PPL in Northern Scotland
 

I am an American living in Italy and although I love Italians and this country, because of high costs and the advice I have been given, it would be best to do my training outside of Italy. I am interested in doing a fast PPL in Scotland @ Highland Aviation out of Inverness. I ask the forum:

Does anyone have any experience with this school?

Is a 6 week time frame to get all the training/hrs in during March/April realistic? I have read in other posts that there is sort of a micro-climate in this area and the weather is better there than other parts of Scotland.

Can I self study for the exams and simply sit for them when I show up to save time/money?

I am attracted to this area because of the beautiful landscape/ terrain and the challenges associated with learning to fly there. However, if anyone can recommend another location or school- Let's have it! I am in the beginning stages of researching locations to begin in early spring. Thanks for any advice.

If you've been reading about on the forum you'll probably have seen my posts already. I think it is realistic if you get your medical sorted ASAP - if you're based in Italy then it may make sense to plan in advance. The local AME also asked for a printout from my optician. But nothing is ever set in stone. You could end up with a month of bad weather. Guarantees can't be made.

I haven't been there for a few years so my information is not quite current. I don't know the new flying instructors, for example. But I liked the school. I've since had lessons or been based in 3 other schools around the country and never regretted training in Inverness. The weather is generally good enough to be flyable but bad enough to be interesting. There's a nice combination of controlled and uncontrolled airports/airstrips so you should end up comfortable with either. And the scenery is stunning.

If you do decide to train there, let us all know how it works out.

Mad Jock has all the answers

Abgd has answered most. The School still has the same feel and the current instructors are great. There are a few of the old instructors who still come in from time to time to teach or drink tea and talk crap :)

6 weeks should be plenty unless you're very unlucky or you fail to put the work in. Get the medical early and get the exams done early and you will do fine.

Great place to learn and fly :) your money is well spent there in my opinion :)

Grandfathering ATO approval to conduct EASA training outside the EU / EASA Member States is cripplingly expensive. One ATO was given a bill for €39000 by EASA, because oversight is their responsibility.

If Scotland becomes an independent country, it will be outside both the United Kingdom and the EU. Hence there is no guarantee that EASA training would remain financially viable.

Irrespective of the referendum result Scotland will still be in the EU and UK next Spring.

And you do not have to be an EU member state to be regulated by EASA.

In common with most of the vague nonsense spouted by Salmond and his ilk, there is no real indication as to by whom the future of aviation in his Brave(heart) New Scotland would be regulated. With no NAA, how could they apply to be part of EASA anyway?

As for airspace, maintenance, flight training......who would regulate those aspects?

:hmm:

I think we are getting a little off topic. Scottish independence has nothing to do with this post but I did learn something about Scotland and what you all are talking about. Thank you. Lets leave politics out of this discussion for the moment and see if anyone had any recent experience with the flight school out of Inverness, Highland Aviation?

You are quite right, jbartner, this thread needs to stay on the topic.

May I ask what persuades you to suggest Highland Aviation against any other flying school between Italy and the north pole? (by the way, Inverness is not "Northern Scotland").

For a start, the weather is the most stunning for about 6 weeks a year . Not all of those 6 weeks run concurrently, of course. That bodes poorly for a "fast" PPL unless you choose exactly the right time.

Good luck with your ppL,

rUSS

I'm a PPL flying a Group-owned aircraft based at Inverness. I've occasionally had check-outs on the Highland Aviation Pa28 and Pa38s., and I've been very impressed with the instructors. There have been changes - I've only flown with one of the present full-time guys- but I've no reason to believe they're any different.
Highland Aviation now have their own maintenance facility at Inverness.
The local weather is better than most areas for training - only the landaway cross-country needs good weather.
The airport has Tower and Radar frequencies, but is still in Class G Airspace.
There's a frequent bus service linking the airport to Inverness, Nairn, and Elgin for accomodation if you don't have a car . As well as having a more than adequete free customer car park, Highland Aviation is near the Terminal and bus stop.
Look at http://wxweb.meteostar.com/sample/sa...html?text=LEPA and change the ICAO to EGPE on the page to get an idea of the weather. (I assume you won't have access to the UK METAR and TAF site)
I lived in Inverness for 36 years, and still fly there since retiring in 2006. I've flown there since 1986.

I did my PPL in midwinter and I would have done it in well under 6 weeks had I got my medical and air law sorted before it became time for my first solo.

There were only 2 days where it was locally completely unflyable. There was a delay waiting for good weather for my first solo, and for the landaway.

Locally it's only class G but you don't need to go far to do a MATZ crossing and occasionally the jets come by underneath. There's a grass airstrip at Dornoch and the short runway and ATC at Inverness means you can practice crosswind landings easily.

Pleased to hear that the school is still doing well.

Russ-
I have narrowed my choice to Inverness because of the beautiful scenery, good reputation, and from what I have read there is a local micro-climate that has generally better weather than most other parts of the UK during March. I know it is impossible to predict the weather six months from now- It will be a gamble anywhere in the UK.
I would rather not get trained at a Italian flight school. I have visited my two closest flight schools and through my research I have found them to be very expensive and run in a very typical Italian fashion (never return phone calls or email, and generally not interested when I came by for a visit to speak with someone). I love Italy and they are great people, however I have a short window to get my PPL and after 7 years here in Italy I have learned that nothing here happens quickly.
Southern Spain is another option with a better chance of good weather which I am looking into as well. Inverness was not even on my radar until I read a post in this forum. If there are other suggestions for flight schools in Europe for a fast PPL with quality instructors I am all ears.
Thanks for all your replies
Jason

Highlands Aviation have a good reputation. This 'micro climate' sometimes works the other way. I've been flying in Moray for 3 years and sometimes find we get 4 seasons in one day and high winds. The airspace change in the local area will make it interesting with all the fast jet ac floating around.