Header photo: Jonathan Payne from Ayr, United Kingdom / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped)
Scotland has more flight schools listed on AviatorFinds than any other part of the UK, and the scenery you fly over is hard to beat. Perth Airport near Scone is the busiest training base. ACS Flight Training calls itself Scotland’s commercial flight training school, the Scottish Aero Club describes itself as Scotland’s original and largest flying club, and Alba Airsports and The Gyrocopter Experience teach microlights and gyrocopters there too.
Scotland at a glance
- Main airfields: Perth, Glasgow, Cumbernauld, Prestwick, Fife, Inverness, Aberdeen, Strathaven, Portmoak
- What you can learn: PPL and LAPL, commercial training, microlights, gyrocopters, gliding
- Schools listed: 15 on AviatorFinds
- Scenery: Lochs, islands and mountains within easy reach
Jump to: Flight schools Choosing a school Events FAQs
Around Glasgow, the Glasgow Flying Club, Scotland’s oldest flying club, trains pilots at Glasgow Airport, Phoenix Flight Training teaches at Cumbernauld, and Prestwick has both the Prestwick Flying Club and the Glasgow Prestwick Flight Centre. Further north and east there are schools at Fife Airport near Glenrothes, Inverness and Aberdeen.
If you would rather fly something lighter, Adventure Aviation teaches microlights at Balado, East of Scotland Microlights flies from East Fortune, Sportflight Scotland is based on the grass at Strathaven, and the Scottish Gliding Centre at Portmoak sits on the shore of Loch Leven.
Flight schools in Scotland
These are the flight schools and clubs in Scotland listed on AviatorFinds, in alphabetical order. Tap a card to see contact details, location and what each one teaches.
All Scotland flight schools All flight schools & clubs
Choosing a flight school in Scotland
- Plan around the weather. Scottish weather can change quickly, so ask schools how they handle cancellations and how often students fly in winter.
- Visit before you book. Look at the aircraft, meet the instructors and ask how many students they are training at the moment.
- Ask what the price includes. Aircraft hire, instructor time, landing fees, ground school and exam fees are often charged separately.
- Start with a trial lesson. It is the easiest way to find out whether a school and an instructor suit you.
New to flying? Start with what it’s like to train for a Private Pilot Licence in the UK, how to become a private pilot: lessons learned and beginner tips and runway markings, signs and lighting explained.
Run a flying school in Scotland that isn’t listed yet? You can add your listing here.
Aviation events in and near Scotland
Upcoming events in Scotland:
Learning to fly: guides from our blog
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to learn to fly in Scotland?
It depends where you live. Perth has the widest choice of schools, Glasgow and Prestwick cover the west, Fife Airport covers the east, and there are schools at Inverness and Aberdeen in the north.
Can I learn to fly a microlight or gyrocopter in Scotland?
Yes. Alba Airsports and The Gyrocopter Experience teach at Perth, Adventure Aviation at Balado, East of Scotland Microlights at East Fortune and Sportflight Scotland at Strathaven.
Which licence should I train for?
A PPL lets you fly the widest range of light aircraft, while the LAPL and microlight NPPL are simpler options for flying for fun. The UK Civil Aviation Authority explains each licence and its medical requirements.
Official sources
More flight school area guides
- Flight Schools in Cornwall: Newquay, Bodmin, Land’s End and gliding at Perranporth.
- Flight Schools in Devon: Exeter Airport, Dunkeswell and gliding at North Hill.
- Flight Schools in Dorset: Bournemouth Airport and the hilltop grass airfield at Compton Abbas.
- Flight Schools in Hampshire: Popham, Blackbushe and Farnborough, from microlights to commercial courses.
- Flight Schools in London: Elstree, Biggin Hill, Redhill, Denham and more around the M25.
- Flight Schools in Arizona: Chandler, Falcon Field in Mesa and Stellar Airpark.
- Flight Schools in Hawaii: Honolulu, Kalaeloa, Dillingham and Kahului on Maui.
See every area on our Area Guides and Flight Schools by Area pages, or browse all flight schools, clubs and associations in the directory.