Read below to learn more about how to plan a trip to Worcestershire, which aircraft to take, and a list of the best aero clubs in the county.
Worcestershire is located within 150 miles of Sherburn, Elmet, making it the best place to fly to if you want to enjoy scenic views and experience the best of aviation! Although the county is known for its highly vibrant model flying community, you can find several high-class aero clubs that are focused on producing one of the best pilots in the country.
Worcestershire is known for its mix of beautiful landmarks such as the West Midlands Safari Park, the iconic Broadway Tower, the vast Malvern Hills, and of course the awe-inspiring Worcester Cathedral.
The county offers excellent aerial views, and its clear blue skies make it one of the best places to fly in the UK.
In this guide, we will go over the best aero clubs in the county and cover some of the basics of pilot licensing and how you can prepare your flight to Worcestershire!
Best Aeroclubs in Worcestershire
Here are some of the top aero clubs in Worcestershire:
Cotswold Aero Club
Cotswold Aero Club has cemented its reputation as a premier flying school in the county. Located at Gloucestershire Airport, this club is easily one of the oldest and most comprehensive flying clubs in Worcestershire.
The club offers trial lessons, top-class private pilot license training, and even additional certifications like Night and Instrument Ratings. The club is also one of the few to feature vintage biplane flights and provides self-fly hire! If you are looking for training or touring, Cotswold has you covered with its diverse range of aircraft!
Herefordshire Aero Club
Herefordshire Aero Club is located in Shobdon Airfield and is known for its friendly atmosphere and high-class training. The club focuses on the ultimate training experience by providing top-quality private pilot training with the help of its veteran instructors and facilities.
The club also regularly hosts social events, which makes it the perfect place for pilots to visit! Herefordshire Aero Club also offers aircraft rental services for people who want to take to the skies in a range of different aircraft.
Wolverhampton Aero Club
Wolverhampton Aero Club is located within Halfpenny Green Airport. Since the club is based in a well-established airport, you can expect all the amenities required by visiting pilots. The club also offers comprehensive flight training that covers private pilot training and even advanced certifications.
Wolverhampton Aero Club also has comprehensive aviation-related services and a fleet of diverse aircraft that can fit the needs of any aspiring pilot.
Stratford-upon-Avon Gliding Club
Located in Snitterfield near Stratford-upon-Avon, Stratford-Upon-Avon Gliding Club is the place for gliding enthusiasts who want to push the boundaries of their training. The club specialises in advanced glider training and due to its ideal location, it offers one of the most scenic aerial views in the county.
The club also offers trial lessons and has numerous membership options. Whether you are a beginner or a veteran, you can easily find something of interest at this club.
This club specialises in gliding. They offer trial lessons, membership options, and regular flying sessions for both beginners and experienced glider pilots.
Shropshire Aero Club
Shropshire Aero Club is based in Sleap Airfield and offers bespoke flight training, aircraft rental services, and a diverse range of aircraft for both beginners and veteran pilots. The club is known to host several aviation-related events throughout the year, which makes it a great place for pilots to grow their network and attend informative sessions.
Pilot Training Basics
Pilot licenses can be categorised into two programmes:
- Private Pilot Training
- Commercial Pilot Training
Private pilot training is for people who want to fly aircraft as a hobby. Using a Private Pilot License (PPL), you can learn how to fly without fully committing to aviation. For example, a private pilot can get to fulfil their dream of flying various light aircraft without having to commit to a career in aviation.
This is an important distinction because it has direct implications on the cost of the programme as well as the time it takes to obtain the license. Private pilot programmes are designed to teach people how to operate and fly aircraft using a curriculum provided by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
While it has strict requirements, private pilots tend to get their license quickly due to its relatively lower flight hour requirements compared to a Commercial Pilot License (more on this below).
Private pilots need to pass both theoretical and practical tests. Each component is crucial for obtaining a license. Furthermore, private pilot licenses also require a Class 2 medical license which confirms a pilot's mental and physical aptitude to fly aircraft.
Commercial Pilot Training
Commercial pilots power the world and enable aviation to monetise their services. Commercial pilot training is focused on producing pilots who go on to fly larger and more complex aircraft. These aircraft carry both people and cargo to and from different countries.
Compared to private pilots, commercial pilots have more privileges and can use their training to earn money. These pilots are hired by commercial airline companies and have a typical career ladder.
Due to the complexities required to become a commercial pilot, a Commercial Pilot License (CPL) is tougher to obtain due to its advanced training requirements. While the curriculum overlaps with the Private Pilot Programme, commercial pilot training requires more in-depth knowledge of each subject – and commercial pilots also have to undergo additional training.
For example, commercial pilots require more flight hours than private pilots and are usually also required to train for various modules like Instrument Rating, Night Rating, Dual-Engine Rating, and more.
These requirements also make commercial pilot training more expensive and time-consuming. Needless to say, if you decide to take the commercial pilot training route, then you must fully commit to aviation!
Finally, commercial pilots also require medical evaluations and need to obtain a Class 1 medical certificate. This certificate has strict requirements and the pilot's mental and physical health is thoroughly evaluated by a Certified Medical Examiner (CME).
Even though commercial pilot training may seem difficult, it offers excellent opportunities in aviation and beyond. Furthermore, commercial pilots are recognised and respected across the world and in every culture – so you are bound to get more out of a commercial pilot licence than a private pilot licence!
Planning the Perfect Trip to Worcestershire
Cross-county trips are exciting for any pilot! It enables them to fully utilise their training and enjoy scenic views. Here is how you can plan the perfect trip to Worcestershire:
Plan the Trip on Paper
When we say “paper”, we mean that you need to prepare a robust flight plan! A flight plan is the life and blood of your flight. It contains all information about the route, fuel calculations, alternative routes, terrain type, budgeting, weather forecasts, and much more.
This document is perhaps the most important in aviation since it directly holds the pilot accountable for their decision-making. This is why every pilot must prepare a comprehensive flight plan for every trip.
With a robust flight plan in place, if you ever run into problems during your flight, you can always refer to the document and make the necessary changes to your route without sacrificing the particulars of your flight.
Weather Forecasts
Weather forecasts are crucial in aviation so much so that meteorology is a foundational theoretical subject for all pilot programmes. While weather forecasting technology has come a long way since the dawn of aviation in the 1900s, the fact is that weather remains fickle.
This means that every pilot needs to account for weather forecasts for the day that they want to travel. Weather can pose a serious challenge while flying. So, your flight plan must contain weather information and alternative days just to be on the safe side.
Pilots are encouraged to use forecasting tools like the Meteorological Aerodrome Report (METAR) and other weather tracking tools available at aero clubs to plan their trips!
Budgeting Details
Budgeting is a core skill needed for every pilot. By making a thorough budget, you can plan your trip more easily and dodge situations that may end up costing you more money! For example, a basic budget covers fuel calculations for the trip.
Fuel calculations are important because they can allow you to know the bulk of your expenses for your flight. There are several tools that you can use to calculate the budget for your trip, however, the best way to confirm your fuel calculations is to share your flight plan with veteran pilots who have made similar cross-county trips.
This way you can learn how to improve your flight plan and make better calculations for the future.
Budgeting also covers miscellaneous expenses. For example, if you plan to extend your stay then you will need to account for lodging expenses. You will also need to add in expenses for food and drink. Please keep in mind that it is always best to overestimate your budget by a little more than underestimate it!
Documentation Requirements
Proper documentation is the cornerstone of aviation and what makes this industry so highly regulated and safe. Documentation allows pilots to fly without worry and even avoid penalties and fines.
Every pilot is required to have their pilot licence, their flight plan, preflight checks, flight logs, maintenance documents, and medical certificates in person. While you will rarely be asked to produce these documents during your trip, it is better to have them on hand than to face the consequences.
Aircraft Maintenance
As you can imagine, aircraft maintenance is extremely crucial! Every aircraft has a maintenance schedule that needs to be followed for the aircraft to be deemed safe for flying. Maintenance activities may seem trivial but are an important step in keeping the skies safe for everyone.
A typical maintenance document can cover things like the electronics of the aircraft, the mechanical aspects of the aircraft, and its engine health. If your aircraft of choice has a pending maintenance activity, then you must adjust your travelling dates according to the maintenance of your aircraft.
Preflight checks are also important because they enable the pilot to check the systems of the aircraft one last time before they take off. These checks cover a visual inspection that every pilot must conduct before they take off. Visual inspections are important because they can help reveal problems – and detecting them can make a world of difference!
While spotting issues in regularly maintained aircraft is rare, if in the case you do notice something, you must report the issue to the maintenance or engineering team on the ground at the aero club.
The on-ground team can immediately investigate the problem and give you an estimate of the severity and the time it will take to fix the issue. In some cases, you may have to postpone your trip or remain grounded until the issue has been fully addressed.
Making the Necessary Bookings
Aero clubs welcome visitors from all over the country. However, you should never show up unannounced. Most aero clubs are in busy airfields or airports which means that you will have to make prior bookings.
This is an important step because it can allow you to avoid unnecessary trouble and even fines. Most Aero clubs have a website that you can check out. For example, Sherburn Aero Club has a separate page for visiting pilots and you can find all the information you need in one concise webpage.
Furthermore, some aero clubs may require pilots to submit an online form. There are also cases where aero clubs may have specific policies for visiting pilots that may include noise mitigation policies, restricted areas, and preferred landing routes. Always call the aero club that you want to visit beforehand to be on the safe side.
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.
