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... ...
We're back again with the second part of our epic voyage into the exciting world of pre-flight prep! If you're not up-to-date, click here for part 1 before reading on. Without further ado, let's get back to it with a look at serviceability. Serviceability The pilot’s aerial steed must also be in serviceable ...
When preparing to go flying, every pilot, from the captain of a Boeing 747, to the pilot of a microlight, must consider a number of factors in order to determine that they can safely complete the flight - including weather conditions, aircraft serviceability, and the pilot’s qualifications and experience. There's ...
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. ...
Weather will always get pilots talking. Although that's admittedly not unusual among British folk, for pilots it can be a matter of life and death! Understanding how the weather works, and using the right resources to predict what is likely to happen at your airfield as you leave (and when you come back) are vital ...
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 ...
If you've ever looked at one of those big bulky full-motion flight simulators wobbling around seemingly without rhyme or reason, you'd be forgiven for thinking that they might be better for simulating sea sickness than anything approaching a realistic flight experience. From the outside, what looks like a set of ...
