Flight Training
GROUND SUBJECTS
Flying aeroplanes is tremendous fun, but with it comes new responsibilities. In addition to learning to fly the aircraft, you must learn a whole new set of subjects - Aviation-Law; Theory-of-Flight; Navigation; Meteorology; Human Performance & Limitations, Radio Telephony and important details specific to your own particular design of aircraft.
“Oh No! I’ll never be able to do that” you’re thinking ….
 Yes, this all sounds a bit daunting doesn't it? But though these subjects may sound dull difficult and boring, they aren't. You really will find them very interesting and enjoy every single minute learning about them. By taking advantage of our combined interactive computer lectures and video films, plus the odd one-to-one sessions with our instructors you'll not only enjoy learning them but will sail through the tests easily.
However good or bad you were at school we guarantee that you will pass the tests because you'll get such a lot of help with our Groundschool lectures. The tests are, after all, only there to ensure that you know the highway code of the sky, be able to find your way around OK, and so that you won't ever get into difficulties you can't cope with.
NOW TO THE FLYING
This is done in three separate stages -
(1) Dual flying
(2) Supervised Solo local flying
(3) Cross-country flying
(1) DUAL FLYING
You will be taught in the safety of a dual-controlled aircraft with a fully qualified and friendly instructor.This will be over a period of about 15 to 18 hours, learning all the skills you will need for solo flight.
Much of the training is done on our simulator. This is a wonderful piece of modern technology - so realistic that you are fooled into thinking that you're actually up there in the sky. And another benefit is that it doesn't matter how foul the weather is, you still get to fly!
By the end of your first few lessons you'll be able to control the aircraft in straight and level flight as well as being able to steer it to follow roads and railways, or even chase the clouds. You'll be able to change the speed of the aircraft in straight and level flight as well as to climb and descend, and all this will have prepared you for the very important next phase.
 Now you'll start learning about 'circuit' procedure and the demanding and difficult tasks of taking off and landing, and this is where you'll need a little patience. You'll probably get 'stuck' here for a while and this is where our simulator really comes into its own because you'll be able to practise this very difficult procedure at a third of the cost. Not only that, but our fickle British weather won't stop you 'flying' so you'll get to grips with the skills required in a much shorter time - a real boon to individuals with a tight time schedule.
Eventually you'll make that exciting breakthrough which happens to all students... you'll have finally cracked the landing. Then we can concentrate on getting you to that really momentous occasion which no-one ever forgets... your first solo flight.
(2) SUPERVISED SOLO
This solo phase is where you really start learning to fly. Under the watchful eye of your instructor over a period of about 10 hours you will practise and polish your skills in the airfield circuit, in short local flights, and short cross country flights to the point when you are ready to demonstrate that your proficiency is at a high enough level to be let loose to roam the skies in almost total freedom.
At that stage you will take your GST (General Skills Test) This is a practical flying test conducted by a CAA examiner (probably your chief flying instructor, or at any rate someone equally friendly) when you will be expected to demonstrate a high degree of proficiency in a whole variety of manoeuvres and situations. For example, in one such situation you will be expected to land your aeroplane within a small circle following a simulated engine failure at 1000ft above the airfield. This may sound difficult, but you will find that by the time you have to do it you will have developed the high degree of skill needed to successfully execute that, and many more equally demanding tasks.
(3) CROSS-COUNTRY FLYING
 By now you will be putting into practice the details you learned in groundschool sessions, navigating your way around using compass and map, and using your knowledge of air-law and meteorology to fly safely. This is all in preparation for your two 'qualifying' Cross-country flights, both of which have to be a minimum of 40 nautical miles in total, with an outlanding on each flight at a place at least 15 nautical miles away. In fact you'll fly to exotic places like Sandown on the Isle-of-Wight and Compton Abbas in Dorset; considerably further than the minimum required distances.
USING YOUR SKILLS TO NAVIGATE AND FLY
Using your skills to navigate and fly to strange far off places gives a tremendous amount of enjoyment and a great sense of achievement, and all of this is the natural progression of your training which is now finished - and concluded when we’ve guided you through the paperwork to apply for your well-earned National Private Pilot’s Licence – rated for Microlight Aeroplanes.
A FOOTNOTE
It’s just possible that you might now want to add the other rating (Simple Single Engine Aeroplane - SSEA) on to your Licence, because, just maybe, you want to be able to fly a four-seater aeroplane so that you can take your family or three friends aloft. You have to get the SSEA rating to fly ‘Light Aircraft’ as opposed to ‘Microlight Aircraft’ which are limited to two seats.
But most people do this very quickly in no more than a further seven hours training on light aircraft and moves are afoot at Airbourne to be able to conduct this training with us on a new and exciting light aircraft the Italian Tecnam 'Sierra’.
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