cpl

Commercial Pilots Licence | Let talent fly

The Commercial Pilot Licence allows a pilot to be remunerated for flying work and forms the basis for advanced flight training for those wishing to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. It is a pre-requisite for pilots wishing to Read more

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Flight Instructor Course | advanced training centre

A flight instructor is a person who teaches others to fly aircraft. Specific privileges granted to holders of a flight instructor qualification vary from country to country, but very generally, a flight instructor serves to enhance or evaluate the knowledge Read more

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Instrument rating | Fly in controlled airspace

The holder may act as pilot in an aeroplane under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) in controlled airspace. Multi-Engine Rating (MEP): This rating enables the holder to fly multi-engine piston, land based aircraft. You must be a current PPL (Aeroplanes) holder Read more

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Every student | Potential fast jet pilot | CFS

Every student we train has the potential to become a heavy jet pilot. We specialise in the training of those wishing to obtain their Commercial Pilots Licence, Instrument Rating, Multi-Engine Rating, Flight Instructor through to Private Pilots Licence and beyond. Read more

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Successful Students | Pass with flying colours

We are always proud of our students who realise their dream and achieve their pilots licence. Many go on from the Private Pilots Licence to the Commercial Pilots Licence. We teach people with disabilities also to become commanders of aeroplanes. Read more

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CFS hosts Freedom Wings day | our community

On 28th MAY 2011 Freedom in the Air (FITA)  hosted the first ‘Introduction to Aviation’ day beginning from Cranfield Airport in Bedfordshire, UK (EGTC), for the summer 2011 flying season. The day is named, for obvious reasons, Freedom Wings day. Read more

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Private Pilots Licence | Make dreams real

This Licence entitles you to act as Pilot in command of single engine piston aircraft registered in the EC carrying passengers on flights anywhere in the world. Habits developed during the first hours of Private Pilot Training are the making Read more

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CFS advanced fleet | Piper Seminole to PA28R Arrow

Cranfield Flying School offers a wide range of flying courses for those seeking to start a career as a pilot or simply those that wish to experience the joy of hands on flight. Our qualified and experienced flying instructors will Read more

What if I have an overseas licence, can I convert it to an EASA licence?

Under Article 8 to EU EASA regulation 1179/2011 all flight training can count towards the issue of the licence. However, to get a professional EASA licence, you will have to prove two things; firstly your technical knowledge and secondly your skill.

You prove your technical knowledge by doing the EASA ATPL written exams. If you already have a foreign equivalent issued professional licence, you will be exempt from some of the 650 hours of training requirement. The maximum reduction is down to 250 hours.

For the flight training, if you have a professional ICAO licence you’re exempt from doing any flight training but you will have to meet the requirement for the standards for flight test. Typically this will entail 5 – 10 hours of local area familiarisation to bring you up to standard plus the skill test.

For the Instrument Rating (IR) conversion, the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) have

How much does it really cost to learn to fly?

Looking in the UK aviation press, you’ll see the Private Pilots Licence (PPL) courses being advertised anywhere from £3,500 up to £8,500. So how much does it really cost?

Well, in terms of flight hours, the minimum PPL course duration is 45 hours, but this is just the minimum hours requirement and most people take a little longer. At current rates (typically dual instructor £150 per hour for a standard two-seat trainer) 45 hours is going to cost £6,750 – almost double what some claim they can train you for.

In additional to the flying, you will need to pass seven (soon to become nine) written exams, costing around £25 each.

You’ll also need to pass a medical, another £150, and

What about the cost of becoming a professional pilot?

Professional flying training is generally geared towards those looking to become commercial pilots or instructors, although advanced training courses such as the Instrument Rating is a bonus for individuals who wish to fly in Instrument Meteorological Conditions.

Here at Cranfield Flying School we specialise in step-by-step modular training. The modular route to gaining an Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) commences with theoretical knowledge ground school, a 650-hour course equivalent to a foundation degree. Some universities and colleges offer the ATPL course as part of

The Arabian Dreamseeker | Start with PPL and finish with ATPL

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It’s April 2013, and Hassan Karem has just landed from Bahrain. He’s dreamt about this moment of becoming a pilot for as long as he can remember. You have already followed his progress on Facebook since he arrived. And this is the final film to show you how he made his dream real; but of course with a total team effort from CFS.

Hassan Says
“I feel when I arrive at heathrow for the first time scared actually, and then when I meet my instructor Adam, I relax…. Actually, I was surprised by the first time I coming here to Cranfield, because, you know when I am coming here, I feel like I’m at home”

Hassan came to CFS for an intensive course to complete his PPL, in just 5 weeks. And he did it! And so can you!

In his own words;
‘The most important day is that day when my instructor told me that

Anam Mamud; Live Your Dream Scholars 2013 | CFS and Sennheiser

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IMG_0056A little bit about me: So, for those of you who don’t know me personally, I thought I’d do a little introduction to me. My name is Anam- my friends like to call me “Top Gun” though, because I’m a [trainee] pilot- and I’m quite short (like Tom Cruise in the movie. I know, I have weird friends). I’m 17 years old, in sixth form at my local school, and I’m studying A level Maths and Physics (which are super difficult) and French and Spanish. Other than flying, I enjoy writing; science and space (NASA!!) are two of my favourite things to talk about (don’t get me started); and I couldn’t live without music (I know, gripping stuff). Oh, and I forgot to add- my number one hobby is catching up on all the homework I’m behind on. Sixth form is no picnic.

I really love flying. Those of you who have read my blogs will probably have realized that by now, but I’ll say it again- I really love flying. What could be better than soaring a couple of thousand feet above the rest of the world?

The first time I thought about flying as a career was last year, coming up to my GCSE exams. I was wondering what kind of career path I wanted to go into, what subjects I should choose at A level to help me reach that career, etc. Obviously, I’m interested in science, and space, so I’d been toying with the idea of going into a field of work involving aeronautics, physics and space, because my life practically revolves around the three :)

And then I saw a documentary about pilots and careers in aviation. And I thought to myself, ‘wouldn’t that be a fantastic job?’ But I didn’t really think I could become a pilot. However, my parents thought it was an interesting idea, and my mum actually said ‘Why not? You’re perfectly capable of it’.

So my parents made a deal with me, saying that if I got good grades in my GCSE’s, they’d let me have a few flight lessons. I studied hard, and actually ended up with really good grades- and as soon as the weather started getting nice, I was off to Cranfield to take to the skies!

After my first flight experience, I was

Harry Ball; Live Your Dream Scholar 2013 | CFS and Sennheiser

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IMG_0063Hello, my name is Harry Ball, I’m a 14 year old triplet, I live with my family in Tattenhoe, Milton Keynes and am currently in year 10 at The Hazeley Academy and I have a dream………………….that dream is to become a commercial airline pilot.

I’ve wanted to fly since I can remember and I’d put this down to a number of experiences. The first was watching the film Memphis Belle. I love this film and used to watch it whenever I could, either at home or around my grandparent’s house – much to my brother and sisters’ annoyance! The second was visiting RAF Duxford, one summers’ day in 2003, to see the ‘Flying Legends’ Air Show. I had my photograph taken in front of the B17, ‘Sally B’, which was very special as I loved the Memphis Belle film. Finally, we have a family friend, Tony Schimmel, who used to be in the RAF. Tony used to fly Buccaneers when

“Live Your Dream” – Sennheiser & CFS 2013 scholars at EGTC

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We only get one chance at life and at Cranfield Flying School (CFS) our aim is to help students make it in Commercial Flying, setting them on a career where their office is the cockpit and the sky is their workplace.

Audio specialist Sennheiser UK in partnership with CFS have awarded two applicants as part of the 2013 Sennheiser “Live Your Dream” scholarship, a program designed to assist people with a passion for flying by easing the financial barriers whilst providing motivation in their flight training. From the many applications received via sennheiser-liveyourdream.com, 17 year old Anam Mamud, and 14 year Harry Ball were selected on the merit of their application to be the recipients of the 2013 ‘LIVE YOUR DREAM’ scholarship at Cranfield.

The scholarship will provide £1000 contribution towards flight training on a Private Pilots Licence (PPL) course, Sennheiser’s latest S1 headset and an Airbox Runway HD app for the iPad. CFS will provide 10 dual flying hours for the scholars and waive all written exam fees for the PPL.

“Sennheiser has been supporting the broader aviation community since the early eighties, when we launched our first aviation headsets,”

commented Dave Dunlap, Director of Sennheiser Aviation.

“With our Live Your Dream initiative, we are taking an important step towards encouraging aspiring pilots to take the next step in realising their aviation goals. We want to help make the path towards a career in becoming a pilot easier and through the CFS, more informative and more fun in the hope that anyone with a passion for aviation takes the next step in realising their dreams.”

CFS offers a wide range of flying courses for students seeking to

21 ATPL Scholarships in 2013.

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BRISTOL, UK – April 05, 2013 – In 2013, Bristol Ground school enters its 21st year in operation as an  EASA approved ATPL distance learning specialist. To celebrate this important milestone, the school has announced an exciting new ATPL Scholarship Programme, created to assist students with a passionate interest in becoming a professional pilot who are on track towards their ATPL.

“Throughout the year, we’ll be awarding a total of 21 ATPL theory scholarships, each worth£2140,”

said Alex Whittingham, Founder and Head of Training for Bristol Ground school.

“We’re very proud to have the support of