It is the due laws of libel that I was being wary about. I agree constructive criticism is a good thing and axe-grinding isn’t. I don’t think Spartan is the axe-grinding type but we all need to be careful about libel, hence the comment.

Melv

Not just that but only having experienced one flying school I don’t have much to measure them against so it could just be that I was expecting way too much.

Having said that I’ve spent the afternoon at another school getting to know the owners and the senior instructors and they seem a lot better. I’m going to sleep on it, have a few trial lessons at different places and then make the decision.

Many thanks to you all for your advice.

Regards, S

There was a survey once in “Which” magazine that said the two tings people didn’t change often enough were banks and doctors. You could add Flight Schools to this!

Obviously I’ve been spoilt in the past – previous flying experience being as an air cadet – flying with the RAF from Southport. The RAF guys always seemed to love what they were doing and love taking you up.

The problem with training in this country now is that the requirements needed to become and instructor are so great that most of the people doing it are on the route of hours building for an ATPL. Some of these make excellent instructors, but for others teaching is a bore that is getting in the way of their 767 captaincy and you are just a number that is required to get them where they want to go, what you want to do is less important to them (sound familiar?).

Ah that explains a lot.

I learned to fly at Thruxton and still fly from there. The CFI has been flying since God was a boy and is great. Of the other instructors, two are on their way to ATPL jobs but are good instructors (if they read this I will deny I said this . . .) and the other is a committed full-time instructor.

Just a bit too far for me, only ever make it to Thruxton to see the motor racing occasionally. I’m further north, just west of Swindon in fact.

Cheers again, S