying a number of hours during my hour building period. The owners treated me very well and although I have not been in quite some time, just to know that the school will not be there saddens me.

I too have nice memories of G-""ON, nice plane, loved the leather seats :}

EMSF- a role of honour
 

What! No Hector Taylor stories?? The history of this school goes way way back. An ATPL role of Honor of guys flying big commercial airplanes after a apprenticeship at EMFS is very very long.

Please Add to this ex instructor list

Paul Whittingham - virgin 340
Andy Tilling - Virgin 747
Rich Hull - Virgin 747
Russ Wicks - BMI 320
Tim Palmer - Virgin cessna 152
Tim Wooltooortorton , Dave meridith, Tony Whitfield, Ian Lamb, adrian merimen,Jimmy McGregor,................................................... ..................................................the list is endless - pls add

East Mid's Cessnas
 

Hi Guys,

For the last few weeks, East Mid's Cessna 152s have been up for sale on some of the aircraft sales websites. While not in the first flush of youth, these aeroplanes look to have been well maintained and are well equiped.

Now if a deal has indeed been done with Donair that will save East Mids, then either these Cessnas will be needed back on the line, or else some or all of them may still be surplus to requirements and remain up for sale.

If they remain up for sale, then I would suggest that the best way to help the proprietors of East Mids would be for members to form groups and buy 'em up, 'cos they look like a good buy.

Broomstick.

Best understanding of the likely sitation is:

* Donair acquiring EMFS, to be based in current Donair premises
* Donair (or whatever its to be called) to take 4 x C152 from EMFS
* Gill to be involved in running of new organisation
* Some EMFS instructors to move over (number tbc at this time)
* PA-28 G-CDON being acquired by a group, remain based at EMA but not available to Donair
* Situation wrt PA-28 G-BPRY (privately owned and loaned to EMFS) and Arrow G-TEBZ tbc

A

Firefly Bob do you remember the day a student buzzed two local universities after a row with his girlfriend and was arrested by the busies on his return. I often wonder what became of him. Your dad was CFI then wasnt he or was it Barry something or other ?

My funniest moment at EMA was when an Aztec landed one day and called for taxi instructions. ATC said "taxi where, DF indicates you just landed at Wymeswold!"

ALTSEL Don't forget:
Paul Rawlings - Ryanair
Phil Brown - Thomas Cook
Erica Morris - Virgin
Steve Walshaw - exVirgin
Steve Clark (me) - Virgin
Simon Hinsley - Virgin
Andy Smith - BMI baby
Jason Scattergood (exPPL) - BMI baby
Nick Smith (exPPL) - Virgin
Dave Garney - Not sure who now.
Lots more, bet Bill can still rattle them all off despite his condition. The twenty year EMFS party showed how successful and popular the school was by the huge numbers who turned up to celebrate with Bill and Gill.
Whatever happens, either with a Donair tie-up or not, EMFS will always be a happy memory for very many former students, PPLs and instructors.
Cheers Everyone:D:ok:
Steve.

llanfairpg, yes I recall both incidents very well! In the former I recall that the person involved had (allegedly) also managed to do this whilst drinking a bottle of gin (or was it vodka) in the process and also hit a powerline with the tail blacking out the local electricity in the process! Yes Hector was CFI then - I think Barry was the one that went to Monarch and eventually married (I think) Joyce Barton who worked on reception for quite a while.

There was also a case in the early days when a Viscount landed at Wymeswold instead of EMA.

Ah Bob, I know you well. I was always impressed with your table of different app speeds for the C172 for each passenger carried and I can confirm i am still trying to fly that accurately!

What happened to the chap with the moustache who seemed to own the school at the time and loved drawing Thrust/drag + Lift/thrust diagrams on the board?

There was also the Aztec that was cleared to land at EMA after calling 'finals' and touched down non radio on 24 at Birmingham!


Hector by the way did more Instructor renewals and initials than any other panel eaxaminer at that time--God bless him- a true gentleman