Professional Pilot Training
London Oxford Airport historically has been Europe’s foremost centre for professional pilot training with well over 40,000 students having started their careers here, going on to join over 100 airlines around the world. At one point, the airport’s runway was the busiest in the world with over 235,000 movements a year (a take-off or landing) and up to 1,100 flights in a single day. During the war it was a major military training base and then professional, civilian pilot training commenced in the 1950s. Training activity has more than doubled since 2017 at the airport despite the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Today, Oxford’s largest professional school is Leading Edge Aviation, a rising star in the sector, drawing on many years industry experience and delivering inspirational and innovative training.
The original school, formerly CSE Aviation, then Oxford Aviation Training or Oxford Aviation Academy (OAA), has had a base at London Oxford Airport for over 75 years but is now part of CAE. CAE Oxford takes cadets with little or no previous flying experience and prepares them for a career at an airline after graduation.
These organisations typically offer training both at Oxford and overseas with courses to become a commercial pilot taking typically 18 months or so in duration.
Private Pilot Training
PFT (Pilot Flight Training) has been long-established at London Oxford Airport and offers a number of courses for both the starter and experienced private pilot along with trial flights for those thinking about whether they might wish to learn to fly. They operate a fleet of aircraft that can be hired by the hour for those already with a license.
Take Flight Aviation although headquartered at Enstone aerodrome, they have a satellite operation at London Oxford Airport offering private pilot training at all levels and also offering the use of multiple aircraft types from their extensive fleet.
HeliGroup have recently established a helicopter PPL operation at Oxford utilising the Cabri2 light helicopter but offer a multitude of types to train upon including type-training courses.
Go Fly Oxford are now based at London Oxford Airport offering the full range of licences and ratings with a fair weather base in Almeria, Spain.