January 2025
There you go.. a rare pic! ‘Thanks for your help David.‘ Andy
January 2025
Alf Nordberg, SAS
December 2024
“Thank-you David for all your help” Jonny
December 2024
Hi David and Leon,
Thank you for the newsletter.
Firstly, re BALPA.
I have been a member of loads of different aviation organisations over the decades, an alphabet soup including BAeA BMFA, BMAA, AOPA, GASCo RAeC sometimes occupying an executive position. Each of these caters for a very narrow band of interest in accordance with the activities of their members. Unfortunately there has never been a unifying body that can give a strong voice to either the Regulator or the Legislator to fight our corner. Personally, I've never been an airline pilot so haven't considered membership of the British Airline Pilots Association. I can't imagine what they could offer me as a strictly SEP PPL instructor. I used to meet with Roger Hopkinson when he was trying to get more people together in the GA Alliance, now he's retired I'm not sure where that is going.
I would have thought that AOPA would have been a better fit, I am an instructor member and our Club is a corporate member. Sadly, though, they don't seem to have the same interest they had years ago. I was expecting them to lead on modernising the IMC/IR(R) rating for instance but nothing is happening.
I fly at a small Club in Cornwall, with a single PA28 and just me as Head of Training and instructor. The aircraft does about 400 hours a year. I work 6 days a week to keep up with demand and I'm booked very weekend slot until April '25. I turn out about 3 PPLs a year. About 60% of my students are teenagers aspiring to a career. I think I'm quite typical of a 'one man band' though I could double our output if I could find another instructor, then we'd buy another aircraft. Also quite typical is that I am 75 and would like to cut back a bit.
Anyhow, I hope that some younger more eager folk assume the mantle when you both take a well-earned break next year. David, you did my radio practical at Denham in 1982 so I know you've been around for a long time! Incidentally, I really enjoy your articles in FTN.
All the best
Ben Ellis
HoT Perranporth Flying Club
November 2024
Couldn’t be here with your support David. Thank you. From Adi Bhagat
October 2024
Another successful graduate: "Finally got the uniform! First flight is mid November. Hope all is well."
July 2024
April 2024
Only took 10 years but could not have done it without you!
December 2023
Base training! Thank you for getting me across the line!
December 2023
September 2023
Sponsored course of 1993 get together after 30 years.
August 2023
Hi David,
I just wanted to send you a quick message to convey my thanks for the revalidation the other day, for making what is usually thought of as a daunting experience to a fun and beneficial one,
There are people in this industry who seem to go above and beyond to help people and who genuinely enjoy helping to equip young pilots with the knowledge, skillset and confidence they need to succeed and
You are absolutely one of them.
I would like to echo the sentiments of the other pilots who have left reviews and will as an instructor try and treat my students with the same enthusiasm as you do your students and candidates, and as a pilot try and keep holding myself to the same high standard you set for us all!
Keep in touch!
Robbie
May 2023
I have thoroughly enjoyed the FIC.
Besides the foundations of the Flight Instructor Course, we have been made to question our understanding of topics more deeply and how to apply our knowledge better in real situations. Making us more practical pilots.
It has also made us safer pilots. I am sure we analysed AAIB reports almost daily, to understand the causes to incidents and accidents, and why Threat & Error Management is so important.
We have had so many invaluable extracurricular activities slotted in the course. We’ve had talks with professional aviators, an Air Traffic Controller and a CAA psychiatrist. As well as a tour at the UK AAIB in Farnborough and land aways to places not visited on my previous integrated course.
My advice to future FIC students -
It is a very enjoyable but demanding, don’t make it any harder than it needs to be. Do the appropriate pre-course reading, brush up on all of the PPL ground school subjects and get your hands on the preflight briefs. Ask yourself how would you deliver this lesson?
I would highly recommend it, and I would like to say thank you to David for making a great course and making us more well-rounded pilots, as well as Flight Instructors.
Joe
July 2022
Dear David,
I wanted to say a big thank you for everything during the course! It has been incredibly enjoyable and something I shall remember my whole life!
I'm sure our paths shall cross plenty of times in the future, but until then THANK YOU!
Dan Watt
July 2022
Dear David,
A huge thank you for a most enjoyable evening-what a joy to see everyone again. It was a true time warp as so little has changed at Biggles and Denham but we had all, in what seems like a mere blink, been transported 30 years into the future-somewhat bizarre! Even Juan recognised me! I just wish I’d been able to have a good chin wag with several of the good folk we worked with over the years who I didn’t quite manage to get around to during the evening-though even the brief chats quickly grabbed were a great pleasure.
I can only reiterate what several of the speakers mentioned-had it not been for your high standards many of us would not have achieved what we did in our instructing and flying careers.
So thank you once more not just for a wonderful evening but for everything else you put into our flying lives as well.
Tony Monahan
British Airways
B 787 Captain
June 2022
Many happy memories of DFC and I will always be grateful for your guidance and tuition that helped give me such a sound foundation for a safe and enjoyable career in aviation.
Kind Regards, Captain Guy Cowper
CAA Examiner – May 2021
I've always enjoyed and benefitted professionally from working with you in any and every role and in multiple classes/types of aircraft from SEP to SPHPCA as a trainee, qualified pilot, instructor, examiner and senior examiner. I think we think alike when it comes to what qualifies as piloting/instructing/examining competence and we strive to work to the same standards.
Sally
Once again, I'd like to thank you for everything during the course. Your instruction was always clear and concise, and your feedback specific and helpful. I feel I have improved massively over the past six weeks and that's all down to your instruction. Despite how hard work it was, I also found it very enjoyable, with our visits to different airfields being a real highlight. I would also like to thank you for all your help and advice with my licencing woes. Please know that I genuinely appreciate all that you've done.
Chris Hall
Martin
Hi David
Thank you for making it as stress free and relaxing as any test could be. Not many examiners that are capable of that. Until next time.
Regards, Martin
Trevor
Hello David
I really must thank you for such an enjoyable check today, it was a very relaxing and informative session.
Please find the long brief attached.
Best Regards
Trevor
(Initial FI Assessment of Competence.) 8th March 2021
Khawar Aslam
Nigel Barrett
Hi David, I passed the final hurdle today in somewhat testing conditions! First course this Monday. I also received my FI rating today. Quite a day which will no doubt involve a well earned beer. So grateful to you for all your hard work, inspiration and encouragement and Thankyou!
Regards, Nigel
Sam Quigley and namesake David Hoy
Liam
Hi David!
As promised here is a picture or several of me standing next to the first ever A319 I was privileged enough to take to the skies in. I can easily say it really was the best day of my life and over far too quickly but really did manage to savour ever second of it.
I also just wanted to say thank you for being part of my journey to get to this point as well as your kind words of encouragement, it all really did make a difference so really and truly thank you.
In sorry to have missed you before leaving Southampton, unexpected last minute changes had a bit if an impact so found myself suddenly out of time. However, rest assured I will be making the odd trip back there and you'll be first on my list of people to get in contact with. Also, if you should find yourself around Gatwick or the Crawley area and have a bit if spare time please don't hesitate to get in contact as it would be lovely to see you!
I do hope all is well your end and life is being good to you!
Liam
Ryan Jerrard
Hi David
I hope this finds you well?
A reminder popped up in my phone today, a year ago to the day you passed me through my IR skills test at FTA in Shoreham.
You asked that in a year I update you on my progress.
I’m pleased to say that I was fortunate to get a job with Ryanair almost straight away! I completed my line training in minimum hours to a, so I’m told, an excellent standard. Now I am flying the line based at Stansted, in no small part to your discretion, judgement and foresight a year ago!
So I wanted to say thank you and wish you all the best in your current and future endeavors.
Captain John Gratton – UK CAA
“Your IR candidates all do well. We get some good ones from other schools but your candidates are a cut above the rest which can only be due to the care and thoroughness with which you have trained them. Instructing is not the easiest of occupations: you have made it a profession and it shows! Well done.”
Captain Andy Edwards, Qantas Airways
“I am grateful of my time spent in the UK and am grateful this day for the break and the advice you gave me. As you know, getting a foothold in the aviation industry can be tricky; you need a bit of luck and a leg up. The leg up you gave me was a fantastic opportunity and proved priceless. I still remember flying with you on my class rating test. I don’t know if I’ve flown with a better instructor to this day.
I feel confident following our meeting last week that the future looks bright. I hold you personally responsible! I suppose that after as many years in the job as you’ve had, the enthusiasm for aviation in general could wane somewhat. But the impression you convey is different and the benefits of your experience proved enormous value.”
“Thank-you for the sponsorship opportunity.”
Captain Tony Regan, Cityjet
“It was always good to deal with you. I appreciated your efforts to give us the customer support we needed. At BAe Systems, you made great strides in customer service and customer care with training our crews.”
Captain Gareth Griffiths, NetJets
Some years ago, you kindly offered me some flight time in return for my helping out in the operations department. I had been involved in a car crash and ran out of money. For these gestures, I had always hoped our paths would cross and they have. A token of my thanks.
Captain Will Kay
I thought I’d send you this quick email to thank-you for your great help. You managed to sort out my flying issues quickly. Experience shows.
Chris Mathews
“I first met David in 1983 when I started training for my PPL at Denham School of Flying, where he was Chief Flying Instructor. I was continually impressed throughout my training with the professionalism with which David ran the school and while I had experience of other flying schools, it was David’s energy, authority and leadership which made Denham unique. David’s strengths of honesty, integrity, strength and judgement come from his many years of experience in aviation.”
Captain Mike Dyson
“David is a top-class pilot evidenced by his performance under various recurrent flight tests conducted by me over several years. I rate him as exceptional and he handles aircraft with an accomplished style in a class of his own.”
Captain Michael Burger, ex Swissair and FlightSafety international
“David has considerable in depth knowledge and very good connections with the regulators and other key players in the industry. He has an outstanding way of motivating his team but in a calm and professional manner. His standard of teaching and examining is very high but he is also able to adapt his pace to the student’s ability and capacity.”
FO Malcolm Knowles, TUI
“I have had three fairy godmothers who have helped me in my aviation career. David Hoy has and continues to be one of them.”