Haffenden Aviation - Ashford

speedbird3000

Having wanted to learn to fly since I was a child, I finally took the plunge and began training with John at age 31 in 2018. Right from my first phone call with him where we discussed my goals, all the way through until the end of my training, I felt at ease and safe with him as my instructor. He has a calm and methodical manner towards teaching, bags of patience and a great sense of humour. When studying for the theory exams, I needed some additional ground school to get through the tougher parts of the course, and John had an excellent way of teaching concepts that I initially had trouble grasping. I also had issues with self confidence during training and John was always extremely encouraging throughout. If you’re thinking of taking up flying, I’d thoroughly recommend choosing John as your instructor. Training was always fun and enjoyable, and it’s something I’ll miss now that I’m a qualified PPL!

Marcela B.

What an awesome experience! I don’t like flying anyway but to fly a 2 seater aircraft has always been my biggest fear. But I decided to conquer my fears and give it a go. I felt extremely nervous all morning but after meeting John and having been explained everything in a very calm and professional manner I immediately eased into it. By the time we hit the runway I was super excited. Weather was lovely and the flight was extremely smooth. I don’t like heights but being high in the skies surprisingly didn’t bother me at all. The best part was being allowed to fly the aircraft myself for 10 minutes with John ensuring complete safety with the dual controls. I didn’t want the flight to end and I would do it again in a heartbeat. Thank you John for curing my flying phobia. Truly amazing experience and I would highly recommend it to any nervous flyers. If I can do it and love it so can you! 😀

Terry H.

I can't say enough positive things about my experience with John as my aviation ground school instructor. From day one, John's passion for aviation and teaching was evident, and it truly made a difference in my learning journey.

John's teaching style is engaging, clear, and thorough. He has an incredible ability to break down complex aviation concepts into easily understandable and relatable terms, making it much easier for me to grasp challenging topics. He patiently answered all my questions and took the time to ensure I fully understood each lesson before moving on.

What impressed me most was John's dedication to his students' success. He goes above and beyond to provide additional resources, tips, and practical advice to help us excel in our aviation studies. He genuinely cares about each student's progress and ensures that we feel supported and confident throughout the learning process.

Not only is John highly knowledgeable and experienced in aviation, but he also brings a positive and encouraging attitude to every lesson. His enthusiasm is infectious and kept me motivated, even during the more demanding parts of ground school.

Thanks to John's guidance and mentorship, I feel well-prepared and confident in pursuing my aviation goals. Whether you're a beginner or looking to enhance your aviation knowledge, I wholeheartedly recommend John as an exceptional ground school instructor. He's not just a great teacher; he's an inspiration!

Will P.

I had passed a couple of flying exams over a year ago, they were a real struggle for me as exams were never my strong point at school. With the 18 month deadline looming I got introduced to John and I am so grateful I was.

I embarked on 1:1 tutoring with John, he made complex subjects easy to understand, this experience as a teacher meant he truly understood different learning styles and how to ensure I learnt properly and in a way that felt easier than the methods I had been trying on my own or with other flying instructors.

Additionally, he was flexible to my preferences of how long we did stints for to ensure I kept up energy and concentration.

I would also add that the truth is when I started my goal was just to get them done as quickly as possible but John ensured I understood the importance of knowing that this information could save my life and others and he was absolutely right to reenforce that.

If you are thinking of doing you ground school with John, don't think, just do it! Thank you, John.

Rob J.

I recently approached John to seek his help with the renewal of my SEP (land) / Cessna 152 rating, which had expired, in addition to the conversion of my old JAR FCL PPL license to the new UK Part-FCL PPL. My aim was to complete these steps over the course of several months, so that I would be fully licensed to fly by the summer.

John took the time to develop a tailored plan to help me achieve these objectives. He determined that I needed to undergo a refresher training course, which would culminate in a proficiency check with an examiner. This was required to renew my SEP (land) / Cessna 152 rating.

My situation was somewhat unique; I was not based in the UK and did not have access to a Cessna 152 for practical training. This meant that much of the preparation for the refresher training course would take place via distance learning. John was able to direct me to a superb source of online training material, online tests, and practice exams; the Easy PPL Ground School © system. John selected several courses, including Aviation Law and Communications, both of which are kept up to date in regard to the latest aviation industry developments and were of particular importance to closing my knowledge gap (many things had changed since I originally learned to fly).

In addition to the Easy PPL Ground School learning, John provided proprietary training materials specifically focused on the UK CAA Standards Document 19 version 9, which formed the basis of the proficiency check exam. John also provided a comprehensive listing of the key cockpit drills and reminders, which were instrumental in assisting me with my “armchair” flying.

I had eight days scheduled at Headcorn aerodrome in late spring 2023. During the first seven days, John took me through his refresher training course. This entailed flying once or twice a day, with breaks to plan navigation routes, review Aviation Law, and practice the cockpit drills. I successfully completed my proficiency check with the examiner on the eighth and final day. John then provided me with guidance around the necessary paperwork to complete for the CAA, effectively accomplishing what I had set out to achieve.

Simply put, I could not have realized this success without John’s expert training and support. John is in an exceptional instructor and went above and beyond to accommodate my training schedule. Embedded within all aspects of John’s training was a strong commitment to safety and good airmanship. Not only did John adequately prepare me for the proficiency check, but he also provided me with the skills to be a safe and competent Pilot in Command. I highly recommend John for your PPL training requirements.

James M.

I achieved my PPL with John at the end of 2021. Firstly, his instruction was very positive, calm, and clear; flights were always thoroughly briefed and debriefed with excellent feedback about successes and areas to work on. There was a clear focus on safety and ensuring that I was best prepared for flights on my own now that I have got my licence. Also, his advice, about when to get in the flying hours and when to focus more on exams and studying to ensure time was best spent, was extremely valuable. Furthermore, my work schedule restricted the times I was able to fly; however, John was very accommodating and always went above and beyond to fit with my availability. John helped to ensure that I was able to obtain my PPL virtually at minimum hours (46 was the final total!). Despite the disruption of COVID, he helped me quickly get back up to standard after any longer break in flying and continue making progress toward the end goal. I would go away from every lesson feeling like I'd taken a step forward and had made progress. Overall, I really appreciate the teaching and guidance John gave during my PPL; I would highly recommend his tuition.

Nathan J.

I've used Haffenden Aviation for my ground school instruction during my Private Pilots Licence course at Headcorn Aerodrome. John really went above and beyond to ensure that not only I knew content for my exams, but that I really understood a subject to be safe in the skies. I'd recommend Haffenden Aviation to anyone looking to pass their exams in record time, and anyone who really wants to understand the core components of aviation. I feel more confident than ever to soon get my licence later this year.

ANZAC W.

Excellent flight training, even keeping up momentum and skills throughout the pandemic.
You'll never do anything you aren't fully equipped for.
I would recommend this training to anyone interested in learning to fly.