This guide will focus on the importance of aviation in a community, how aero clubs help young pilots achieve their dreams, and a list of all the best aero clubs in Surrey to fly to from Sherburn.
Aviation is all about community building and the best way to experience the best of what aviation has to offer is to branch out and meet other pilots from different regions. Not only will this help you learn more about the craft, but it will also build long-lasting relationships that may come in handy when you fly into different regions!
Surrey is a fantastic place to travel to from Sherburn. Located near Sherburn, this county is beloved for its beautiful landscape and jaw-dropping sunsets. If not for networking purposes, you can also just take a relaxing flight to Surrey and explore what this county has to offer.
This guide will focus on the importance of aviation in a community, how aero clubs help young pilots achieve their dreams, and a list of all the best aero clubs in Surrey to fly to from Sherburn.
The Beginning of Aviation
Aviation isn’t an isolated field that works separately from its community. It is in fact an industry that is heavily dependent on the community! To understand how aviation enriches local communities we will have to go back to the 1900s.
The 1900s is thought of as a revolutionary time for humanity. Many experts believe that the cumulative efforts in science and engineering throughout the centuries resulted in the multiple breakthroughs in the 1900s which shaped the modern world we live in today.
One of these breakthroughs was in aviation. Aviation has been around in some form or the other since the beginning of civilisation. That’s right, evidence of scripts that highlight thought experiments on flying machines date back to the Greeks – and a few myths from Asia, specifically, China, go back even before that!
Humanity, it seems, has been obsessed with harnessing the power of flight ever since we looked up and contemplated how birds fly. However, the hypothesis of flying would remain elusive until the 18th century when the scientific method was beginning to take hold of our modern world. With advances in math, fluid dynamics, physics, metallurgy, and more, humanity had everything that it needed to turn aviation into a reality.
These efforts culminated in the events of 1903 when two self-proclaimed engineers took on the challenge of flight and successfully flew the first-ever manned aircraft.
The Wright brother’s fixed-wing design was heralded as the most important breakthrough of the century, and it provided engineers from all over the world with blueprints on how to build efficient aircraft that could sustain flight.
Since aviation was built by the people for the people, it has always been community centric. The exuberant costs of building the infrastructure for aviation made it one of the most capital-intensive endeavours of the modern world.
However, with a huge demand for people wanting to learn how to fly, it became pertinent that this industry would become extremely profitable – and these profits could then be reinvested in the community to further strengthen the goals of aviation and bring even more people into the field.
Enriching the Community
Aero clubs are at the heart of aviation and are even considered the bridge between the industry and the general public. The role of aero clubs is simple: to produce high-quality pilots that could become a part of the aviation industry and help push it forward.
Aero clubs offer pilot training, air events, engineering services, and much more. However, their bread and butter lie in the training aspect of the business. Aero clubs offer two types of training programmes.
The first is the private pilot training programme that produces pilots that don’t want to pursue aviation as a career and only want to experience the thrills of aviation. These pilots are often considered the ambassadors of the aviation industry in the community. Their calm and collected demeanour are inspirational and often serve to attract more people into aviation.
Some experienced private pilots may even decide to give back to the community by becoming flight instructors themselves. These pilots are often looked up to and in some cases, they can even become spokespersons for a community.
Aero clubs themselves do a lot to enrich the community. It is no secret that aero clubs aren’t non-profit. As mentioned above, since this industry requires quite a lot of capital, some of this cost is also passed down to customers. This is partly why flight training can be expensive. However, to compensate for this cost, well-established aero clubs also regularly give back to the community by investing in different aspects like education and even raising fundraisers.
In fact, aero clubs are quite popular for charity air events that attract not just people from a community but people from around the region. Aero clubs may also provide special discounts and incentives to younger people in a community to help them make a mark in aviation.
Becoming a pilot doesn’t change a person’s demeanour, but it can change their financial standing. For example, commercial pilots are often known to be handsomely paid by large airliners. So, if a student from a community enrols in a flight training programme through a scholarship opportunity, they can essentially change their life for the better! This is why in most regions, aero clubs are welcomed into the community as they attract people from around the region and help enrich the population, especially the youth!
Traveling to other Aero Clubs
One of the biggest reasons why private pilots fly to other aero clubs is to expand their network and experience how other aero clubs operate. Pilots have a code that they live by and wherever they go, they are treated like family. This type of comradery is quite rare in a shared profession, but in aviation, it is the norm!
Here are some of the key things every pilot should keep on their radar when planning to visit another flight school:
Bookings and Appointments
While aero clubs may not have the same level of traffic as established airports, they still tend to be busy during different parts of the day or week. A benefit of private pilot programmes is that pilots can usually choose when they want to learn how to fly. This convenience is especially great for people who want to learn how to fly as a hobby – however, this also means that the aero club would be highly subject to availability. For example, Sherburn Aero Club offers various flight training programmes, along with experience flights where people without flying experience can join in and fly with a highly trained instructor. This means that the aero club is usually busy around the weekend and at different times during the weekdays. So, in order for someone from another club to visit, they would have to first call in and book their arrival.
Failure to book an appointment before your arrival can result in penalties and may even cause unwanted stress. We highly recommend that you call in and ask about the availability of the aero club and if they have any specific policies for approach or landing.
Consult with Other Experienced Pilots
If you are planning a first visit to a county, then we highly recommend that you speak to experienced pilots who have been there many times. The reason for this is simple: instead of making a flight plan from scratch, you can use a template from experienced pilots and tailor it to your needs. This type of planning is a great way to save time and you can avoid a lot of the common problems associated with making a flight plan for the first time.
Please keep in mind that the goal isn’t to copy the flight plan but to take inspiration from it. For example, you can check out the fuel calculation for a similar itinerary in the same aircraft and learn how the calculations were made and the variables that were applied to come up with the fuel figures. This will immensely help you build the right skills to make a comprehensive flight plan on your own.
We also recommend that you ask for tips and tricks from experienced pilots and apply them during your journey. Please remember that aviation is a field that is built on shared experiences, so the more you learn from experienced people the better you will become at making your own solo flight plans.
Pick the Right Traveling Window
While flight schools are open around the year, you might find more value if you travel during certain times of the year. For example, the summer season is the perfect time to travel to other aero clubs due to favourable weather conditions and due to the number of air events hosted during that time. However, this may vary from one country to another. The USA regularly hosts air events from March (spring) to around the end of September (Fall).
If you don’t know when to travel, then begin by assessing your needs. Ask yourself why you want to travel! If your answer is for leisure purposes, then you could travel anytime depending on the availability of the flight school. However, if you want to travel for networking purposes or to witness air events, then we recommend that you check the schedule of the flight school to learn about the frequency of these air events and plan your trip accordingly.
For the best experience, we recommend that you travel during air expos or other aviation-related events because that is the time when you get to experience the best of aviation. People from around the world, let alone the country, come to witness these events and you can get to learn a lot from the numerous seminars and by meeting new people.
Here is a calendar for all the events in the UK. You can also check with your local aero clubs and inquire about their future events.
Best Aero Clubs in Surrey to Fly to From Sherburn
Surrey is located near Sherburn and has a rich aviation community with several aero clubs that you can visit! Here are our top picks for the best aero clubs in Surrey to fly to from Sherburn:
Redhill Aviation Flight Centre
Experience the beautiful countryside and terrain of this county with clear blue skies! Located in Surrey, Redhill Aviation is an excellent place to experience the best in Surrey. Not only does the flight school have an outstanding faculty for flight training, but the aero club is also well known for its community of private pilots. These pilots are considered to be one of the best in the region and if you are looking for a friendly visit, then we can’t recommend Redhill Aviation enough.
Surrey Hills Gliding Club
Surrey has some of the most dramatic peaks in the region and if you love gliders then we highly recommend that you visit Surrey Hills Gliding Club. This club has a lively community of private pilots and thrill-seekers who want to experience the rawest form of flying.
Gliding is an excellent way to experience the beautiful landscape of Surrey and the best part is that this club also has an extremely welcoming atmosphere where you will fit in quite easily! Please remember to book your arrival beforehand to avoid any issues.
Cloudbase Aviation
Located inside Redhill Aerodrome, Cloudbase Aviation is a well-respected aviation centre that provides extensive training services. Since the centre is located inside Redhill Aerodrome, you can expect to find all the necessary amenities too. We highly recommend private pilots visit this centre because it regularly attracts experienced and enthusiastic pilots from around the region.
EBG Helicopters
EBG Helicopters is located in Surrey and is a place for people who love to fly helicopters. Experience the best of Surrey in a helicopter and take in the beautiful horizon! This club features extensive services that range from training to engineering services and more. If you love helicopters, then EBG Helicopters should be at the top of your 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 Jay Mullings on Unsplash
