Thanks for your input, Jason. I fully agree but I also heard opinions to the contrary on here.
Another question that will soon come up for me is this: I will be moving to Hannover in August. Where to put up my new base?
The two major options are
Of course since I don’t have an aircraft of my own, I am in principle free to rent aircraft at either airport. For renters I think the professionals at EDDV are more attractive, while in Hildesheim I have a better chance of learning more from the older pilots in the club. I’m also fascinated by the guys at the Aviators Club but they seem to be all very experienced, some of them having done trips to South America or even around the world in their own a/c already, and I think I would probably not fit in there very well as a novice pilot to whom 200 nm already seems reasonably far away.
MedEwok wrote:
ffective landing fees easily one third of those in Hannover (7€ for a/c below 1000kg with average noise certificate).Just out of curiosity. Can’t based aircraft pay a yearly flat rate for landings making this issue moot? For club and flight school aircraft that would be certain to pay off.
I am based at an international airport and can only recommend it. You get a lot of routine in RT coms and also the scare of big airports go away in a hurry when you are based on one. Also one day once you want to have your own and base it, you are much better off at an airport like Hannover, which is open much longer, has customs e.t.c. and night flight without planning 2 weeks ahead.
Also the fleet of Flight Center Hannover looks good for you at this stage. You can continue flying the Aquila and eventually move on to larger planes, even the SR20. The Aviators Club has some interesting planes too, so you can maybe get in touch with some members there and test fly some of them. That Mooney 231 is interesting for starters.
Seeing all this and the fees in Hildesheim, I’d go to Hannover hands down. That is also one reason I never had an issue with the higher landing fees at ZRH when all airfields around have club fees which already finance most of the expensive landings at ZRH…
I can confirm, what M_D wrote. I started flying Motorgliders at a glider airfield but became really confident in RT and going places when I became a member of a club which was based at EDDL Düsseldorf. It was then, when I was no longer afraid of pushing the radio button, because I simply had to, even to start up the engine. Apart of that I always liked the flair at an international airport and to play with the “big boys” Although I’m based at a smaller airfield now, I still enjoy regular low approaches at EDDL just for the sake of the “good old times feeling”.
Learning to fly at EHAM Schiphol meant I was never worried about flying to bigger airfields. 24 hour access was worth the (then) slightly higher landing fees.
All things considered I also prefer EDDV as base. I can also train for an IR there, which would be great to make use of the airport’s H24 opening hours – fairly rare in Germany!
H24? WOW.
rare indeed.
MedEwok wrote:
most interestingly the Aviators Club Hannover which seems to consist of lots of owners
EDDV and get your night and instrument rating there
Arne wrote:
I think the picture for the C172 RG was mixed up.
Or the description under the pic? Maybe they have a warbird? :grin: