Training scotland
 

Hi people i am a newbie so please go easy on me.

I am about to embark on my ppl journey in Ayrshire/west scotland, i am looking for advice of where the best school may be for me.

My plans are to do a ppl then possibly a cpl afterwords, I'm not relay interested in flying for an airline, don't get me wrong i,d love to make a living from flying but i already run a successful garage/mot business close to home so don't want to be away all the time, a part time job flying lighter aircraft or instructing would be good. as i already have an income I'd be doing it for the love of flying.

So the big question is where to learn I'm thinking on a more intensive short term plan, maybe pick a day every week and stick to it doing some morning flying then some study at lunch then back up in afternoon.

Ive got about 15 hours as pic on flex wing microlights and 4 hours solo, I had a bit of an accident at work then my plane got burnt and ended up never getting back to it , so never got to finish my license.

I think i will pick the flying part no problem its the exams i will struggle with, thanks for listening and i await some views of what my best plan may be

Kenny :ok:

Hi Kenny
Presuming that you're looking at a PPL(A), at Prestwick there is Prestwick Flying Club (where I'm at) and Prestwick Flight Center.
Both do PPLs. The club is - as the name suggests - more of a club environment, where you will find everyone from BA and Easyjet Captains doing some aerobatics to retired folk going out for a bimble. The instructors are all hugely experienced (chief is a current British Airways captain) and do it mainly for the fun of instructing.
As they are all only part time instructors, you may struggle to do a more intensive course - but they match instructor and student together to try and make the best fit. Planes are a PA28 or a Chipmunk. If you are thinking about joining a group, or owning your own plane after completing your PPL, you can probably get much more involved with everything (including the running of the club) than else where, as they don't just teach you to fly to pass a test.

I can't comment as much on the flight centre, other that its a more normal "school" environment (with a secretary to organise everyone / answer the phone etc!). They have been very friendly every time I've gone round and you are more likely to be able to do an intensive course there.

I'd email, rather than phoning the club as there are no permanent staff, and arrange a time to see what its about. With the flight center, give them a ring as they have permanent staff at the end of the phone.

Happy flying!

scotland flying
 

Thanks riverrock sounds like i should contact them both and go from there i will get some prices etc and see how it goes, maybe book a trial lesson with both and see where that takes me.

Didn,t even know the prestwick flight centre existed maybe pay them a visit as they are more likely to be there.

I will ring the club too and see where it goes. I was thinking of entering a syndicate or share scheme maybe cheaper to do it sooner rather than later what do you think?

Cover ALL your options
 

Ecosse,

Where do you live, and where do you work? There are some other options unless you are already set on Prestwick Airport.

There is a club at Glasgow Airport. We operate a club at Cumbernauld. Both should be considered.

Happy to give more information if required.

Allan

Oh - and you should check out these threads:
http://www.pprune.org/private-flying...-scotland.html
http://www.pprune.org/private-flying...8-jaa-ppl.html

Use the search tool - you will find many others.

I'm not sure how you can have 15hrs pilot in command but only 4 hours solo - but thats me just being pedantic... (15 hours would be P/UT see http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAP804rfs.pdf)

As for syndicate / share scheme - good if you can get it. I suspect it would be hard to find one that takes in student pilots - although in saying that, I'm in one.

Some syndicates like it as it keeps their aircraft in the air, and so the cost down for others... Schools don't necessarily like them as it could reduce their profits, and I suspect there are very few aircraft in the UK that are being over used. Much more likely to happen on the microlight scene I suspect.

The groups I know about would need a personal recommendation from a current member before you would be invited to join, so I'm not much help. I think there are at least 4 group owned planes at PF Club, two of which have had new starts in them recently, but both have close connections to other group members (both through marriage!). I have no idea about the flight centre.

It is worth looking at other places too (although Prestwick Airport is a great location). If you live near to where you are flying from, you spend less fuel in your car, you can look out the window to determine the current weather, and you wont have so far to go home if there is some reason that stops you flying!

If you're in Ayrshire, really Prestwick is the place to go, it's not particularly cheap flying but by the time you finish the course you'll have a lot less trips to Glasgow/Cumbernauld and that really does add up.

I only know instructors at the Club and I have only good things to say about what I've seen. It's all very informal which may or may not be a bit frustrating but the instruction will be from really very experienced guys doing it for fun, you'll learn a lot more :). That said I'd doubt you'd have a bad time at any of the schools within a sensible distance from you :).

As for CPL. I'd keep my mind off that for now, there's a long way between PPL and CPL in terms of flying (and exams!).

There's also a 3-Axis microlight school at Strathaven if I'm not mistaken, something worth considering as well :).

Kenny has listed his location as Central Scotland which would suggest that Either Perth or Cumbernauld would be suitable.

glasgow
 

thanks for more input guys:ok:

i would def consider cumbernauld or glasgow i went to cumbernauld today exactly one hour from my house and seemed good also it may work out cheaper going there, my plan of doing 4 hours a week would cost me 20 quid in fuel per week and going 13 times is £260 in fuel over a 52hour course (which may be over or under what i need to get ppl) so maybe a good saving could be had going to either.

i live and work in kilwining so prestwick is close it may work out better will need to wait and see:)

as for keeping my mind of cpl i see what you mean though i always aim high, and if i aim for that and end up with a ppl i will still be happy :)

3 axis i have considered and tbh i am still considering it but got a little scared with the old flexwing in the weather so not sure its for me :)

He said Ayrshire/ West Scotland in his initial post.

Agreed that you should look at your closest school first. I believe that Glasgow Flying Club still does some lessons but if he is the other side of Glasgow then Cumbernauld would be closer / great.

i noticed theres another option border air at cumbernauld so may check them out too :) anyone had any dealings with them??

Kenny,

There are 2 schools at Cumbernauld; did you get a look at both? I works with ACS Flight Training at Perth who conduct the full Commercial Training Program.

I agree with 'Dan' - one step at a time before looking at CPL fully.....but worth looking at future options. Air Service Training at Perth Airport are currently the only Scottish option for the commercial ground school - although many look at Distance Learning.

I suggest a '30 minute trial lesson' at each site. All hours flown will count and at least you will then have a REAL insight and be able to make a good decision. Make sure you let them know you intend to complete a course and it is not only for a taster.

Allan

Pedant mode on/ Tut Tut , Ecosse....Kilwinn ing!!! ?mode off.

That haven of calm,made famous by Billy Connoly , when he and his mates used to frequent the "Kings" in Irvine....I digress:O

If you have a good look at stuff like the BMAA and LAA websites, you'll quickly learn that there are several light Aircraft which are either Microlights,or available as Gp."A" or Microlight depending on wing and engine options.
Many of the Composite ones are ,performance and economy-wise , superior to "spamcan" trainers like Cessna152 and Piper Cherokee. They're a totally different beastie to a Flexwing,whilst still being in the same classification...and, as you say, you've already some hours logged on Microlights,which, AFAIK would count toward a License for that group.

Prestwick seems like your sensible option,as it's "just up the road"-believe me, an hour's commuting journey in the car can be very tedious on a regular basis and you're not thinking about all the gormless tourists in the sumer!
'Course, you COULD get your Microlight license locally. then use it to FLY to another Airfield to do a Gp "A" License. :)

The kings is a great pub been there a few times,

will book 30 min with both prestwick clubs and go from there.

I think thats my best bet, true what you say i used to travel an hour from "kilwinning" to do microlight and maybe thats partly why i don't have a license.

maybe later i will do a few hours conversion and will be able to fly a 3 axis too. :ok:

hope the flying club hasn't so many pedantic's lol!!!! :ok:

Steve, read the original post, "Kilwining" is the least of his errors.


"its the exams i will struggle with" ..... no **** Sherlock!


Kenny, I have no doubt that you will be able to get a PPL, but perhaps it's just as well that you don't have your heart set on an airline job.

thanks
 

Thanks air police for your helpful input on my question. :mad::mad:

Hope the flying school i choose doesn't have people like you in it.

And as for the airline pilot comment that just confirms your a :mad::mad::mad:

to everyone else thanks for the input its appreciated :ok:

Welcome to Pprune. :bored:

Try Prestwick first. If you work in Kilwinning, that would be your easiest commute. When learning to fly there are several factors to consider-

Your availability
Aircraft availability
Instructor availability
Weather
Your budget
Your specific times when you can and cannot go

All can conspire to make the task, a challenge. A local school is preferable, within say 30 minutes travel time. Also the weather can be very local also. If you are fairly near to your chosen airfield/club, it can cut down on wasted ground time.

Good luck.

No problem being rubbish at spelling and grammar and flying commercially :p

Thanks
 

Thanks for the input maxred i will take this on board, my comment about "people like you in it" was aimed at the pedantic few bitter people who always seem to pop up on any forum Ive been on, who don't help and only criticize others and are alway right

no body likes a smart ar*e :D

ohh maybe I'm being pedantic but its, "PPRuNe" and not "Pprune" LOL:) :ugh:

I am even reading on other threads that a growing percentage of commercial pilots can't even hand fly a Boeing properly:confused:

Spelling does'nt have a bloody look in:sad: