Edinburgh Flying Club

The instructions for booking your flight and an idea of what to expect are contained in your Voucher. The intention of this note is to expand on them so that you are well prepared for what we are sure will be a very enjoyable experience.

All the club's instructors hold professional pilot's licences with instructor's ratings and are subject to regular competency checks by the Civil Aviation Authority Examiners. They have between them many thousands of instructional hours but they still remember their first flight!

Your flight will be taken in either a Piper Cherokee or Cessna 172, which are four seat aircraft but this does not mean that all four seats can always be occupied. All aircraft are subject to weight limits and to avoid the possibility of overloading the aircraft we must restrict you to being accompanied by only one friend because it is illegal to fly an overweight aircraft.

It is most important that we have suitable flying weather to enable you to enjoy your experience to the full. The conditions under which we fly are governed by the Air Navigation Order, the Rules of the Air and our CAA approved Operating Procedures.

In addition your comfort and safety are paramount. Some poor weather will be obvious to you, but sometimes what appears satisfactory on the ground may well not be suitable for flying a light aircraft or the weather may be forecast to deteriorate. The weather at the airport may be very different from what you are experiencing at home. Please be assured that if we postpone your lesson it will be for a very good reason. We understand how frustrating this can be especially if it happens more than once. It is just as frustrating for us! We will not fly in what we, in our sole discretion, judge to be unsuitable weather. We will re-arrange your lesson for another day.

If you are unwell you should not hesitate to re-arrange your lesson. If you are unwell on the ground you will be unwell in the air and head colds and blocked sinuses are particularly dangerous. Please give us as much notice as you can.

We suggest comfortable loose fitting clothes and ladies should avoid high heels. The temperature in the aircraft can be controlled just like a car but there is some distance to walk out to the aircraft, which are parked on grass (don't wear your best shoes), so a warm jacket would be a good idea. It can be quite cool even in summer.

Only club members may fly our aircraft so you will be asked to sign the temporary members book. We try very hard to keep to our programme but sometimes there are operational delays, for example air traffic control or re-fuelling, which are outwith our control. You will be briefed fully for your flight and encouraged to ask about anything you do not understand. We will agree a route and will try to take you where you wish subject to the requirements of Air Traffic Control. The instructor will then complete the booking out process and then it's out to the aeroplane to enjoy the flight.

We will return to the club where you will be given your voucher back signed to say that you have successfully completed your first lesson. We are certain that you will have enjoyed it.