Frequently Asked Questions

Ground School Courses

‘What is Fast Track'?

Fast Track simply means that the course is undertaken on a more intensive basis. These courses are primarily designed for those short of time, which lets face it, is most of us! The PPL Theory courses are designed to last one day with the examination taken at the end of that day. Typical start and finish times are 9.30am to 4.00pm with a morning, lunch and afternoon break. Other options are available.

‘Do people normally do all 7 subjects in one week?'

This really depends on the individual. Most people come to see us because they are either short of time, can't absorb the material by reading a book, or just fed up of juggling working life, family and learning to fly. The majority of our students come for 5 days and do the 7 subjects. But remember, these are bespoke courses designed to work for you. So you choose how many subjects you want to study and we'll do the rest.

‘I haven’t been to school for 30 years, is there a lot of Maths & Science?'

This is a question asked by many people prior to starting our Ground School. The answer is an emphatic 'no' there is not. The course is taught by qualified Flying Instructors and Teachers who understand that everyone’s needs are different and are therefore able to teach you exactly what you need from the beginning. This will enable you to become a safer pilot and to pass your exams of course.

‘What will I get out of it?'

To start with, all the exams passed which is necessary for the award of the PPL as well as a great deal of satisfaction and a detailed understanding of the key elements of PPL Aviation Theory. This knowledge can be further applied to the natural sciences and would serve you well should you decide to embark upon such courses with colleges or universities in the future.

‘How big are your classes?'

We have found that teaching 'large' groups of people is not beneficial as someone inevitably suffers as a result of either not understanding when the rest of the group does, or indeed being held back by others when they do understand! So, we find that teaching very small groups (no more than 4) ensures that you dictate the pace and get the most out of your time spent with us and get that exam passed. We can provide bepoke one to one tuition but experience has shown us that you will get the most out of working alongside someone else. They may even be someone to socialise with during your ground school holiday! You can of course come as a group to study with us. We will spend additional one to one time with any student that either requests or requires it.

‘What are your pass rates?'

100% of course! Our dedicated and patient instructors spend as much time as is required to get you through. For the vast majority of people, one to two subjects  per day is more than sufficient.

'How will the course be delivered?'

At The Great Circle we pride ourselves on delivering a first class training program. To achieve this we use qualified professionals and state of the art ICT. The lecture format is via high quality, industry leading Presentations. You will be provided with a high quality ’workbook’ which is in fact a duplicate of the presentation itself. This method of delivery is highly desirable as it cuts down on note taking, thereby enabling you to focus more fully on the lecture. There are times when good old fashioned ‘chalk and talk’ are preferable and indeed necessary.

'Where are your Fast Track courses held?'

Our courses are run at our brand new training centre in the beautiful spa town of Harrogate, North Yorkshire. There are good rail and motorway links and our closest airport is only 15 mins by taxi. The courses are delivered in comfortable, modern conference suites. Tea, Coffee and other refreshments are available.

'I live at the other end of the country, is there accommodation nearby?'

There are a number of very nice local B & Bs or very up-market hotels within 5 mins of our training centre. You will also be spoilt for choice with pubs, restaurants and theatre, all on our door-step. Please contact us for a comprehensive list of hotels, eateries and nearby attractions.

‘How far in advance do I need to book?'

We do not normally require more than two weeks notice to book a course. Early spring throughout summer tends to be our busiest period and it is advisable to book as soon as you know you are able to take the time off work/family to come and see us. If you find that you have some free time at short notice, then please give us a call, we may be able to fit you in.

‘I have a disability, what provisions are made?'

We make every effort to accommodate students with disabilities. All entrances and elevators (when used), toilets and refreshment areas are designed for wheelchair access. If you have any special requirements, please click here to contact us so that suitable arrangements can be made.

Flight Training Courses

‘What is Fast Track?'

Fast Track simply means that the course is undertaken on a more intensive basis. These courses are primarily designed for those short of time, which lets face it, is most of us! The Fast Track PPL courses are designed to last approximately 21 days. Typical start and finish times are 9.30am to 5.30pm with a morning, lunch and afternoon break. You can expect to fly from 3 to 5 hours per day. Other options are available. Perhaps you have started a course elsewhere and wish to complete it.

‘I thought these courses could only be done in America, what about the horrible English weather?'

Our motto is: "If you're going to fly in England, learn in England". Yes we do have days of inclement weather, but very rarely do we have days when you cannot fly at all. This may mean that you have to show up to fly earlier one day or stay a little later, either way we'll get you finished. It is far better to have a taste of flying in inclement weather whilst sat next to your instructor, rather than have got your PPL in the states in beautiful weather, only to come back and frighten yourself silly when your caught out with low visibility, rain or a crosswind on landing!

‘Would it be cheaper for me to go to America and do this course?'

When perusing the glossy ads in Pilot magazine it might seem so. Now add in the cost of return airfares, time and money spent on visas for flight trainin and licence conversion if necessary. When you return your local flying school will almost certainly insist on some further training to acquaint you with british ATC procedures and flying in our ever changing weather! This can all add up to a considerable amount of money and frequently ends up costing more than it would have to train here.

‘Are your courses run on a one to one basis?'

Absolutely. We guarantee that you will not have lots of instructors and different aircraft for your training.  We find that no more than two instructors and two aircraft provide the most effective training regime. This saves valuable time as you do not have to get used to learning the differences between lots of aircrfat and different instructional techniques. At The Great Circle, all instructors teach the same procedures to ensure continuity.

‘Do most people complete the course in 21 days?'

Yes they do. It's fair to say that you need to be very motivated, well rested and prepared to learn. When people take the time off and enrol on a Fast Track course, they find in the end that they have saved an awful lot of time, money and heart ache. You will spend little time repeating things as you are flying from 3 to 5 hours a day, you will remember far more this way. Everyone is amazed at what they can achieve on our courses!

‘What are your pass rates?'

100% of course! Our dedicated and patient instructors spend as much time as is required to get you through. We would not put you forward for a flight test if we didn't think you were ready. The vast majority of people go home with a first time pass and a big grin on their face!

‘Is an examiner available immediately at the end of my course?'

This is a very good question and one that many schools do not answer honestly! We are proud to say that when you are near to completing your course, we will pre-book your test to ensure that an examiner is available for you without delay. This will ensure you get your licence with minimum fuss. We currently have 3 examiners on staff and you will be guaranteed a test immediately on completion of your course.

'How much does it cost?'

Prices for our courses are listed on the courses pages.

'Where are your Fast Track courses held?'

Our flight training courses are conducted at Full Sutton Flying Centre in the beautiful vale of York. Enjoy miles and miles of beautiful open countryside and coast line while learning to fly. The historical city of York is only a 10 minute drive from the school. We have both grass and tarmac runways, a modern fleet of aircraft and pre-flight briefing rooms.

'I live at the other end of the country, is there accommodation nearby?'

There are a number of very nice local B & Bs within 5 to 10 mins of the airfield. Slightly further, there is the beautiful city of York with many B & Bs, hotels, restaurants and pubs. Please visit our links page to see what's on offer.

'My family and friends will miss me, can they come and visit?'

Absolutely. Although 3 weeks is a very short time to complete a PPL, it's still a fair amount of time to be away from your nearest and dearest. Our clients often have family who come and visit for a week or so and we would encourage this. They can even come along and sit in the back whilst you have a lesson if you like!

‘I have a disability, what provisions are made?'

We make every effort to accommodate students with disabilities. All entrances and elevators (when used), toilets and refreshment areas are designed for wheelchair access. If you have any special requirements, please contact us so that suitable arrangements can be made.

‘Brilliant, when can i start?'

Call today and fly tomorrow, we look forward to teaching you soon...