FLIGHT SCHOOL
If choosing the European Option the first two months of basic flight training are conducted from our fair weather base at Requena Airport (LERE), which is situated approximately 50 kilometres to the west of Valencia in Spain. Favourable and consistently good weather conditions are vital during the early stages of training, where continuity is the key to success.
Requena records an average of 320 flying days per year, so providing the ideal launchpad. Students will complete a minimum of 10 hours dual training before being released for their first solo flight. There follows an immediate period of dual consolidation and visual navigation training, interspersed with an increasing number of solo flights.
If choosing the USA option, the first two months of basic flight training are conducted from our fair weather base in Orlando, USA, which is conveniently situated in the heart of Florida, just 15 miles south of the Orlando International Airport (MCO), and 15 minutes away from world famous Walt Disney World theme parks. Favourable and consistently good weather conditions are vital during early stages of training, where continuity is the key to success. With warm temperatures year round and beautiful blue skies, the climate conditions are practically ‘aviation perfect’.
Students will complete a minimum of 10 hours dual training before being released for their first solo flight. There follows an immediate period of dual consolidation and visual navigation training, interspersed with an increasing number of solo flights. Students quickly become disciplined in their flying in fully regulated airspace as Orlando International Airport is in close proximity.
Instrument, Night, Multi-Engine Conversion and CPL/IR Skill Test Training: Cranfield, UK
On completion of the basic visual element in Requena, students will return to Cranfield to continue training with more advanced single-engine flying. A short session will acquaint students with the differences between Spanish and UK airspace. This will be accompanied by a computer based Garmin 1000 course and conversion to the Diamond DA-40 Star. A further 50 hours of single-engine time will be flown, mostly concentrating on applied instrument flying with a short section dedicated to night operations.
On completion of Progress Test 3, the student will convert to the multi-engine Diamond DA-42 Twin Star and after visual navigation revision, will be prepared for the CPL Skill Test. A combination of synthetic time, learning instrument and route procedures followed by route flying in the aircraft will then deliver the student to the standard required to pass the final Instrument Rating Skill Test. Flight School have excellent 1st Series IRT pass rates.
The Cranfield Flight School operates seven days a week and is located immediately adjacent to the Air Traffic Control Tower, offering fast access to the main aircraft ramp. Accommodation comprises an operations centre with full planning facilities, briefing areas and a student lounge. Aeronautical and meteorological information is continuously available through broadband connection.
Cranfield Airport (EGTC) is situated in Class G airspace and is fully equipped with published ILS/ NDB approach procedures and for night operations. Full Air Traffic Control operates throughout licensing hours. The airport is owned by Cranfield University and is used primarily as training base meaning that any delays caused by commercial traffic are minimal.
Access to UK regulated airspace is straightforward with regular training destinations including Birmingham, Cambridge, Coventry and East Midlands Airports. The location in Class G airspace offers training freedom in the immediate local vicinity reducing any positioning time.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority maintains an Examiner base at Cranfield, in the College Flight School building. Two CAA Flight Staff Examiners are permanently resident at Cranfield, reducing to an absolute minimum any delays in waiting for test appointments. This also means that no expensive aircraft positioning is necessary to remote Examiner bases.
For further information, be sure to download our Brochure.
See Ground School here.
For a video of the Diamond Stars see here.
For a photo gallery of the course see here.