TRIAL LESSON

Whether you are thinking about learning to fly and just want a taster to check that you like it, or you are looking for an amazing present for someone else who may be a budding pilot or for the person who has everything, then the trial lesson is for you!

Lessons are either 30, 45 or 60 minutes long depending on your requirements and your budget, and you must be at least 14 years old to be able to fly on a trial lesson or be a student at Wycombe Air Centre.

ON THE DAY

When you come into Wycombe Air Centre you will be asked by our friendly reception staff to fill in a brief form so that you become a temporary member for the day. There is no need to bring any identification with you but we do ask that if you have a gift voucher, that you bring it along.

You will then be introduced to your instructor who will take you to a briefing room for a 10 to 15 minute pre-flight briefing where he or she will explain what will happen on the flight and answer any queries you may have. You will then be introduced to your aircraft where the instructor will make sure that you are comfortable. If your friends or relatives want a photo opportunity then this is the time!

The instructor will usually start up the aircraft, taxy the aircraft to the runway, perform some brief checks and then get you airborne! Our philosophy is that YOU should fly the aircraft for the majority of the trial lesson so, after your instructor has run through the controls with you, you will be in control! Of course, if you just want to relax and look out of the window, let your instructor know and they will be happy to oblige.

Once the lesson is nearing the end, the instructor will guide you back towards the airfield where they will take over control and land. You will be presented with a certificate to mark your first lesson. This also includes a temporary logbook just like “real” pilots use so that, if you do come back, (and believe us – you’ll want to!) you can count your trial lesson time towards a licence. Finally, we repeat again, that you have to be at least 14 to be able to fly on a trial lesson or be a student at Wycombe Air Centre.

Gift vouchers are available from reception over the telephone (01494 443 737) or in person and are valid for six months.

To download the datasheet on this course, please visit our download area.

STARTER PACK

The five hour package is effectively a “taster” course for the PPL which is designed to enable you to decide whether you wish to continue on to a full licence. The hours you log from this course all count towards licence issue so if you do choose to continue you are already well on your way!

Usually, the five hours from this course will be split into six or seven lessons covering the basics of flying – effects of controls, straight and level, climbing, descending and turning. Training is carried our on our Cessna 152 aircraft.

Once you have completed your package you have a number of options. You can upgrade to the full PPL package for either the NPPL or JAR-FCL licence, or you can choose to continue your PPL on a “pay as you fly” basis.

To download the datasheet on this course, please visit our download area.

NATIONAL PRIVATE PILOT LICENCE (NPPL)

The National Private Pilot Licence is a UK-only licence. It can be used on UK registered aircraft in UK airspace only. It is slightly more restrictive in its usage than the JAR-FCL PPL but the medical requirements are easier to meet.

Training is carried out in our Cessna 152 aircraft. Flight tests are carried out from Wycombe Air Park with one of our four in-house examiners.

As a basic guide, once the licence has been achieved, night, instrument and multi-engine privileges cannot be added to the licence. More information on the NPPL can be found at www.nppl.co.uk

Confused about which licence to choose? Until you are at least two-thirds of the way through the hours requirement, there is no need to have stated which licence you are aiming for so you may pick either to begin with. Your instructor can help you with the decision at this time.

To download the datasheet on this course, please visit our download area.

JAR-FCL PRIVTAE PILOT LICENCE (PPL)

The JAR-FCL Private Pilot Licence is a Europe-wide licence. It is much more flexible than the National PPL but the medical conditions are slightly more stringent. Training is carried out on our Cessna 152 aircraft. Once the JAR-FCL PPL has been completed, you can add instrument, night and multi-engine privileges in your own time if you require.

Flight tests are carried out from Wycombe Air Park by one of our four in-house examiners.

Confused about which licence to choose? Until you are at least two-thirds of the way through the hours requirement, there is no need to have stated which licence you are aiming for so may pick either to begin with. Your instructor can help you with the decision at this time.

To download the datasheet on this course, please visit our download area.

GROUND SCHOOL

NPPL, PPL

As part of your JAR-FCL PPL or your NPPL there is a requirement to pass seven groundschool examinations and one practical radio examination. There are a number of different ways to complete this requirement but Wycombe Air Centre is one of only a few flying schools to offer a groundschool for its PPL students.

Groundschool is run over a rolling eighteen week period covering all of the seven subjects in the syllabus. After each subject, an examination is taken. The pass mark for these examinations is 75% but don’t worry if you haven’t studied for a while! All the papers are of a multiple choice format and the groundschool will aid your progress.

Some self-study will be required even if you do attend groundschool but this will be much better structured with attendance. Plus – groundschool is a great way to meet other students going through their PPLs and makes for a great social meeting place! Many of our members fly with people that they originally met at groundschool when they were first learning how to fly.

IMC

Wycombe Air Centre is very pleased to be one of only a handful of schools which offer a groundschool for the IMC rating. The groundschool is usually carried out over a couple of days at Wycombe Air Centre by our resident ground examiner, Kevin Dearman and will be scheduled to suit your diary commitments.

There is no requirement to sit the groundschool before attempting the examination but it is certainly the easiest and most efficient way of completing the groundschool requirement for the IMC rating.

RT TRAINING

Kevan Dearman is our dedicated chief groundschool instructor and offers training for the JAR RT licence (both VHF and HF). Whether you require an RT licence for PPL issue, or a stand-alone licence, please contact us to book your groundschool and RT practical examination.

To download the datasheet on these courses, please visit our download area.

NIGHT QUALIFICATION

The night qualification can either be added to an existing licence or included as part of JAR-FCL PPL training (unfortunately it cannot be added to an NPPL but that does not stop you from flying at night with an instructor!). Wycombe Air Park is open for night flying until 1830 on weekdays and 1730 at weekends during winter.

Night flying provides the opportunity to experience the smooth conditions usually prevalent during the hours of darkness and to see a completely different view of the world! The course includes training on navigation and flying at night and adds a new attribute to your flying skills.  Training is carried out on the aircraft of your choice from our fleet but please be aware that the pricing is based on a Cessna 152.

The night qualification is a perfect first addition to a recently-acquired PPL and may be undertaken at any point – as long as it’s dark!!

To download the datasheet on this course, please visit our download area.

MULTI-ENGINE PISTON CLASS RATING (MEP or MECR)

Training for the Multi-Engine rating is carried out on our Beech 76 “Duchess” aircraft.

The course has a minimum flight requirement of six hours and there is a ground examination to pass which can be completed at Wycombe Air Centre.

There is a requirement for you to have a total of at least 70 hours as pilot in command before you apply for the rating to be put onto your licence.

Flying a twin-engined aircraft allows you to fly faster and further and with more people on board. It will improve your flying skills generally and expand your horizons!

Flight tests are carried out from Wycombe Air Park with one of our three in-house multi-engine examiners.

To download the datasheet on this course, please visit our download area.

INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC) RATING

The Instrument Meteorological Rating is a fifteen hour course which is usually completed on our Cessna 172 aircraft (normal cockpit layout or glass cockpit as you prefer).

You require a minimum of 20 hours as Pilot in Command before you can have the IMC added to your licence. Generally it is best to have the bulk of these hours completed before starting the course. Please remember that the 10 solo hours you completed during your PPL training can be included in this requirement.

The IMC rating is designed to enable you to cope with the sometimes less-than-favourable UK weather! It cannot be used outside UK airspace so if you require to fly outside the UK in poorer weather, you will need to complete the full instrument rating. Even if you do not wish to fly in inclement weather, the IMC rating is still a worthy addition to your licence as it will increase your flying skills generally and enable you to use the radio navigation equipment in the aircraft much more efficiently.

There is a groundschool requirement for the IMC rating and an examination to sit. Please click the GROUND SCHOOL tab above for details.

There is a flight test at the end of the course which can be carried out from Wycombe Air Park with one of our four in-house examiners.

To download the datasheet on this course, please visit our download area.

AEROBATICS COURSE

Try something different – fly one of our Cessna 152 Areobats.  Polish your flying skills with a gentle introduction to aerobatics in this exciting 5 hour course.

To download the datasheet on this course, please visit our download area.

HOURS BUILDING PACKAGES

Are you needing to build hours for a commercial licence in the future? If you are committed to doing your commercial training at Wycombe Air Centre we offer special hour building rates.

Typically, these hours are based on a Cessna 152, but there are options available if you prefer to fly the Cessna 172 and take friends with you! Or you can mix and match.

To download the datasheet on these packages, please visit our download area.

COMMERCIAL PILOT LICENCE (CPL)

Training for the CPL at Wycombe Air Centre is carried out on either our Cessna 182 RG aircraft or on our Piper Arrow (PA28-201). The course may also include hours on a Cessna 172 and a Frasca 142 simulator if you are looking for the “budget” option for your commercial training.

You need to have completed your ATPL examinations before you commence the course to avoid any issues later on!

On a full-time basis the course can take four to six weeks to complete (weather dependant) but may take less time.  Wycombe Air Centre also offers this course on a part-time basis to suit your schedule. We pride ourselves on our flexible attitude to commercial training!

Flight tests are carried out at Wycombe Air Park by a CAA examiner and will be conducted using the complex aircraft that you completed your training on as required by the CAA.

Please contact our CPL instructor, Vic Foyle, to discuss your requirements. Read what our recent students say about the CPL at WAC here.

For more details on price and on what the course includes, download the datasheet here.

INSTRUMENT RATING (IR)

Training for the Instrument Rating is carried out on our Frasca 142 simulator, Cessna 172 and Beech 76 “Duchess” twin-engined aircraft. Your test will usually be carried out at Cranfield using the Duchess.

We do offer the instrument rating single engine if preferred but please be aware that if you are intending on acquiring a frozen ATPL for the airlines then you will need to complete the multi-engine IR.

You will need to have completed your ATPL examinations before you commence the course to avoid any issues later on.

A free simulator assessment is available before you commit to the course if you require where you will get an honest appraisal of your abilities.

On a full-time basis the instrument rating should take six to eight weeks (weather dependant) but Wycombe Air Centre does also offer this course on a part-time basis to suit your schedule. We pride ourselves on our flexible attitude to commercial training!

Read what our recent students say about the CPL at WAC here.

For more details on price and on what the course includes, download the datasheet here.

CONVERSIONS

Have an NPPL and want a JAR-FCL PPL?

We can offer all the training required for the conversion of your National PPL to the European PPL. Generally it requires 13 hours additional training, and a JAR PPL skill test. You may also have to re-do your qualifying cross country if your original one was less than 150nm in distance. You will also require to obtain a JAR medical. Please call and speak to one of our instructors to discuss your individual requirements.

Have a FAA PPL and want a JAR-FCL PPL?

We can offer all training to convert your US licence to a JAR PPL as required. If you have more than 100 hours total time, you can convert your licence by completing the Human Performance & Limitations, Air Law and RT examinations and complete an RT practical examination. You will also be required to pass a skill test with one of our four in-house examiners. If you have less than 100 hours total time, please contact us and we will discuss your individual requirements.

Flying is charged at our usual rates – please refer to our STANDARD PRICE SHEET by going to our download area.

FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR COURSES

FLYING INSTRUCTOR (AEROPLANE) RESTRICTED

Before a pilot can give instruction in flying they must be in possession of a JAR Instructor Rating and the initial rating you require is covered by this course. Training is carried out by our FIC instructor, Caroline Herd, in our Cessna 152 aerobat aircraft and testing is carried out at Wycombe Air Park with a CAA examiner.

Before you begin the course there are a number of pre-requisites – you must have completed the ATPL or CPL examinations, pass a pre-entry flight test with an FIC authorised instructor (available at WAC), have completed at least 30 hours as pilot in commence on single engined aeroplanes, including 5 hours in the 6 months preceding that pre-entry flight test, have 20 hours cross country flight as pilot in command, and have completed a qualifying cross country of at least 300 nm with two full stop landings. If you are starting the course without an issued CPL you will be required to have at least 200 hours of which 150 hours must be as pilot in command.

Courses take between four and six weeks on a full-time basis but are also available on a part-time basis to suit your requirements. Our price only includes two hours of “mutual” flying. Up to five hours may be completed on a mutual basis – flying with another FIC student – but we believe that it is better to base the cost on less so that if you do complete the full five hours mutual you will have a surplus of money at the end of the course which may be refunded or put toward your flight test costs.

REMOVAL OF “NO NIGHT” RESTRICTION

Before an instructor can instruct at night, they must have the “no night” restriction removed from their licence. The course entails two hours of groundschool briefings followed by a minimum of one hour in the aircraft at night. Training is usually carried out on our Cessna 152 aircraft.

REMOVAL OF “NO APPLIED INSTRUMENT” RESTRICTION

Before an instructor can instruct for the purpose of teaching IMC or IRs they must first have the “no applied instrument” restriction removed from their licence. Course details are available on request from our FIC instructor depending on what your future requirements are. There is a flight test at the end of the course which will be completed at Wycombe Air Park by a CAA examiner.

CLASS RATING INSTRUCTOR (SEP)

The Class Rating Instructor rating is designed to allow pilots to give instruction for the issue, renewal or revalidation of a SE class or type rating to current licence holders. They may also conduct differences training and may carry out the “flight of an hour’s duration with an instructor” as required for SEP(Land) class rating revalidation. They may not carry out ab-initio instruction. There is a flight test at the end of the course which will be completed at Wycombe Air Park by a CAA examiner.

To download the datasheet on these courses, please visit our download area.

Read what our recent students say about the FI(A)R course at WAC below.

“A well constructed and succinct course. Did well to accommodate my part-time course around full-time students without detriment to either. Ground school material well organised and flying tuition excellent”
AS – December 2007

“Excellent standard of instruction and professionally run course”
RH – November 2007

“Course was very good and they bent over backwards to fit in around my child-oriented hours!”
EH – October 2007

“Well structured course, good balance between groundschool and flying. Quality of instruction very good with good help and feedback on all aspects. Staff all very helpful and aircraft kept  to a high standard”
SC – September 2007

“The friendly training environment of Wycombe Air Centre definitely helped to make the ground studies easier to manage, I will definitely be doing my instrument de-restriction at Wycombe Air Centre very soon. Excellent!”
JC – November 2007

“Night course was well structured and groundschool run very well. Good night notes and slides available for use.”
SC – November 2007

“Well structured course which left me in no doubt that I could pass the flight test and teach future students on the IMC rating.”
CE – October 2007

GARMIN 1000 GLASS COCKPIT TRAINING

Wycombe Air Centre is proud to have been one of the first flying schools in the UK to offer differences training onto glass cockpit aircraft.

Usually training will begin on our G1000 training suite where you can get to grips with all of the new knobs and dials to play with without any other stresses like having to fly the aircraft! The ground element will conclude with some time in the aircraft (plugged in on the ground!) where you can get used to the real thing before getting airborne.

Typically, the flying section of the training will consist of a familiarisation and general handling flight, navigational techniques and circuit practice so that you will be completely confident in all aspects of the aircraft when you then take it out solo!

Training can take place at your convenience on our G1000 Cessna 172 SP. Call us to book your differences training and fly the future!

See the Garmin 1000 here.

To download the datasheet on these courses, please visit our download area.

SAFETY PILOT COURSE

Do you fly regularly as a passenger in a light aircraft? Have you ever wondered whether you would be capable of landing that aircraft in the event of unforeseen circumstances?

That’s exactly what the safety pilot course is designed for! The course will teach you the basics of flying including the fundamentals of navigation, radio usage and, of course, how to land!

To download the datasheet on this course, please visit our download area.