Groundschool
Learning to fly is great fun whether you are learning to fly a paraglider, hang glider, microlight, or a foot launched powered variant. Who wants to be stuck in a classroom learning stuff that you are probably going to forget once you have scraped through your exams when there is an entire sky to go and explore?
As pilots we all have a responsibility to keep both ourselves and others safe whilst we broaden our horizons and build our experience. However, unlike other skills that may be learnt in life through pure trial and error by teaching ourselves, errors made in flying tend to have far more serious consequences. In some circumstances errors can even prove fatal.
Embracing the theoretical side of flying not only enables us to learn from mistakes others have made but also leads to better decision making and increased confidence in the air which ultimately makes us better pilots. There is an old aviation adage ‘There are old pilots and bold pilots but there are no old bold pilots’. The bold pilots never bothered learning groundschool!!
Of course there is always the little fact that in order to qualify for whatever rating you are training for, you need to pass the relevant exams first. Once you have passed your exams it’s then up to you to decide which type of pilot you want to be, old or bold.
Lecture Costs & Airways Airclub Benefits
Each of the theoretical groundschool lectures costs £10 on the door to attend. However, if you are a member of the Airways Airclub there is a reduced fee of £7. The Practical sessions are sponsored by our Paraglider supplier Ozone and are free to Airclub members and pilots of Ozone gliders or £3 to everyone else.
The group theory session cost include handouts summarising the main points from each lecture so you don’t have to panic about taking personal notes. The handouts will also include lists of recommended books and websites for further reading.
Exams
Unlike the clubs we have the flexability to organise exams much more regularly and frequestly. Any exam may be organised for Wednesday evenings given prior notice. If you would like to organise a date to sit an exam please contact us at the Airways office and we will ensure an exam and invigilator will be present on the night. All exams other than BHPA Pilot rating and FLPA exams may be marked once the exam has been completed.
