Trial flying lessons near London
 

Hi guys, i want to take a trail flying lessons because i want to pursue my career in being a pilot and i want a hands on experience to see how much i actually enjoy it.

I want to know if there are any good trial flying lessons i can take in London or near London and not too expensive. I have researched some but i don't know how good they are so maybe if you guys have used a company before and found it good you can tell me which one you used.

thanks in advance

In no particular order and looking at the West/Northwest, I would recommend WLAC (White Waltham), Booker Aviation (Wycombe Air Park) and The Pilot Centre (Denham).

Three very different experiences but all very reputable.

Stapleford Flight Centre - north-east from Central London
 

I trained at Stapleford for my PPL and now I'm in the middle of the IMC rating (a.k.a. IR(R)) course. The Stapleford Aerodrome is located near the M11/M25 junction, can be reached by car from both motorways and is a short taxi ride away from the Theydon Bois station on the Central line. The prices have gone up over the years but I still think they are relatively cheap, without a detrimental effect on quality of training or the fleet. I quite enjoyed my training there.

Stapleford seem to be focused on commercial students as they also do CPL/ME/IR + help in type ratings and sometimes take less notice of us leisure flyers but if you plan to go commercial, that should only work in your favour!

You seem to want to get it right first time when you go for a trial lesson - can I suggest that if it's a career choice, then 2-3 trial lessons in different places might be in order, as a good way to get a feel of each place before you start your training. Just get a logbook for your first trial lesson, so that you can log all of them if you decide to sample more schools on that basis!

All the best,



/h88

There is also Elstree, about 5 miles south of Watford. If you're considering commercial training Stapleford Flight Center also reachable from London, but I had the impression when I visited them a couple of times that they were not interested unless I was signing over thousands of pounds and committing to a complete ATPL course. The fact that everyone managed to speak for 30 mins without smiling once made up my mind!

You didn't mention which side of London; if it's the South you've got Redhill (I'm doing my PPL there with Cubair, would happily recommend them) or Biggin Hill.

I started and completed my PPL at Synergy this year who are based at Fairoaks, just off J12 Chertsey/Woking junction of the M25. They do trial lessons of varying lengths. I live in SW3 and found it convenient enough for me, although I am semi retired so I aimed for around four afternoons/week midweek. The trip is 40 mins on a good day, but I usually factor in an hour. Www.flysynergy.com FWIW. The benefit is that there are three options to get there from West London if traffic is playing up, which it usually is.

Cheers, Howard

If you are more to the East of London, Essex way....

Seawing Flying Club @ London Southend Airport
(Learn to fly in Essex | Seawing Flying Club Southend) 01702 54 54 20
This is where I obtained my PPL and where I am currently a member and flying out of. Very friendly and relaxed club which is member owned, so you obtain a share in the club and its aircraft from becoming a member.... they do trial lessons in either a 2 or 4-seater and for either 30 mins or 1 hour.

Access by road via the A127 or by train from London Liverpool Street on the line to Southend Victoria directly to the new airport station.

North Weald Flying Group
(http://northwealdflyinggroup.co.uk/) 01277 225209
Another Essex-based friendly flying group operating out of North Weald Airfield and again there is a friendly and relaxed, yet still professional feeling to this club. Trial lessons can be arranged.

The airfield is 10 miles south of Stansted and can be seen and accessed from the M11 (A414, Harlow Junction). Take the A414 towards Chelmsford and then follow signs from the A414 and on entrance to the field, follow the perimeter track all the way around the field until you arrive at the distinctive Squadron building.

Dilan: This may be useful to you if you haven't actually flown in a light aircraft yet. Hope you enjoy your trial lesson.

Wouldn't this be better?

Not sure if a flying group based at North Weald would be licensed by CAA to teach PPL.