Wanna be Pilot lost in world!

Talking about detail on particular schools I asked that question elsewhere, you may wish to peruse the answers which seem to have a large number saying the training at Stapleford is good, but there isn’t much of a ‘club’ feeling. Many pointing towards Andrewsfield in Essex, which may be a little far for you.

http://forums.flyer.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=83574

Moggy

Thank you so much Tony, Viscount and Moggy!
This is really good information to start up with it.. I will not rush into things quickly now..!
I will read through couple of books and thing you all mentioned..and then will visit local schools with Log book and will first of take trial lessons and then will make decision what I should do..!
Sounds like plan..thank u so much once again..!
If you have anything more, in terms recommendation on particular school, books and etc..pls do let me know..I would always prefer to prepare little myself bfore my first flight..!
Take care u all..!
With Warm Regards..GBP

Never, never, never pay any money upfront to any training organisation.

I thought if you did using a credit and NOT a debit card you would be covered if they went bust, the rest is sound advice though, try phoning a school near you, they will if they are any good be able to talk you through the differences and what is involved, costs etc.. and also items “SPL and PPL” the first prevents you doing trips abroad as one example. do a trial lesson, you might find it’s not for you, you also might find it reinforces your dream 😀

I would also recommend registering / reading

http://www.pprune.org/

Sorry, missed catching that detail in a reply. So a reasonable selection of airfields and flying clubs to choose from. The advice regarding acquiring a logbook first before trial flights is a good one so that they count towards training hours. Indeed reading back through the replies, all the advice appears sound and helpful. I wish you every success.

Right – Start here.

1) Buy a logbook. A normal PPL version such as
http://www.afeonline.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=42&products_id=199
will do fine.

2) Visit every school within decent travelling distance. Explain what you are up to and see how they respond. It’s an important decision, don’t skimp on the research.

3) If you get a feel for a couple of schools or more, then book a trial flight with each, taking your logbook with you when you go.

4) After the flights get your instructor to help you fill in the logbook and sign the flight you just completed. In this way no money is wasted. That time counts towards the 45 hours minimum you need to qualify.

5) Now, equipped with this information, decide which school suits YOU best.

Go with it.

It’s a long, hard road, but 5) ultimately worth it.

Moggy

@Viscount – He has already mentioned E London and Stapleford. I think we can assume he’s not too remote 😉

There are many excellent flying schools all around the country. Your choice will depend very greatly on where you are resident. Unless you live somewhere spectacularly remote then I would suggest that you ‘Google’ and investigate all the airfields/flying schools within an easy 30-40 minute drive, an hour tops. It becomes a little ‘time ridiculous’ when you spend over 2 hours on the round road trip only to find the weather has changed. Life style comes into this to, I know of someone who lived very close to an very active training airfield, but learned to fly three hours from home at an airfield not far from where he had a weekend family caravan.

You don’t seem to be looking for a residential course with the aim of learning quickly heading to be an airline pilot, if so, then your choice is more restricted and the selection of the right school more critical and other factors come into play such as UK or US based and the qualification level/type you are ultimately aiming for.

Maybe a truism, but you will find that when talking to club members that there is only one best flying training school – and that is the one they learned to fly at (or just occasionally their’s was the worst because in some way they were let down by the organisation). Flying schools in the UK are highly regulated, so there is little room for ‘bad’ flying training organisations. By taking the advice to ‘pay-as-you-go’, you are free to change your choice of training organisation and pick-up roughly where you left off – the main penalty being the cost of another Club membership.

Without a rough idea of intended geographical location, the answers and suggestions provided here can only be generalisations. Within a 40 mile radius of my urban location, I can think of around 10 flying training clubs/schools at 4 different airfields (more if microlight/sport clubs/airfields are considered) – all with very good to excellent reputations. It is the detail that separates them eg type/mix of aircraft, qualifications offered, way charges are calculated, ability to offer weekend/early/late lessons (especially if essential to fit your life-style), ratio of staff and part-time instructors, type of aerodrome (from International airport to grass field) etc., etc.

A friend recently was asking the same sort of questions you are. He looked at websites, asked around, considered cost estimates – but ultimately he booked a trial flight at the three clubs (a microlight school, an aero club and for the experience a helicopter school) and considered just how much he enjoyed the experience and how motivated they were to get (and keep) his business. Mind you he then lost his job, so flying training plans went on ‘hold’!

If it isn’t too far away from you, you could try The Pilot Center, at Denham. Talk to them, they might have what you want.

I do not have any commercial connection with them.

Got it…Thank you so much John..! 🙂
Sound good to me..will buy this book and read it at least couple of times bfore going for any lessons then!
I will also make sure that I do not pay anyone upfront..!
BTW, Can you pls recommend me good school where decent health n safety plus affordable prices for training?

Thank you so much all for your sharing..! Cheers!

Just two pieces of advice:

Never, never, never pay any money upfront to any training organisation.

Buy a copy of the late, great Bill Gunston’s book: “The Theory and Practice of Powered Flight.” Read it and read it again and yet again. Once you’ve done that, you’ll know the theory of flying an aircraft !

I live in East London and 28 years old male, My education background is Electronics & Telecom engineering but working in IT.
I checked near by one is stapleford flying school but have not visited it yet.
Thank you!

Far more information required from you

Where are you, and your age is relevant. Tell the intarweb something about yourself.

The only advice that I can give without that is, to visit your local flying school and ask them.