PILOT TRAINING AT ESHOTT AIRFIELD

Whether you’re looking to start your journey to becoming a pilot, or continuing with advanced training, look no further. Eshott Airfield provides quality flight training from two tarmac runways and a grass strip in uncontrolled airspace, with all the advantages of a flying club environment.

PRIVATE PILOTS LICENCE - PPL(A)​

If you’re looking to fly an aircraft with a globally recognised licence, the PPL is the course for you.  This course is the first step towards a professional aviation career and will give you the ability to pilot larger aircraft. 

The course gives you the ability to fly nearly every single engine piston (SEP) aircraft.  Aircraft that have a turbine engine require a differences rating which can easily be added to your licence. 

The course requires a minimum of 45 hours flying time – 10 of which are solo.  You’ll take a skills test which will examine your general handling and navigation skills.

There are also nine multiple choice exams to be completed covering important topics including:

  • Human Performance

  • Aviation Law

  • Meteorology

  • Communications

  • Principles of Flight

  • Operational Procedures

  • Flight Performance & Planning

  • Aircraft General Knowledge, and

  • Navigation

You’ll have to pass a class 2 medical with a CAA approved AME (Aviation Medical Examiner). Eshott Airfield can help you arrange this – but generally speaking if you’re fit and well enough to drive a car, you’re well enough to fly an aircraft!

When you’ve completed your course, the PPL(A) will allow you to fly aircraft in daylight hours in reasonable weather – this is known as VFR or Visual Flight Rules. Once you’ve completed your PPL(A) you can add a night rating to allow you to fly after sunset, or an instrument rating to allow you to fly in adverse weather conditions.

After completing your training, you can continue to rent aircraft from Eshott Airfield to build your hours or simply enjoy the beautiful scenery of Northumberland.

Eshott Airfield also offers the Light Aircraft Pilots Licence (LAPL). This licence is a more affordable version of the PPL(A) but with additional restrictions such as a maximum aircraft weight of 2000kg and a maximum of three passengers.

IS THIS COURSE FOR ME?

The Private Pilots Licence is the most comprehensive initial step into the world of aviation.  If you’re looking to take things further and potentially make a career of your passion for flying, this is the course for you.  The PPL(A) is the first step on the modular route to being an airline pilot or commercial pilot. 

You can also add additional ratings to the PPL, such as night, complex, multi-engine & instrument flying and eventually the licence can evolve into a Commercial Pilots Licence. 

If you’re looking to fly commercially, the next step will be to build your hours to a level where you can gain your Commercial Pilots Licence.  This phase is known as ‘hour building’.  Once you’ve finished your PPL(A), Eshott Airfield continues to support students and provides a number of options to achieve the hour building in a cost effective and efficient way. 

Whilst the PPL(A) is the bigger step initially, If you only want to fly your family or friends for fun, in European airspace, it might be worth considering the cheaper Light Aircraft Pilots Licence option which is also taught at Eshott Airfield.

 

TRAINING RATES FOR PPL(A)

 

Cessna 150H training is £195 per hour.  

The PPL(A) package at Eshott Airfield is estimated at £9450 

Eshott Airfield Membership is £150 per year

Landing fee: Free

Touch & Go: Free

LIGHT AIRCRAFT PILOTS LICENCE - LAPL(A)

If you’re looking to fly an aircraft outside of the microlight category, the LAPL(A) is an affordable step into light aircraft.  You can also add additional ratings to the LAPL(A) in the future, such as night rating, complex and multi-engine. This 30 hour course can also be upgraded to the full PPL(A) later on in your flying career, and eventually the licence can evolve into a Commercial Pilots Licence.

The LAPL requires a minimum of 30 hours flying time – 10 of which are solo. You’ll take a skills test which will examine your general handling and navigation skills.

There are also nine multiple choice exams to be completed covering important topics including:

There are also nine multiple choice exams to be completed covering important topics including:

  • Aviation Law
  • Human Performance & Limitations
  • Metrology
  • Operational Procedures
  • Principles of Flight
  • Communications
  • Flight Performance & Planning
  • Aeroplane General Knowledge
  • Navigation

You’ll have to pass a LAPL medical or a class 2 medical with a CAA approved AME (Aviation Medical Examiner). The staff here at Eshott Airfield can help you arrange this – but generally speaking if you’re fit and well enough to drive a car, you’re well enough to fly an aircraft!

When you’ve completed your course, the LAPL(A) will allow you to fly aircraft in daylight hours in reasonable weather – this is known as VFR or Visual Flight Rules. You can also add a night rating to allow you to fly after sunset, and others such as Complex, Tailwheel and Multi Engine.

After completing your training, you can continue to rent aircraft from Eshott Airfield to build your hours towards a commercial career or simply enjoy the beautiful scenery of Northumberland.

IS THIS COURSE FOR ME?

The Light Aircraft Pilots Licence (LAPL) is a licence that allows most of the benefits of a full Private Pilots Licence but at a lower cost.  

You’ll gain your licence a little faster than the PPL and can look to save somewhere in the region of £2500 on the initial issue.  There will however be the restriction on your licence initially to not carry passengers until you have completed 10 hours solo flying on your new licence.  After that initial restriction is removed, you’ll have a very useful and usable qualification.  

The LAPL(A) can be upgraded to a PPL at any time, which allows you to fly larger aircraft types and to bolt on more complicated ratings onto your licence such as the multi-engine rating. 

If you are unable to gain a full Class 2 or Class 1 medical which would be a requirement for the PPL, the LAPL(A) is a self declared medical.  

 

TRAINING RATES FOR LAPL(A)

 

Cessna 150H is £195 per hour.  

The LAPL(A) course at Eshott Airfield is £7350 Eshott Airfield Membership is £150 per yearLanding fee: FreeTouch & Go: Free

Flights

Experiences

Vicki W
Vicki W
2022-10-30
Eshott Airfield Halloween Event Myself, hubby and 3 kids attended Eshott Airfield's amazing halloween event last night! It was very well organised! Food was fantastic! And we had so much fun! Gary the ghastly ghoul ???? made sure everyone had such a miserable time ???? and we did some fab potion making with the amazing Wanda the witch and her sidekick Agatha ????‍♀️ highly recommended! We've attended a few events now at Eshott Airfield and they have all been very well organised. Well done to everyone involved! ???? we look forward to more events in the future.
ladysanddancer
ladysanddancer
2022-10-29
Amazing event organisers Me and my three-year-old daughter have just got back from an amazing Halloween event, posted by the owners and some amazing spooky staff.. excellent food good value for money, friendly staff and really well organised
Dougy256
Dougy256
2022-10-14
Either keep your feet firmly on the floor or fly in the clouds, this is the place to be. It was great to just sit and relax with a cuppa and watch the aircrafts coming and going.With the everyday hustle of a busy city, it's nice to drive up to Eshott Airfield and unwind.The staff are lovely and really pleasant. The lady in the cafe feels like you've known her for years and puts you at ease straight away, she comes across as a wonderful lady and I have no doubt she is.This is now my go to place to switch off and just relax, if I feel anymore at home here I may get carried away and book a flight (even though I'm terrified of heights) ????
Spanish Johnny
Spanish Johnny
2022-09-25
Great Flight Great one hour flight in the restored De Havilland Chipmunk, despite the weather being a bit blustery. Headed inland to Rothbury and the WW1 training landscape, then North to see the hillforts of the Aln and Breamish valleys and the iron age settlement at Greaves Ash before enjoying the scenery over the Ingram Valley and north of Alnwick to the coast at Dunstanburgh (with Bamburgh and Holy Island in the distance). After a chance to fly the plane down the coast to Alnmouth and Druridge Bay, a remarkably smooth return to Eshott. Can't recommend this enough; I absolutely loved it.
Ian J
Ian J
2022-09-25
Iconic Chipmunk flight Great experience flying the iconic DHC Chipmunk from Eshott Airfield. Flew up the Northumberland coast to Holy Island, great weather, great views. Thoroughly recommended if you have any interest in flying or just want to see the lovely countryside from the air. Sam was great and really delivered a professional and enthusiastic service from start to finish. Excellent cafe on site - the cakes are really good. Will be back again!
Jimery_Riot
Jimery_Riot
2022-09-19
Chipmunk flight over Northumberland. Had an amazing day at Eshott Airfield flying over Northumberland in the Dehavilland Chipmunk. Flew over Amble, Craster, Rothbury, Alnwick Castle and gardens. Very special as my Dad flew DHCs in the RAF in 1953. Thank you Peter Brooks and Richard Pike, what a fantastic experience. #eshottairfield #dehavillandchipmunk
AWL124
AWL124
2022-09-08
Chipmunk flight Had a fantastic flight reliving old times with Rich who is a great tour guide and enthusiastic at promoting Northumberland.I was made to feel most welcome upon arrival which continued throughout the experience.The weather was perfect for flying so the views were stunning. At the time of my visit there was an added bonus of a car show.If you have never flown in a Chipmunk I would definitely recommend this experience
Kim R
Kim R
2022-08-26
Day out in Northumberland Visited today with my family had a super morning watching the aircraft departures and arrivals .The airfield cafe had a great menu ,the grandchildren loved the ice creams .Highly recommend families visit here if you love aircraft .
MrGaryRobson
MrGaryRobson
2022-08-23
Castle and Coast Tour Had an excellent experience with Rich. Had a late cancellation but he was very happy to accommodate me as it was perfect flying conditions. I went on the hour Castle and Coast Tour in the RAF Chipmunk plane. It was a brilliant session; Rich was very knowledge about the area. Would highly recommend. Great cafe too for my cheerleader!
Alex M
Alex M
2022-08-07
Great day out for all the family Great day out for all the family. Animals, aircraft, good food at reasonable prices! Couldn’t ask for more!