Sportflight Scotland is west and central Scotland's specialist recreational flying school. If you want the true grass-roots flying experience, then this is for you!
SFS follows the UK Civil Aviation Authority syllabus for the National Private Pilot's Licence. Click Course Syllabus, or use the drop down menu under Training, for details.
The regulations require at least 25 hours of instruction before your General Skills Test for your NPPL, but only those with previous flying experience are likely to achieve this. As a rough guide, the UK average is about 50 hours. Budget for that and you won't be far wrong.
All training is done on a one-to-one basis, seven days a week, all through the year and our German-built C42 aircraft have eficient cabin heaters for those chilly days! Because training is one-to-one, if you need more time on an exercise, you get it. If you're ready to move on, there is no-one to hold you back.
How long it takes to get your licence depends on the individual (student and instructor!), the weather and the frequency of lessons. Generally, someone able to fly once a week will learn faster than someone flying just once a month. We suggest no more than two lessons a day because time is needed to let things sink in.
It is amazing just how much you learn from replaying a flight in your mind. If you fly too soon, previous lessons are not properly absorbed and so the foundations are weakened. This eventually leads to remedial lessons, so saves neither time - nor money!
Your instructor will update you on your progress after every flight.