22/09/2026
Choosing where to learn to fly? Price is only part of the answer.
We were interested to read AERLO’s recent guide to choosing a UK flying school, not least because POM Flying Club at Humberside Airport is one of the schools listed on their site.
One point particularly resonated with us: where you learn matters.
We regularly meet students who initially shopped around on hourly price, only to move to POM later because of aircraft availability, continuity of training or simply the people and environment in which they were learning.
The cheapest hourly rate isn’t necessarily the cheapest route to a PPL. If you can’t get an aircraft or instructor when you need one, or long gaps mean spending valuable flying time relearning what you covered previously, the apparent saving can disappear remarkably quickly.
There is another advantage to learning at Humberside Airport which is harder to put a price on: confidence.
Humberside is a controlled airport with professional Air Traffic Control. From the beginning, our students become accustomed to talking to controllers, obtaining clearances, using the correct radio procedures and operating alongside other traffic. These aren’t occasional exercises, they become part of normal flying.
Interestingly, instructors at schools elsewhere tell us that pilots who learn entirely outside controlled airspace can sometimes be reluctant to enter it after gaining their licence. It can appear complicated and intimidating simply because it is unfamiliar.
For our students, it isn’t unfamiliar. It’s what they have done from day one.
That matters if you want a PPL simply for the freedom and pleasure of flying. It matters even more if your PPL is intended to be the first step towards a commercial flying career.
With G-BPOM and G-SELB, PPL training and the opportunity to progress to Night and IR(R) training, our aim isn’t simply to get someone through the skills test. It is to develop confident pilots who are comfortable taking an aircraft beyond their home airfield and making full use of the licence they have worked hard to achieve.
If you’re considering learning to fly, AERLO’s guide is worth reading, and when comparing schools, perhaps ask yourself a slightly different question:
Not just “how much does an hour cost?” but “what sort of pilot will I be when I’ve finished?”
Read AERLO's guide to choosing a flying school ⬇️
Thinking about a PPL, particularly as the first step towards a career in aviation? Come and talk to us at POM Flying Club, Humberside Airport.
Choosing a flying school in the UK? Compare instructors, aircraft, prices, availability, ATO/DTO status and PPL training before you commit.