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Published on the first Friday of every month in The Journal.
Pilot high and take off
Jul 21 2006
By Enterprise North East
A North-East flying school has launched the first commercial pilot training courses in the region, following the acquisition of a £100,000 flight simulator and the appointment of a head of training.
Cleveland Flying School, based at Durham Tees Valley Airport, is accepting students at various stages of module qualification, under the supervision of Captain Kevin Rowell. Each student starting from scratch will begin with a two-to five-month course to gain their Private Pilot's Licence (PPL). Six months' ground school follows, then a four-week Commercial Pilot's Licence (CPL) flying course. An advanced bad weather course and instrument and multi-engine training occupy a further two months.
Currently, there are three students taking flying instructor courses, five are completing their CPLs and two are on their month-long instrument rating courses. Qualified pilots can then fly commercially or become flying instructors.
Sunderland-born Kevin says: "The flight simulator is a huge aid to pilot training and offers enormous benefits to the student.
"For example, they can be taught correct procedures which can be rehearsed time after time without using up expensive fuel and precious time practising in an actual aircraft. The simulator is identical to flying in an aircraft cockpit with the added advantage of being environmentally friendly."
