Read on below to learn more about how to plan any cross-country trip, what to look forward to, and a few important things to keep in mind during your visit.
Wiltshire is ideally located and one of the best places to fly to and from within the UK. A ceremonial county in Southwest England, Wiltshire borders Gloucestershire to the north, Oxfordshire and Berkshire to the east, Hampshire to the southeast, Dorset to the south, and Somerset to the west. This makes it not only an excellent place to fly to but its proximity to other great aeroclubs means that you can expect to find many like-minded pilots in the vicinity of the county!
If you have been planning to visit Wiltshire, then this guide is just for you. Read on below to learn more about how to plan any cross-country trip, what to look forward to, and a few important things to keep in mind during your visit.
Keeping the Basics in Check
Since Wiltshire is located relatively near Sherburn (around 260 miles), pilots can expect a calm and fun trip to the county. However, in order to ensure that you make the most out of your trip, you will need to keep an eye on a few basic tasks.
Here is how you can plan a trip to Wiltshire from Sherburn:
Plan Ahead
Take a look at every successful flight in the history of aviation and you will likely find one common factor: they were always well-planned. Flying has always been riddled with risk – and even with newer technologies, we can’t eliminate the risk factor associated with aviation. However, what we can do is minimise the risk until it is barely negligible. In fact, this is what we have actually achieved through constant planning, innovation, and even legislation.
Today, flying is considered to be one of the safest forms of travel in the world with hundreds of flights taking place every day throughout the year. So, how does this industry manage such strict safety protocols? Well, one way they do it is by implementing proactive planning. This includes starting every flight with a well-covered flight plan.
A flight plan is the blood and soul of any trip. You can think of it as a document that contains the details of every inch of your trip! A flight ensures that the pilot is “in the know” at all times and has complete control over all the possible scenarios that can arise during their trip.
For example, if a pilot encounters technical difficulties, then they can refer to their flight plan to come up with alternative routes based on their flight plan. The flight plan also contains valuable information regarding the costs and fuel calculations of your trip.
These calculations can help pilots figure out the total mileage and cost of their trip and how much fuel they would need if they had to extend their trip due to unforeseen circumstances. A flight plan also contains minute information such as the terrain type and weather as well. This can help pilots assess the altitude and figure out the right way to manoeuvre out of bad weather.
So, if you want to make the most out of your trip, then we highly recommend that you spend adequate time planning so that you don’t have to worry about anything during your flight! If you are a new pilot, then the best way to go about making a flight plan is to consult with your flight instructor – or, even better, other experienced pilots.
Please keep in mind that aviation is built on shared experiences and the best way to quickly progress in this field is to always seek the advice of experienced pilots.
Use the Tools at your Disposal!
Aviation and technology go hand in hand. There are several instruments that pilots rely on to not only fly but to even navigate when they can’t see anything through their windshield. These tools are what make modern aviation possible.
Perhaps the biggest achievement of mankind is to successfully predict the future – but not in the way that you might think! See, weather is an extremely fickle factor that remains a big variable in aviation.
For centuries, no one could ever accurately predict the weather on a particular day, never mind the future. However, with the help of science and our understanding of concepts related to meteorology, we have been able to build a data-centric approach that has allowed us to not only predict the weather conditions of a particular day, but we can predict the weather several days in advance!
This means that pilots can easily plan ahead and make sure that they minimise every type of risk associated with their flight. Tools like a Meteorological Aerodrome Report (METAR) which provide pilots with accurate weather conditions can immensely help pilots make more informed decisions when it comes to picking a date for their flight and the required bookings for landing and lodging (if required).
Make Prior Arrangements
When you visit another aeroclub, you need to make all the necessary bookings in advance. Aeroclubs, especially the ones located inside established airports can be quite busy depending on the time of day. Not only do aeroclubs have their day-to-day operations, but some clubs also regularly see several visitors from various clubs around the vicinity. This means that you will have to book a time slot and a parking space for your aeroclub.
Please keep in mind that every aeroclub has its own policies regarding visitors. For the best experience, we recommend that you visit the website of the Aeroclub that you want to visit to learn more about their policies and fees. Some aeroclubs may also have special instructions for visitors like specific approach procedures. This can also include noise mitigation policies that require visitors to maintain the noise levels of their aircraft while visiting the club.
If you plan on spending more time at a club, then you might also have to make arrangements for your accommodation. Some aeroclubs feature a long list of amenities but not every club will have the necessary facilities to accommodate your visit. This is why we recommend that you research the places that you want to visit and then add their details to your flight plan.
Being on your Best Behaviour
Aviation is built on respect and camaraderie! As soon as you leave the premises of your aeroclub in your aircraft, you become the ambassador for your club. This means that you carry the respect of your club with you wherever you land. We encourage you to meet other experienced pilots and observe how they conduct themselves on and off the tarmac.
Pilots are built differently! They are looked up to and are regarded as highly respectable people in society due to their professional conduct. Furthermore, private pilots also share a special bond. Every pilot follows an unspoken code of conduct where they are extra accommodating to other pilots. This means that when you travel from your club to another to meet other pilots, you will be required to be on your best behaviour. After all, you will be representing the teachings and beliefs of your own club!
When to Travel to Wiltshire
While you don’t need to have a reason to travel to any county, in some cases, you may be able to extract even more value from your trip if you travel on specific occasions. Aviation is a very happening industry that regularly hosts events – and we aren’t talking about dry and boring events! Aviation events are like no other and they not only attract pilots but also the general public.
Air Events happen at different times throughout the year. For example, The European season usually starts in late April or Early May and is usually over by mid-October. During this time, you can expect a series of fun events that happen in different places across the country.
We highly recommend that you plan your trip in advance around some of these events to get the most out of your trip. Air Shows are an excellent opportunity for budding pilots to meet their heroes and get important advice and tips from extremely experienced pilots.
You can also partake in different air shows! That’s right, air events not only host seminars, but you can also expect to find fun air races, aerobatic shows, and even a showcase for future aircraft models. Some events also feature vintage aircraft along with modified aircraft.
The best part is that most of these events are either held officially by aviation bodies and the military, or independently by aero clubs. For example, Sherburn Aero Club (SAC) is known for hosting one of the most happening and fun air events in the county. These events are open to the public and are an excellent way to not only attract the general public but also to raise awareness for specific humanitarian causes.
There are several ways to learn more about the schedule of these air events. The best way is to visit the website of the aeroclub that you want to visit to learn more about their event schedules. The other way is to simply run a Google search for upcoming air events.
Best Aero Clubs in Wiltshire to Fly to From Sherburn
Here are some of the best aero clubs in Wiltshire to fly to from Sherburn:
Abbas Air
Abbas Air has been in the business for 27 years and has no plans of slowing down! They are one of the premier flight schools in Wiltshire and pride themselves in developing pilots of the future. Most of the students who graduate from Abbas Air go on to have prosperous careers in aviation. The Aero Club is also known for its private pilot programme.
Abbas Air is ideally located in Compton Abbas Airfield, where you can expect to find all the necessary amenities that you might need! Since this club has extensive operations and is usually busy during weekdays, we recommend that pilots make prior arrangements before planning their trip to this aero club.
Go Fly
Go Fly Club is not the biggest, but it is one of the best places for private pilots to hone their flight skills. The club is located inside Old Sarum Airfield and is perhaps one of the most approachable and friendliest air schools in the county. If you want to meet like-minded individuals who love aviation as much as you do, then we recommend that you visit here.
Old Sarum Airfield
As you may guess by its name, Old Sarum Airfield is a historic airfield with a rich aviation heritage that spans decades. This airfield has been around since the early days of aviation in the county and has helped hundreds of pilots realise their potential in aviation. Located near Salisbury, if you want to experience heritage along with a faculty of instructors like no other, then we recommend that you visit here! The airfield also hosts air events for the community and regularly sees hundreds of visitors.
Freedom Aviation Limited
Freedom Aviation Club is a flight school built by avid pilots - for pilots! It is the one-stop solution for anyone who wants to step into the field of aviation. This flight school has been around for some time and has quickly become a key flight school in the county. In addition to flying training Freedom Aviation also specialises in mentored hour building and hosts flying expeditions to Scotland, Ireland, France, Spain, Norway, and Sweden.
Cotswold Flying School Ltd
Cotswold Flying School is another premier flight school in Wiltshire. This flight school focuses on providing its students with an affordable and approachable way to teach aviation. The club is known for its bustling community of private pilots and instructors.
The flight club also features a prospering gliding community where gliders from around the county gather to train and take exhilarating flights together. If you want to kick back and enjoy a simple and bare-bone experience in aviation, then we highly suggest that you plan a trip to Cotswold Flying School!
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 Hulki Okan Tabak on Unsplash
