Organisation profile

Fly Sussex

• School

Fly Sussex teaches on the South Downs and offers a five-day Elementary Pilot (EP) course for complete beginners. It covers equipment, ground handling, low hops, higher flights and basic flight planning. Theory includes meteorology, principles of flight and rules, followed by an exam. Progress is recorded in a personal training logbook; the school states that EP alone does not qualify a student to fly outside school supervision.

The follow-on Club Pilot course is also advertised as five days. Entry requires EP obtained within the previous year and a logbook documenting earlier training. It adds ridge soaring and flying alongside other pilots, two theory exams and a final assessment of flying ability and equipment. The school recommends completing it on personal equipment. These day counts describe the courses rather than a guaranteed time to qualify.

Students meet at the base near Lewes for a briefing before travelling to a site selected for the wind. The FAQ envisages about four hours on the hill per day. Training days need not be consecutive, and the next meeting time is checked the evening before; teaching depends on the weather.