It's been a long time since I visited Cranfield, so long ago that I can't actually remember the exact year in fact. It was a weekend away with my Air Training Corps squadron and we were working at the annual PFA Rally which meant two days of marshalling aircraft of all shapes and sizes, including the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight I recall - great fun.
Driving on to the airfield on a bright Sunday morning I'll admit that there is none of the familiarity that you might usually expect on returning somewhere you previously visited, for Cranfield has changed beyond recognition. The resident university, specialising in science, technology and management (including aerospace) dominates the skyline as you approach, and it is only the sight of a few aircraft, including the tail of Lightning T.5 XS458, as you get much closer that this bustling airfield becomes apparent.
Arriving on site we are 'talked-in' by Mark Hooton, for it is he who has introduced us to the Flying School for today's visit and, once safely parked up, he takes us inside to meet the man behind it all.
Terry Akeroyd, thus the 'T&A Aviation' name which can be seen on the School's aircraft, has been here for 18 months. A private pilot with some 30 years flying experience and a career in the retail business as a company director, retirement was not the comfortable option for Terry that many in his position would have grasped. He wanted to do something more and, seeing an opportunity at Cranfield, he took it. A flying school already existed at this site but, as it was not being utilised productively, Terry reached an agreement with the owner and decided to take it on and start afresh. Having already passed his own exams to qualify as a Class Rating Instructor, T&A Aviation was born.
As a result of Terry's investment in to the office set-up, the MKFS has a welcoming and homely feel about it, and we quickly find ourselves nursing hot drinks and sitting in comfortable chairs while Terry tells us more about the business of running a flying school.
"I started this all off about 18 months ago, at just about the worst time in terms of the recession which wasn't great obviously! It has been quite hard but I am happy with how the business is progressing although we may offer shares in one of our aircraft next year just to help offset some costs."
The costs associated with running an enterprise like this are not insignificant and neither is the cost of learning to fly, with a full JAR PPL course (which allows additional night and instrument qualifications to be added later) leaving little change from around £6000. A cheaper option does exist in the UK however and the NPPL, National Private Pilot's Licence, allows holders to fly either solo or with passengers during daylight hours and within sight of land. Qualification for the NPPL requires some 32 hours of flight training, compared with 45 for the full JAR PPL, and this results in a saving in the region of £1400, albeit with the slight limitations of the NPPL.
For Mark Hooton, one of Terry's instructors with the School, learning to fly remains an adventure that people shouldn't consider beyond reach.
"It's about sacrifice I suppose, as few people have got the disposable income to hand over the entire cost of the course up front and start learning," says Mark.
"But most people could afford to learn to fly by possibly saving a little up front and then spreading the cost of the instruction over a period of time. They might have to give up a few other luxuries along the way but it is well worth it, for learning to flying is one of the most satisfying things you can do I think. When I fly over Milton Keynes and see the shopping centre car parks full of nearly new vehicles I can't help but think that gaining a PPL would probably cost less than some of them depreciate in value over 12 months!"
The three aircraft currently in the MKFS fleet are more than enough to cover the intricacies of teaching students for their PPL. Firstly we have Piper Tomahawk G-BMVL, a former British Airways Flying Club owned aircraft that still carries some of the distinctive BA tail markings and the one which we would photograph during an air to air trip a little later in the day. The two other aircraft are both four-seaters, Piper Cherokee G-AXI0 and Cessna Cardinal G-BTSZ, and it's the last named that may have shares made available in the New Year. In addition to flight instruction the School's fleet are also used for trial flights and available for PPL holders to build hours and add qualifications to their licence; notably night and instrument ratings.
Another key area for Terry is his work with the British Disabled Flying Association (BDFA). MKFS is in partnership with the Association and operates as one of its satellite airfields, giving disabled people the chance to take to the air and, where possible, learn to fly. The Cherokee is fitted with special controls to enable this and, for some of the most severely disabled children, even the chance to sit in the aircraft on the ground delivers a whole new experience. It's the kind of work that you would like to see more people doing and the pile of thank you letters from a recent school visit tells you all you need to know about how much it means to those who are given the opportunity.
While so many of us still aspire to take to the skies, despite the costs involved, MKFS has a range of products which have been designed to soften the blow, including all-inclusive packages which cover ground instruction, exams, radio telephony courses, flight equipment and landing fees. This is nothing unique and many schools will offer similar, but, more than anything though, MKFS is a friendly place; welcoming and homely as I said, but also with a sense of fun and a love of flying that resonates through everyone involved. It's the sort of school which I can well imagine would be a good place to learn to fly.
For more details on MKFS please visit: www.milton-keynes-flying-school.co.uk/
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