What Can I Expect

They say great things come in small packages and that's certainly true of these Cumbernauld Airport flying lessons! This compact, but very professionally run airport is just 20 minutes from Glasgow and 30 minutes from Edinburgh and offers a fantastic venue to make your first foray into flying a light aircraft.

Cumbernauld Airport was just a grass strip when it opened in 1966. A new 820m x 23m asphalt runway and terminal building with all the facilities was opened in 1988, making Cumbernauld a modern custom built airport which is ideal for flying lessons, hangarage, aircraft maintenance and charter services.

As you arrive at the airport, you'll make your way to the main terminal building, which is home to this flying centre. Your experience starts with meeting your instructor pilot who'll be taking you out for your lesson. After a safety briefing and familiarisation of the aircraft you'll be flying in, it's time to get onboard and ready. Once given clearance by air traffic control you'll taxi away down the runway, take off and head into the skies over Glasgow and your flying lesson out of Cumbernauld Airport has begun!

Flying lessons at Cumbernauld are in either a two seater Cessna or four seater Piper plane . Your instructor will handle the take off and landing (so you get plenty of time to appreciate that bird's eye view of the Scottish countryside), but once at level flight you will be positively encouraged to take the controls and fly the plane yourself. And if you get the flying bug and end up having more lessons here at Cumbernauld Airport, your trial lesson does actually count towards your PPL (Private Pilot's Licence).

Going to Cumbernauld Airport for flying lessons gives would-be pilots one very big advantage - you've got all the facilities of a larger airport, but without the restricted airspace. This means there's no hanging around and you can make the most of the open flight paths all around you. There's also a good cafe and restaurant on site that's run by this flying school, so friends and family accompanying the budding pilot will be able to see the flying lesson action from the comfort of the cafe in the heart of Cumbernauld Airport.

When Is It Available

• Weekdays and weekends throughout the year
• Flight are subject to availability and weather conditions

Suitable For

• Minimum age of 14 years old
• Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult on the airfield
• Photographic ID will be required on the day

Two Seater Restrictions

• Maximum weight 14 stone
• Maximum height 6ft 1ins

Four Seater Restrictions

• Maximum weight 16 stone
• Maximum height 6ft 3ins

Spectators

• Spectators are welcome and can watch you take off and land
• Participants of the four seater experiences are allowed to bring an interested observer (min age 14) who can observe the lesson from the rear seat (at the discretion of the flight instructor and subject to weather conditions)