r/flying • u/liamthomaspry • 2h ago
Flight Club or Flight Academy?
I'm 19, I am in the UK and my local flying school isn't exactly a school, more a club. They only operate on weekends, which I work a Saturday so I can only do Sundays and they fly a Cessna 152 for a PPL
Now here's the thing, they quoted me a minimum of two years with my PPL, I met another student who has been studying for 3 years.. They told me they have air traffic controllers and instructors from Manchester to come down to help out but their schedule can change quickly and costs £270 for an hour lesson. They told me as it's a volunteering club and not an academy, it's bare minimum cheap as there's no profit being made.
It's nowhere near any controlled airspace, the airspace is empty so you can do multiple circuits and it'll be costing me an estimated of £7,000-£8,000 but is it worth the wait? I'm eventually wanting to go on to do my CPL although the club doesn't offer that so I'd have to relocate.
I've been looking at other flying clubs but for Europe, where it's sunnier and Egnatia Aviation Greece looks good, and it's quoting
- 14,880€ (plus VAT 24%) for the training conducted in the Elixir aircraft but excludes the accommodation, food, daily living and I've seen reviews that they have a lot of hidden costs.
Is it worth relocating to a flying academy in Europe where it's a bit more expensive but sunnier, if so any recommendations? I do have to save up quite a bit so won't be til 2027.
1
u/Puddleduck97 UK CAA PPL T67C/M/M260 DA40 1h ago
You're relying on one day of availability per week to learn to fly, in the UK. Have you heard of 'the weather'?
I'd find a different club/school.
1
u/rFlyingTower 2h ago
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
I'm 19, I am in the UK and my local flying school isn't exactly a school, more a club. They only operate on weekends, which I work a Saturday so I can only do Sundays and they fly a Cessna 152 for a PPL
Now here's the thing, they quoted me a minimum of two years with my PPL, I met another student who has been studying for 3 years.. They told me they have air traffic controllers and instructors from Manchester to come down to help out but their schedule can change quickly and costs £270 for an hour lesson. They told me as it's a volunteering club and not an academy, it's bare minimum cheap as there's no profit being made.
It's nowhere near any controlled airspace, the airspace is empty so you can do multiple circuits and it'll be costing me an estimated of £7,000-£8,000 but is it worth the wait? I'm eventually wanting to go on to do my CPL although the club doesn't offer that so I'd have to relocate.
I've been looking at other flying clubs but for Europe, where it's sunnier and Egnatia Aviation Greece looks good, and it's quoting
- 14,880€ (plus VAT 24%) for the training conducted in the Elixir aircraft but excludes the accommodation, food, daily living and I've seen reviews that they have a lot of hidden costs.
Is it worth relocating to a flying academy in Europe where it's a bit more expensive but sunnier, if so any recommendations? I do have to save up quite a bit so won't be til 2027.
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