Pilot Flight Training

Our Courses

Courses

1st Lesson to becoming a pilot – Trial Lesson

Courses

Private Pilots Licence (PPL)

Courses

PPL Ground School

Courses

Night Rating

Courses

Instrument Rating (Restricted) – IR(R)

Courses

Commercial Courses (MEP, MEIR, FI, CPL, ATPL)

Frequently asked questions

Our Air Experience flights are an exhilarating flight adventure that allows you to soar through the skies and witness the breathtaking beauty of Norfolk and Suffolk from above. As you embark on this amazing journey, you will be treated to a truly unforgettable experience aboard one of NAC’s high specification aircraft.

At Norwich Aviation Centre (NAC), we believe in offering our customers the finest aviation experiences, combining luxury, safety, and an unrivalled sense of adventure. Our Air Experience packages are meticulously designed to provide you with a unique opportunity to explore the stunning landscapes, landmarks, and iconic sites of Norfolk and Suffolk.

Imagine taking to the skies and beholding the sprawling coastlines, charming countryside, and historic sites from an entirely new perspective. As you ascend, you will feel a surge of excitement, and as the aircraft gracefully glides through the air, you’ll be captivated by the panoramic views unfolding beneath you.

NAC’s high specification aircraft are equipped with state-of-the-art technology and designed to ensure your utmost comfort and safety throughout the flight. Our professional and experienced pilots will guide you on this awe-inspiring journey, sharing their knowledge and love for aviation.

Whether you are a thrill-seeker, a nature enthusiast, or simply someone seeking a unique experience, an Air Experience with NAC is an opportunity not to be missed. It is a chance to escape the ordinary, to break free from the confines of the ground, and to discover the hidden gems of Norfolk and Suffolk from an entirely new vantage point.

Not only will you witness the iconic sites like the stunning Norfolk Broads, the picturesque North Norfolk Coast, and the historic city of Norwich, but you’ll also have the chance to customise your flight plan. We offer tailored Air Experiences that can be adapted to your preferences, allowing you to explore specific areas or landmarks that hold personal significance to you. Speak with us if you have any requirements because at the end of the day this is your experience.

So, buckle up, and get ready for an extraordinary adventure that will leave you with memories to last a lifetime. Treat yourself or surprise a loved one with this truly remarkable gift—the gift of flight. Join NAC on an Air Experience, and let us take you on a journey that will awaken your sense of wonder and give you a newfound appreciation for the beauty of Norfolk and Suffolk from above.

No….but…..

Please bring some form of photographic ID with you. We are entering air side of an international airport as such we have to be security aware and conscious. If you do not have a passport, driving licence or other recognised identity card then please call in advance so we can make arrangements. 

If you arrive without a pre-arrangement and without ID then we may have to cancel your flight and there is only a refund of 50% in this instance, please don’t forget your ID

We do not allow high heels or shoes which could damage the wing as your try to board the aircraft.

Other than this we do not mind what you wear providing it is sensible and doesn’t interfere with the aircraft controls. (ie no big yellow chicken outfits)

We would recommend nice flat shoes or trainers especially if you would like to have a go at flying.

In the winter we would recommend typical warm winter clothing but in the summer we strongly recommend light cotton clothing because it can become hot in the cockpit before we take off.

If you are unsure give us a call to discuss.

Ok has anyone ever been sick in one of our aircraft? The answer is yes but that is extremely rare.

We have taken people flying who are known to get travel sick and they have always been ok. However; in the event of such an issue we do carry sick bags onboard which we can provide you with before the flight if you feel you might need one….. but we doubt it will be necessary!

 

Don’t be!

We take people flying who are petrified of flying all the time, in fact some people come to us to try and get over their fear.

We are trained to put you at ease from the start, if you are nervous then do mention this to our staff or your pilot before you fly.

One of the fears of flying is that you can’t see what is going on and the big planes just move without you knowing what is about to happen. In our aircraft your pilot will be talking to you all the time and they will tell you what is going on and you will be able to see it for yourself.

Don’t worry you will have an amazing experience and when you get back on the ground you will wonder what the worry was about.

Yes it is!

Flying in itself presents an elevated risk to you whether you are flying with commercial operators such as RyanAir, EasyJet, BA or in small aircraft like ours.

As we use our light aircraft for commercial operations they are also maintained to a Certificate of Airworthiness (CoA) standard by a CAA approved Aircraft Maintenance Organisation (AMO). 

Every 50 hours the aircraft are returned to the AMO for a maintenance check and oil change. Every 100 hours the aircraft are taken to the AMO for an enhanced inspection criteria, then every year there is also an annual inspection. On top of that we have time limited parts on the aircraft which must be replaced after so many hours of operations….Aircraft maintenance and inspection is the biggest expense of running aircraft!

So one thing to consider is we only have one engine on the aircraft, what happens if it fails? Firstly; it is extremely rare for an engine to fail completely in flight. Secondly in the unlikely event that it did completely fall apart and fail, then the aircraft will not fall out of the sky!  It becomes a glider and we would glide the aircraft into the nearest airfield, or into a nice long field of which we have thousands of in Norfolk and Suffolk. Our pilots are highly experienced and trained for any such eventuality.

Has it ever happened to us…. no!

NAC have parking at the front of our building. We have limited parking so we ask for only one car per flight. If you plan to arrive in multiple cars please do call ahead so we can arrange alternative parking.

Absolutely yes! 

Take your phone and take as many videos and photos as you wish.  We may ask you to ensure the phone is in flight mode but that is at the discretion of the pilot.

As a rule the answer is no. This is because the animals need to be restrained in the cockpit from interfering with the safety of the flight.

However; in certain circumstances we may allow it depending on a case by case evaluation of the request.

Please call us to discuss if you feel you have a need to bring your pet.

Absolutely –  yes please!

We want you to enjoy your experience and create memories, please share you pictures and videos with us before you leave.

We do not allow the positioning of Action Cameras and Audio recorders in the cockpit for reasons of flight safety.

 

HOWEVER: NAC do offer a professionally made video of your flight using multiple camera views and with recording cockpit intercom communications including Air Traffic control. Please discuss with us the video packages.

Limits are solely based on a persons ability to access and egress the cockpit unaided and that their size does not interfere with the cockpit controls.

However if you are concerned please call us.

The aircraft does have a weight limit, so we will ask you for your weight, please do not be offended, but do tell the truth as it is essential for flight safety that we properly calculate the aircrafts weight and balance. We reserve the right to weigh passengers prior to any flight.

We are proud to say we are welcoming of all people of all abilities. Access to our office is disabled friendly.

There are some occasions where we need to conduct a risk assessment of the likelihood and assistance needed for a disabled person to evacuate the aircraft in an emergency. 

Please do not be put off by this…. call us to discuss.

We want everyone to enjoy aviation!

Nope!

Anyone young and old can come play at NAC and enjoy the thrills of aviation.

Babies and ickle-children are welcome to come enjoy the experience, you can bring your car booster seats or car chairs for them to sit on.

You know your children best, if they want to sit in the front they are welcome to so long as they can listen to the instructions of the pilot

Unfortunately not. 

Any food or drink consumed on our aircraft must be purchased through our flight operations centre.

Unless you have a bag of skittles then we love skittles!

No.

We will provide you with a headset and high visibility vest for your experience. 

We would recommend arriving 45 minutes before your flight time. This allows you to be briefed on your flight and to take some time to relax before the experience.

Then the time of you flight you have paid for plus an additional 30 minutes for a debrief.

So for a 1 hour flight experience allow us 2 hours and 15 minutes in total

We are happy to take someone out to the aircraft parking area to get some photos of you leaving but they would need to come back to the office once you taxi out. 

We would recommend a great parking spot at each end of the runway to go and take some pictures.

At NAC we like to keep control of everything we do but the weather is one thing we cannot adjust.

We will review the weather for the days leading up to your flight, if there is anything forecast that will  cause a problem for your flight we will give you the most amount of notice possible to reschedule.  

On the day we will check the forecast continuously and update you if anything locally happens that isn’t forecast.

We will always reschedule your flight to your convenience if this happens.

These things happen!

For genuine reasons we will reschedule your flight for you free of charge. We can apply a £10 administration fee in some rare cases.

Give us a call 01603 369928 and explain why your late and your ETA, we should still be able to accommodate you.

For reasons of flight safety we do not allow you to install your own cameras in our cockpits, however we do have our approved camera systems and recording equipment we use to film your flight if you request it.

Our prices are available on the website, contact us to discuss the options.

Yes, all our merchandise is available at our flight operations centre or on our website.

Yes outside our office are the public toilets with disabled access.

We encourage you to go to the bathroom before the flight as there are no toilets on the aircraft.

Yes we do.

We offer gift cards for 1st lessons, air experiences and for account additions for regular flyers.

All gift cards are valid for 6 months.

We require you to declare any medical conditions before your flight booking.

It is rare that we would refuse a flight to you based on any medical condition but in certain exceptional circumstances we may ask for a doctors letter to say you are fit to fly.

We reserve the right to refuse a flight to anyone we believe is not fit to fly.

For reasons of flight safety we do not permit passengers onboard our aircraft who are under the influence of drink or drugs or who we believe may be intoxicated.

Should you arrive for your flight in such a condition then your flight may be refused and you would not be entitled to a refund. However; we may consider a rebooking for the future but that does incur an administration charge of £30.

If you are on medication which may affect your presentation then please let us know in advance.

This is a truly fantastic flight school. The team are incredibly friendly and the instructors are very qualified, professional, supportive, and really want to see you succeed.

I did my night rating with them, and would absolutely recommend people to choose NAC to do their flight training with. Friendly, professional, and helpful - look no further than NAC when choosing a flight school!

James Cripps

Where can I start? this flight school is absolutely incredible, the team are very friendly, very professional and extremely well qualified, and have gone absolutely up and above all of my expectations, to give my son the confidence and continued support towards his amazing journey to become the pilot he’s always dreamed of being.

I honestly can not tell you just how amazing everyone is, and I will be forever thankful for everything they have done over the past few days to help me and my son. Five stars and more highly recommended.

Thanks guys
Stacy Howes

(Alfie's Mum)

Stacy Howes (Alfie’s Mum)

Top flight school, very nice and friendly people. The aircraft are in great condition and the Pipers are a lot comfier for taller pilots than the Cessna's I've had at other schools. Also appreciate how open they are about pricing compared to other flight schools. 

Matthew Freeman

I’ve not flown for several years and decided to start again and explained my circumstances to Rob and he was very helpful and explained all that was required.

First flight again with Steve and now I’m thoroughly enjoying it.

Glad I decided to go with NAC.

Andy Ward

I had my first private hire from NAC this week, what a breath of fresh air!

 

The online booking facility is great, they have the best fleet of aircraft in the region and the most highly regarded instructing staff to boot!

 

The rates are very competitive with the loyalty offer and a real game changer for the industry.

 

Cant wait to fly again, Thank you NAC!

Rob Woods

The best aircraft organised by a great team.

Tom Pryor