Read below to learn more about pilot training, how to pick the right flight school, and a list of the best aero clubs in Oxfordshire.
Ideally situated just 200 miles away from Sherburn, Oxfordshire is frequently known as the best short-distance flight from Sherburn, Elmet. Not only can you experience jaw-dropping horizons and picturesque manmade structures along the way, but you can also experience a strong community of private pilots.
Read below to learn more about pilot training, how to pick the right flight school, and a list of the best aero clubs in Oxfordshire.
Pilot Training 101
Pilot training has never been more accessible and structured than ever before. If you want to learn how to fly aircraft, then now is the best time to get into aviation.
Not only is there a huge and ever-growing demand for pilots in the world, but the community of private pilots is also at an all-time high around the globe. No matter where you go today, you will likely find a bustling community of pilots where you can share experiences and take exhilarating flights together.
Here is everything that you need to know about pilot training:
There are three primary types of pilot licenses and each has its own training requirements and difficulty level.
Private Pilot License
The first one is called a Private Pilot License. This license is as old as aviation, in fact, it was one of the very first licenses awarded to pilots after the first successful flight by the Wright brothers in 1903.
Private pilots need to complete the theoretical and practical modules of their flight training in order to qualify for a license. The practical aspect of the training involves logging flight hours. Private pilots require a minimum of 45 to 50 hours of flight time, which includes both dual (with an instructor) and solo flight hours.
The other aspect of flight training is theoretical training. This is where pilots spend most of their time on the ground! Ground school training involves theoretical topics ranging from meteorology to aircraft limitations, navigation, and more.
The purpose of theoretical training is to supplement the practical aspects of flight training. These theoretical topics give pilots an understanding of how aircraft operate and the basics of how to identify weather patterns, how to perform accurate fuel calculations, and more.
Private pilots also need to obtain a valid medical certificate to fly aircraft. This medical license is called a Class 2 Medical Certificate and is specifically designed to validate the general health of pilots.
The medical examination for the Class 2 certificate includes a thorough assessment of various aspects of the pilot’s health, including eyesight, hearing, cardiovascular health, and more.
Once the pilot has completed all the training requirements set by the Civil Aviation Authority, they can then apply for a private pilot license!
The best thing about applying for a private pilot license is that candidates can apply for it at their flight school. Aero clubs offer several supporting services that can help pilots obtain their license conveniently. For example, some aero clubs, like Sherburn Aero Club, also have on-ground engineering services and their own certified medical examiner for assessing the health of pilots and helping them get their medical certificate conveniently.
Commercial Pilot License
Commercial pilots are the people who make the modern aviation industry possible. These pilots are how the industry earns money!
With a Commercial Pilot License (CPL), pilots can operate larger aircraft that carry both people and cargo. Not only this, but a commercial pilot can also opt for other commercial services related to emergency services, crop dusting, and much more.
A Commercial Pilot License is a more comprehensive license which is why it also has stricter training requirements. Commercial pilot training follows more or less the same training modules as private pilots except for a few additional courses along with more in-depth training on every module.
The reason for this is simple: commercial pilots are required to fly more complex aircraft which simply require more thorough training. This is why commercial pilot training also covers simulation training, instrument rating, night rating, and more.
Furthermore, commercial pilots are also required to train on twin-engine aircraft which gives them a feel of how larger aircraft will fly.
Commercial pilot training is considerably more expensive than private pilot training since it requires more flight hours and in-depth ground school training. However, once you obtain a commercial pilot license, you can be sure that you will earn well with your skills!
Great commercial pilots are almost always snagged by large airliners, sometimes even before they graduate. This means that you will likely have a job even before you get out of school – which is an ideal situation for any pilot since they can immediately start to earn their license.
Perhaps the most important thing to note here is that not every flight school offers commercial pilot training. As explained above, commercial pilot training requires additional training modules like simulation training and night rating in complex aircraft. Some smaller schools might not have the facilities to provide commercial training!
More established aero clubs, like Sherburn Aero Club, are more than equipped to provide both private and commercial pilot training. Sherburn has an elite group of flight instructors and all the necessary equipment (including a fleet of aircraft) to train commercial pilot candidates.
We’ll discuss how to pick the right flight school for your needs in a bit, let’s first talk about another popular type of pilot license:
Light Aircraft Pilot License
A LAPL is an incredibly important license for aero clubs because it lowers the barriers to entry for candidates. A Light Aircraft Pilot License is designed to be a no-frill and lightweight license with minimal training requirements.
This license was developed by the Civil Aviation Authority to allow even more people to become pilots. Using a LAPL, pilots can fly light aircraft under VFR (Visual Flight Rules), which are basically a set of rules that dictate the ideal conditions for flight.
A LAPL is picked by people who want relaxed training timings and lower costs. It is perhaps the most important license for people who just want to pursue aviation as a hobby. However, since this license gives people a taste of what the world of aviation offers, it also leaves room for candidates to continue their flight training and invest more in their skills down the road!
How to Pick the Right Flight School
Not every aero club is built the same! Every aero club offers both advantages and disadvantages to candidates. Therefore, the trick for picking the right flight school comes down to four fundamental things:
Begin with your Needs in Mind
The first thing that you need to figure out is your expectations from the flight school. A great way to go about this is to understand your core needs. For example, do you want to pursue a private or commercial pilot license?
Some students may benefit more from picking flight schools that offer both. This way, even if you go for a private license, you will always have the opportunity to expand your learning by going for a commercial license later on.
This flexibility is key since you will likely have the same flight instructors that you will become accustomed to. Training with new instructors can be cumbersome and counterintuitive which is why many students prefer to have the option to learn more from the same faculty.
You might also want to decide the fleet of aircraft that you want to train on. Aero clubs work with the resources at hand, which means that if you go with a lower-tier club, then you will likely be stuck with limited aircraft options.
Flight schools like Sherburn Aero Club have their own fleet of diverse aircraft which are designed to cater to the needs of different students. For example, you can either fly a classic airplane like the Piper PA-28 Cadet or you can also try advanced training in a Piper PA-28 Warrior.
Picking the School with Experienced Flight Instructors
A fight school is only as good as its flight instructors. After all, you can have all the amenities and facilities in the world, but if you don’t train with the right faculty, then you will likely have serious gaps in your flight training.
Aviation is an experienced-based field, which requires hands-on training. So, in theory, you are likely to learn way more from experienced flight instructors than from enthusiast pilots. This is why many top aero clubs, like Sherburn Aero Club, have a team of retired airline captains and extremely capable private pilots with a successful track record.
We recommend that you check out the faculty of the flight school that you want to enrol in beforehand. Furthermore, it would also be a great idea to visit different aero clubs and meet the instructors in person to strengthen your decision-making process.
Budgeting is Key!
As explained above, flight training costs can vary depending on the type of license that you pursue.
If you are someone who wants to go for a Light Aircraft Pilot License, or a Private Pilot License, then you will need to filter all the aero clubs by their training costs to figure out the one with the lowest price tag. Almost every aero club offers basic flight training, so you should begin your analysis with the top three most affordable clubs.
Once you have made a list, you can then use the process of elimination to figure out the right school for your needs.
We recommend that you also consider the monetary advantages offered by flight schools. For example, many top-tier flight schools, like Sherburn Aero Club, provide deals, discounts, and scholarships. These incentives are important because they allow people with fewer resources to train at top-level schools!
We guarantee that if you follow this guide and consider all the three points listed above, you will find the perfect flight school that fits all your needs.
Best Aero Clubs in Oxfordshire to Fly to From Sherburn
Here is a list of the best aero clubs in Oxfordshire:
Enstone Flying Club
Located near Oxford, UK, Enstone Flying Club (EFC) is one of the top-tier flight training establishments in the county. Known for its exceptionally friendly and experienced flight instructors, this flight training school is designed for anyone who wants to learn how to fly.
Whether it's Private Pilot Training or Light Aircraft Training, Enstone Flying Club is specifically designed to help candidates who have difficulty grasping the concepts of aviation. Not only does this CAA-approved flight school offer great horizons and almost always clear skies, but you can also meet other enthusiastic pilots at the facility.
Go Fly Oxford
Situated inside London Oxford Airport, this aero club is the perfect place for students who want a comprehensive flight training school that can cater to their growing needs.
This flight school offers highly qualified flight instructors that are specifically trained to provide not just private pilot training, but also commercial pilot training along with additional courses that can help private pilots expand their skills.
Since Go Fly Oxford is located inside an established airport, you will also have access to all the amenities that you can dream of – and since this is a busy airport, you can expect to come across a wide range of private pilots too!
Oxford Gliding Club
If you enjoy gliders, then we have the perfect aero club for you! Oxford Gliding Club is a premier aero club for gliders. Whether you are an experienced glider looking for other fellow enthusiasts or a newbie, this aero club is designed to both teach and serve as a meeting place for experienced gliders.
The best part is that this aero club is located inside an RAF airfield which means that you can expect it to have all the amenities that a visiting pilot can hope for. Furthermore, you can also expect clear blue skies and stable weather conditions which are required to experience the jaw-dropping horizons of Oxfordshire.
WHY CHOOSE SHERBURN AERO CLUB
Sherburn Aero Club, which has been operational since 1964, is the ideal place for most of your training and flying needs. It is one of the largest flying clubs in the North of England and also one of the largest in the country.
If you wish to begin your career in aviation or wish to take to the skies as a hobby, Sherburn’s flight training school offers private and commercial licences, along with pilot medicals to ensure a smooth journey going forward.
For those who wish to experience the thrill of a flight for fun or to help fuel their aviation dreams, Sherburn offers experience flights for the newbie, as well as the veteran in various types of light aircraft.
With a large fleet of new aircraft and an airfield refurbishment with new runways, hangars, and an extended clubhouse, we cater to brand-new flyers who have just started their journey to the skies, as well as seasoned flyers who have been operating aircraft for decades.
The flight experience option is also available for people who wish to take to the skies for special occasions, even if they aren’t into aviation in the long run.
Sherburn offers a dedicated day-long Flight Radiotelephony Operator’s Licence (FRTOL) course for those wishing to get the certification, running the first Sunday of every month.
In addition to that, if you are looking for a hangarage for your own aircraft, need servicing or repairs, want to buy a new aircraft or aviation equipment, or are just looking to enjoy and watch the aircraft, Sherburn Aero Club is the place to be.
Call us at 01977 682 674, email us at flightdesk@sherburnaeroclub.com, or message us via our online contact form for more information on light aircraft, training requirements, fee structure, licencing procedures, as well as experience flights and pilot training at Sherburn.
Photo by Ben Seymour on Unsplash
