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Learning to fly

It’s far more accessible than you might think!

If you can drive a car, you can fly a ‘plane!

You’ll gain a recreational aeroplane pilot’s licence with a minimum of 32 hours training, the full Private Pilot’s Licence can be issued after 45 hours and you can add additional qualifications, such as twin-engined aircraft, aerobatics, night and bad weather flying progressively. Keeping your licence current requires just twelve hours flying and a trip with an instructor every two years. Some people do enough to go solo, just to ‘tick the box’.

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Your new licence

A lifelong ambition, a change of career or simply a new and exciting challenge, it’s far more accessible than you might think.

With your new licence, the possibilities are endless. A weekend trip to France, saving hours of business travel as you land at one of hundreds of airstrips dotted around the country, or just the pure pleasure of flying your friends and family over their home.

Expect to spend between £4-£9,000 to obtain your Private Pilot’s Licence, £16-£20,000 for a helicopter licence and £25,000 or more for a Commercial Licence.

Many private pilots rent aircraft by the hour from our flying clubs after qualification, others join a group (of up to 20 members), buying a share in an aircraft and spreading the running costs. 

There are a huge range of outright ownership options. A basic two-seater can cost under £10k, a brand new four-seater, fresh from the factory to your own specification with the latest gadgets can cost around £300k.

Take a look at the links below about trial flights, and for our partners for both fixed wing and rotary aircraft training.  

Gloucestershire Airport