Where to go?
 

Hi guys!

Just moved down south to LGW area and am looking to start learning to fly.

Basically, can anyone recomend any reasonably priced schools in the area that i can visit?

Also, may be a bit cheeky but working for an airline, do you think a could wangle a discount? In the long term future i'm wanting to go commercial but until then i just wanna get up there and enjoy myself!

Any help appreciated!

kempus

:ok:

You have quite a wide choice. The closest training airfield to Gatwick is Redhill, which is actually tucked under the northern edge of their zone. There are several schools there. Have a look on the Redhill Aerodrome web site for details.

Going clockwise around Gatwick from there you also have Biggin Hill, Rochester, Lashenden/Headcorn (both of which may be a little far perhaps), Shoreham, Goodwood, Blackbushe and Fairoaks.

Redhill, Biggin and Shoreham would be the three most practical ones to get to by car from Gatwick.

Go and have a look at several schools and pick the one you feel most comfortable with.

Oh, and have fun! ;)

Reasonably priced? South of England? :(

It's all expensive... but Fly has got it right. Personally i'm not a fan of Shoreham, too busy. Redhill looks a nice place to me.

I also work at Gatwick (not the airport) and fly from Redhill (where I trained) and Shoreham. Although Redhill is much closer, I find it only takes a few minutes more to Shoreham due to fast roads.

Shoreham seems to be slightly cheaper, but my club at Redhill includes landing and circuit fees in the rate, which Shoreham do not.

As Evo said, the Shoreham circuit can be VERY busy. This could waste some valuable training time and cause undue stress in the early days. On the positive side, once you can handle it, you can handle any circuit anywhere!

Flying schools run on such tight margins that I doubt a discount will be forthcoming. The co-owner / wife of CFI at Redhill Aviation is (was?) a BA pilot. Might help if that is who you work for?!

Otherwise, the more you pay in advance, the more discount you can get. Remember to research thoroughly before you give ANYONE your hard earned cash.

Feel free to PM me with questions.

TallGuy.

Another LGW (ish) local here - Southend looks worth considering...