Qualifying for a Private Pilot's License is, for many, the culmination of months of hard work, study and lessons. For some, it's the first milestone along the way towards becoming a commercial pilot; for others, it will be the fulfilment of a cherished lifelong dream in its own right. But what actually happens once ...
It's not uncommon for a surprise birthday or Christmas gift trial lesson voucher to lead onto completing a full pilot’s license course - we make no apologies for introducing potential pilots to a highly awesome yet addictive activity! Your first ever flying lesson will be conducted by a fully qualified flying ...
Learning to fly requires a significant investment of your time and money; most students have a finite budget for both. A good instructor will be able to provide high quality training, whilst also making the most of your resources. Experienced instructors often have a few tricks up their sleeves to accomplish this... ...
In addition to the UK’s civil and military aerodromes, there are hundreds of smaller, grass airfields set up by private individuals (termed 'farm strips'). If you own suitable land, it’s possible to set up your own - of course, planning restrictions and practical considerations apply. We outline some of them here. ...
Part of gaining your Private Pilot’s License is learning how to communicate using the aircraft’s radio. A number of students fear talking over the airwaves; some of mine have said it’s the scariest part of flight training! However, knowledge dispels fear. Here, we share some tips and tricks to promote good radio ...
As well as allowing a pilot to experience magnificent nocturnal views, being qualified to fly at night provides greater capabilities (and safety margins) than a day-only license. Here we outline the training and techniques required for night flying, and the extra benefits for a PPL in doing so. The Training ...
In the not too distant past, a multi-engine piston (MEP) rating was a logical step after completing a Private Pilot’s License (PPL) – but as aircraft aged without replacement designs, and fuel costs soared, the number of multi students drastically reduced. Happily, new aircraft designs are now again putting twin ...
So, you’ve invested in a trial flying lesson, had an outrageously awesome time, caught the aviation bug, subsequently decided which license to train for, then been carefully coached towards superb levels of flying by your instructor ....and now you’re ready for your final flying test. Every aspirant pilot must ...
One of the many excellent and fun reasons to learn to fly is to visit new places by air. Taking your friends and family on an aerial adventure to a faraway location (or maybe just seeing their homes from above) is incredibly rewarding. But how do pilots navigate about the skies, and find their way to these ...
So, you've completed a trial flying lesson (if not, check out these affordable introductory flying lessons!) and have caught the aviation bug! But what happens next? How will the your ongoing training work? And more importantly - how can you maximise the expenditure of your hard earned cash?In this article I'll talk ...
