FLIGHT TRAINING AT ESHOTT AIRFIELD
Taking the decision to start your pilot training is always an exciting moment, whatever your reasons are for starting.
Here at Eshott Airfield in Northumberland we offer various types of flight training from beginner to advanced training.
We are the only training provider in the North East providing all three options in terms of initial pilot training courses, and that puts us in the perfect position to offer you genuine advice on which is the best option for you. We offer the National Private Pilots Licence NPPL(M), the Light Aircraft Pilots Licence LAPL(A) and the Private Pilots Licence PPL(A). In terms of advanced training we offer the Night Rating, IR(R) Instrument rating and tailwheel ratings on our RAF Chipmunk.
MEET THE TEAM
RICHARD PIKE
ACCOUNTABLE MANAGER
Richard started flying at RAF Church Fenton in 2009 as an RAF reservist, training on the Grob Tutor. With around 450 hours on a variety of fixed wing aircraft, Richard is now the Accountable Manager for the Eshott School of Flying and is also the Airfield Ops Manager. Richard has a strong passion for tailwheel flying and vintage aircraft and is one of the co-founders of the Hangar57 collection at Eshott Airfield.
ESMEE WEBLEY
OPERATIONS
Esmee joined the team here at Eshott Airfield in 2019 having completed a work experience placement with us in 2016. Esmee now manages the day to day running of the flight school and assists with airfield operations. Esmee is a keen pilot herself and recently completed a Private Pilots Licence with a night rating and tail-wheel endorsement. Esmee is building her hours towards a commercial licence.
JAMES ARNOTT
INSTRUCTOR
James learnt to fly the Bulldog with the RAF whilst studying Aerospace Engineering. He flew the Dash8 and Embraer 175/195 for a major UK airline before moving to his current job on the Boeing 737. James now has around 10, 000 hours in his logbook and now instructs at Eshott on a variety of vintage types. James has flown aircraft as diverse as the MS315, Tiger Moth, Avro Anson and Jet Provost.
PETER BROOKS
HEAD OF TRAINING
Peter started flying in 1969 and became an instructor in 1974 gaining a commercial license in 1980. He has amassed over 17,500 flying hours; flying everything from C-47s, DH-89s for Air Atlantique too D-31s. Peter is now Head of Training and is qualified to teach: PPL(A), IR(R), Night, Tail-wheel, Aerobatics, Banner Towing and is able to carry out test flying on home built aircraft. Peter now instructs tail-wheel on our RAF DHC.1 Chipmunk having completed his instructor rating on Chipmunks himself in 1974.
TIM FAWCETT
EXAMINER & INSTRUCTOR
Tim started his flying career in 1981 at Doncaster Aerodrome. Tim is now an Examiner and Class Rating Instructor. Tim teaches the LAPL(A) here at Eshott Airfield and was the instructor who first started the Group A training here. In addition to his role here as a instructor teaching in the air, Tim also carries out the Radio Telephony instruction and tests, along with ground school instruction at Eshott.
DEREK LITHGROW
INSTRUCTOR
Derek started with the team in 2019 and quickly became very popular with the students as a thorough and friendly instructor. Derek has around 4500 hours flying in private jets and started his instructional career in 2001. In 2010 Derek completed a military flight instruction conversion course at RAF Barkston Heath. Derek now teaches the NPPL(M), LAPL(A) and PPL(A) courses at Eshott Airfield.