In this guide, we will go through the things that make a good flying school and a student-centred checklist for picking the right school for your needs.
Picking the right flight school is perhaps the biggest decision that you will ever make in your pilot training journey. Flight schools aren’t just for training; they are where you will be exposed to the many facets of aviation, which is why you need to do it once, but do it right!
Whether it’s a flight school with club services, a school that offers a diverse fleet of aircraft, or a school with exemplary instructors, you will need to choose the best flight school that fits your expectations without breaking your bank account.
In this guide, we will go through the things that make a good flying school and a student-centred checklist for picking the right school for your needs.
Flight School – Starting Right
If you think that you can get by without a good flight school, then think again. When it comes to pilot training, especially commercial pilot training, you need a school that can provide you with both faculty and facilities to get the most out of your training.
Even with private pilot training, you should always strive to get training on a diverse range of aircraft with great instructors.
While pilot training, especially for Private Pilot Licences (PPL), can be found at a much more affordable level, it is always best to opt for a full-fledged flight school, like Sherburn Aero Club.
Comprehensive flight schools are designed not just to train pilots but also to expose them to various aspects of aviation through in-house conferences, big air shows, access to club resources, in-house engineering, in-house medical, and much more.
A full-fledged school just offers a very formal and complete aviation training experience, like in other academia. However, the downside is that these schools are often a bit more expensive.
Even then, pilot training is consistently being made more affordable through merit programmes, offers, discounts, and general incentives.
This is why NOT starting right with a great flight school due to constraints is no longer a good excuse. It’s just a matter of researching, going out for visits, talking to people, and getting all the information.
What Makes a Good Flying School? A Student-Centred Checklist
Certifications and Regulation
Flight schools need to have all the necessary certifications and accreditations that prove that they are approved by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Most newbies use the bottom-top approach, where they do not know enough about pilot training or schools, so they just start their search with the lowest budget in mind.
Some pilots may offer flight training, but you should know that if the pilot does not have a certification to be an instructor, then this type of training will be considered illegal.
Always look for approval from the CAA. Most reputable schools operate either as an Approved Training Organisation (ATO) or a Declared Training Organisation (DTO).
These certifications confirm that the school provides highly standardised training and that your licence will be recognised universally. It also confirms that aircraft maintenance and instructor qualifications within the school are highly regulated and therefore legal and safe.
Qualified and Experienced Instructors
Good instructors make the biggest difference to student success. Instructors are tasked with not just training but also building valuable intuition that can help pilots in everyday operations, and more importantly, during emergencies.
This is why the faculty of a school should always be at the top when picking a flight school. Whether it is Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) or Private Pilot Licence (PPL) training, the experience of the instructor will determine how well you train throughout your journey.
Students are encouraged to ask about instructor availability, turnover, and student-to-instructor ratios in class to determine the overall quality of the faculty of a school.
Aircraft Fleet
As mentioned above, having a diverse aircraft fleet is as necessary as having well-experienced instructors. Furthermore, aircraft condition in general also directly affects both safety and training reliability.
Students should look out for the number of available aircraft for training, how often the aircraft are grounded for maintenance, and whether there are any backup aircraft available to carry out training.
These questions can help highlight the overall fleet layout and condition of the flight school. If the school has old and worn-down aircraft that are usually grounded for repairs, then you can bet that you will likely face a lot of delay during training.
Flight schools like Sherburn, that also have their own in-house engineering wing, feature multiple aircraft like the Cessna 150, the Piper PA-28 Warrior and Cadet.
Since the engineering team is within the aerodrome, you can bet that the aircraft will be regularly maintained, and even if there is a reason to ground a plane, there will be back-ups for you to choose from.
Training Cost
This is a no-brainer! There is a saying that the best flight school is the one that you can easily afford.
This is true, but there are a lot of nuances to unpack in the statement, too. The problem is that many flight schools present themselves as being affordable but may also have several hidden fees.
This is why pricing transparency is very important. If the flight school doesn’t provide you with a complete breakdown of costs and gives you lump sum figures, then you should know that this is considered a red flag.
Flight schools must provide everyone with a list of all costs that they can expect, which is one of the ways students are able to budget their training as well.
We recommend that you look for the following costs:
- Hourly aircraft rental
- Instructor fees
- Landing fees
- Exam fees
- Equipment and study materials
Be careful when dealing with package deals that may club all costs into a “package”. These deals may have several hidden fees and may have conditions that make them comparatively more expensive over time.
Structured Ground School
Ground school training is the other side of the coin for flight training. Most people focus on the cool, practical stuff, but great pilots are those who sharpen their skills and mind.
This is why ground school training is so crucial. Without proper ground school training, you will not be able to apply theoretical knowledge during practical training. Keep in mind that you will have to pass all the aviation exams to obtain your licence.
We highly recommend that you focus on getting into a school that has a structured ground school that provides great classroom training for all subjects of PPL and CPL training.
Checking for Reviews
When it comes down to your final decision, we highly recommend that you compare your research with the online reviews that you can find for your shortlisted schools.
Asking people who have already gone through the training experience at a flight school is the best way to get the most out of your expectations. We suggest that you look into the bad reviews first.
Bad reviews often get straight into what to watch out for and can help you cut through the noise. However, it is important not to dwell on just one bad review. Rather, you should focus on finding patterns. If there is a pattern of a particular bad thing, like the unavailability of aircraft for training, then you should take this into consideration as well.
How Much Training Is Required to Become a Pilot
There are minimum levels of training required for different types of licenses. Typically, there are three primary types of licences:
The PPL and the LAPL are great starting points for pilots. These licences allow you to command an aircraft for only recreational purposes; in other words, you can only fly as a hobby. The CPL, on the other hand, is for those who wish to pursue aviation in a more professional capacity.
Neither PPL nor LAPL can use their training for commercial purposes like crop dusting, air-medical services, surveying, etc.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) requires a minimum of 45 flight hours for a PPL, but most students need around 60–70 hours to become proficient, while a CPL requires a minimum of 200 flight hours, which also includes 80 hours of ground school training.
The LAPL has the most relaxed ground training and flight hour requirements since you will only fly in a hobby-related setting. However, you will also be limited in how you can fly aircraft. For example, LAPL pilots can only fly during VFR conditions and need to follow strict weather-related guidelines.
Licenses At Flight Schools for Pilot Training
Want to learn more about the types of licences that you can go for in a flight school? We have got you covered!
Here is a rundown of all the primary licences:
Light Aircraft Pilot Licence (LAPL)
A Light Aircraft Pilot Licence (LAPL) is the fastest way to get yourself into the cockpit. However, there are only specific types of light aircraft that you can fly with a LAPL, which include smaller trike-style aircraft and microlights.
The LAPL is a general licence, which means that you cannot fly for commercial activities or apply for employment as a pilot with this certification.
A LAPL requires a LAPL medical certificate, which has relatively relaxed medical requirements and focuses on the most important health aspects of the pilot, such as vision, mental, and physical health.
You will need at least 12 hours of training for a LAPL, but many pilots take about 20-25 hours to feel comfortable during routine flights.
Please note that the LAPL cannot be upgraded to Part-FCL, which allows UK licence holders to fly into European Union territory. Due to this reason, the LAPL is only valid within the borders of the United Kingdom. If you wish to fly elsewhere, you will need to upgrade to a PPL.
Private Pilot Licence (PPL)
The PPL is the backbone of the aviation industry because it allows everyday folks to become full-fledged pilots. Even though you cannot earn a living with this licence, it is an extremely gratifying and fulfilling way to get into aviation.
A PPL allows pilots to fly any type of light aircraft, such as the Cessna Skyhawk or the Piper PA 28.
This is a modular licence, which means that you can add certifications on top of it for even more flexibility. For example, for multi-engine aeroplanes, the PPL can be paired with additional training to fulfil the requirements required to fly these more complex aircraft.
PPL candidates must work towards obtaining a Class 2 medical certificate and a minimum of 45 hours of training. 10 hours out of these must be of solo flight, while the rest of the hours can be completed via dual instruction with a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI).
The PPL is meant for recreational flights and hobbyists, but it can also be upgraded to involve international travel and more.
Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL)
The CPL is the crown jewel of the aviation industry because it empowers pilots to use their pilot training to earn money and power the transport industry of the world. A CPL is designed to produce highly capable pilots who are trusted with the lives of passengers and precious cargo.
This licence requires a stricter training regimen and a gruelling process that picks out only the best and most capable pilots in the world.
A CPL requires a minimum of 200 hours of flight time with at least 300 nautical miles of solo flight, with additional hours required for simulation and ground school training.
It is important to keep in mind that not every school offers CPL training, so you will actively have to filter out schools that provide commercial pilot training during your research.
A CPL also has more in-depth medical assessments. This license requires a Class 1 medical certificate, which has more thorough requirements compared to the Class 2 medical certificate.
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.
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.
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.
Sherburn offers a dedicated day-long Flight Radiotelephony Operator’s Licence (FRTOL) course for those wishing to get the certification, running on 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 what makes a good flying school and how to choose the best one for your flight training needs.
Photo by Koon Chakhatrakan on Unsplash
