Bourton-on-the-water

We would like to wish everyone a belated Happy New Year!

All of our students have been progressing well and we’d like to extend our special congratulations to Jace Clarke for completing his PPL Skills Test in December.

On the ground, students achieved the following successes:
• Sue Leech – Operational Procedures and Air Law
• Kevin Bennett – Principles of Flight

With the nights already starting to draw out, make sure you get booked in for night flying before the arrival of British summertime.

Thank you to those who have already paid their memberships for 2015 and a reminder to those who are still to pay, the membership fees for 2015 are £90.
All students and PPL’s please make sure that you are up to date with the flying order book, don’t forget this can be accessed through the website and all you need to do is sign the school copy.

We look forward to welcoming new students in 2015 and watching our current students’ progress through their PPL training.

To kick off the month, the SFS fly-away day to Aero Expo in Sywell was a great success. Instructors, students and PPL’s had a productive and fun day out with everyone flying a leg to or from Sywell.

With the continued good weather Staverton flying school has helped many people take to the skies with trial lessons this month and we’re pleased to welcome those who have joined the school to start their PPL’s. Aside from the many trial lessons this month we congratulate Lee Williams for completing his qualifying cross-country. Our PPL’s have also been making the most of the fantastic weather.

Chris Greenhalgh had an extremely enjoyable trip to Llanbedr. Andy Young enjoyed his local trip to take photos of crop circles near Defford. Ian Hollingsworth flew into Goodwood’s festival of speed.

Kathryn and a previous SFS student Jamie Turner flew  to Le Touquet for lunch.

As well as a busy month flying, well done to those who have passed ground exams:

• Freddie Atac – Meteorology & Principles of Flight
• Alex Busby – Navigation & Flight Performance and Planning
• Chris Edwards – Flight Performance and Planning

Project propeller was a great success on Saturday 22^nd and reunited 163 WWII Veterans!!

Spitfire and Hurricane flypast for Project Propeller!

There are a few spaces left on the next SFS fly away day to Newquay on Sunday 10^th August. Give us a call if you would like to take the opportunity and to meet other SFS members.

July and August look to be busy if the good weather continues.

 

After a long wait due to weather conditions we extend particular congratulations to David Woodward who successfully completed his PPL Skills Test!

We would also like to congratulate Dominic Collier for completing his night rating.

Back in the classroom congratulations to our members who passed ground exams in March:

• Lee Williams – Aircraft General Knowledge
• Simon Rnic – Air Law & Operational Procedures
• John Straw – Communications, Air Law & Meteorology
• Jace Clarke – Principles of Flight & Navigation
• Radiotelephony also passed by David Woodward, Jace Clarke and Alan Tague

With the clocks going back we can now start offering flying lessons in the evening – with the airport being open until 19:30. PPL’s, don’t forget that the airport is also open until 19:30 on weekends for self-fly hire.

Staverton Flying School’s Flying Order Book is now online at www.stavertonflyingschool.co.uk in the member’s area. The FOB has been updated for 2014 so all school members must read and sign the original document when next in the school.

Kim Hampshire won a flight in a Tiger Moth through Pilot magazine and took one of his enthusiastic students along as the official photographer, both had a fantastic day!

Upton in the floods

Tewkesbury in the floods

Students have therefore taken advantage of ground school studies, congratulations to all of those who have passed exams so far in 2014

• Anthony Evans – Operational Procedures and Human Performance
• Alex Busby – Aircraft General and Principles of Flight
• Kevin Bennett – Navigation and Meteorology
• Freddie Atac – Operational Procedures and Radiotelephony
• Lee Williams – Meteorology and Radiotelephony practical
• John Straw – Operational Procedures and Human Performance

Staverton Flying School are now the proud owners of G-BOHH meaning it will be more available for lessons and to hire. Don’t forget you can hire the schools aircrafts on Sundays and if you would like to fly somewhere for the day only a minimum of 2 hours flying is required. Just call, drop in or book online at www.sfsonlinebooking.co.uk

Staverton Flying School will be organising 2 fly-away days for the summer:

• AeroExpo in Sywell is holding its annual aviation festival. On Sunday 1^st June we plan to take the SFS fleet for the day.
  

  AeroExpo Fly Away Day

  There will be a landing fee of £10 and both the pilot and passenger will receive free entry. The display acts will be announced nearer the time at www.aeroexpo.co.uk

• There will also be a fly away day to Newquay where you will be able to visit the Classic Air force museum. This day is arranged for Sunday 10^th August with back-up dates for Sundays 17^th and 31^st August. More details can be found at www.classicairforce.com

There will be limited spaces for both days so please book your place soon. Both days are open to qualified pilots and students with an instructor and are a great opportunity to experience new airfields and meet other SFS students and PPL’s.

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!

Although the weather in February has slowed down our flying it hasn’t managed to ruin the enthusiasm which has still been high and carried us through the month. The persistent fog and haze has encouraged plenty of ground school.

We would like to congratulate Craig Parker who successfully passed his Skills Test along with our own instructor Kim Hampshire in renewing his IMC rating.

When we were lucky enough to get better weather Adam Knights and Rowland Slatter had a successful trip to Wellesbourne.

Here’s hoping for much improved weather in March.

New charts are now available to buy! Issue 39 valid from 7^th March – same price £16.00.

We would like to wish everyone a belated Happy New Year!

We’ve certainly had the varied British weather conditions already this year, with the snow, rain and wind disrupting the flying programme. Luckily this meant there was more time for ground school and exams, resulting in two ground exams being passed in January:

Kirk Daly – Flight Performance and Planning

Jace Clarke – Air Law

When the weather was calmer we also had success in the skies with Bob Pearce passing his NPPL Navigation test, congratulations to him and also to Duncan Stephenson who rounded off the month successfully passing his Night Rating.

We would like to welcome the new students who have joined us this year and also welcome Vanessa our new Operations Co-ordinator to the ‘SFS’ team.

Thank you to all who have paid their annual membership for 2013 and gentle reminder to those who are still yet to pay.

We are looking forward to the lighter evening’s, clearer skies and calmer winds!!