PPL training in Surrey, UK
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Join Date: Jun 2022
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PPL training in Surrey, UK
Not sure if this is the right forum for this questions, as you guys seem to be all commercial, but you must have a PPL to go CPL etc?
I'm looking for a flight school to do my PPL. I live in Epsom, Surrey, UK. Redhill is 30 mins away, Biggin Hill is 45 mins away.
Can any one recommend a flight school at any one of these? I plan to do 2-4 hours a week during week days.
I can do most of the theory by myself, navigation will probably need proper exposure and exercise.
I've got an eye-test booked tomorrow and I'm arranging a class 2 medical for asap. I've had ECG on a bike/treadmill in the past as part of my health plan and it's come back as fine. I am overweight, my resting heart rate is 55-58bpm.
Other Info
Redhill is easier and quicker for me to get to and the traffic is less likely to get snarled up
Redhill landing fees are 50% of Biggin
The contact with people I've had at Biggin has been more positive, but I haven't spoken to all the schools at Redhill yet.
The context
I don't plan to go commercial, too old and I have an rewarding established career, but I have wanted to learn flying from my teenage years and had planned to go out to Florida to do an intensive course about 20 years ago, but other things got in the way and it never happened.
I'm looking for a flight school to do my PPL. I live in Epsom, Surrey, UK. Redhill is 30 mins away, Biggin Hill is 45 mins away.
Can any one recommend a flight school at any one of these? I plan to do 2-4 hours a week during week days.
I can do most of the theory by myself, navigation will probably need proper exposure and exercise.
I've got an eye-test booked tomorrow and I'm arranging a class 2 medical for asap. I've had ECG on a bike/treadmill in the past as part of my health plan and it's come back as fine. I am overweight, my resting heart rate is 55-58bpm.
Other Info
Redhill is easier and quicker for me to get to and the traffic is less likely to get snarled up
Redhill landing fees are 50% of Biggin
The contact with people I've had at Biggin has been more positive, but I haven't spoken to all the schools at Redhill yet.
The context
I don't plan to go commercial, too old and I have an rewarding established career, but I have wanted to learn flying from my teenage years and had planned to go out to Florida to do an intensive course about 20 years ago, but other things got in the way and it never happened.
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Visit and chat to the flying clubs, book in a trial flight with them.
Talk directly to them about what you want and the time you can offer for training
Get a feel for what the club/school is like, chat to some members.
Blackbushe and Fairoaks are also close to you, they both have some good clubsand schools on site.
You are starting on the right track getting the medical done, especially if you are older. That is a big block to people with undiagnosed health problems.
Overall cost is going to be £11-12k for a PPL these days, likely higher with fuel surcharges.
Another option, as you mentioned, would be to head off to Florida, California, mid-West US and do two months there instead, cost is about the same with flights and accommodation/sundries, but with a holiday thrown in too.
Talk directly to them about what you want and the time you can offer for training
Get a feel for what the club/school is like, chat to some members.
Blackbushe and Fairoaks are also close to you, they both have some good clubsand schools on site.
You are starting on the right track getting the medical done, especially if you are older. That is a big block to people with undiagnosed health problems.
Overall cost is going to be £11-12k for a PPL these days, likely higher with fuel surcharges.
Another option, as you mentioned, would be to head off to Florida, California, mid-West US and do two months there instead, cost is about the same with flights and accommodation/sundries, but with a holiday thrown in too.
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Join Date: Jun 2022
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Hats On To Fly
Thank you for your input.
I've visited Redhill Aviation and found they were booked up for the next 5 months and had an extensive waiting list. They looked the most professional and seemed the busiest. They were also quite keenly priced and had dedicated reception and back office staff. They have a fleet of SEP craft. Harvard was much smaller and I couldn't get them on the phone initially. They seemed quite friendly. They have 2 x PA28. Cubair were the third training company, they have several aircraft too. Their main learner's PPL craft are a pair of Katanas, quite modern looking with more up to date instrumentation, a PA28 and a Slingsby aerobat plane. Cubair are about 15-20% more expensive. Their offices are smarter than Harvard's and they have hangar space for their aircraft, whereas Harvard have them parked outside. Redhill Aviation and Cubair seem more professional. Harvard seems to be more like a club.
I have booked a trial flight with Harvard this weekend. I'll see how it goes.
I'm keen to do 2-3 hours a week. I have flexible work arrangements, so I'll see who can accommodate my availability requirements.
I don't think it's any cheaper to fly in Florida or California, the poor GBP/USD exchange rate precludes that. The chief advantage is that the weather is more reliable.
Thank you for your input.
I've visited Redhill Aviation and found they were booked up for the next 5 months and had an extensive waiting list. They looked the most professional and seemed the busiest. They were also quite keenly priced and had dedicated reception and back office staff. They have a fleet of SEP craft. Harvard was much smaller and I couldn't get them on the phone initially. They seemed quite friendly. They have 2 x PA28. Cubair were the third training company, they have several aircraft too. Their main learner's PPL craft are a pair of Katanas, quite modern looking with more up to date instrumentation, a PA28 and a Slingsby aerobat plane. Cubair are about 15-20% more expensive. Their offices are smarter than Harvard's and they have hangar space for their aircraft, whereas Harvard have them parked outside. Redhill Aviation and Cubair seem more professional. Harvard seems to be more like a club.
I have booked a trial flight with Harvard this weekend. I'll see how it goes.
I'm keen to do 2-3 hours a week. I have flexible work arrangements, so I'll see who can accommodate my availability requirements.
I don't think it's any cheaper to fly in Florida or California, the poor GBP/USD exchange rate precludes that. The chief advantage is that the weather is more reliable.
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The main thing I would ask yourself is this: Do the people working here seem nice? Are they taking an interest in you or are you having to do all the legwork? I’ve been to a few flight schools in the past where they all seem to have an incredibly high opinion of themselves and had rather forgotten who was paying whom. Ultimately a supportive school with good instructors is what you want.
I’d be interested to know how you get on, as Redhill is my local airfield and I keep thinking about renewing my SEP rating but have never quite got around to it. The cost these days is just eye watering, on top of everything else going on with the cost of living. I’m surprised to hear that Redhill aviation are booked up for the next 5 months!
When I did my PPL many moons ago I think it cost £5k all in. I nearly spat out my tea when I read the quote above about it costing £11-12k now!
Good luck.
I’d be interested to know how you get on, as Redhill is my local airfield and I keep thinking about renewing my SEP rating but have never quite got around to it. The cost these days is just eye watering, on top of everything else going on with the cost of living. I’m surprised to hear that Redhill aviation are booked up for the next 5 months!
When I did my PPL many moons ago I think it cost £5k all in. I nearly spat out my tea when I read the quote above about it costing £11-12k now!
Good luck.
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Getting the medical out of the way early is a very good decision.
I would have a trial lesson at more than one flying club school, here's why:
The first flying school I went to was a place that I'd been thinking about for a while. I knew a PPL holder who flew there and he seemed to think the aircraft were fairly good and the prices were competitive. When I booked I explained that I had come from a gliding background and was interested in doing a full PPL. When I arrived (somewhat early since the traffic wasn't as bad as expected), I was left in a room which I shared with some wasps. I was then met by an instructor who didn't complete a proper briefing, I had to mention the fact I had previous experience since the question wasn't asked. We then went out to the aircraft which appeared well-looked after and he proceeded to go through lots of checks without explaining what any of them were. I asked about trying the taxi/takeoff etc. which I was allowed to do, both were uneventful. Given it was now apparent I had some experience of flying, I was allowed to fly pretty much the entire flight. What surprised me was that the instructor seemed to think it suitable to receive/send text messages and when we were on a slightly choppy short final, he was taking pictures (it was a very clear day), landing was uneventful and there was very little debrief.
The second flying school I went to I just about arrived on time at due to an oil tanker spilling it's load and closing a motorway. I was introduced to my instructor who carried out a full briefing, asking about any previous experience. I was then shown a full "A" check of a moderately-worn Cessna 152 (we were the first flight of the day) and the instructor talked through the checks as we were starting up. I did a small amount of taxiing, however the instructor flew the takeoff (grass runway), once in the air we covered exactly what had been briefed, the entire time was focused on instruction. Instructor flew the circuit and landing, explaining that he wanted to instruct it fully emphasising the correct techniques after completing other items in the training syllabus. A debrief and discussion about the syllabus followed. I completed my PPL with this particular flying school last year and would be inclined to recommend them though it's possibly a bit far from the OP's location (about 80 minutes drive I'd say). My trial lesson instructor, who I've kept throughout training and subsequently for check flights/conversions, has been flying for around 30 years and is a career instructor, I've got a type conversion with him booked in next week. The only negatives are that the runway can get very muddy during winter if there's a lot of rain and that some of the aircraft interiors look and feel a bit worn.
Don't get too set on any particular flying club/school, I had the first one on my mind for a while however based on my experience there I decided to look elsewhere. The second one I'd sort of had in the back of my mind as a reserve option if other options weren't available but I was very impressed during my visit and have flown there since.
I would have a trial lesson at more than one flying club school, here's why:
The first flying school I went to was a place that I'd been thinking about for a while. I knew a PPL holder who flew there and he seemed to think the aircraft were fairly good and the prices were competitive. When I booked I explained that I had come from a gliding background and was interested in doing a full PPL. When I arrived (somewhat early since the traffic wasn't as bad as expected), I was left in a room which I shared with some wasps. I was then met by an instructor who didn't complete a proper briefing, I had to mention the fact I had previous experience since the question wasn't asked. We then went out to the aircraft which appeared well-looked after and he proceeded to go through lots of checks without explaining what any of them were. I asked about trying the taxi/takeoff etc. which I was allowed to do, both were uneventful. Given it was now apparent I had some experience of flying, I was allowed to fly pretty much the entire flight. What surprised me was that the instructor seemed to think it suitable to receive/send text messages and when we were on a slightly choppy short final, he was taking pictures (it was a very clear day), landing was uneventful and there was very little debrief.
The second flying school I went to I just about arrived on time at due to an oil tanker spilling it's load and closing a motorway. I was introduced to my instructor who carried out a full briefing, asking about any previous experience. I was then shown a full "A" check of a moderately-worn Cessna 152 (we were the first flight of the day) and the instructor talked through the checks as we were starting up. I did a small amount of taxiing, however the instructor flew the takeoff (grass runway), once in the air we covered exactly what had been briefed, the entire time was focused on instruction. Instructor flew the circuit and landing, explaining that he wanted to instruct it fully emphasising the correct techniques after completing other items in the training syllabus. A debrief and discussion about the syllabus followed. I completed my PPL with this particular flying school last year and would be inclined to recommend them though it's possibly a bit far from the OP's location (about 80 minutes drive I'd say). My trial lesson instructor, who I've kept throughout training and subsequently for check flights/conversions, has been flying for around 30 years and is a career instructor, I've got a type conversion with him booked in next week. The only negatives are that the runway can get very muddy during winter if there's a lot of rain and that some of the aircraft interiors look and feel a bit worn.
Don't get too set on any particular flying club/school, I had the first one on my mind for a while however based on my experience there I decided to look elsewhere. The second one I'd sort of had in the back of my mind as a reserve option if other options weren't available but I was very impressed during my visit and have flown there since.
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Yep, 5 months wait for weekend training, 2-3 months if most of my training was during the weekday at RHA.
AVGAS is £2.60 a litre, about 20% more expensive than Shell VPower. The PA28 burns through 28-30 l/hr, so £78 just for the fuel. £25 for landing.
The PA28-161 is quite worn, the oily bits and control surfaces seem ok, but it may not inspire confidence for some people.
Effectively I had two trial flights with Harvard. One instructor was only available at weekends and the other mostly weekdays. So really one suited me more than the other, as I'd want to keep the weekends free for family stuff and paperwork on a Sunday morning.
I've decided to commit to Harvard for the next 5 hours and see how I get on. So far so good. Ian is structured and provides 'ground school' support with a briefing and debrief after the session. I'm given some homework to do so that I have a better idea of what's coming up (I would've done it myself anyway). He mixes up the syllabus up to keep things interesting.
AVGAS is £2.60 a litre, about 20% more expensive than Shell VPower. The PA28 burns through 28-30 l/hr, so £78 just for the fuel. £25 for landing.
The PA28-161 is quite worn, the oily bits and control surfaces seem ok, but it may not inspire confidence for some people.
Effectively I had two trial flights with Harvard. One instructor was only available at weekends and the other mostly weekdays. So really one suited me more than the other, as I'd want to keep the weekends free for family stuff and paperwork on a Sunday morning.
I've decided to commit to Harvard for the next 5 hours and see how I get on. So far so good. Ian is structured and provides 'ground school' support with a briefing and debrief after the session. I'm given some homework to do so that I have a better idea of what's coming up (I would've done it myself anyway). He mixes up the syllabus up to keep things interesting.
