On the ground the following exams have been passed:

• Clive Haughton – Principles of Flight
• Mark Gwilt – Air Law and Human Performance
• Simon Shearburn – Air Law and Operational Procedures
• Spike Leek – Air Law
• Sam Williams – Air Law and Operational Procedures

The clocks will be going back at the end of October so night ratings will start soon. If you wish to begin your night rating please do get in touch.

Well done to Dominic Collier for completing his IMC rating and to Pedram Arefi on his first solo flight. We’re also pleased to welcome back Sean King after successfully passing his LST.

There was also plenty of ground studies taking place, exams passed:

• Jace Clarke – Aircraft General Knowledge and Flight Performance and Planning
• John Straw – Principles of Flight and Aircraft General Knowledge
• Pedram Arefi – Human Performance
• Calum Matheson- Air Law and Operational Procedures

Previous students who achieved their PPL with SFS have been exploring new airfields, Ian Hollingsworth taking a trip to the Bembridge in the Isle of White, Jamie Turner to Guernsey and Adam Knights took his first trip Le Touquet, all reported to have had enjoyable trips.

The Jet Age Museum has now officially opened with a fantastic turn out for their gala weekend, and was opened by Captain Eric Brown, possibly the greatest pilot ever!? Gloucestershire Jet Age Museum Opens Definitely worth a visit!

Don’t forget Fathers Day Sunday 15th June!
Why not get something special and more exciting for your dad this Fathers Day and book a trial flying lesson.
For those with a thrill seeking dad who is feeling brave a 30 minute aerobatics flight could be the ideal gift. Or for those with an interest in historical aircraft a flight in a 1940′s Vintage Stearman Biplane could be the perfect present.
Trial lessons from as little as £88!! Give the school a call on 01452 712388 or book online at www.stavertonflyingschool.co.uk

We would like to Congratulate Freddie Atac on achieving his first solo flight this month, we would also like to extend our congratulations to Jace Clarke who has also completed the important milestone of his first solo.

Freddie's First Solo

On the ground, David Woodward has passed Navigation, Aircraft General and Flight Performance and Planning, congratulations to him.

Staverton Flying School now has an online booking system, for all members to check the availability of instructors and aircrafts and request bookings. Hopefully all members of SFS have now received their log in details for the new online booking system. We’re hoping that this system will benefit our members and make bookings easier for everyone. If you have not received your details please do contact us.

We would gently remind you that the annual membership will be due 2^nd January – annual membership for 2014 is £84.00.

If any of your relations are stuck for Christmas ideas, why not remind them they can buy trial lesson vouchers or gift vouchers towards flying.

Trial Flight Lesson

For your diary, the school will closed for Christmas on Sunday 22^nd December and re-open on Thursday 2^nd January.

Clive Haughton took to the skies for his first solo flight and with the beaming smile he had once he had returned, it’s safe to say Clive won’t be forgetting that moment in any hurry – well done Clive!

Clive Haughton's First Solo

Congratulations to those who have passed ground exams in October:

• Freddie Atac – Air Law and Human Performance
• David Woodward – Meteorology
• Alex Busby – Meteorology and Communications
• Jamie Turner – IMC written
• Adam Knights – IMC written

With the clocks going back we have now started night flying. If you wish to start your night rating please do get in touch.

The airport is holding an Airmanship Evening next Tuesday, 12^th November at 19:30. This informative evening of presentations, anecdotes and discussions will be of benefit for both those learning to fly and those with experience. The evening is free but a suggested donation of £5 in aid of Fly2Help will be welcomed. Kim Hampshire will be one of the speakers and hopes to see some of you there!

Rowland Slatter kicked off the month by completing his Licence Skills Test, congratulations to him. Now on a roll, Rowland is also converting onto the Cessna 172 and starting his IMC training soon. We would also like to congratulate Richard Clark on passing his Licence Skills Test whilst on his break from University over the summer.

Tom Leakey First Solo

Alex Bubsy's First Solo

David Woodward's First Solo

Kevin Bennett's First Solo

We extend our congratulations to Alex, Tom Leakey, David Woodward and Kevin Bennett who have all completed their first solo flights, an unforgettable milestone, well done!

With the new changes to the ground exams commencing from the 1^st September, many of the students were able to get ahead and pass the following exams:

• Gerald Reeves – Air Law
• Kevin Bennett – Human Performance and Communications
• Tom Leakey – Air Law
• Richard Clark – Flight Planning and Performance and Aircraft Technical
• David Woodward – Air Law
• Mark Gwilt – Navigation
• Lee Williams – Flight Performing and Planning

Some of you may have noticed that Carol Vorderman has been learning to fly at the school and on Wednesday 21^st August she successfully completed her first solo flight, live on This Morning’s programme. We send our warm congratulations to her.  You can catch up on Carol’s solo flight and photos of the day on the SFS Facebook page.

Carol's First Solo

We wish Carol all the best for the rest of her training.

The month started off extremely well with Bob Pearce successfully completing his NPPL followed by the very next day Kirk Daly passing his Skills Test, congratulations to them both. Jeremy Goodwin also obtained his night rating so congratulations to him.

On the ground there was more success for Kirk Daly passing his Flight Performance and his Radiotelephony as well as Lee Williams passing his Air Law and Tim Van Der Hooft passing his Navigation exam.

Adam Knights had another successful trip, flying to Enstone and back and capturing some of the recent snow.

Finally we finished the month with a busy Easter weekend when the sun finally made an appearance and topping it off with Lee Williams completing his first solo!

Particular mention must go to Dion Robertson, who rounded off the month with a successful Skill Test.  We extend our warm congratulations to Dion, who arrived at the School last Christmas with the intention of completing his PPL within a year and has done so.

Very many congratulations too, to Tony Waghorn for completing his First Solo flight.  That he enjoyed it (to say the least) can be seen clearly from the picture!

Staverton Flying School features heavily in an article on Gloucestershire Airport in this month’s Pilot magazine; still available in all good newsagents’!

On the ground, the following exams were passed this month:

Francis Sanderson – Air Law; Human Performance & Limitation

Kirk Daly – Meteorology

The School will be closing for Christmas on 22^nd December, and will re-open on Wednesday 2^nd January 2013.

May we take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New
Year.  We look forward to seeing you soon in 2013!

This was followed by some basic water survival skills and life raft training.   The unanimous verdict was that the training was not only a fun day out but that extremely useful tips to surviving a ditching in the sea had been learned.  A full account of the day’s activities and lessons learned can be found by following the ‘news’ link on our website  www.stavertonflyingschool.co.uk.

At the end of the month, Staverton Flying School was delighted to fly with the first recipient of a newly-established Air Cadet award, set up by the family of the late Flight Lieutenant ‘Dit’ Thomas RAFVR(T), Officer Commanding No 614 (Lydney) Squadron, Air Training Corps.  Each year a Cadet will be chosen by the Squadron to receive a 30 minute flying lesson and Staverton Flying School looks forward to a long and successful affiliation with this award. 

Amongst our members, we congratulate the following successes achieved in October:

Rowland Slatter – First Solo

Kirk Daly – First solo landaway

Dion Robertson – Qualifying Cross Country, RT practical

Craig Parker – Qualifying Cross Country

Written Exams:          

Dion Robertson – Performance & Planning (100%), Aeroplane Technical

Rowland Slatter – Communications (100%)

David Savage – Human Performance & Limitations, Communications

Bob Pearce –  Performance & Planning

Slots are still available for night flying training, so please do contact us to make a booking (please note, however, that the airfield closes at 1930 Mon-Fri and 1800 on Saturday / Sunday).

The weather was not so kind to Kim Hampshire, Kirk Daly and Rowland Slatter who made the trip to Duxford for an AOPA Bonus Day at the end of the month. Although the weather prevented them from making the trip by air as planned, they braved the 3-hour car journey to get there and reported having a great day out with some memorable presentations, especially that of Cliff Spink, a retired RAF Air Marshal who has flown a remarkable variety of aircraft during his long and distinguished career and is now a Spitfire display pilot, and who has many amusing and captivating anecdotes to share.

Back at the School, we congratulate our members on the following achievements this month:

First Solo – David Savage

Ground Exams – James Lingard: Human Performance and Limitations; Meteorology
David Savage: Air Law
Tony Waghorn: Human Performance and Limitations
Craig Parker: Radio Telephony (practical)
Tim Van Der Hooft: Aeroplane Technical; Performance and Planning

We extend a warm welcome to Heli Air as they moved into the Skypark Hangar this month. As with the barbecue, the weather smiled down on Heli Air on Saturday 22nd September as they launched their new Gloucester base with a flourish. The Skypark apron was packed with a number of helicopters throughout their Opening Event and it was great to see so much interest in both fixed wing and rotary aircraft come together in one place.

Looking ahead to October, we are now taking bookings for night flying for any PPLs who are interested in adding a night rating to their licence – book now to make the most of the dark nights.

We extend our congratulations to Mark Gwilt on achieving his First Solo flight and to Jamie Turner who, having waited for some time for a break in the weather to achieve his Qualifying Cross Country flight, completed the trip this month.   His route included a leg to Cardiff so it was perfect timing that he completed the trip the day before the Olympic events started at the Millennium Stadium and airspace restrictions came into play!

Successful Licence Skills Tests were flown by David Nicholson and Shane Touhey, and Jonathan Maddocks successfully completed his IMC Skills Test (ironically on one of the best weather days July had to offer).

On the ground, the following exams were passed this month:

Craig Parker – Performance & Planning

Rowland Slatter – Human Performance & Limitations

 Jonathan Maddocks – IMC written

Tim Van Der Hooft -  Communications

Tony Waghorn – Air Law

Richard Clark – Meteorology

The Staverton Flying School barbeque will be held on Saturday 8^th September this year and we’re looking forward to seeing many of you at what promises to be a great evening.  Partners are welcome and it’s free food and drink! RSVP to info@stavertonflyingschool.co.uk