by Gwyn Headley
Managing Director
Pilots of light aircraft are passionate about flying. In clubs all over the country you’ll find private pilots just longing for a reason to take to the air. And the passenger seat of a Cessna or other high-winged aircraft is perfect for aerial photography … you can even open the window to avoid the plexiglas blur you get in most low-winged craft.
So, one sunny morning when it’s not too blustery, take yourself off to a flying club near to the landmark, view or whatever else you fancy shooting from the air and start chatting up the friendly pilots in the clubhouse. And before long, as long as you have a head for heights and a calm disposition, you’ll be up with the birds.
— posted by Yvonne Seeley
As a PPL holder (Private Pilot) Yvonne should know. I remember hanging around in the Clubhouse at Great Gransden (a Portakabin equipped with a very fat and dozy cat, an electric kettle and a tin mug attached by a chain to a sink — flying is not as glamorous as pilots like to make out) waiting for her to return from her dogfights with the YAKs. People who wandered in would more often than not be offered a flight. And I’m sure they’re MUCH friendlier in Yorkshire. Here’s a list of Yorkshire airfields to try out. The smaller and less corporate the venue, the more chance you’ll have. Don’t try this at Heathrow.
Bagby Airfield
Bagby, THIRSK, North Yorkshire YO7 2PH
Baxby Airsports
Baxby Manor, Husthwaite, YORK, Yorkshire YO61 4PW
Full Sutton Airfield
YORK, Yorkshire YO4 11HS
Sherburn Airfield
Lennerton Lane, Sherburn in Elmet, LEEDS, Yorkshire LS25 6JE
Hull Aero Club
Beverley (Linley Hill) Airfield, Leven, Yorkshire HU17 5LT
Leeds Flying School
Coney Park Estate Leeds Bradford International Airport, Yeadon, LEEDS, Yorkshire LS19 7XS
Sandtoft Airfield
Belton, Doncaster, Yorkshire DN9 1PN
Sherburn Aero Club
Lennerton Lane, Sherburn in Elmet, LEEDS, Yorkshire LS25 6JE
The Airfield
Pocklington, York, Yorkshire YO4 2NR
York Flying Club
Rufforth Airfield East, York Road, Rufforth, YORK, Yorkshire YO6 5RY
Sutton Bank Flying Club
Sutton Bank Thirsk, Yorkshire YO7 2EY
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I have been asked to take a number of aerial photographs of churches in Dorset for the Dorset Historic Churches Trust. They already have a number of my “ground”pictures published in their annual calendars and I am now wanting to offer them a different aspect. The local club Compton Abbas have so far been unable to offer help. Is there anywhere else nearby I could approach?
I got the data on airfields from http://www.todayspilot.co.uk/index.html
The third button in the LH column has the Where To Fly guide. Clicking on the South West area button will give you a list of airfields. Offer to swap a fine photograph of the proud owner with his/her winged steed in return for the flight.
Hot air balloons are good, too.
Hot air balloons are better than aeroplanes for taking photographs from AS LONG AS you don’t particularly mind where you’re heading.
Exactly!
I don’t wish to danmpen enthusiasm and I am sure many private pilots would be willing to take a photographer along but bear in mind flying is an expensive business and don’t presume too much on the charity of your pilot. Typical club aircaft cost around £120-150 per hour these days.
More to the point is the legal situation. If a pilot takes you flying in the full knowledge that the object of the exercise is for you to take a photograph which you will sell (or try to sell) then that flight is made on a commercial basis and the pilot is deemed to be flying for “hire and reward” – even if he or she receives no payment (the legal term is “valuable consideration”). Holders of a Private Pilot’s Licence are not permitted to fly for hire and reward and could be prosecuted under the Air Navigation Order for so doing.
Consequently, if a pilot seems reluctant to take you up, this might well be one of the reasons.
Leo’s right, of course. But what the pilot doesn’t know shouldn’t get her into trouble – just be a little economical with the truth. I hope this doesn’t mean the lunch I was treated to in Le Touquet in return for the flight there & back would be viewed as a valuable consideration … but those moules were good!
Yes, moules are definitely valuable consideration. In fact if you flew to Le Touquet at the photographers behest and enjoyed the flight (let alone the moules), then you have received valuable consideration! That apart, Le Touquet has an excellent restaurant which I have sampled many times. On one occasion I flew five parachutists (plus myself) there from Lympne, when it was too windy for jumping, in a four seat C180. Just our luck to be parked next to a CAA inspection aircraft whose pilot looked askance at the six bodies deploying. He must have had a good lunch as he said nothing and the savings on duty free plus the fuel drawback paid for the cost of the flight.
The trouble with moules is that they need large amounts of white wine to wash them down. As Von was the pilot, she couldn’t drink, so I had to have her share. It’s a tough life being a pilot.