Another Biggles

Hi All,

Hope this is the right forum for this - happy for this thread to be re-directed if not (Private forum maybe)? I'm a long time member of this PPRUNE (joined 2005), but I don't post much.

I recently acquired my EASA PPL (A) back in the UK, and am eager to do a little recreational flying for fun, to build hours, and to maintain my proficiency.

I'm currently residing in central Madrid as I'm studying my ATPL's via Distance Learning with Bristol GS.

I'd be interested in any help and advice about recreational flying nearby?

I've done some searches and discovered a lot of old information on such flying, but not much of the info is current. Basically I would like to find out:

- Where one can go flying nearby to rent aircraft? Cuatro-Vientos seems to be the only place nearby that I could find with schools that are operating, but I could only find one - Aero Centre - who allowed people to rent.

- All the other schools at Cuatro Vientos appear to be either defunct (or at least don't EVER answer their phones), closed for August, or interested in commercial and private training only - i.e. they do not offer aircraft for hire. I have tried: Aerofan, Gestair, Madrid Flight Academy, Aerotec, Royal Aero Club of Spain, Flyschool, Quality Fly, Aero Madrid, and Club de Vuelo TAS. Does anyone know of any other schools / groups for renting an aircraft every couple of weeks? I don't drive but in the name of progression, I'm willing to travel up to 90 minutes to get somewhere (same as my commute to my "local" airfield from london).

- I was under the impression (perhaps naively) that Spanish ATC spoke in English, but I've seen a number of recent (dated 2012) videos on youtube from Cuatro-Vientos, where all the speaking on the radio appears to be in Spanish? I'm going to check out Aero Centre on Sunday, but do you know if I could get by in English alone (my Spanish is basic at best)? Even if ATC spoke to me in English, I wouldn't be able to understand anyone else's chatter on the radio. I mean, what if I was in the circuit and couldn't understand where anyone else was positioned, joining or departing, etc? It would be extremely dangerous, surely?

Thanks in advance for any help or advice (any at all). Even if it is only to poke holes in my lack of foresight, or do the smiley at me for training in the worst recession ever (I'm well aware of the risks - it's my money I'm risking), so perhaps we can leave that debate for the endless threads elsewhere on PPRUNE if possible?

Worst case scenario is not able to fly here and have to wait until I return to the UK for my first lot of ATPLs in 2-3 months time and try and do a few hours then (though it will be the depths of winter... in the UK). Or wait until I've finished my ATPL's and just do it all at once with the rest of my training. However, I'm loathe to do this as it would mean a loss of proficiency, etc.

Thanks anyway,

Another Biggles

nopoal

Hi,

Years ago I rented pa28 in Aerocenter and Club de vuelo Tas. Around 150 euros the hour.

The best thing you can do is to go to Cuatro Vientos in person and have a look.

Speaking english won´t be a problem. In the past, ATC use to give priority to land to foreigners to avoid them holding in reporting point S next to all the pilots in trainning.

Good luck.

nopoal
spdbrks in, flap 15º

CRASH TEST

Try FLY AND FUN @ LECU airport.

Fly & Fun

Good luck!