Do I need to buy my own equipment?
For your trial lesson and early training, you don't need to purchase anything. As you progress through the syllabus, a small amount of navigation equipment becomes necessary — but the total spend is modest.
What we provide
We provide aviation headsets for use in our aircraft. You don't need to bring your own for your trial lesson, and you don't need to buy one to train with us.
Your student logbook is included in the £450 enrolment fee — there's nothing to purchase.
Your study materials for all nine theory subjects are also included in enrolment. Books, resources, and practice materials are provided from day one.
What you'll need to buy during training
When you reach the navigation phase, you'll need a small set of planning tools. Your instructor will tell you when you need each one — there's no need to buy everything at once from day one.
What's optional
Your own headset. We provide headsets, so buying one is a personal choice rather than a requirement. Students who are certain they want to continue training sometimes buy their own later — a decent entry-level aviation headset costs in the region of £200–£400. There's no advantage to buying early.
A flight bag. A bag to organise your charts, nav kit, and logbook. Any suitable bag works fine; a dedicated flight bag is a convenience, not a necessity.
Sunglasses. Useful for comfort and visibility, particularly at altitude. If you buy a pair specifically for flying, non-polarised lenses are preferable — polarised sunglasses can make glass cockpit displays harder to read.
What you don't need to buy
A tablet or EFB. Electronic Flight Bags are popular with qualified pilots, but the PPL syllabus is based on traditional paper navigation. That's what the skills test requires, and it's where your training will focus.
Additional books or manuals. Your study materials are included in enrolment. You don't need to source anything extra.
Aviation clothing. There's no dress code. Comfortable, practical clothing is all that's needed — and a warm layer, as light aircraft cabins vary in temperature.
There's no benefit to purchasing navigation equipment before your instructor tells you you need it. Wait until you're in training — we'll tell you exactly what to get and when.