Read below to learn more about how to pick the right flight school for your needs, how to plan a long-distance trip, and a list of the best aero clubs in Suffolk!
Suffolk is a quiet county with a prospering aviation community. The county is located in East Anglia which makes it an excellent option for people who want to experience a relatively long-distance flight from Sherburn. Suffolk is known for its scenic views, amazing geographical features, and welcoming aero clubs.
If you have been planning to travel to this county, then this guide is just for you. Read below to learn more about how to pick the right flight school for your needs, how to plan a long-distance trip, and a list of the best aero clubs in Suffolk!
How to Pick the Right Flight School
With so many flight schools in the market, it has become increasingly difficult for beginners to pick the right flight school. Every flight school is different, and depending on your personal goals, you might want to pick a flight school that best speaks to your requirements.
Here are some of the things that you should keep in mind:
Pick the Right Flight Programme
There are essentially two types of flight programmes. The first is the Private Pilot Programme and the second is the Commercial Pilot Programme. Both these flight programmes are designed to train regular people on how to fly aircraft. However, these programmes differ in their scope and training requirements.
For most people who don’t want to pursue aviation as a career, the private pilot programme would be the best option. This programme is geared towards people who want to fly planes for fun. Private pilots get to operate various light aircraft and can even further add to their training by taking on additional training modules. This type of pilot program is an excellent choice for people who are on the fence about fully committing to aviation.
If you don’t know where to start but want to experience the thrills of aviation, then we highly recommend that you pick this programme. The biggest benefit of this programme is its convenience. Since private pilots don’t have to train as much as commercial pilots, you can get into the cockpit much quicker and get your license in a relatively short time. However, this doesn’t mean that a private license is easy to obtain!
The Civil Aviation Authority, which governs all aviation activities in the country has set strict training requirements that cover theoretical and practical subjects. Once you satisfy the minimum requirement for this programme, along with the medical requirements necessary to obtain a medical certificate, you will be awarded a Private Pilot License (PPL).
This license will allow you to fly light aircraft at your own convenience and you can even participate in various air events if you meet the criteria for them!
On the other hand, commercial pilot training is completely geared towards training regular folks on how to fly large passenger aircraft. These are the pilots that you would usually see at a public airport. Commercial pilots have all the training requirements of private pilots – and then some.
For example, commercial pilots are required to study more in-depth material on each subject that they would touch upon in private pilot training. Commercial pilots will also be required to fulfil more training hours and they will also need to complete additional training modules like simulator training.
Unlike private pilots, commercial pilots can earn from their talents, and they are usually well compensated by large airliners who are constantly looking for great pilots!
Financing Your Pilot Training
Pilot training can be quite expensive. Whether you go for private or commercial pilot training, you will be expected to take out a considerable chunk of your savings to complete your pilot training.
Private pilot training is considered to be a relatively cheaper option for pilot training. Since this programme doesn’t involve as much training as commercial pilots, you may find private pilot training to be the best way into aviation. Commercial pilot training, on the other hand, is almost always more expensive.
Commercial pilot training requires more training hours, and you will also have to fulfil various other licensing fees. The good news is that many comprehensive flight schools usually offer various incentives to pilots.
For example, Sherburn Aero Club offers multiple discounts and financing options for younger pilots. This type of support can provide young aviators with the opportunity to realise their potential and even make a career in aviation.
Similarly, some flight schools may also work with local bodies to provide students with scholarship opportunities. If you are extremely passionate about aviation but don’t have the means to begin due to limited finances, then we highly recommend that you check out the incentives for top-flight schools – we are confident that you will find one that speaks to your needs!
Keep Amenities in Mind
Some flight schools may offer various amenities and supplementary services to enhance your training. For example, top flight schools, like Sherburn Aero Club, offer a dedicated common area where pilots can relax and hang out. You can also find a café, engineering services, medical services, and much more! These services aren’t necessary for most pilots, but they can surely enrich your time at the campus!
Another thing to keep in mind is the diversity of the fleet at the flight school. Most flight schools offer a diverse fleet of light aircraft which is great for people who want to expand their skill set and learn about different types of aircraft. Flight schools like Sherburn, have various aircraft that both private and commercial pilots can use for either training or leisure purposes.
If these amenities are important for you then we highly recommend that you make a list of flight schools that offer all the services that you need.
This way, you can use the method of elimination to shortlist the schools that best fit your requirements. Please keep in mind that the more amenities that a flight school provides, the more likely it is to have higher fees. So, if you have limited resources and don’t meet the criteria for financial aid, then you will have to go with flight schools that offer a no-frills experience.
Don’t worry though! Amenities don’t make a flight school – the instructors do! In most cases, you will find top-notch flight instructors at many of these no-frill flight schools.
How to Plan for a Flight
A lot of the operations of aviation take place on the ground! Planning is one such operation that is a prerequisite to flying. If you want to fly to Suffolk from Sherburn, you will have to follow a checklist before your flight.
Here are some of the top things to look out for:
Start with a Basic Flight Plan
Making a flight plan may sound easy, but you would be surprised by how many mistakes people make while creating an effective flight plan. We recommend that you start with a weather forecast! Weather is the one variable that we cannot fully account for. Even though modern technology has greatly improved forecasting accuracy, aviators still have some risk of running into bad weather. This is why we suggest that you use any of the free weather forecasting resources for pilots to check out the weather conditions for the day that you want to travel.
Once you have figured out the right traveling window, you should move on to the other aspects of your flight such as the terrain type, fuel calculations, budgeting, and more. A great flight plan covers every aspect of the flight which can significantly cut down risks and help you avoid emergencies.
Make Prior Arrangements
Traveling to flight schools isn’t as straightforward as taking off from your flight school and landing anywhere you want. Every pilot that travels to and from different aero clubs needs to make all the necessary bookings beforehand. Flight schools tend to be busy during different parts of the day. For the best experience, we recommend that you call the flight schools in your itinerary and plan your traveling window according to the availability of the aero clubs.
Another great best practice would be to also ask for specific landing policies of the flight schools. Please note that some flight schools may be located around restricted airspace (which you should highlight in your flight plan). If this is the case, then you will be instructed on your approach by the aero club beforehand.
Flex-Wing and Fixed-Wing Aircraft
There are primarily two types of light aircraft that private pilots can use. The first is the fixed-wing aircraft which follows a traditional aircraft design with an enclosed cabin and a seating capacity of up to six people. Fixed-wing aircraft are perfect for people who want to make long-distance flights. These planes offer better mileage and are the ideal choice for people who want to take passengers or cargo with them.
Fixed wings also have a complex instrument panel that allows them to be flown in conditions outside of VFR (Visual Flight Rules). For example, if you have an Instrument or Night Rating (IR/NR), then you may be allowed to fly a fixed-wing at night or during low visibility conditions.
The other type is called a flex-wing. These aircraft are much more compact and are ideally suited for short-distance flights. Flex-wings have an open cockpit design which offers breathtaking views and a very thrilling flying experience.
When making a choice, you should take into account factors such as distance, whether or not you are taking passengers, the purpose of the flight, and more. For the best experience, we recommend that you take a fixed-wing aircraft during your trip to Suffolk.
Best Aero Clubs in Suffolk to Fly to From Sherburn
Suffolk is an excellent place for aviators to meet and exchange notes on flight training. Here are some of the best aero clubs in the county:
Suffolk Aero Club
Suffolk Aero Club (SAC) is perhaps the best place for private pilots to visit from Sherburn. Located at Ipswich Airport, this aero club offers comprehensive services for pilots. From private pilot training to commercial programmes, this is probably one of the best flight schools in the county!
Ideally located, we think that private pilots will appreciate the near-constant and favourable weather conditions along with the friendly staff of the club.
Crowfield Airfield
Crowfield is a privately owned airfield in Suffolk that is known for its amenities and outstanding aviation services. Apart from its high-quality training, the airfield is also home to several air events that take place throughout the year. This makes Crowfield one of the best places for private pilots to meet other enthusiastic pilots from nearby regions!
Elmsett Airfield
Elmsett Airfield offers a friendly and welcoming atmosphere and high-quality training services for private pilots. The airfield has various amenities and is an excellent place for private pilots to learn the basics and even practice complex manoeuvres. The flight instructors are top-notch, and you can expect customised and focused lessons that are catered to your skill level.
Skyward Flight Training
Located in Rougham Airfield, Skyward Flight Training prides itself on providing one of the best training experiences in all of Suffolk. This school has a slightly different approach to flight training. Instead of training every student using a standardised schedule, Skyward students are offered generous tuition appointments to make the most out of their training.
This can prove to be an excellent flight school for people who don’t want to keep up with the pace of the entire class. This means that you may be provided additional attention which can have a significantly positive impact on your overall training.
As always, please make all the necessary bookings before your arrival at any of the flight schools mentioned in this list!
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 Niklas Weiss on Unsplash
