Learn to Fly

 

Do you find yourself constantly dreaming about flying?  Was it a childhood wish to be a fighter-pilot?  Or have you set yourself the challenge to learn to fly?  With a little bit of courage and effort, you can accomplish your dream and be soaring through the clouds in no time.

 

Flying Schools:

It’s not hard to find a flying school within reach of your home.  Of course if you want to learn to fly a more complex machine – helicopters, or commercial aircraft, for example – you may need to travel further a field to find an academy or training location.  Most flying schools are listed in the directory and probably have a website or friendly customer-service assistant that can answer any questions you might have regarding the types of aircraft, pricing and restrictions there may be for your lessons.  It certainly pays to research – having an instructor you are comfortable with, and attending a school that has a good safety record and reputation, is definitely worth the extra bit of investigation.  You might want to get in contact with the British Aviation Enthusiasts Society, who can advise you on the best schools to attend.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Licensing and Restrictions:

There are several kinds of licenses available in the UK, although most schools offer just one -  the Private Pilot License (P.P.L.), which allows you to fly single-engine aircraft.  It is taught by the JAR syllabus and is controlled in the U.K. by the Civil Aviation Authority (C.A.A.).  Although the P.P.L. is quite an involved course and involves several examinations and practical (take-offs, landings, plane control, etc) and theoretical situations (aviation law, meteorology, navigation, radiotelephony and so forth), the program ensures pilots are trained to a safe and competent standard.  The prices for the courses vary depending on the type of plane you use, the school you attend, and the way you pay for the program. 

 

The other varieties of licensing are the UK National Private Pilot License (N.P.P.L.), which limits the pilot to flying only UK-registered aircraft in the UK only, and only during the day.  There is also the Commercial Pilot License (C.P.L.) and the Airline Transport Pilot License (A.T.P.L.).

 

If you don’t want to get a full license but would like the experience of flying a plane, some schools offer introductory packages that include time in the air with an instructor.  It is also a good idea to consider gliding, which does not require a license in the UK and is a good introduction to the sensation of being in the air.  For younger aviation enthusiasts, it is possible to begin flight training at basically any age – however you cannot obtain a license until you are seventeen.

 

If you are an aviation fan or enjoy a challenge, why not learn to fly?  Not only would it be a great conversation starter and a fantastic skill to add to your repertoire, it quite literally would give you an uplifting feeling to know that you can fly like a bird, soar through the clouds, and look down on earth from above.

 

Copyright 2007. theFirst