Trial Lessons
Trial Lessons allow you to fly with one of our instructors and experience the thrill of piloting a real aeroplane! For further details please CLICK HERE
NEW! PPL Introductory Gift Package
If you're considering learning to fly this exclusive package offers the first three hours of flying lessons for only £430 and includes a FREE logbook.
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Private Pilots Licence (PPL)
The PPL course consists of a minimum of 45 hours of flight time (at least 10 of which is solo), with a skill test and some ground exams. In order that you do not get out of practice, we recommend flying no less than an average of one flight per fortnight. Frequent flying lessons help ensure you don't over-run the course minimum of forty-five hours.
Structure
The 45 hours flight training is a minimum requirement set down by the Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA). Certain flying activities must also have a certain mininum time spent on them (i.e. in-flight emergency training).
Your first solo will occur after about 10-15 hours. All flights will progress at a speed appropriate to your needs, so you will never feel overwhelmed by what you are doing. We also use a state-of-the-art synthetic flight training device (Elite) to complement aircraft training.
Other factors
Whilst you can fly solo as young as sixteen, the minimum age for holding the PPL is seventeen and any pilot wishing to obtain their licence must pass what is known as a class two medical. In simple terms, this is a basic medical check to ensure you are fit to fly. It is not very involved but can only be carried out by CAA approved doctors. You can start your flying training before obtaining your medical but you cannot be sent on solo flights without it. Wearing glasses is not usually a problem.
The type of aircraft you fly is another choice you will have to make. It is less expensive to learn in the Cessna and convert to the Piper Warrior after obtaining the PPL. The conversion only takes about two hours and is worth doing if you intend flying with extra passengers.
Ground studies
The ground exams which are part of the course are not particularly difficult. SFC can provide you with the best in training materials and ground instruction. There are seven exams, which have a 75% pass mark, and consist of just multiple choice questions. Study for this can usually be done at home but you can make use of our computer training software to teach and test yourself. As part of SFC's PPL course you will also take a practical and theoretical Radio Telephony (RT) exam which will entitle you to a separate RT licence upon passing.
Course Cost
The following gives an example based upon the minimum 45 hours training.
- Shoreham-based landing fees are charged by the airport and are applicable to the aircraft's final movement at the end of the lesson.
- Touch and go fees are charged by the airport. These are applicable when learning to take-off and land the aircraft. During these sessions the aircraft will land and then take-off again without stopping.
- Groundschool: There are only approximately 3 hours required as part of the course. Any additional groundschool sessions are on request.
- Test fees: 2 Civil Aviation Authority tests must be passed for the grant of a PPL.
| Cessna 152 | 2-Seater aircraft |
| 45 Hours @ £145.70 per hour | £6,727.50 |
| 45 Landing fees @ £18.21 | £819.56 |
| 30 Touch and go's @ £9.40 | £282.00 |
| Landing at other aerodromes | £75.00 |
| Five hours ground school @ £29.38 | £146.87 |
| CAA Radiotelephony Licence test fee | £99.88 |
| CAA Flight test fee | £199.75 |
| Seven ground exams @ £41.13 | £287.88 |
| Total | £8,638.44 |
| Piper PA28 Warrior | 4-Seater aircraft |
| 45 Hours @ £169.20 | £7,614.00 |
| Costs from the above table | £1,910.86 |
| Total | £9,740.86 |
All prices INCLUDE VAT
Prices are subject to change, current for April 2010
Prices do not include books and equipment
Advanced Training
In addition to our fleet of C152 and PA28 aircraft we can offer our PA28-181 Archer 3. This aircraft is the latest model and is equipped with a three-axis autopilot and moving map display. Luxuriously finished it is also faster than the PA28 Warrior.
For complex training we operate a PA28 Arrow, which has a variable pitch propeller and retractable undercarriage.
Night Rating
The night rating is probably the most enjoyable rating any aviator can achieve and the one with the least training time. A minimum of five hours flight time is required to obtain this rating and this is rarely exceeded by pilots who already hold IMC ratings. If you do not hold an IMC rating a further two hours of instrument appreciation flying may be required.
The rating allows you to carry passengers at night (subject to certain PPL restrictions and currency requirements). This opens up a whole new world of flying adventures! Flying at night is very different to daylight flying and many find it even more enjoyable.
The course consists of some night familiarisation flights, which include several touch-and-go landings and practicing dealing with electrical failures of cockpit systems. After some solo flying you can apply to the CAA for your rating. There are no ground examinations or flight tests for this qualification.
It is usually best to train for this rating in winter as it is difficult to arrange the course during the lighter evenings due to airport closing times.
The course is usually conducted in one of our Cessna aircraft which minimises training costs (however you can choose to train for the night rating in a PA28).
Course Cost
| 5 Hours night flying in a C152 including 1 hour of dual navigation | £896.00 |
| 5 Solo take-off and landings | £91.00 |
| Total | £987.00* |
* Excludes touch and go charges
IMC Rating
The Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) rating is highly recommended for anyone who intends flying frequently in the UK. The rating allows the pilot to fly in a much wider range of weather conditions, including in clouds and poor visibility. The rating is only valid in the UK but greatly improves instrument and general flying proficiency. It is one of the most challenging and useful ratings you can obtain.
The course length is fifteen hours and starts with a continuation of basic flight maneouvres in simulated IMC and flight on a partial panel (simulating cockpit instrument failures etc.).
You then progress on to navigating by radio aids - including VORs and NDBs - before using instrument approach procedures and ILS (Instrument Landing System) to help you land in poor weather. This is the most rewarding part and will build your confidence the next time you look at the weather forecast!
The course requires a minimum of 10 hours flying by sole reference to instruments.
The IMC rating does not give you additional privileges to your PPL with regards to flying in airways (Class A airspace), and you are still more restricted than if you hold a full instrument rating.
Nevertheless, this is a very worthwile rating to get and one that greatly increases your skills and airmanship. SFC carries out IMC training at any time of the year, and owns a number of well-equipped Piper PA28s - some of them airways compliant - to give you the best possible training.
We also operate instrument procedure trainers that allow you to practice various aspects of the IMC rating on computer before you get in the aeroplane. Our resident CAA examiner is fully authorised to carry out both practical and written exams once you and your instructor are satisfied that you can fulfil all rating requirements.
| 15 Hours dual flying with an instrument instructor | £2,775.94* |
*Excludes approach and flight test fees.
Refresher training - if you need it!
Once applicants have received their PPLs and launch out into the 'flying world', in the interest of safety it is important that the standard of flying achieved during their training is maintained.
All too often, the finer points involved in emergencies, slow flight, stall and spin awareness, basic instrument flight, and use of radio navigation aids can be neglected in the process of carrying passengers and visiting new destinations.
SFC offers fully AOPA-approved refresher training to tackle the problems which arise when flying only infrequently. Depending on the skill level and flying standard of the pilot, refresher training takes approximately three hours of flying which is structured as follows:
General flying to include all normal manoeuvres, circuits, landings and compliance with ATC procedures:
45 mins.
Simulated emergencies, including engine failure after take-off, practice forced landings, radio failures, air/ground fires:
45 mins.
Slow flight, stall & spin awareness:
45 mins.
Basic instrument flight to include recoveries from unusual attitudes/ spiral dives:
45 mins.
Total: 3 hours.