Wingly is working closely with the CAA and AOPA to provide feedback on the proposed regulations and their potential impact on us and the general aviation community. As a reminder, the proposed regulations would require pilots to list only the dates they will already fly, which could harm the leisure aspect of Wingly. You can learn more about the consequences the proposed CAA amendments would lead to on our blog.
👉 To help us demonstrate the positive impact our platform has had on general aviation, we asked our pilot community to provide us with their testimonials and have featured some of the best ones below.
We need your help. Send us a testimonial in either video or written format. You can post yours in the comment section, at the bottom. 💬
Here are the first 21 testimonials, a huge thank you to: Andrew, Emmanuel, Mike, Trystan, Calum, Bruce, Ian, R.A., Dick, Allan, Michael, Rai, Ifran, Paul, James, Tony, Frederic, Dale, Richard, Ron and M.C for their support!
Andrew
Wingly was introduced to me by a friend who saw it featured on a news channel. At that time, I wasn’t flying as much as I used to. Once up and running with Wingly, my flying hours increased ensuring continued proficiency.
Over the last few years I have met some wonderful people through Wingly. The sharing of a flight is magical, and provides an introduction to the world of general aviation for many who would otherwise remain oblivious to its existence. Some wish to repeat the flight when in the area, and some have gone on to obtain their own flying licence! A great example of STEM educational benefits for all ages.
Wingly encouraged me to fly more often by making some flights a little more affordable through cost sharing. Although costs are shared, this small help allows more activity and proficiency.
As an experienced private pilot, I can see no discernible safety benefits resulting in the changes to cost sharing rules as proposed.
Any changes to the rules that reduces access to private pilots and their flying will inevitably lead to reduced activity and proficiency. It is especially disappointing in times of rising costs that a system that has brought such joy and education within private flying should be considered for change.
Pilots can decide to fly at short notice at any time subject to weather and availability of aircraft. The requirement for passengers to join planned flights in the way proposed will result in many cancellations and disappointments. This will greatly reduce the experiences enjoyed by pilots and passengers.
I hope that platforms such as Wingly continue to introduce the world of private flying to as many people as possible. This will encourage increased safety and education together with demonstrating the joy of flight.
Emmanuel
I had a booking from a father wanting to treat his daughter to a special birthday by contributing towards a flight to the Isle of Wight for lunch. The daughter, who was in her twenties, had never been on an aeroplane before as she was heavily on the autistic spectrum.
During our discourse leading up to the flight, the father asked me whether the flight could still go ahead if he, himself, was unable to make it. After asking why he may not be able to make the flight, it became clear that he had terminal health issues.
I also found out that the father could not walk far as the previous year he had one lung removed due to Cancer. Finding this out, I arranged with the tower to taxi the aircraft as close as possible to him so that he could board without having to walk far. Even at our destination, I got the same clearances, both on arrival and departure. Returning to our home base, the fire crew helped transfer him and his wife in their vehicle from the aircraft parking.
As a result, we all had a lovely lunch on the Isle of Wight, and the birthday girl was ecstatic! Having never been in an aircraft before, to achieving two flights in one day, combined with a lovely lunch!
I have also had several flights where matrimonial proposals have taken place, in the air.
Flights such as these are humbling and show how important cost-sharing platforms (such as Wingly) are, not just to GA pilots furthering their experience, but also to the wider community.
I performed my first Wingly flight in March 2020 and have flown over 60 Wingly hours since then! Almost 40 hours of those in the last 12 months alone. This is in stark contrast to my usual 12 hours per year, pre-Wingly.
Mike
I am on a couple of WhatsApp groups (relating to flying clubs etc.), and will often say something like:
‘Anyone got any ideas of where to fly this week?’
‘I’ve got some spare time over the next couple of weeks, anyone want to come and fly somewhere?’
‘I’m thinking of going south next weekend – anyone want to come with me?’
People on the groups who I know, or don’t know, may offer ideas or themselves for a flight.
If they ask about payment, I usually say ‘I’ll pay for the flight, you get the landing fee and lunch’.
Sometimes, they’ll say ‘I’ll put some fuel in for you’, or ‘I’ll give you some money towards fuel’.
None of the above costs could conceivably be calculated in any way other than approximate, so a hard 50/50 split is absolutely impossible.
There may be times, on a short journey, where the landing fee and lunch (usually something gourmet, like double egg and chips!) exceeds the cost of fuel.
Where someone chooses to go, may not have previously entered my head, but sounds like an interesting destination or challenge.
These are the realities of leisure flying, and the proposed “this place, this date, exactly 50/50 split (2 seater plane)” will not work for cost sharing (e.g. Wingly) flights, and also won’t work for taking my friends up.
And most importantly, it won’t stop the rogues and crooks who don’t care about current or future legislation.
Dear CAA – please re-think and have a non-prescriptive, pragmatic set of rules, and clobber those who are clearly flouting them.
Trystan
As the holder of a UK licence for 30 years, over 16,000hrs airline captain and current on single engine piston aircraft, I would like to add my voice to those supporting the Wingly flight sharing concept.
Over my time as a Wingly member I have never had or observed an incentive to treat the service as anything other than an enjoyable, safe and legal way to promote GA in this country. I, along with all of my light aircraft acquaintances, have been made well aware of the legislation and safety reasons for maintaining a strict barrier between cost sharing for leisure and the illegal act of flying for commercial gain without an AOC.
I strongly support the view that Wingly provides a clear framework to make GA accessible in a safe and legal way with positive outcomes for all.
The minority contingent who would flout the law in aviation, as with any other pursuit, are not users of established and controlled frameworks but rather they are lone lawbreakers for whom the regulations matter not- Regardless of the existence of legitimate organisations such as Wingly.
Please do not throw out the baby with the bath water when implementing CAA regulatory legislation.
Calum
I have used the Wingly platform for nearly 6 years, and in that time have conducted many flights and saved multiples of thousands of pounds in doing so, but there is more here than just the bottom line…
The Wingly platform has given me the ability to share flying, something that I am very passionate about (and something that is, let’s face it, an awesome hobby) with other people who would otherwise not have the opportunity to fly in a light, general aviation aircraft, or may not have even realised that you can do such a thing. I don’t think I have had a single passenger have a bad experience in the years I have been doing this, all having loved the flying, the day out, and the experience, with many coming back again for more.
It is my opinion (and that I believe of many other pilots I fly with) that cost sharing is a great thing for general aviation, for all the well-publicised reasons: as well as being able to share our flying experiences, broadening the reach of general aviation and the industry to new audiences, it gives leisure pilots like me who have a 9-5 jobs the rest of the time the ability to fly further and more often without the exponential impact to my family’s budget that would otherwise happen if I decided to do the same thing on my own – this ability to fly further and more often has unequivocally helped with my flying currency and overall experience, and therefore arguably flight safety as a result. And Wingly is the glue that sticks all of this together.
This probably isn’t the place to comment on the CAA’s proposals to change the regulations on cost sharing, but even so I think it needs to be said that while I understand the CAA’s need to demonstrate action in the wake of certain events that have unfolded very publicly in recent years, focusing efforts on tightening the regulations in an area of general aviation that can be demonstrated as having a directly positive impact on flight safety via pilot currency, effectively closing it down, will I’m afraid have a very negative effect, reducing the ability most leisure pilots have to remain current, with a degradation of safety as a result. Grey charters will continue to happen; those people who choose to operate outside the law will continue to do so; changing the regulations here will not impact these people, but will negatively impact law abiding pilots like me and 99.999% of other pilots out there who cost-share their flights.
I can only hope that the CAA listens to Wingly and looks at the data that is there and plainly obvious for anyone to see (if you choose to look at it), rather than rely solely on the opinions of individuals who are in all likelihood biased by their own aviation history, training, money invested, etc., and unwilling to allow other pilots to benefit in ways that they were not able to when they were where I am now.
Thank you Wingly for your service thus far – I hope we can all continue to fly with you for many more years to come.
Bruce
I’m a PPL holder non IFR rated and have been flying since 1978 with a non-flying gap until August 2017 when I retired and returned to flying.
I have always flown for pleasure and joined Wingly as I saw it as a platform where I could share the cost of a flight between those on board while being conscious that I could not and would not fly for profit by doing so. The benefit for me as a pilot is more flying hours and increased experience.
I hire aircraft and the club I use in their Pilot Order Book has specific minima for weather, cross wind and visibility requirements for Wingly flights, all of which are below normal minima for a club flight hence increased TEM.
Flying solo or with Wingly passengers I apply TEM to every flight during the planning of it, my Wingly flights allow me to meet new people and share my passion for aviation with safety always the overriding feature. I have declined requests for flights from people who wanted to be at x for a particular time for a meeting as that is not what I see Wingly for unless they choose to use the Pro commercial aspect of the platform. I have also declined flights as the Weight & Balance calculations would be out of limits as some people are just too heavy for a light aircraft.
By using Wingly I have flown I’d estimate 60% more hours in the last year than I would have if flown solo, the extra hours and additional vigilance required from me for passenger safety, comfort and enjoyment have made me a better pilot.
Wingly provides additional insurance and criteria for Pilots and passengers to adhere to and in so doing I believe makes cost sharing safe in a managed and controlled way.
I do not see the flights I post as advertising but inviting someone who may or may not have flown in a light aircraft to have the experience of a lifetime and by sharing the cost at an affordable price. I have spoken to many people over time and found some very anti Wingly but not one could actually explain or justify their stance. If I fly a club aircraft for an hour on a Wingly flight the club gets the rental revenue which I pay and the exposure to someone who might want to subsequently want to learn to fly.
Ian
Firstly, I would like to say that I have carried out between 15 and 20 Wingly flights and I have found them all, without exception, to be happy, pleasant and trouble free experiences. I have met pleasant and interesting people and I have enjoyed flying with each and every one of them.
But my situation may not be entirely typical, in that I do solely own my aircraft and as I am sure you understand, according to current regulations, I can only share a reduced proportion of the actual operational costs. Therefore, my flights have unwittingly met the proposed regulations, in so much as I have advertised for passengers to accompany me on flights I intended to make anyway.
I very much welcome that you and AOPA recognise that people in my situation are at a disadvantage according to the cost-sharing regulations.
I have no objections, in principle, to the way Wingly has been developing their business and see it as a method to encourage pilots to fly more. People like myself who have used it, have nothing but praise for the platform and process. Some people, who haven’t used it, are full of negativity and gloom, based only on prejudice.
R. A.
My flying experiences with Wingly have been very positive ones because in this climate of rising costs I have been able to share my costs with up to three passengers in the aircraft that I have regularly flown. Obviously I can’t schedule or book flights with people as operations are subject to various limitations such as weather, aircraft serviceability, personal commitments etc., but by making casual non profit making arrangements at mutual convenience, the extra experience gained has been invaluable to me and therefore, aviation in general.
To outlaw this facility would seriously limit my flying hours and therefore, my experience gained and my ability to keep in good flying practice. Sadly, I do not have limitless funds and so would have to reduce my flying activities to a minimal level and the loss of experience I am sure, would be detrimental to myself and other aviators.
In conclusion, may I say that an element of trust has always existed that we in light aviation would cooperate with authorities in various ways and to limit our ability to offset costs seems to be reducing that trust. How should we be able to look out for suspect activities if we are no longer available to observe ?
I hope the foregoing serves to illustrate the position of the Private Pilot and Leisure Aviator.
Dick
I am a great supporter of Wingly and how it operates.
I have done many A-A flights and A-B-A flights as well as a few A-B one way flights for the Wingly passengers (for A-B I return without the passenger at a later date).
The platform has encouraged me to fly more regularly and thereby making me a safer pilot in my opinion.
Regular flying is definitely in my opinion better also for the aircraft in my case as I own the plane outright and it is not operated by a club.
This is of course not including the enormous benefit to many people who have gone up with me. The benefit to them is immeasurable.
Most common amongst the passengers from Wingly are those wanting to take a friend or relative up for a birthday treat.
I usually incorporate these local flights with a fuel stop, which I need to make prior to a longer journey later as we have no fuel at Wadswick.
I make longer trips to Alderney for a one or two day break and it is very helpful to share the cost with others.
I would be terribly sad to see this platform fold, it does a lot for General AVIATION.
Allan
I have been a pilot with Wingly for a number of years now.
I have found the service to be extremely beneficial in keeping my flying skills at their best while allowing me to do so at a reasonable cost.
I only undertake flights that begin and end at my home base although I will land away for up to three hours to allow my fellow flyers to have a lunch or a comfort break.
I am acutely aware of the difference between what I would class a commercial air taxi flight and the recreational trips I enjoy with my fellow flyers. With this in mind I always ensure that my flying companions are 100% aware that the shared cost trips are recreational and in no way should be considered a commercial flight.
I accept that some potential flyers need to be made more aware of the nature of shared cost flights and perhaps this could be emphasised clearer on the Wingly platform.
There is no doubt in my mind that a responsible Private Pilot can and should be able to inform flying companions, well in advance of any trip, what a shared cost flight entails and how it differs completely from any commercial flight arrangement.
If Wingly were to cease operations there is no doubt that my flying hours would have to be curtailed and my flying currency would no doubt suffer as a result.
Michael
I am writing this testimonial as a PPL(A) holder who has flown with Wingly for approximately 18 months, totalling 92 hours with wingly. I have flown with a total of 139 Wingly passengers, posted 152 separately planned flights, and saved multiple thousands of pounds in shared costs.
I have always cost shared as a pilot, initially with friends, family, and acquaintances to reduce the cost of flying. The reduced cost of flying meant that instead I was able to fly more frequently and sharing the experience is an enjoyable thing to do.
When I signed up to Wingly, I was not quite sure what to expect. However, I soon discovered that Wingly had pilot groups, pilots’ whatsapp groups, a dedicated pilot team to assist us with any queries. They produce excellent guidance on what is required of us during flight, what safety information to pass on to passengers, and I found that the whole system was properly managed in the sense that names/weights/contact details/flight duration and costs are all pre-recorded and agreed.
This “extra layer” of oversight made me conscious of my decision making, ensured that I briefed my passengers fully, always fully mindful of weight and balances – I even retain a copy of the calculations for all Wingly flights. Additionally, of my Wingly flights are planned to a much higher standard than if I were to fly alone, the concept of flying with new people means that I am more considerate of variables such as weather, journey time, costs, comfort, and ensure that I regularly practice emergency procedures when I fly alone. I am consciously aware that when flying with Wingly, there is a greater sense of accountability – similar to when flying a flying club aircraft. Put simply, poor judgement or mistakes when flying alone are much less likely to be noticed by the pilot, or anyone else.
I usually do A to A flights or day/weekend trips to another airfield. These are all locations which I have chosen beforehand as suitable flights for my proficiency and likely to be an enjoyable experience. I should point out that all flights are shared costs, I have never made any form of profit and, indeed, it is more often than not that I will end up paying more than my fair share in the event of delays/headwinds/unexpected costs which are payable by me – I cannot and would never ask a Wingly passenger to pay more than they had originally paid for, the loss would always go to me as the pilot.
I cannot see any logic in limiting Wingly flights to situations where one would be flying anyhow. Apart from making cost-sharing on a large scale impossible, what possible benefit could that have to anyone? It would just make it impossible except for those who have a large budget and are doing A to B flights, I don’t personally know any Wingly pilot that uses the platform in such a manner.
Rai
After passing my PPL(A) and exhausting taking all my friends and family flying, it quickly became apparent that I could not sustain my expensive dream hobby.
My flying club requires me to fly at least once a month to keep current. At the same time, the hourly aircraft rental costs have kept on creeping up. With two children and a mortgage, I found it increasingly hard to balance bringing up a family and maintaining my currency. After investing so much time and money in obtaining my PPL(A), I soon found myself at a crossroads where I nearly had to call it a day, and give in to the financial burden and worry of keeping current.
Fortunately the Wingly cost sharing platform started up. I was the first Pilot at The Pilot Centre (TPC) at Denham Aerodrome to be allowed to perform cost sharing flights. Wingly gave me an avenue for keeping my flying costs down since I could pay an equal share in the cost of a flight, which kept my wife happy, but at the same time I could fly more regularly each month which no doubt made me a safer Pilot.
I have found Wingly so rewarding, as it allows me to share my passion of flying with others, and give something back.
My flying club (TPC) have been very good to me and allowed me to keep up my Wingly cost sharing flights, but have made it clear that all Wingly passengers must sign a form to acknowledge that I will be conducting a Wingly cost sharing flight, and that I am not allowed to make money from the flight. In addition, I have always recorded all Wingly Flights on my logbook, and maintained a separate online logbook breaking down the costs, so that I can prove that I pay an equal share for every Wingly flight.
Let’s hope that common sense prevails, and Wingly Pilots can continue to share the cost of flying to keep flying safer, and give something back and promote General Aviation.
Ifran
Hi, The Wingly service has been great, and for a fellow pilot it’s a good opportunity to meet new pilots.
Regards
Paul
I do more flying through Wingly than I would ever do otherwise.
More flying makes me a better, safer pilot.
James
One of the key elements of Wingly is the flexibility for those involved. While I’ve not done many Wingly flights myself, I know that many people have benefitted enormously from this platform. More to the point, this just reeks of making change for the sake of change. Since this came to pass last year, I’ve not been able to think of one single benefit from what the CAA proposes. ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’.
For pilots, this flexibility is essential, as it enables us to make arrangements to suit our schedules in advance. It’s also essential to the bookers themselves, who find the ability to pick and choose a certain date depending on their schedule (sightseeing flights for loved ones, etc) to be vitally important. It will also almost certainly reduce bookings drastically, increasing the cost for pilots and possibly even causing safety issues due to lack of currency. If people are going to be so restricted by certain dates and routes, then having to reschedule at short notice when everybody has ‘put their eggs all in one basket’ with one certain date, everybody will have been massively inconvenienced.
I would urge the CAA to actually think about the impact this will have. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the current system, both for pilots and for bookers.
Tony
I am an instrument rated private pilot of 27 years flying 24 years in my Cessna 182S.
Whilst working I flew quite a lot on business to Germany and Spain and also every week from the South of England to Blackpool.
Since retiring 11 years ago I don’t have much of a purpose to go flying so joined Wingly and started flying Wingly flights for only the last few months. I only charge a very modest contribution which is just a contribution towards fuel. I love flying and it is good to have a purpose and I don’t need the money.
I have met some simply lovely people and would wholeheartedly support the Wingly scheme in its current format.
I understand the concern from the CAA is being too close to a commercial flight so if there was any modification it should only be around a cap on contributions to ensure it is just that a modest contribution.
Frederic
I have about 25 years and 2500 hours of private flying experience, first with fixed wings and for the last 15 years with helicopters.
I could finance my expensive flying passion as long as I had a well paid job but for the last few years budget became an important issue. I don’t have the revenues anymore to finance my favourite hobby and each hour of helicopter flight is an investment.
I started posting flights in Wingly 4 years ago and I have cumulated over 40 hours of flight sharing since then. Flying with Wingly passengers has been a great help to reduce my flying cost but most importantly brought me many of my most enjoyable and memorable flights ever.
Those flights are most of the time with first time helicopter passengers who can only afford the experience thanks to the flight sharing concept. I have done several flights over the helicopter route across London, scenic flights in the South of France and an excursion flight to Paris during which the young man proposed to his girlfriend to marry. Needless to describe how beautiful and romantic this adventure was.
I don’t think that any of those flights would have happened if I was only posting fixed flights that I am planning to make in any case.
Those flights allow me to increase my flying currency and offer to get in contact with an incredibly diverse group of flying enthusiasts.
I understand the perfectly justified intention of the CAA to tackle rogue commercial flying but it doesn’t justify to turn a suspicious eye on every flight sharing activity (a quite disrespectful eye on a generally law abiding community) and to increase restrictions that will simply stop the best sharing platform ever created.
I will not repeat the dozens of strong arguments that have been very clearly expressed to contest the CAA attitude with flight sharing. I hope to bring here another testimony towards the wonderful benefits that flight sharing brings to many pilots and passengers.
Dale
I have been a Wingly pilot for many years. I am PPL, IRR & night rated. The platform promotes General Aviation and flying. Many of my cost sharing passengers have gone on to learn to fly. Four of them now fly for large airlines and are also flight instructors. Nearly all of them came for their first flight with me because there was a reasonably priced flight sharing option. The CAA recognized flight sharing and issued guidelines for pilots to use during such flights. The most important thing for me is that the passenger knows that you do this for a hobby and are not a commercial pilot, that you do not profit and you conduct the flight within the current rules of the CAA.
It seems a shame that there seems to be a knee jerk reaction to the recent well publicised incident where the pilot and others were clearly acting in a criminal manner. We could end up with a situation similar to when the dangerous dogs act was rushed through without proper thought after a couple of dog attacks. The authorities were left with unworkable legislation and many dog lovers suffered terribly. As far as I am aware, there is not any higher incidence of injuries and fatalities in flight sharing, than any other form of GA flying.
I fly a group aircraft. Wingly and cost sharing allows me to do many more hours per year than I could afford under normal circumstances. Other pilots in my group often do less than 5 hours per year & then take a test to keep their licence, not good. I have derived a lot of pleasure from these flights, often hooking up with people who are nervous of flying, have got a terminal diagnosis or want to fly over somewhere very special to them. Pilots and passengers need the flexibility to fly when they want. The weather makes it impossible to be certain of a good flying day more than a few days in advance. Also, work commitments and other commitments means there needs to be flexibility.
Contribution to General Aviation. I was the Accountable manager at an Aero Club with over 100 private aircraft, a flying school and 12 rental aircraft. We welcomed members to hire aircraft for Wingly flights and this was also specifically catered for on our insurance. After all, isn’t that what flying clubs are about, flying with old friends, new friends and chipping in for the costs? The benefit for the club, new members, more rentals, more fuel sales, more people in the café and more current pilots. You never stop learning as a pilot, so more flights equate to more knowledge, experience and better pilots.
I do hope that the CAA do not try to fix something that isn’t broken. The legislation is already in place to deal with those who do not have permission to conduct commercial flights and to deal with those pilots who are not appropriately licensed or qualified. It is not a crime to make new friends and enjoy a day out for a common purpose, please do not make it so.
Richard
CAA proposed changes to cost sharing regulations.
I have maintained currency on both Fixed and Rotor wing aircraft for over 15 years and continue to fly both regularly. I have made many cost sharing flights since July 2017.
To my way of thinking there are two principal issues related to these proposed changes.
The first is safety. The second is the protection of commercial interests particularly in these challenging, uncertain economic times.
The proposed changes harm both the above aspects in the ways outlined below.
With regards to safety, the more regularly commercial and private pilots fly, the better their flying skills become. The better the flying skills, the safer the pilot and hence the safer the air is for all crew and passengers of both commercial and private operations. The proposed changes would undoubtedly result in private pilots flying less, hence eroding safety margins for both private and commercial operations who share the sky.
Regarding the theory that cost sharing deprives commercial operators of much needed revenue, I do not support this view in the main, for the reasons below.
Much as I concede there may be the occasional compromise of commercial interests due to some pleasure flights, this is significantly outweighed by the commercial revenues generated by passengers who took cost-sharing flights as a “first step” into aviation and subsequently chartered from, or learned to fly with, commercial operators & schools. The extra commercial revenues from the more frequent self-fly hiring by cost-share pilots further tipping the fiscal balance in the commercial operator’s favour.
Of the 120 passengers I cost-shared on their first private flying experience, three are currently working towards their fixed wing commercial licences, two have completed their rotor wing PPL training, three now regularly charter rotor wing services from commercial operators and one is now a TRI (type-rating instructor) on the Boeing 737-800 for a major airline. None of which would have happened without the flexibility of cost sharing in its current structure.
I therefore can see no clear advantage to the proposed legislative changes.
Ron
I have been using Wingly now for a little over 6 years and have flown many flights and saved a not insignificant amount of money however I use Wingly not just for saving money.
Wingly has allowed me to share my passion for flying and give passengers an experience they are not likely to forget. I usually ask passengers where they live so I am able to adjust my flight path to include their house. The feedback received shows the level of satisfaction that me taking them flying gives them. Many flights are gifts for birthdays or anniversaries.
To avoid being accused of operating “grey ferry flight” I limit myself to returning to the same airfield from where we departed.
I contact the passenger(s) some 48hrs before the flight and give them an update on the weather and the likelihood that we will be flying. I have cancelled (postponed) flights at short notice to ensure that the flight adheres to the strict safety policy in place.
I fly around 80-100 hours annually and without Wingly this would be significantly less.
It is disappointing that the CAA uses a sledgehammer to crack the “grey ferry flight” nut and do not believe that their method is subtle enough and unfortunately Wingly seems to be collateral damage. It also means that private pilots who enjoy their flying just won’t be able to fly as much (possibly to the detriment of safety flying).
I have had several passengers who after flying with me have opted to start their PPL training as they enjoyed flying as much as I do.
GA flying in the UK is already in decline and the CAA position will not help this one iota. I still remember Grant Shapps saying that he wants to make the UK the best place for GA flying. If this is the case then the CAA has an odd way of going about this.
M.C
When I started doing Wingly I was initially sceptical as we were always told that this was not allowed during training by people with out-of-date views. After having a conversation with the guys from Wingly, all my questions and concerns were answered. I spoke to the owner of the aircraft that I hired, he considered it and gave his blessing on the condition that the passenger(s) fill out a disclaimer which mirrored Wingly’s T&C’s, making sure they were fully informed as to what they were undertaking.
I started out doing short A-to-A flights to build my confidence. The passengers were all great and very respectful of my decision making and fully complying with what I told them. They were all an absolute joy to fly with and it opened up a whole new way of flying by taking people of little experience up in light aircraft. In fact, my very first passenger went on to train for his PPL and has just started his CPL/IR with Aeros at Gloucester.
I have learned so much from doing this type of flying and it opened doors for me to be able to carry on and start my training towards my commercial licences. Before starting Wingly/Cost Sharing, this was not an option for me due to the associated prohibitive costs of flying in the UK. I believe that it would be a massive step backwards for UK aviation by taking this option away from us that the rest of Europe gets to enjoy. It will make UK aviation prohibitive and elitist again and even less competitive with the rest of Europe.
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