30 minute trial lesson
from$195
- Briefing and walk round before the flight
- Hands on the controls once clear of the circuit
- A logbook entry for the flight
- A short debrief on the ground
Take the controls with an instructor beside you
Trial lessons and training towards a private pilot licence in two seat and four seat training aircraft, flown from a quiet airfield outside town. Send an enquiry and the chief instructor writes back within two working days.
30 or 60minute trial flights
1 to 1instruction on every flight
6 daysa week, weather permitting
- Rated flight instructors
- Flying six days a week
- Evening ground school
- Quiet airfield, short taxi
Trial lessons with your hands on the controls
Every trial starts with a briefing on the ground and a walk round the aircraft. Once clear of the airfield, the instructor hands over the controls and talks you through each move.
60 minute trial lesson
from$345
- Time to try climbs, turns and a descent
- A look at the local area from around 2,500 feet
- The instructor talks through the landing
- A longer debrief with the next steps for training
Pilot for a day
from$560
- Two flights of 45 minutes each
- A ground school taster on how wings fly
- Planning a short route on a real chart
- A tour of the hangar with an engineer
Trial flights depend on the weather. When the cloud, wind or visibility is wrong we rebook the flight at no charge. A passenger can join some trials in the four seat aircraft for an added fee.
What private pilot training costs by the hour
Training is priced per hour rather than as a fixed package, because no two students need the same number of hours. The legal minimum is set by the aviation authority of the country issuing the licence, and many students fly beyond it before the skill test.
| Item | How it is charged | From |
|---|---|---|
| Two seat training aircraft | Per hour flown, fuel included | $210 |
| Four seat aircraft | Per hour flown, fuel included | $265 |
| Flight instructor | Per hour of flight and briefing | $65 |
| Ground school course | Two evenings a week for one season | $650 |
| Landing and approach fees | Set by each airfield visited | Varies |
| Medical and exam fees | Paid to the examiner and the authority | Varies |
After a first conversation we send a written estimate based on how often you can fly. Lessons are paid for after each flight, and nothing is taken in advance for hours not yet flown.
The path towards a private pilot licence
This order is typical, but the exact rules, minimum ages, medical class and exams are set by the aviation authority where your licence is issued. We confirm them with every student at the start.
Trial lesson
A first flight to find out whether flying is for you, before spending anything on training.
Medical and registration
An aviation medical with an approved examiner and student pilot registration, as your authority requires.
Lessons and ground school
Regular flying lessons alongside the evening theory course, ideally once or twice a week.
First solo and navigation
When your instructor judges you ready, a first solo circuit, then cross country flights.
Exams and skill test
Theory exams, then a skill test flown with an independent examiner.
Learn on aircraft built for students
Most lessons are flown in two seat, high wing training aircraft that are stable, forgiving and easy to see out of. Students who later want to carry passengers move on to a four seat aircraft with a little more power.
A licensed engineer maintains every aircraft on the schedule the authority sets, and the maintenance records are open to any student who asks. Before each flight the student and instructor check the aircraft together, so the walk round becomes part of the training.
- Two seat trainers for most lessons
- A four seat aircraft for later training
- Dual controls in every aircraft
- Headsets provided for every flight
Subjects in the evening ground school
Theory is taught in small evening classes, with one to one sessions for anyone who falls behind. The list follows a common syllabus, and the subjects and exams can differ where your licence is issued.
- Air law
- Meteorology
- Navigation
- Principles of flight
- Aircraft general knowledge
- Flight performance and planning
- Human performance
- Radio communication
- Operational procedures
Classes meet on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 19:00 to 21:00 in the briefing room, with practice papers before each exam.
Around the airfield
Briefings, walk rounds and the views that keep students coming back for the next lesson.
Logbook entries from our students (example reviews)
The 60 minute trial was the best birthday present our dad has had. The instructor explained everything before take off and let him fly most of the way back.
Training around shift work was never going to be quick, and the school was honest from day one that weather and rest days would stretch the timeline. Every lesson still had a clear plan.
Ground school finally made meteorology make sense. Small classes, patient teaching and plenty of practice papers before the exams.
Questions from the briefing room
Is a medical certificate needed?
Not for a trial lesson flown with an instructor. To fly solo and train for a licence, most countries require an aviation medical from an approved examiner, and the class needed depends on where the licence is issued. Anyone with a health condition should talk to an aviation medical examiner before committing to training.
How many hours does a licence take?
The minimum is set by the aviation authority issuing the licence, and many students fly more than that before they are ready for the skill test. We never promise a number of hours or a finish date, but we review progress with each student every ten hours.
Is there an age limit?
Trial lessons are open from age 12 with the written consent of a parent or guardian, who waits at the airfield. The minimum ages for flying solo and holding a licence are set by each country's authority.
What happens when the weather is poor?
Safety decides, not the booking. If the cloud, wind or visibility is unsuitable, the lesson moves to another day and nothing is charged for it.
Are there height and weight limits?
Small aircraft have weight and balance limits, so we ask for height and weight in confidence when you enquire. If an aircraft cannot take you safely, we say so before anything is booked.
Can training be done part time?
Yes, and most of our students train around work. Flying once or twice a week keeps skills fresh, while long gaps usually mean repeating exercises.
Send an enquiry to the chief instructor
Tell us what you would like to fly and a little about your experience. The chief instructor replies within two working days with dates for a trial or an estimate for training.
- A written estimate before any training starts
- Each lesson paid after it is flown
- Weather cancellations rebooked at no charge
Find us at the airfield
Phone the office while it is open, or write in and an instructor answers between flights.
Flight school office
Flight school building beside the main hangar at a small airfield outside town
Opening hours
| Tuesday to Sunday | 08:00 to sunset |
| Monday | Office only, 09:00 to 17:00 |
| Ground school | Tuesday and Thursday, 19:00 |
See the aircraft first
Visitors are welcome at the flight school building to see the aircraft and meet an instructor. The apron and runway are entered only with a member of staff.
Arrange a visit