AERO ALLIANCE director and SkyLeisure Aviation Chief Flying Instructor, Martyn Blunden explained to a recent delegation of Japanese pilots and flight instructors that SkyLeisure Aviation was a truly international FTO (Flight Training Organisation). In particular we have students come to Shoreham for the Flight Instructor Courses from countries all over Europe, such as Holland, Switzerland and Portugal as well as the UK. Most recently students have also come from as far a field as South Africa and Zimbabwe. It is not only the basic flight instructor courses that are popular; the instrument rating instructor course (IRI) is also sought after too.

The Japanese delegation was brought to Shoreham to see the high quality of work at SkyLeisure Aviation as a leading UK FTO by the CAA. After conversations with the visiting pilots it was clear that although we some times complain about the amount of controlled airspace in the UK, it is nothing compared to the situation in Japan. The number of private pilots that could afford to fly in the UK also surprised the visitors. It was a pleaure to host the vistors on behalf of the CAA, and a useful exchange of flight training experiences.