Is General Aviation portrayed as elitist?

I still think that is the exception. You can rest assured he would have got treated a lot worse in many golf clubs!

Decorators around here earns tons. In fact if it wasn’t for robbing them I would not have had enough money to finish the Rearwin.

MH
PS His house wasn’t one of the ones I broke into was it? . . .

You hit the nail on the head Melvyn. Golf clubs are about the most snobbish places I can think of followed by Yacht clubs. Flying clubs tend to be more friendly and informal, the most friendly I’ve encountered are gliding clubs

I went to most of the airfields in my area before picking somewhere for my lessons.
At a couple of the schools I went to I felt that the staff were a bit intimidating and just wanted to give me a couple of sheets of paper with prices on and push me out of the door. Others were more interested in pretending they were an airline training school. At one I was asked if I was intending becoming an airline pilot, he seemed dissapointed when I said I wanted to learn to fly for fun! I was also made uncomfortable at one and felt I was being patronised because I am female.
I picked the school I’m at because i was made to feel welcome as soon as I arrived, was given a cup of coffee straight away and shown around the aircraft. I spent the whole afternoon there just getting the feel of the place and was never given the impression that I was intruding.

That is how all schools should be. If you are made to feel unwelcome they have little chance of getting your custom any way so they may as well make you feel welcome.

I still think that is the exception. You can rest assured he would have got treated a lot worse in many golf clubs!

Decorators around here earns tons. In fact if it wasn’t for robbing them I would not have had enough money to finish the Rearwin.

MH
PS His house wasn’t one of the ones I broke into was it? . . .

When working in the flying club I’ve openly chatted to anyone that walks through the door – even those in work uniform. My brother works in the trade. Though only young his more senior collegues earn a lot more than I do due to the shortage in trade skills we have in the UK. Potential punter these sorts because they have money to burn.

Sounds all too familiar…..

I’ve spoken with my friend’s husband and I’m sad to report that walked into the diner and was directed to the ‘flying office’. He was ignored for several minutes until he had to make his presence known. He then spoke to the ‘chief pilot’ who after a few minutes told him he didn’t think flying was the best hobby for him. He got the impression that this was because he was dressed in his work clothes, he’s a decorator by trade.
He did tell me the airfield concerned but I don’t think I should mention it by name. This happened mid 2003.

That is bad. Who is that fool of a CFI to judge someone before flying with them?

DME

I think it would be interesting to know a little more about the airfield and reception where this rejection took place.

I wouldn’t mind betting he was not rejected by instructors, who are usually hungry for customers.

I bet he was just unfortunate to meet with someone who got out of bed the wrong side that day. That’s absolutely no excuse though.

Can you say more about where it was?

I’ve spoken with my friend’s husband and I’m sad to report that walked into the diner and was directed to the ‘flying office’. He was ignored for several minutes until he had to make his presence known. He then spoke to the ‘chief pilot’ who after a few minutes told him he didn’t think flying was the best hobby for him. He got the impression that this was because he was dressed in his work clothes, he’s a decorator by trade.
He did tell me the airfield concerned but I don’t think I should mention it by name. This happened mid 2003.

How are you getting on Mel?

Moggy

Very well thanks, I didn’t have my lesson this weekend because of the wind. I also didn’t get my Stearman flight for the same reason but I’ve rearranged them both. We all went out for a meal though and I learnt a bit! 😉

I don’t know the situation at your club DME, from a personal point of view though I would have said to the prospective aviator that I was planning to fly and that they would be more than welcome to come down at xxxxhr, after I had landed, and I would show them around.
Everyone who shows an interest has to be made to feel welcome.
That’s how I am when I’m at the club.

DB

Normally I would have asked them to come down at xxxx hr but I was away all night and the other aircraft were booked until 5ish, and even them there’s not guarantee that they would touch down then.

DME

with 6 jumpers behind me itching to get out.

DB

Yeah, my passengers get like that too 😮

Moggy

No criticism of the school’s mode of operation intended. I’ve never had any problem with the meat bomber (affectionate term, not derogatory), but then I have a radio. I foresaw it could cause problems for the non-radio questioner, as you have confirmed.

Moggy

Best to give them a ring. I don’t think they’d have any objection were it not for the continual operation of the parachute school aircraft, (Known locally as the ‘meat bomber’). You’d need to know if they were active

They’ve now got two grass strips, one parallel to the main, the other crosswind.

Still only formally open Thursday through Sunday.

If it’s a problem, let me know and we’ll rendezvous at our strip (about 7 miles in a straight line) and fly across as a gaggle.

Moggy

Sorry to appear picky Moggy but some of your facts are a bit off the mark.
UK Parachuting at Old Buckenham does not operate “continually”, I should know because I am one of the pilots of said “meat bomber”.
It is a highly professional organisation and runs to exacting standards.

I can speak for my fellow pilots when I say that we will, and do, accommodate ANY aircraft flying in to Old Buck. On more than one occasion I have been in the hold at 12000′ to allow non-radio aircraft to land, with 6 jumpers behind me itching to get out.
In the descent I have shepherded lost aircraft and I have waited patiently at the hold for student pilots to make good their landings.

Yes you would need to know if they were active, a quick call would suffice.

Your post reads like Old Buck is a problem to fly in to when nothing could be further from the truth..

Blue Skies

DB

Old Buck is on my ‘to visit’ list for this year- would they welcome a non-radio Cub?

Best to give them a ring. I don’t think they’d have any objection were it not for the continual operation of the parachute school aircraft, (Known locally as the ‘meat bomber’). You’d need to know if they were active

They’ve now got two grass strips, one parallel to the main, the other crosswind.

Still only formally open Thursday through Sunday.

If it’s a problem, let me know and we’ll rendezvous at our strip (about 7 miles in a straight line) and fly across as a gaggle.

Moggy

Auster Fan,

It never even occurred to me there was anything contentious in your observations. It is probably me who should apologise for making confusing comments.

Old Buck is on my ‘to visit’ list for this year- would they welcome a non-radio Cub?

It can certainly be clique :rolleyes: 😉

Twas a bad experience. Better to go when when a) the couldnt-care-less admin girlie is not there b) the CFI is not busy and on the ground or c) the owner is watching a) 😀

He sounds like the most frightful oik. Do we even know what school he went to?

I hope you’re not talking about me!!! In my thread, I just wasn’t sure whether to mention OB by name as I didn’t know whether it was “good form” to do so. I certainly wasn’t trying to be elitist as I am not that way inclined – those who have met me will hopefully know that – and I will do my utmost to spread the gospel. I am sorry if the way I put my point forward annoyed anyone, as it certainly wasn’t intended to.

Unfortunatly my club does not have full reception cover, so last week someone phoned in saying that they were interested in leraning to fly and wanted to come down. I had to steer them away, not intentional, it’s just I was going flying and I did’t want to wait for an hour until he turned up (possibly may not have shown). I may have made him feel unwelcome, however, it would have been different if he came into the club when I was there, then I could have made him fell welcome by showing the facilities, aircraft etc etc. It’s not elitist, it’s just I was busy and that may well have been the case at the club in question, the members may have been planning a route and not even noticed the chap coming in.

DME

I don’t know the situation at your club DME, from a personal point of view though I would have said to the prospective aviator that I was planning to fly and that they would be more than welcome to come down at xxxxhr, after I had landed, and I would show them around.
Everyone who shows an interest has to be made to feel welcome.
That’s how I am when I’m at the club.

DB

Unfortunatly my club does not have full reception cover, so last week someone phoned in saying that they were interested in leraning to fly and wanted to come down. I had to steer them away, not intentional, it’s just I was going flying and I did’t want to wait for an hour until he turned up (possibly may not have shown). I may have made him feel unwelcome, however, it would have been different if he came into the club when I was there, then I could have made him fell welcome by showing the facilities, aircraft etc etc. It’s not elitist, it’s just I was busy and that may well have been the case at the club in question, the members may have been planning a route and not even noticed the chap coming in.

DME

I picked the school I’m at because i was made to feel welcome as soon as I arrived, was given a cup of coffee straight away and shown around the aircraft. I spent the whole afternoon there just getting the feel of the place and was never given the impression that I was intruding.

Doesn’t that make a salutory contrast with the experience related at the start of this thread?

Good to hear.

How are you getting on Mel?

Moggy

I went to most of the airfields in my area before picking somewhere for my lessons.
At a couple of the schools I went to I felt that the staff were a bit intimidating and just wanted to give me a couple of sheets of paper with prices on and push me out of the door. Others were more interested in pretending they were an airline training school. At one I was asked if I was intending becoming an airline pilot, he seemed dissapointed when I said I wanted to learn to fly for fun! I was also made uncomfortable at one and felt I was being patronised because I am female.
I picked the school I’m at because i was made to feel welcome as soon as I arrived, was given a cup of coffee straight away and shown around the aircraft. I spent the whole afternoon there just getting the feel of the place and was never given the impression that I was intruding.

Mel,

In all seriousness, and IMHO, you have made an excellent choice in flying school and, particularly, in your instructor, Dale. You will have the highest quality, expert tuition throughout your course, you won’t have to fly with anyone else until your flight tests. That in itself is very important for your continuation.
The aircraft are in top class condition both mechanically and visually, he is also adding to the fleet.
His method of teaching is of the highest professional standard, he is patient and calm at all times. You will have trouble finding a more skilful pilot/instructor.
As you know he is one of my formation pilots, we regularly fly close formation aerobatics in many types of aircraft including T6’s and I have complete confidence and trust in his skills when he’s 10ft off my wingtip, rolling and looping!!
Socially, his school has an excellent calender, with many events and trips organised, particularly to MoD Airfields and ‘behind the scenes’ opportunities.
He has organised trips to the Med, USA and other distant places.

I couldn’t overstate my recommendation to you.

Enjoy your course and Good Luck…

DB 🙂