Mike journey has begun

18-year old Mike Perham recently announced plans to become the youngest person to fly solo around the world at a press conference, hosted aptly in the Futures Pavilion at the Farnborough International Air Show. It came just 11 months after Perham returned to a hero's welcome in Portsmouth last August to become the youngest person to sail around the world single handed.

Cabair Flying Schools are sponsoring Mike to achieve his PPL - the first major step towards the necessary qualifications which will enable Mike to fly solo around the world. If everything comes together in time, he hopes to be off next summer.

For more details about this exciting adventure see this page.

Biggin Hill School of Flying Summer Sizzler Offer for 2010

Purchase one of our popular discounted PPL Packages before the end of September 2010, and we will reward you with a £250 Gift Voucher which you can redeem against any additional course*, flight or in our Pilot Shops.

The Packages which attract this offer are:

• The PPL Completer Course
• The Cabair PPL Course
• The Off Peak PPL Course

The PPL Completer is a unique course of 30 hours training specifically designed for those of you who started but never finished your PPL - for whatever reason. The Off Peak PPL is designed to take advantage of training during the week - avoiding bank holidays and weekends - when it is cheaper to fly. The Cabair PPL is our most popular Private Pilot's Licence which we have been delivering for over 40 years and is the one chosen by many a celebrity.

For further details, contact us now and take advantage of our Summer Sizzler!

The All New & Improved Platinum Plus Membership

From 12th July 2010 we can offer the new Platinum Plus Membership. It has benefits which can give you great savings which increase the more you fly.

It has super discounts, fuel surcharge and insurance excess waivers, plus the opportunity to pass these same benefits on to a family member at no extra cost.

For more info on Platinum Plus see here.

To see the potential savings see this PDF.

To sign up for Platinum Plus contact Operations now!

BIGGIN HILL SCHOOL OF FLYING: NEWSLETTERS

Download the latest August 2010 Newsletter here.

If you are a member and have any news, useful info or anecdotes you would like to share, email us here and it may well appear in the next edition of the newsletter.

Happy Flying! Ops, BHSF

Cabair and Flying Pictures propose merger

Cabair Holdings Limited, owner of Europe’s largest independently owned Flight Training Organisation, is pleased that, following an investment by Flying Pictures Limited in shares of the company and as a precursor to a proposed merger, Colin Prescot has joined their Board as Deputy Chairman.Colin remains CEO of Flying Pictures Ltd., best known for their aviation input to the Harry Potter and James Bond films flight sequences. He brings his wide marketing and promotional skills to aid and advance Cabair’s global expansion.

James Hunter Smart, currently Finance Director of Flying Pictures Ltd., joins the Board at the same time to head the finance function.

Currently, the economic climate in the UK demands that Cabair’s reputation for outstanding flight training becomes a world brand. Colin and James bring unique experience that will enable Cabair to meet this strategic objective more rapidly than would otherwise have been possible.

Cabair and Flying Pictures have worked together in the past and have already identified the advantages of linking together in UK and overseas where both companies have significant interests (especially in Florida USA).

For further information contact Colin Prescot on 01264861100 or Charles Henry, Cabair's Chairman on 020 8236 2400. Visit Flying Pictures web site here.

Cabair Flying Schools Sponsorship

Robin Knox-Johnston said it could be suicidal. The head of the Royal Yachting Association told him not to go. Mike Perham ignored them and in August 2009, at the age of just 17 years, 5 months and 11 days, became the youngest person to have sailed solo around the world.

Now Mike has set his sights on becoming the youngest person to fly solo around the world and Cabair is delighted to be sponsoring Mike in gaining his Private Pilot Licence - the first rung on the ladder to achieving his goal.

Find out more about Mike by visiting his web site here

BIGGIN HILL PILOT SHOP

That's correct - Biggin Hill School of Flying now has a Pilot Shop where you can purchase all manner of useful pilot supplies from the POOLEYS range.

In stock we hold everything the discerning pilot might need - from the renowned Pooley's Flight Computers to kneeboards, maps, checklists, books sunglasses and even pilot teddy bears!

All Cabair members and visitors are entitled to a 5% discount off the recommended retail prices. This applies to anything purchased at the Biggin Hill School of Flying, or if purchased online at www.pooleys.com.

For more info see here. Happy shopping!

Cabair Flying School Staff gain Customer Service
Best Practice qualifications

Members of Cabair Flying Schools staff have successfully completed NVQ courses in Customer Services. NVQs (National Vocational Qualifications) are competence-based qualifications that develop skills and provide professional recognition.

Best Practice assessors examined our staffs' skills and performance in the workplace and assessed them over several months using a variety of methods including: observation, workplace documentation, testimony, discussion, written personal statements and project work.

Here's a summary of their achievements including our own Lewis Brown:

Blackbushe SF
Christabelle Munford - Customer Service L3
Emma Munford - Customer Service L2
Clare Harfield - Customer Service L2
Reece Owen - Customer Service L2
Dean Hodges - Customer Service L2

Biggin Hill SF
Lewis Brown - Customer Servcie L3

London SF (Elstree)
Darryl Letch - Customer Service L2

Congratulations to them all and we hope all members and visitors get the benefit of their experise when visiting those schools.

For further information about NVQs in Customer Service see here.

Download a datasheet about Jet Simulator rides here

FLY A JET SIMULATOR

Now you can take control of a Jet Aircraft. Cabair Have joined forces with iPILOT to offer you the ultimate Jet Simulator trip.

These Simulators are so real that commercial pilots can train in them. Under the guidance of Instructors you will get a real sensation of what it is like to be in command of a Real Jet.

- No experience required
- Instructors are on hand to make this an experience of a lifetime
- You can fly from and to over 500 Airports - including the legendary Kai Tak!
- The simulators are conveniently located in major Shopping Malls such as Bluewater.

To buy Jet Sim Vouchers online visit our dedicated Vouchers web site here.

British Disabled Flying Association welcomes Cabair as corporate partner

British charity, The British Disabled Flying Association (BDFA) is proud to announce that the Cabair Group of Companies has pledged its support to the charity as a corporate partner. "Like many charities we are only as good as the support we receive and the organisations that support us. We are thrilled to be working with the leading European aviation training organisation, the Cabair Group of Companies.", comments Mike Miller-Smith, BDFA Chief Executive.

Stephen Hinton-Lever, Sales and Marketing Director for Cabair is keen to ensure that the BDFA is supported by the aviation industry despite the economic downturn, and hopes to ensure that Cabair customers are aware of the charity and the work that they do. He comments, "We have watched the BDFA develop and grow, and have witnessed the smiles on faces and seen the difference aviation can make to the disadvantaged. Cabair is pleased to offer its support, and we are developing innovative ways to support the charity".

For further information on the BDFA see here.

RAY GETS HIS JUST REWARDS

Ray Watson, our FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR COURSE (FIC) instructor at Biggin Hill School of Flying, has been awared a Master Air Pilot Certificate by The Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators (GAPAN). This is a very prestigious award reflecting an aviation career of achievement and distinction. He will be presented with his award at the Trophies & Awards Banquet at the Guild on 29th October.

GAPAN exist to establish and maintain the highest standards of air safety through the promotion of good airmanship and maintain a liaison with all Authorities connected with licensing, training and legislation affecting pilot or navigator whether private, professional, civil or military. They constitute a body of experienced airmen available for advice and consultation and to facilitate the exchange of information and to assist air pilots and air navigators in need through the Benevolent Fund. The Guild is promoted as an active Livery Company of the City of London

Biggin Hill School of Flying and the whole of The Cabair Group are very proud of Ray's achievement over the years. He first joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1951 and after leaving, spent 6 years at the King Faisal Air Academy in Saudi Arabia on contract to British Aerospace as Squadron Commander of the Grading Squadron. He received a commendation from the Saudi General running the academy at that time.

On his return to the UK, Ray worked at the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in various appointments before joining Cabair where he has worked for many years training and testing flight instructors and PPL examiners and conducting other relevant SEP and MEP training and testing.

Everyone at Cabair congratulates him and wishes him well.

PPL SEMINARS

Cabair’s Pilot Advice Centre will be holding regular seminars during 2009 for those who are interested in learning to fly. They will consist of a short presentation about the courses on offer, the various locations at which you can train, plus details of how to fund your training. You will then be able to look over some aeroplanes and helicopters which you might one day be flying! Refreshments will be provided.

The seminars are free and places may be limited. Places are booked on line and will be booked on a first-come-first-served basis.
Dates will be posted here - so watch that space!

To book your places, apply here.

For further information on these courses, call Operations at Biggin Hill School of Flying on 01959 573 583 or email us at

bigginhill@cabair.com or alternatively, call Andrew at the Pilot's Advice Centre on 0845 094 6060 (local rate call), email him here, or visit the website here. Why not come to one of our free Seminars?