Stapleford PPL training
 

Hello everyone


I have finally decided to pursue my life long dream of learning to fly.


As I am based in East London, I am considering to start training at Stapleford Commercial and Private Pilot Flight Training, Flying Lessons, Gift Experiences - Stapleford Flight Centre, London, UK


It is only a 20m drive from home which makes it very convenient for an intensive training schedule. All the other schools are at least 60-90min away.


Has anyone on the forum had any positive/megative experience training with them? Any recommendations for instructors?


Thank you

I did my PPL at Stapleford just over a year ago (also did some cross conversions to other aircraft types). My own aircraft is now homed at Stapleford.

On the whole, the training was excellent but I suppose that depends on which instructor you get. I had a very dedicated instructor that was prepared to put himself out. Most of the instructors I have been taught by down there were all very good and really wanted to see you pass. Generally, I only had 1 instructor for the whole of my PPL and I would throughly recommend him.

On the downside, at the very start of my PPL I had problems with scheduling lessons. I paid an amount upfront (most people would advise not to do this but I considered Stapleford a good risk so took the chance to get the 10% discount). But I had great difficulty in getting lessons booked as they were very much over subscribed at that time. It was especially difficult when lessons were cancelled due to weather as there was then a huge backlog of people trying to book lessons and initially sometimes I had to wait 3 weeks to get a lesson even though I was prepared to be very flexible. This resulted in long pauses and different instructors at the very beginning.

Eventually, after a few words from me, I managed to get regular lessons on 2 days every week with just 2 instructors. Then my main instructor found an extra slot so I was then having 2 lessons a week with the same instructor who took me to the end.

I never had a lesson cancelled due to maintenance or aircraft availability and the only cancellations I ever had was if my instructor was sick (happened twice throughout all my training) or the weather which happened numerous times.

Both the training and facilities I found outstanding and almost everyone down there very friendly. They have a mixture of experienced and very new instructors down there. My instructor was a new instructor and I found him extremely good as he did everything by the book and didn't cut corners in anything.

If I was doing my PPL again, I would have no issues at all using Stapleford.

Where in E London are you ?

Hi Yodi


I am based in Canary Wharf


Regards,

Steevo25


Many thanks for the recommendation. I did my first hr of training today and it all went great.

Hello,

Has anyone stayed on site at Stapleford during their training? I'm based in Dubai so have elected to stay in the student accommodation there.

Starting my PPL on Feb 17th and on to bigger and better things from then on in!

RossBaku

I did my PPL at EGSG. Can't fault their instructors. All very professional.
Saturdays & Sundays are really busy though, getting booked in can be tricky.
You can go from zero hours to a full CPL IR Multi with them.
Plus the have a Firefly G-BYOB so you can have some fun doing aeros.

Only down side for me was the non flying staff & general company attitude. Despite spending thousands of £s with them over the years I never felt like a valued customer. Reception staff have always been (at least since I started flying in 2001) incredibly rude & offish.
I eventually had enough of their attitude & went elsewhere.

Have experienced flying schools/clubs at Andrewsfield & Southend and had a much more enjoyable experience.

Hi there, interesting comments re non-flying staff. I've witnessed the same issues over the last 6 years. For some bizarre reason several of the reception staff think they're doing you some kind of favour by dragging their sorry ass to work, and don't seem to understand that students and members are in fact paying customers! I've seen the way some of them talk inappropriately to customers and other members of staff. It's embarrassing and extremely unprofessional...I've often asked myself, "Did she really say that? Did that really happen?". It's Probably deep rooted through the organisation unfortunately which is almost impossible to address unless it is sold at some point to an outfit with business acumen. In my experience the instructors are good, and my theory is that's the only reason why the flight centre has kept it's head above the water. The question to ask yourself is whether you mind forking out tens of thousands of pounds worth of training and handing that cash over to a rude and obnoxious member of staff after each flight. Certainly takes the edge off what is meant to be a pleasant experience...

I was very happy with Stapleford for my PPL, but that was really down to the instructor that I had and he isn't there anymore. I did fly with a few other instructors though and they were all very good. The senior guys there are very good too and approachable, but i do agree with the comments on the non flying staff being up their own ass.

Another place I would recommend is Earls Colne, but again that is down to a very good instructor Nigel Wilson, who I did my taildragger and complex with and have since done my renewals with.

Every instructor can teach you something, go along do a flight or 2 and see how you get on, it really is a personal preference.

Recommendation !
 

SFC is a good place to train, the fact that the office staff have an attitude problem will not effect the quality of the flight training is what you have to focus on.

The aircraft are very well worn and I would not want to fly something that looked quite that rough but and this is a BIG BUT, the engineering standards of the bits of the aircraft that are critical to flight safety are all up to standard and airworthy, they just look appalling !

Hi there I take lessons there once every two weeks but they are all trial I want to start my PPL but don't know how to apply
Should I do my medical before or after I start and when we drive in what do I say to the receptionist because in my opinion going up to the receptionist and saying "I would like to start my PPL" seems exotic:) so to save me from embarrassment I would like some advice on starting
I already now my instructor because she was my instructor for my 5 total lessons at EGSG so once again I would welcome any advice
Many thanks
Kind regards Adam.

Adam,

Just talk to your instructor about starting your PPL rather than continuing trial lessons! Everyone had to do it at some point so don't be worried. Then he/she will book you in some lessons at reception and then off you go from there! Easy!

And in regards to the medical, you won't need that till about 15 hours of training with your PPL and when you have completed your law exam. Though no harm in getting it before then as it will last you a while.

Raab

Disregard the receptionists because that is all that they are. The attitude described is not unique to SFC. It's pretty common in flight schools generally. When people are investigating learning to fly everything is rather new and daunting for them. Strong men become diffident in demeanor and shuffle their feet in embarrassment as they ask questions about something that to them resembles the dark arts.
There's a certain type of woman who takes advantage of this lack of security in others; they're really bullies masquerading as secretaries. Pay them no mind, be scrupulously polite to them, repaying their acrid insolence with nothing but charm and composure. That in itself will be sufficient recompense for your wounded feelings for women, or should one say people in order to generalize and be politically correct on a broader spectrum, of this sort become truly shriveled inside when nice young men refuse to become perturbed and treat them with a dignity which they do not deserve.
So then, walk through the door, make a small show of checking the weather briefing sheets at the beginning of the passageway on the right. Then proceed to the front desk when there is a suitable lull and simply announce that you've booked yourself a medical and so now you'd like to put together a flight training schedule and could you please speak to the head of PPL training in order to sort this out. A PPL is an expensive exercise and you are the customer. You're absolutely entitled to be treated with respect and toleration and you should not accept impertinence or offhanded treatment from those whose salaries you are paying.
You should do your medical first of all, before you start training. There's no sense whatsoever in putting off a perfectly straightforward examination. Any possibly problems would be as well to be discovered at the beginning of your training.
It was my experience that the standards of ground and air training at Stapleford were excellent. Aircraft maintenance was also good. The aircraft I flew were old and tatty but they didn't smell as some old interiors do and they flew nicely once trimmed out, so no structural distortions. I'd certainly use them again.
It's very useful having a decent clubhouse too and the one at Stapleford is particularly good, serving decent cheap food in congenial surroundings. The old buzzard you might see in there from time to time is in his nineties and has trained more people than you or I will ever have hours.

I'm sorry but I disagree. I went straight to Southend after just one SFC reception experience and I didn't need a lesson in female behavioural psychology or an acting class to make that decision. Never regretted it.

Just now, I spent a week at a flying school in the US, where male and female receptionists alike treated me as a valued customer, pointed out discount opportunities, and were diligent with appointments and schedules.

By contrast, old (but usually well maintained) aircraft ARE pretty common in flight schools generally. It is not a bad idea to go over the logs with your instructor at a relatively early stage and make notes in your POH external preflight checklist about everything you suspect is an anomaly (and ask questions about everything you don't understand). That way you are sure to fly an airworthy airplane. Also, it gives you a grasp on how quickly the maintenance shop reacts to items you flag to them.

All right then and better and even better, although perhaps not, we shall see. I'll completely accept that the attitude we were talking about is nowadays not the common one in flight schools. My experience has been drawn upon rather older flying establishments. That leads me to the conclusion that certain flight schools today still have the sort of receptionists that old schools had where the customer was a species of vermin and the flight instructors were not much more than rat poison.

Many many thanks for the advice
I don't mind about the condition because I flew there at least 5 times and only once the door opend mid flight but it was fun
For me I need trial lessons to get used to to the enviroment I am only 14 because I don't want to just jump into the PPL just like that I thought having some experience first would be beneficial
So in a nutshell I shoul do my medical approximately 15 hours into training and ask my instructor to get me some lessons... But in that case how would we pay and what paper work to fill out... My instructor said despite my young age I managed to fly the plane well but like I said I don't want to jump into it so quickly that's why I take trials and I don't know if you can have regular lessons which isn't PPL nor trial but within a few months I would like to start my PPL
Once again many thanks for the advice.

Adam, you are still growing!...your body is likely tochange appreciably in the next couple of years!- that includes your eyesight, The fact is, a medical before you are physically mature, will be worthless by the time you actually need it for administrative purposes. the only plus-side i see, is if you have a latent problem which the exam picks up.

IIRC, you cannot hold a UK PPL under the age of 16, but that does not stop you training!
I know a farmer's son, booked his Tractor-driving test for his 15 th birthday (youngest legal age)...With about 7 years experience of driving everything from an excavator to a land-Rover, he passed! ;)

I make the assumption that money is not a problem?...NEVER pay up front, any more than you can afford to lose!...even well-established flight-training organisations go bust with monotonous regularity.
I would suggest that, as you are unable to actually sit your PPL until you're 16 , you will have time to kill when you have completed your formal training ....to keep you up to speed, you could continue with "lessons"...that is to say, although flying solo (No pax allowed with an unqualified pilot not accompanied by an instructor) You would be under the instructor's control and also paying the higher "instructional" rate of hire.

Buy the textbooks, read them , learn!....some stuff, like the physics of flight, weather, navigation, will tie-in with schoolwork.

Get a logbook! (or make one!) All your "trial lessons" provided they are properly entered and signed-off, can count towards the hours required to qualify to sit the General Skills test. (the "practical" )

Now, consider learning on a 3-axis microlight...often a modern one is a slightly lower-powered, larger-winged version of a "proper" aeroplane.

much lower costs and some hours will count towards converting to a "proper" PPL....you have a lot to learn, but a lot of time to learn it in.....lucky person to have the opportunity!.

Thanks steve

I will keep your advice in mind I already have a logbook and I log all my flights and will do so in upcoming flight ( next one in 3 weeks can't wait :) )
But the instructor said that its unusual to log flights in the logbook when doing trials because apperantly I will have to go through the excersize again when I start my PPL and in Victoria there is a pilot shop which sells books and so on I usually book my trials in with the same instructor and she always ask me what we did in the previous lesson for instance she said next time we will take a look at the refuelling and and steep turns like you said it will tie in with school work your right! I chose triple science as a gcse and my physics has Been improving. I will continue flying because I really enjoy it the fact is after my PPL which I would like to get before 17 I would then go on to do a atpl because being an airline pilot is my dream job. Also I would like to get as much experience as possible before I go to oaa so that life will be easier because I know oxford is hard. Even on my first ever flight flying a real piper pa-28-161 ( ) my instructor said that I flew the plane well but don't rush your medical or PPL so just like what you said .

I can go on for hours so thanks Steve and thanks everyone else who gave me advice I will be taking this further so many thanks.

Surely you can simply log the 'trial' lessons in a newly purchased logbook as dual instruction Sequences 1-13? You might not be getting the sequential lesson patter from the pilot/instructor but you are flying dual with a person qualified to teach you how to fly yourself. Make the man work for a living and get him to patter you properly, treating each flight as a lesson. There's only one reason why the instructor should take a casual attitude and treat the flight as 'just' a trial and that's a bad one.

PAY ATTENTION ,AT THE BACK!
"He" is a SHE....this lad really does seem to be Commercial Pilot material :p:}

No at that time, the first time I flew it was a male at EGLM but its different now at stapleford sorry for the confusion it was my fault. I don't mind going through it again because I like flying anyhow, but I hope your right that I won't have to repeat what we done in the ppl
Kind regards Adam.

Does that explain a great deal?

Adam,

I have just finished my PPL out of Stapleford and can give you an insight into the School and some of the advice that was given to me by my Instructor. SFC was the second training provider and I had transferred to after doing the first 6 hours out of The Pilot Centre in Denham - who by the way are nothing short of Excellent. But that doesn't help you!

I live in East London and therefore the closest, most established school around is SFC. They have lots of Cessna's dotting around and plenty of Warrior's also. The aircraft themselves did have me a little worried at times but nothing major and from a "maintenance" perspective all of the features critical to flight safety are maintained. In my time, I experienced a door popping open during the "take off roll" but we continued the climb out because it was safe to do so and simply closed the door!

Once into the circuit during "Touch & Go's".. I experienced a Flap Retraction Failure - 30 degrees and noticed it before my Instructor who promptly took control.

You will quickly find your favourite aircraft and one which doesn't have a loose door hinge, or a crappy radio.. but the main thing is the aircraft are well maintained but look like they have been made from scrap metal!

I chose to "Pay as I fly" and paid by Credit Card to give me extra protection and so to speak until "I trusted the School"... Remember YOU are the Customer! I don't expect the School to go bust suddenly but you can never be too careful!

My Instructor was the one of the Most Senior Instructor's employed by SFC and also teaches CPL therefore you can "back seat". As a PPL you have nothing to measure your performance against... so sitting in the backseat of a CPL and seeing them mess up a Rate 1 turn or identify the town of Tunbridge Wells as Ashford did wonders for my confidence!

In other words it will help to build up your awareness and confidence and also make friends with the CPL students.

STICK TO ONE INSTRUCTOR ONLY OR AT A PUSH 2 INSTRUCTORS.

Around 35 hours in my Instructor started getting busy with CPL students so I shifted to another Instructor to "finish me off" so to speak.. Happy in the comfort and knowing that the second instructor was also trained by my Instructor as an FI.
§
SFC Instructor's will always give priority to CPL students so you will find your slot gets bumped or cancelled and most things are done by text. For example, you are booked in for a 12pm Slot and you receive a text in the morning asking you to come in at 10am or 1pm.

Dr Peter Orton is onsite on Sunday at SFC .. the office next to Gerran Aviation Supplies...so pop in and see him and say hello. He is an excellent AME and has helped me with a couple of challenges I faced with the CAA.

The clubhouse is nice and can be used to sit around and get friendly with your Instructor... Buy them a Coffee and have a chat on a bad weather day to answer any questions!

DO THE PRE-WORK AT HOME. MENTALLY FLY THE EXERCISE.

Also be prepared to get Bollocked. This may come as your instructor "Nagging" at you but the good instructors are the one's you will say "I am only nagging because I want you to do well"..

Happy to answer any other specific questions.

Scoobster

Thank you very much
I just booked a 30 minute flight for the 28th of October and we got into a conversation where she said that because I am still too young i don't need a medical until I am 16 but I can still start my ppl I currently fly G-BFFW and because half term is coming:cool: I decided to fly during the week but yeah I will see Dr orton but I won't need to be tested until 16 I am going to stick to one instructor because she in my opinion is a good instructor who also went to EGSG and studied there so she will probably know stapleford well and she said she will be happy to teach the ppl. For me the very first time the door opend G-BTGW it gave me goosebumps but in the cockpit there is not enough space to wave your arms and get scared so I told my instructor to take over control until I closed door I do have a few questions because for my 15th birthday I would really like to start my ppl so I would like to be up to date with everything i need.

1. How often would you recommend I should fly (obviously I can only fly at the weekends because I am still at school but I would like to fly as much as possible)

2.is there any uniform because I don't mind wearing uniforms like I see people with a stapleford jacket that I would like to get my hands on, so far I made a shirt with the stapleford logo and I fly in that but as the cold weather is upon us I need to know what I should wear.

3.what I need to take on board the plane such as maps, kneeboards etc

4.am I aloud to make a video on a camera to keep for memory

And if there is anything else you feel you need to tell me I would welcome that very much

Once again many thanks for the advice and congrats on you ppl :ok:

Also my favourite aircraft is g-BFFW like you said it does not have any weird radio sounds nor does it have the door opening every minute I flew the c152 a total 4 times now and the warrior once.:cool:
At first flying the cessna was real hard as the control surfaces were quite hard to move with the yoke at 2,000 feet but on the second time I flew the c152 I started getting used to it:)

Yes G-BFFW is probably one of the better ones and I think (from memory) G-BTGX, G-BHCT and G-OPAM..

I did my trial flight in a PA-28.. but finished the PPL on a C-152. Most cost effective!

I am also near to Leyton.. So give me a shout if you have any other questions..

Scoobster

Because I flew with the same instructor more than once and she always flies g-BFFW I did fly BTGW but like I said not a good experience
So far I only have those questions but I might have more later on so thank you very much when I booked my flight for the 28th the receptionist Said there was another person at my age who started training and now is a commercial airline pilot. So I have high hopes.
Ps. I went to another flight school for one flight in west london but from leyton lea bridge road it take almost 2 hours to get there so did some researching and found that sfc was only 15 minutes away.

I personally flew 3 times per week and sometimes 4.. Tuesday, Wed, Thurs and a Saturday - The circuit is really busy on the Weekends and we have helicopter traffic. Unfortunately at this time of the year you will lose a lot of days due to Bad Weather and 25 knot Winds - but you wont need to worry about that until you are on Navigation.

What people generally do is they book in 2 slots on the same day.. For example, 10am and 2pm.. if this is an option, check with your instructor.. So you could do this on Saturday and Sunday.

Take it slow and build up depending on how you feel. My instructor said to me that the first 25 hours are the hardest and once you have mastered the basic controls the next challenge will be navigation!

The CPL Students are normally expected to be in Uniform. I would NOT worry about a "Uniform" for PPL and would always prioritise comfort and warmth as your first priority.. I used to rock up in Jogging Bottoms, Long Sleeve T-Shirt, Jeans, Jumper etc - COMFORT should be your priority with no restrictions to flying the airplane.

Some of the heaters in the Plane are a bit hit and miss so I wouldn't want you to freeze when there is a 35 knot wind and Gusty conditions!

Don't worry about buying any equipment until your Instructor tells you that you are ready for Navigation. You will need the following:

1. Latest Edition Map - They update every 6 months.
2. Flight/Knee Board - (I use the A4 Pooleys FB-7)
3. Set of Permanent Marker Pens - Red, Blue, Black, Green
4. Ruler, Protractor, Diversion Ruler
5. CRP-1 or CRP-5 (Ebay)
4. Own Headset (If you don't already have one)
5. Flight Bag (or any suitable bag, if you don't already have one)
6. VFR Flight Pad (The photocopied VFR sheets given by SFC are crap!)

7. Pooleys VFR Flight Guide
(Strictly speaking not necessary until you have your PPL, as your instructor will give you a photocopy for your landaway at Lydd, Earls Cone etc that has the aerodrome approach plates)

Easiest thing to do is walk into Gerry's.. and ask for everything for Navigation. Pricey.. but convenient... You may be able to save some money if you source Pens from Staples/Asda, headset from Ebay, have a look on UKGA.COM.

Check with your Instructor. A video camera is probably the least of your priorities right now... but yes it would be nice from a learning perspective also I suppose..

Scoobster

Thank you
I didn't know you can book more than one flight on the same day that's great because I was wondering the same thing few days ago. Only in a few weeks during half term I am able to fly during the week but I generally fly on Sundays but if insist in flying on Saturday than I can probably try I remember one Sunday morning when I was flying at 9:30 there was a great deal of traffic so your right. Since the stapleford jackets are for staff I am probably going to get a nato cotton jumper I bought my logbook from gerry's I saw they have a lot of good things and also there is a pilot shop in victoria.

Also which headset would you reccomend.

Kind regards Adam

The Pilot Shop in Victoria might be a bit out of the way, its a bit of a walk from the Station... What might be an idea is if you order online?

There are plenty of Pilot Supplies.. Pooleys Flying and Navigational Products and Accessories, afeonline.com and Sporty's Pilot Shop.

For the purposes of PPL.. I just bought a beginner Pooleys Headset from Ebay for about £50.. You could spend £250 on a David Clark H10 13.4 but if I were you I would much rather spend the difference of £200 on some more flying time!

Save the expensive headsets for later!

Gerry is an old timer.. so generally very friendly.. If you can get to Elstree with family or on your own there (by Car) there is a Pilot Shop on Elstree Aerodrome - a Pooleys Shop.

Scoobster

Yea I know gerry's in fact were going there in a few days to buy some supplies and we might also checkout elstree

P.s this might be silly question but those teddy bears at reception that's on display can you buy them or win them because it would be a good souvenir and do stapleford have any merchandise at Gerry's or something?

Kind regards
Adam

Also try Pilot Shop & Pilot Supplies from The Pilot Shop | Aviation Supplies, GPS, Charts and more!

Ask the question to receiption or Gerry's.

A quick google search reveals:

Charter flights, Learn to fly, flying lessons, flying experience - SFC Be flown to or fly to, Passenger or pilot, it's your choice

The teddy is £8.74.

Scoobster

Thanks
I just went down there to get myself a jumper.
As a student pilot are you aloud to where bars on your epaulette and if so hiw many and what colour because now my jumper looks a bit plain I might get a plain wing to go on it too.

I wasnt sure if this was a serious question.

No PPL should wear epaulattes, except in India or some other place where any kind of transit as a pilot will attract unwanted attention not dressed in the correct attire. The UK, France and Stapleford will happily let you take off and land anywhere without them. In all seriousness you would probably be laughed at unless you're looking like an instructor. It's best to imagine wearing epaulettes just in your head ;-) Wings / club logos etc, thats all fine, just not epaulettes.

No it was a serious question because when I look at my jumper it's really plain well at least I won't be laughed at now
Thank you

Wait club logos ? What do you mean because that would be great too!

Adam,

I assure you YOU SHOULD NOT be wearing epaulette's on your jumper.. No matter how plain.

1) Keep warm
2) Fly the plane
3) Unless your a fashionista - I wouldn't worry how "plain" you are looking!

Focus on the PPL first and foremost.. Anything else is a Bonus.

All the best.
Scoobster

I liked the winged dragon Smaug in The Hobbit. He's a thoroughly evil great worm whose lust for gold is possibly even greater than that of the trolls whose gold bars he would covet even before he'd gobbled them up.

More into "Airwolf" myself.. Logo is horrid though!

Yea your right.
I was just checking the specs of the c152 and I was wondering if you are aloud to fly in light rain and what is the minimum of base cloud to be aloud to fly since today's weather wasn't very good and since my next lesson is two weeks into the future I don't think the weather will improve much:)

The official line from the Instructors at SFC is.. if you can see through the rain and see the horizon and the surface and it is in patches.. then you can fly through or route around the "light rain".

Minimum Cloud base - there isn't one.. it is depending on what exercise you are doing.. so for general handling i would say 1800 feet - stalling 3000 feet etc.

Check with your FI.

Scoobs.