Herefordshire is a county located in the West Midlands region of England. Located just shy of 220 miles away from Sherburn, Herefordshire is perhaps one of the best relatively nearby places where private pilots can enjoy stunning views, breathtaking horizons, and a range of fun aero clubs.
Herefordshire is a county located in the West Midlands region of England. Located just shy of 220 miles away from Sherburn, Herefordshire is perhaps one of the best relatively nearby places where private pilots can enjoy stunning views, breathtaking horizons, and a range of fun aero clubs.
If you have been planning on a short trip to Herefordshire, then this guide is going to provide you with a list of all the best aero clubs in the county!
Read below to learn more about aero clubs, how to pick the right aero club for new students, a few best practices to keep in mind, and a list of the best aeroclubs in Herefordshire.
Picking the Right Club
For the uninitiated, aero clubs are a place where pilots fly – but they are so much more than that.
While the primary purpose of an aeroclub is to facilitate private flights and training, they are also excellent places where pilots can meet, network, learn together, and make long-lasting friendships!
However, picking the right school can be challenging! Since flight training is an expensive endeavour, students must pick the right school carefully to get the best bang for their buck.
Here is a quick guide on picking the right flight school:
Choose Faculty Over Facilities
If you want to be the best, then you must train with the best. While facilities are also important, especially if you are considering a Commercial Pilot License (which requires simulator training), you don’t necessarily have to go overboard with the amenities!
A great fleet of aircraft, great instructors, and basic social amenities like a café or a common meeting area are more than enough for any beginner pilot.
Keep in mind that aviation is a hands-on field that requires experience. Ground school will only take you so far. The time that you spend inside the cockpit, along with ground training is what makes pilots great.
Experienced instructors can teach pilots about the mistakes that they made during their careers which they can avoid! This is by far the best way to not just learn how to fly aircraft, but to also avoid rare instances that can jeopardise a flight.
Furthermore, flight instructors are also great guides for students who struggle with ground training. Aviation-related subjects can be tough, especially when you consider complex subjects that expand on the dynamics of flight.
Trained instructors have an eye for struggling students and can help them come up to the pace of the class whereas an inexperienced or indifferent instructor will just focus on finishing the course as soon as possible.
Aircraft Diversity
Diversity is key in learning to fly aircraft. While pilots can easily learn how to fly aircraft in just a single flex-wing or fixed-wing aircraft, it's better to have a variety if you want to expand your skills.
For example, a Cessna 152 Aerobat (2-seater) is an excellent aircraft for aerobatics because of its agile design, speed, and handling. On the other hand, a classic aircraft like the Piper PA-28 Warrior is great for everyday flying (and for advanced flying courses).
Training on a range of aircraft will allow you to understand the “feel” of how avionics work. This type of training usually helps students build intuition which can be indispensable in real-world flying scenarios.
Larger and more established clubs like Sherburn Aero Club, offer a wide variety of aircraft that cater to different needs.
Budget Everything
Flying isn’t cheap! Learning how to fly, more so!
Flight training is an expensive endeavour that can put quite a lot of monetary stress – but there is good news!
Due to competition in the market and the sheer number of aero clubs scattered across the county, you will find that aeroclubs offer extensive incentives and easy-payment solutions to cater to the needs of new pilots.
These incentives can either be in the form of deals, discounts, and even scholarships. This means that if you have a burning passion for aviation then you can apply for scholarship opportunities and go for advanced training at a reasonable cost.
The cost of training can vary depending on your programme.
- For example, the average cost for Private Pilot License (PPL) training in the UK typically ranges from £8,000 to £12,000.
Flight training involves both ground school training and flight training along with study materials, exams, fees, and other associated costs with licensing.
- An average Commercial Pilot License (CPL) training ranges from around £20,000 to £40,000 and even higher.
CPL is generally expensive because it requires in-depth training and additional training modules than a Private Pilot License.
- Meanwhile, Light Aircraft Pilot Training (LAPL) ranges from around £6,000 to £9,000 in the UK.
Shortlist Aeroclubs
For the best experience, use the points we discussed above to make a framework for shortlisting aeroclubs.
You can sort aero clubs depending on your needs. For example, if you want to expand on your skill set, then prioritise aircraft diversity, faculty, and pricing.
We highly recommend that you boil down the list to the top three schools. Then, plan a visit to each school to make a more informed decision.
By visiting the clubs, you will gain even more insight into how the school operates, what the campus life is like, the facilities, instructors, and the reviews of the school as per the students.
It would also be a good idea to talk to the instructors to understand their training style and whether they would be a good fit for your needs.
Best Practices for Visiting Other Aero Clubs
There are a few things that new pilots need to understand before they embark on a cross-county journey to visit other aero clubs. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
Start with a Foolproof Flight Plan
A flight plan is your best guide for any flight!
Flight plans include fine details about a trip – and these details can also help you get out of difficult situations!
A typical flight plan covers details about alternative routes, fuel calculations, terrain type, altitude limits, budgeting, and more.
These are minute details that are often omitted by new pilots who then run into potential problems like fines, or worse, even suspensions.
The best way to avoid any sort of embarrassment is to prepare a solid flight plan! Make sure that you share the flight plan with your instructors and other expert pilots so that they can validate it.
Make Prior Arrangements
Booking your trip beforehand is the best way to avoid inconvenience.
Aero clubs are usually very welcoming places, but you still need to maintain a level of professionalism when visiting any clubs.
This is why we recommend that you build your schedule based on the availability of the aero club. Depending on the time of the week, aero clubs can be quite busy due to the influx of students and private pilots.
Always call the aero clubs beforehand and then adjust your flight plan accordingly. We suggest that you first try to gain as much information about the club and its policies via its website.
Aero clubs usually provide all the necessary information for visitors on their site. In some cases, you might also be offered an online form that you will have to fill out and submit to the club before booking.
Focus on Aircraft Safety
Preflight checks are the best way to eliminate any risk! These checks are put in place by the Civil Aviation Authority to make the skies a safer place for everyone.
Begin by checking the maintenance schedule of your aircraft. Every aircraft has a schedule that needs to be strictly followed. You can also check out the last known faults in the plane and how they were addressed by the engineering team.
Aircraft are regularly checked for faults, but sometimes issues can arise between maintenance schedules, especially if the aircraft has been exposed to unusual weather conditions.
If you do end up spotting something, you must report back to the engineering team so that they can assess the issue and the overall condition of the aircraft. Keep in mind that the ground crew is there to facilitate you and keep you safe – so when in doubt, call in a professional!
If you don’t know how to perform an inspection then we recommend that you get help from seasoned pilots or instructors who can not only help detect issues but can also teach you about the best practices of inspecting aircraft.
A trained eye can help identify issues with the body of the plane, as well as the internal instruments. Once the aircraft is deemed ready, you can begin with your flight checks and regular preflight procedures.
Make Your Club Proud
Being on your best behaviour isn’t just recommended in aviation, it is a necessity!
When visiting other clubs, make sure that you are extremely amicable and professional. As soon as you leave the tarmac, you will become its ambassador both in the skies and wherever you land.
This is why you must be on your best behaviour and treat others like you would want to be treated yourself.
Pilots share a tight network that connects pilots from other clubs around the country, so if you make an avoidable mistake, then you will indirectly be affecting the brand image of your club!
Make your club proud and set an example when you meet other people. This way, you will not only gain rapport, but you will also help market the ethos of your own club!
Best Aero Clubs in Herefordshire to Fly to from Sherburn
Here is a list of the best aero clubs in Herefordshire:
Herefordshire Aero Club
Starting off with the best, Herefordshire is perhaps the most iconic aero club in the county. Known for its friendly staff, its amazing range of aircraft, and its proximity to jaw-dropping sceneries, we highly recommend Herefordshire Aero Club to any pilot who wants both a thrilling journey and great networking.
The club has been around since the 1940s making it one of the oldest running aero clubs in the county. Furthermore, the club is also full of rich history that dates back to World War II.
The club has everything ranging from amenities to great instructors, and challenging students. If you are looking for a place that is full of learning and can challenge your own skillset, then look no further.
Flyers Flying School
Flyers Flying School is located just near Herefordshire, making it one of the best places to visit if you are already planning to travel to the county.
This club has been around for quite some time and has been able to make a name as an affordable and friendly place for new pilots to learn how to fly. Known for its instructors, staff, and talented students, we think that this aero club is perfect for pilots who want to have shared experiences with other skilled pilots!
Fly Elstree Ltd
Located in Elstree Aerodrome, Fly Elstree is an excellent school that is located just near Herefordshire.
The best thing about this club (apart from its veteran instructors) is that it provides access to the nearby natural and manmade landmarks around Herefordshire. The club has been operational since 2009 and has quickly become one of the key flying schools in the county.
Whether it is casual flying or serious private pilot training, you are surely going to find your fill of adventure and learning here.
Please make sure that you call in advance to book your arrival. While Fly Elstree is a highly welcoming place, it can be quite busy depending on the day of the week.
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 Oslo Knappett on Unsplash
