Flight Training

All our ab inito training courses start the same way, with learning the basics of the aircraft controls. You continue by using these controls to achieve level flight, climbing, descending and turning, which form the building blocks of all that follows. These handling skills are then put together in the circuit, where you learn to take off and land the aircraft. 

Once you have reached the necessary level of proficiency here, your Instructor will send you on your first solo flight around the circuit. This will only last a few minutes, but is the first milestone in your flying training. Nobody forgets their first solo!

After your first solo, you will look at more advanced aircraft handling before moving on to navigation.

During the course you will be required to fly a minimum of 10 hours solo, under the supervision of an Instructor, including five hours of solo cross-country flying. Part of this is the PPL solo qualifying cross-country, a flight of at least 150 nautical miles with landings at two other aerodromes before returning to Goodwood. After your first solo this is the next big milestone in learning to fly. Once this is completed you will revise and polish all your flying skills before the final PPL Skills Test with one of our in-house Examiners.

Before taking your Skills Test you must also complete nine theoretical knowledge exams, the same as on the LAPL course. These are taken at Goodwood during the course and the theory covered supports your practical flying training. We offer regular classes in all the exam subjects to help you prepare, or can provide one-to-one sessions if required. There is also an additional practical radiotelephony exam to be taken before you apply for your licence.

Once you have obtained your licence, this is valid for life. However, the SEP (single engine piston) rating that allows you to fly must be revalidated every two years. This can be achieved by having satisfied certain experience requirements during that time, or by flying a check with an Examiner.

All our ab inito training courses start the same way, with learning the basics of the aircraft controls. You continue by using these controls to achieve level flight, climbing, descending and turning, which form the building blocks of all that follows.  These handling skills are then put together in the circuit, where you learn to take off and land the aircraft.

Once you have reached the necessary level of proficiency here, your Instructor will send you on your first solo flight around the circuit. This will only last a few minutes, but is the first milestone in your flying training. 

After your first solo, you will look at more advanced aircraft handling before moving on to navigation. During the course, you will be required to fly a minimum of six hours solo, under the supervision of an Instructor, including three hours of solo cross-country flying. Part of this is the LAPL solo qualifying cross-country, a flight of at least 80 nautical miles with a landing at another aerodrome before returning to Goodwood. After your first solo, this is the next big milestone in learning to fly.

Once this is completed you will revise and polish all your flying skills before the final LAPL Skills Test with one of our in-house Examiners.

Before taking your Skills Test you must also complete nine theoretical knowledge exams, the same as on the PPL course. These are taken at Goodwood during the course and the theory covered supports your practical flying training. We offer regular classes in all the exam subjects to help you prepare, or can provide one-to-one sessions if required. There is also an additional practical radiotelephony exam to be taken before you apply for your licence.

Once you have obtained your licence, this is valid for life. There is no rating like the PPL has, however each time you fly you must ensure that you have satisfied certain experience requirements within the previous two years. If not, then you can carry out the additional flying required under the supervision of an Instructor, or fly a check with an Examiner.

Our expertise in training instructors is highly regarded and the majority of our graduates have gone on to establish successful careers in aviation. 

During the course you will learn:

• To fly with the precision and panache that is the Instructor's trademark.
• To operate an aircraft to its limits, and to handle it confidently throughout its flight envelope. 
• The skills required to become an effective teacher, both on the ground and in the air.

You will be taught by highly qualified Instructors who will draw upon their many years of experience, to make your course enjoyable and rewarding.

The course can be run either full-time or part-time, on our aircraft (either the Cessnas or the Cub) or possibly your own.

Pre-course entry requirements:-

• Minimum age 18 years
• English language proficiency Level 6
• Pre-course assessment flight with an FIC Instructor to establish required flying standard, to be taken within six months of the start of the course
• At least 30 hrs on SEP powered aircraft, of which at least five hours should have been completed in the six months prior to the pre-course assessment flight
• At least 20 hrs VFR cross-country flight time as PIC, including a flight of at least 300nm in the course of which full-stop landings at two aerodromes different from that of departure shall be made
• At least 10 hours of instrument flight instruction, of which no more than 5 hrs may be instrument ground time in an FSTD
• If holding a PPL(A):
  • At least 200 hrs flight time including 150 hrs as PIC
  • Met the knowledge requirements for a CPL(A), otherwise your ab-initio Instructing will be restricted to LAPL(A) only

In addition to the FI(A), we can also provide training for:-

• Renewal of FI Ratings
• Class Rating Instructor
•  
• For more information call 01243 755066, email flying.school@goodwood.com

If touring is more to your liking, we can arrange a cross-Channel check, going through the paperwork and procedures required so that you may fly to France and maybe beyond. Another useful option in this regard would be time spent exploring the capabilities of the Cessnas’ Garmin 1000 avionics in more depth than you will have in your initial training, including the auto-pilot.

We can fly with you to larger airports to help you become familiar with the procedures and environment, maybe flying amongst airliners!

If you would like to expand your personal flight envelope in terms of general handling, we can spend more time with you looking at sideslipping, cross-wind take-offs and landings, or anything else that you would like to practice.

Flying with other pilots is a great way of sharing your time in the air, allowing you to venture further afield by flying one leg each. We can help to put you in touch with other people looking to find a flying ‘buddy’ or you can join the Goodwood Aero Club’s WhatsApp Group.

As part of the courses for the PPL and LAPL, there are nine theoretical knowledge exams to be taken. In addition to the books, which are available here, we offer a range of support in studying for these, designed to suit a variety of learning styles.

Regular groundschool classes are held at the Flying School, which include presentations, opportunity for discussion and questions, as well as practice exams. These classes are open to all students, not just those enrolled on a flying course with us.

Practice papers are also available using our on-line groundschool portal, along with additional course material if studying at home is your preference. Please sign up at https://goodwood.groundschool.online/

If there are any particular areas you need support with, we can also arrange one-to-one groundschool sessions with our Instructors.

All our material, both in person and on-line, is regularly updated so the most current information is always available. The objective is not just to pass the exams, but to really understand the material and its application to your flying, making you a safer, more knowledgeable pilot.

Please contact us for further information.