FAQs - First Flying Lesson / Taster Flying Lesson

What sort of clothing should I wear when I attend for my first flying lesson?
Will it be cold in the aircraft?
Can I bring a camera, or my video camera, and take photographs during my flight?
Is there anything else that I need to bring with me when I attend my first flying lesson?
Will I feel airsick?
Will I be able to park my car easily at the airport?
Can a friend or relative accompany me in the aircraft during my flight?
Will any friends or relatives be able to see my flight take-off and land?
Can I fly over my house, or place of work?

FAQs - Flying Club Members

Are there any discount schemes available to me during my PPL training with Exeter Flying Club?
What about discounts after I have completed my PPL training?
Do you offer any special rates to persons wanting to “Hours Build”?
Do you offer ground training covering the PPL examination subjects?
Do you offer any club social events?
Can I self-fly hire your club aircraft either by the hour, day, or for a couple of days?
What are the Exeter Flying Club’s normal opening hours?
Is your club open all year?
Can I self-fly solo hire a club aircraft in the early part of an evening?
Do my passengers have to be members of the Exeter Flying Club Ltd?
Can I self-fly hire one of the EFC aircraft and fly it abroad (e.g Ireland, Europe, Channel Inlands)?
Does Exeter Flying Club have any Life Rafts and Life Jackets available for hire to its members?
What is included with the self-fly hire rates of EFC aircraft?
What is included with the dual flying training rates of EFC aircraft?
Who pays for any instrument approach, landing, touch-&-go, or go-around charges?
What happens if you are away from Exeter Airport when the aircraft need fuel and / or oil?

What sort of clothing should I wear when I attend for my first flying lesson?
Answer – Normal clothing which best suits the time of the year and the weather on the day.  High heels, and / or very thick soled shoes or boots should not be worn.


Will it be cold in the aircraft?
Answer – Normally it is not cold in the aircraft as they are all fitted with hot & cold air systems (not air-con).  However, airfields are exposed open areas and therefore, subject to the weather on the day you might wish to, bring a light weight wind and shower resistant jacket with you for the walk to and from the parked position of the aircraft.


Can I bring a camera, or my video camera, and take photographs during my flight?
Answer – Yes (providing it’s not too large).  You will however, be asked to turn off the flash (This is for safety, and for picture quality reasons).  The person sitting in the front next to the instructor will, for safety reasons, normally be asked to stow the camera during the take-off & landing stages of the flight.  Note: Any photographs taken should be for personal viewing not for a commercial gain.


Is there anything else that I need to bring with me when I attend my first flying lesson?
Answer – Yes.  Make sure that you bring your trial flight voucher with you.  Also, bring a pair of sunglasses (Should you forget yours, we sell them in our pilot equipment shop).


Will I feel airsick?
Answer – This is very much a personal thing.  However, all our aircraft should have sick bags in them should they be needed.  To help prevent this happening, here are some recommended tips:
Avoid having a heavy meal shortly before your flight and / or, drinking any alcohol (beer & wine etc) beforehand.
Also it is best to avoid large amounts alcohol the night before (In the case of alcohol and or drugs, this is not just for the prevention of airsickness; your instructor / pilot can refuse to take you, or any passengers accompanying you on the aircraft should he / she be concerned).


Will I be able to park my car easily at the airport?
Answer – You should not have a problem as the Exeter Flying Club has its own private car park.  Having said this, if a number of your family members or friends attend to see you off, we reserve the right at busy periods to request that they park their cars in the normal Exeter Airport parking areas.


Can a friend or relative accompany me in the aircraft during my flight?
Answer – Yes.  This is normally possible but an additional fee is charged to cover memebrship.  However, due to the size of four seat light aircraft we sometimes have to limit the number of persons and / or weight in an aircraft.  Therefore, if you are wishing to take somebody else with you, please make you wishes / intentions known to a member of our staff when phoning or calling in to book your flight.  They can then give you more advice on this, plus try to book an aircraft which will best suit your wishes.


Will any friends or relatives be able to see my flight take-off and land?
Answer – Yes.  This should be possible as our clubhouse is adjacent to and overlooking the airfield and its runways, also we have an outside viewing / picnic area which has the same views.


Can I fly over my house, or place of work?
Answer – We will do our best to accommodate this request.  It will however, be subject to number of factors such as: the weather in that area, time available (distance from Exeter airport / length of trial flight booked), position of the site, plus any airspace restrictions or danger areas.





Are there any discount schemes available to me during my PPL training with Exeter Flying Club?
Answer – Yes.  To start with we offer a “Starter 5 Hour Special”.  Then following on from this we can offer a discount if you put a large sum of money on your account.


What about discounts after I have completed my PPL training?
Answer – Yes.  We offer a Gold Membership Scheme.  This enables licence holders to self-fly hire our aircraft at an hourly discounted rate.  Also, licence holders wishing to undertake further training, such as their IMC / Night ratings, are able to do this at a discounted rate.


Do you offer any special rates to persons wanting to “Hours Build”?
Answer – Yes.  But you will need to speak to our CFI for the terms and conditions.


Note: For the full and up to date information on all of the above discounts schemes, please either pop in or telephone us during our normal office/reception opening hours of 09.00 – 15.00 during the winter and 09:00 to 17:30 during the summer.


Do you offer ground training covering the PPL examination subjects?
Answer – Yes.  You can book lectures on a one-to-one basis on any day of the week.


Do you offer any club social events?
Answer – Yes.  We have various social events throughout the year, plus our “Fly Outs”.  See the events section on our web site for examples.


Can I self-fly hire your club aircraft either by the hour, day, or for a couple of days?
Answer – Yes.  Subject to our current terms and conditions (Speak with one of our reception staff or the CFI for further details).


What are the Exeter Flying Club’s normal opening hours?
Summer: Mon to Fri 09.00 – 17.30. Sat & Sun 09.00 - 17.30.
Winter: Mon to Fri 09.00 – 15.30. Sat & Sun 09.00 – 16.00.


Is your club open all year?
Answer – Yes.  With exception of the Christmas / New Year close down periods, we are open 7 days a week normally.


Can I self-fly solo hire a club aircraft in the early part of an evening?
Answer – Yes.  During daylight hours or if you have a current night rating, this should not normally present a problem.  However, in either case the aircraft hire will be subject to you:
Being a “Current Full Flying Member”
Having signed our “Flying Order Book”
Flight checked by one of our instructors
Briefed on “Flying outside the Exeter Flying Club’s normal hours of operation”
Your ensuring that your flight takes place during the “Normal Published Operating Hours of Exeter Airport”


Do my passengers have to be members of the Exeter Flying Club Ltd?
Answer – Yes they do.  However, this does not normally present a problem, as they just become day members.


Can I self-fly hire one of the EFC aircraft and fly it abroad (e.g. Ireland, Europe, and Channel Islands)?
Answer – Yes.  Providing your licence is a JAA PPL, not a NPPL as this licence is only valid within the UK airspace, and provided you have suitable flying experience and / or ratings to meet our criteria.


Does Exeter Flying Club have any Life Rafts and Life Jackets available for hire to its members?
Answer – Yes - We have available a Liferaft, Life jackets and a personal Locator beacon - please contact reception for hire costs


What is included with the self-fly hire rates of EFC aircraft?
Answer – The fully maintained aircraft, fuel, oil, parking charges at Exeter Airport, and insurance (Full details can be obtained from our reception staff or our CFI and instructors).


What is included with the dual flying training rates of EFC aircraft?
Answer – Instruction given by one of our qualified instructors in the form of:
A pre-flight ground briefing (if required) in one of our clubhouse briefing rooms, the in-flight instruction, plus the fully maintained aircraft, fuel, oil, parking charges at Exeter Airport, and insurance (Full details can be obtained from our reception staff or our CFI and instructors).


Who pays for any instrument approach, landing, touch-&-go, or go-around charges?
Answer – The hirer of the aircraft is responsible, whether it is on a Dual or a Solo Hire basis.  At Exeter Airport, EFC Ltd purchase these annually in advance on a block basis.  You therefore get these at a special discounted rate.  Payment for them is then made via the club at our reception office following your flight.  However, when you land-away from Exeter Airport you will need to ensure that you have with you the means by which you can pay these charges.


What happens if you are away from Exeter Airport when the aircraft need fuel and / or oil?
Answer – Simple, you refuel the aircraft as required paying for this yourself, obtain a receipt for this fuel, and / or oil, then upon your return to Exeter Airport you present your fuel / oil receipt to a member of the EFC reception staff who will reimburse you.


Reminder! To any person who self-fly solo hires an aircraft:
If you self-fly solo hire one of the EFC Ltd aircraft, you are the one responsible for ensuring that this aircraft has enough fuel (plus contingency reserves), oil, hours remaining before its next service check or annual to cover the duration of your intended flight.  Also, that it is insured and loaded within the maximum permissible limits under the manufacturers weight and balance schedule as set out in the operating handbook for that aircraft.  You are also responsible for the care and the safety of any passengers travelling with you.