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Getting Started

What to Expect Before
Your Trial Lesson

5 min read
·
New student guide
·
Updated Jan 2025

Your trial lesson should feel exciting, not stressful. This guide covers everything from what to wear to what will happen on the day — so you arrive at Fife Airport ready to focus on the experience.

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1

Before you arrive

  • Confirm your booking time and date
    You'll have received a confirmation email — check the time and add it to your calendar. Lessons typically run 1–1.5 hours door to door.
  • Check the weather — but don't cancel yourself
    We'll contact you if we need to reschedule. If you're travelling some distance, call us before you set off — weather conditions can change rapidly from hour to hour.
  • Get a good night's sleep
    Fatigue affects your ability to absorb new information and your enjoyment of the flight. There's no academic preparation needed — just arrive fresh.
  • Eat a light meal beforehand
    Avoid flying on an empty stomach or after a heavy meal. Some students experience mild motion discomfort early on — a light meal helps.
2

Getting to Fife Airport

Fife Airport is in Glenrothes, KY6 2SL — well signposted from the A92. Follow signs for Glenrothes Business Park and then the airport. Allow a few extra minutes if it's your first visit.

  • Arrive 15 minutes before your lesson time
    This gives you time to find us and have a relaxed pre-flight briefing with your instructor.
  • Park in the main visitor car park
    Free parking is directly in front of the main building. Head for the Fife Flight Centre sign — we're on the right as you enter.
3

What to wear & bring

  • Comfortable, unrestricted clothing
    You'll be seated in a small cockpit for up to an hour. Avoid bulky jackets or anything that restricts movement. Layers are ideal — it can be cool even in summer.
  • Flat, closed-toe shoes
    You'll be using foot pedals for the rudder. Avoid high heels, flip flops, or thick-soled shoes that could catch on the pedals.
  • Sunglasses on clear days
    Flying at altitude in clear conditions means direct sun exposure. Sunglasses make a real difference to comfort and visibility. If you go on to train regularly, non-polarised lenses are recommended — polarised sunglasses can make cockpit displays harder to read.
    • No alcohol or recreational drugs

    UK aviation law prohibits flying within 8 hours of consuming alcohol or under the influence of recreational drugs. Your lesson will need to be rescheduled if this applies.

4

What happens on the day

Here's what to expect from arrival to debrief.

On arrival
Welcome
A member of the team will welcome you, answer any questions you have about your trial lesson, and get you ready to go.
~15 minutes
Pre-flight briefing
Your instructor walks you through the basic controls and what to expect in the air. No experience needed — this is about finding out if flight training with us is right for you.
~10 minutes
Aircraft walk-around
You'll see how we check the aircraft before every flight — inspecting control surfaces, fuel, engine, and more. This is just for interest; nothing you need to learn right now.
~45 minutes
The flight
You'll take the controls early — most students are flying straight and level within the first few minutes. Your instructor handles radio work and remains in full control at all times.
After landing
Debrief
Your instructor will debrief the flight with you, then hand you over to a member of the team who can answer any questions you have.
5

After your trial lesson

Once your trial is complete, here's how getting started with training works.

Request a training plan
Tell us your schedule and goals and our team will put together a real, personalised training plan for you — not a generic template.
Pre-register your details
While we're preparing your plan, you can pre-register some of your enrolment details so the process is as smooth as possible when you're ready to start.
Approve your plan
We'll share your plan for review. Once you're happy with it, enrolment opens. The plan can be adjusted over time as your schedule or goals change.
Enrol and get started
Enrolment is £450 and includes all the study materials you need to begin your training. After that, you pay as you go for lessons.

You're all set. ✓

Everything's ticked off. We'll see you at Fife Airport — enjoy every second of it.

Book your trial lesson
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