Terms and Conditions — Fife Flight Centre

Aviation Academy Ltd t/a Fife Flight Centre

Terms and Conditions
of Training

Fife Airport (EGPJ), Glenrothes, Fife, KY6 2SL

Version 2.0 Issued April 2026 Supersedes all previous versions
Amendment note — April 2026. Clauses 5.7, 5.8 and 8.5 added to address advance credit and pricing for students purchasing multiple sequential courses (e.g. PPL followed by Night Rating). Each course is a separate credit allocation; Account Credit is a monetary value, not a guaranteed number of hours; flying hours are charged at the rate in force at the time of flight. New clauses are highlighted throughout.
1

Definitions

In these Terms and Conditions, the following definitions apply:

"School"Aviation Academy Ltd, trading as Fife Flight Centre, registered in Scotland.
"Student"Any individual enrolled with the School for flight training, ground school, or any other course or service.
"Renter"A qualified pilot approved by the School to hire School aircraft without an instructor.
"Training Plan"The written plan agreed between the School and the Student setting out the course of training, aircraft, estimated hours, and applicable rates.
"Standard Rate"The School's published hourly flying rate for the relevant aircraft type, as in force from time to time per Section 8.
"Account Credit"Funds paid in advance by the Student and held on their account to be applied against future flying charges.
"Block Time"Time from when the aircraft begins to taxi until it stops after landing, as recorded by the aircraft's GPS.
"Fixed Price Period"A period during which a Student's training rate is fixed at an agreed level, per Section 8.
"Cooling-Off Period"The 14-day statutory cooling-off period under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013.
2

About the School

2.1Aviation Academy Ltd (Company Number SC790786) trades as Fife Flight Centre and operates from Fife Airport (EGPJ), Glenrothes, Fife, KY6 2SL.
2.2Fife Flight Centre is approved by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) as a Declared Training Organisation (DTO).
2.3The School also trades as Aviation Academy Scotland for commercial aviation training programmes.
3

Enrolment

3.1Enrolment is complete when the Student has (a) submitted a completed Enrolment Form, (b) accepted these Terms and Conditions, and (c) made any payment required to commence training. By accepting, the Student agrees to be bound by these Terms in full.
3.2Students must hold a valid medical certificate appropriate to the licence or rating being sought before commencing flight training. The School strongly advises obtaining this before enrolling. The School accepts no liability for fees paid where a Student cannot subsequently obtain or retain the required certificate.
3.3A 14-day Cooling-Off Period applies from the date of enrolment. During this period the Student may cancel and receive a full refund, subject to deduction for any services already delivered (see Section 10).
3.4Students under the age of 18 must have a parent or legal guardian complete and sign the School's Parental Consent Form before any training commences. The parent or guardian will be jointly liable for all fees and charges.
3.5The minimum age to fly solo is 16 years. The minimum age to hold a PPL is 17 years. These are CAA requirements and cannot be varied by the School.
4

Payment Terms

4.1Flight training and aircraft rental charges are calculated on the basis of Block Time, recorded via GPS tracking of the aircraft.
4.2Payment may be made by:
  • Automatic payment via Stripe: the Student's registered card is charged the day following the flight. Students must verify their flight details when checking in the aircraft. Any overcharge caused by a system error will be credited to the flying account, not refunded to the card.
  • Card payment on the day: by debit or credit card at the School on the day of the flight.
  • Advance payment: subject to the conditions in Section 5.
4.3Ground school sessions are charged per hour session, even where the session is shorter than one hour. Students are entitled to 15 minutes of pre-flight and 15 minutes of post-flight briefing included in the training flight rate.
4.4It is the Student's responsibility to check their bookings and charges regularly via Private Radar.
4.5Where a third-party finance arrangement is in place, it is subject to the finance provider's own terms. The School is not a party to any such agreement.
5

Advance Payments and Account Credit

Amended
5.1The School will only accept advance payments where an active Training Plan is in place with scheduled sessions, or where the Student is an approved Renter content to proceed with self-booking.
5.2Advance payments are held as Account Credit on the Student's flying account.
5.3Account Credit expires 18 months from the date of payment. Any remaining balance after this date is forfeited, although the Student may contact the School to request an exception at the School's sole discretion.
5.4Account Credit is non-transferable to another individual.
5.5Refunds of Account Credit are subject to the terms in Section 10.
5.6Flights already flown are services delivered and consumed, and are non-refundable under any circumstances.

5.7 — Multiple Course Purchases New — April 2026

5.7.1Where a Student purchases advance credit for two or more sequential courses (for example, a Private Pilot Licence course followed by a Night Rating or Instrument Rating), each course is treated as a separate and distinct credit allocation.
5.7.2Credit allocated to a subsequent course will not be drawn down until that course formally commences, as evidenced by the issue of an updated or new Training Plan by the School.
5.7.3The 18-month Account Credit expiry period applicable to each course allocation runs from the date that course commences under a Training Plan, not from the date of the original payment. This ensures that a Student who takes longer than anticipated to complete a prior course does not find their subsequent course credit expiring before that course has begun.
5.7.4Where a Student has paid for a subsequent course that has not yet commenced and wishes to withdraw, that specific credit allocation is refundable in full (minus the £50 administrative fee) at any time, given that no services have been delivered or resources committed against that allocation. The 15% retention set out in Section 10.3 does not apply to course credit for courses that have not yet commenced.

5.8 — Account Credit as Monetary Value New — April 2026

5.8.1Account Credit, including credit allocated to any specific course, represents a monetary value held on account. It does not constitute a guarantee of a fixed number of flying hours.
5.8.2Flying hours are charged at the Standard Rate, or any applicable Fixed Price Period rate, in force at the time the flight takes place. If the Standard Rate has increased by the time a Student commences a course or resumes training, the rate applicable at the time of each flight will apply.
5.8.3The School makes no representation that a given sum of Account Credit will be sufficient to complete any course or number of flying hours. Course cost estimates are indicative only and based on minimum regulatory hour requirements; actual hours required will vary by individual and are not guaranteed.
6

Hour Building Packs

6.1The School may offer discounted hour building packs for Students who wish to purchase blocks of flying hours in advance. Details of available packs, including pricing and applicable discounts, will be published from time to time.
6.2Hour building packs are subject to the following conditions:
  • Packs are purchased at a fixed rate for the duration of the pack validity period.
  • Packs have a defined expiry period, as stated at the time of purchase.
  • Packs are non-transferable to another individual.
  • In the event of a refund, hours already flown will be recalculated at the Standard Rate (without discount), and the refund will be of the remaining balance only, subject to Section 10.
7

Trial Lessons and Flight Experiences

7.1Trial lessons and flight experiences must be paid in full in advance at the time of booking.
7.2No landing fees are charged for trial lessons or flight experiences at Fife Airport.
7.3Rescheduling is available free of charge at any time prior to the flight.
7.4Refunds are available within 14 days of the date of purchase. After 14 days, rescheduling only — no refunds will be given.
7.5Gift vouchers for trial lessons and flight experiences are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase. Students should contact the School if a voucher has expired. The cooling-off period and refund rights apply to the purchaser of the voucher, not the recipient.
8

Pricing

Amended
8.1The School's general flying rates may be adjusted from time to time. Students and Renters will be given a minimum of 14 days' notice of any change to the Standard Rate.
8.2Some Students may be offered a Fixed Price Period, during which their training rate is fixed at an agreed level. The expiry date of any Fixed Price Period will be clearly stated at the time of agreement. It is the Student's responsibility to be aware of the terms of their pricing arrangement, including any expiry dates. The School is under no obligation to remind Students of the expiry of a Fixed Price Period.
8.3Upon expiry of a Fixed Price Period, the Student's rate will revert to the Standard Rate in force at that time.
8.4Students on hour building packs will be charged at the fixed rate agreed at the time of purchase for the duration of the pack validity period.

8.5 — Pricing on Commencement of Subsequent Courses New — April 2026

8.5.1Where a Student has purchased advance credit for a subsequent course (as described in Section 5.7), the rate applicable to flying hours undertaken in that course will be the Standard Rate in force at the time each flight takes place, unless a Fixed Price Period has been agreed and is current at that time.
8.5.2The fact that advance credit was paid at a time when a different Standard Rate was in force does not fix the rate applicable to future flights. Account Credit is a monetary balance, not a pre-purchased block of hours at a historic rate.
8.5.3Students who wish to fix the rate for a subsequent course in advance may enquire with the School about the availability of a Fixed Price Period for that course. Any such agreement must be confirmed in writing by the School to be valid.
9

Cancellations

9.1 — Student Cancellations

9.1.1Students may cancel a booked lesson or flight with more than 24 hours' notice at no charge.
9.1.2Cancellations made with less than 24 hours' notice will incur a cancellation fee of £50.
9.1.3Failure to attend a booked lesson or flight without any prior notice (a "no-show") will incur a fee of £90.
9.1.4Students are responsible for monitoring their bookings regularly via Private Radar.

9.2 — Weather Cancellations

9.2.1Where the School cancels a flight on grounds of weather or safety, no cancellation fee will be charged. The School accepts no liability for any costs incurred by the Student as a result, including travel costs.
9.2.2The School and its instructors are the sole authority on whether weather conditions are suitable for the planned exercise. Where conditions are assessed as suitable by the School but the Student elects not to fly, the Student's standard cancellation terms apply.
9.2.3Students flying solo who are not comfortable with prevailing conditions will be treated with reasonable sympathy at the School's discretion. This discretion does not extend to dual training flights where the instructor has assessed conditions as suitable.
9.2.4The School reserves the right to cancel flights at short notice or at the time of flight on safety grounds. No charge will be made in such cases.

9.3 — Advance Booking Restrictions

9.3.1The School reserves the right to restrict advance booking privileges for Students who repeatedly cancel booked flights, regardless of the notice period given.
10

Refunds

10.1This section applies to refunds of Account Credit held by the School on behalf of a Student. It does not affect the Student's statutory rights.

10.2 — Cooling-Off Period

10.2.1A 14-day Cooling-Off Period applies to all enrolments and bookings. During this period the Student may cancel and receive a full refund of advance payments, minus the value of any flights taken at the Standard Rate and any costs already incurred by the School.

10.3 — Refunds After the Cooling-Off Period

10.3.1Where a Student has made advance payments and wishes a refund of unused Account Credit after the 14-day Cooling-Off Period, the following apply:
  • Any hours already flown will be recalculated at the Standard Rate (without discount).
  • A retention of 15% of the unused balance will be applied, reflecting the School's commitment of resources, instructor time, and aircraft availability.
  • An administrative fee of £50 will be charged for processing the refund.
  • The refund will be the unused balance minus the above deductions.
10.3.2These refund terms apply equally regardless of the reason for the Student ceasing training, including termination by the School under Section 23.
10.3.3For refunds of credit allocated to a subsequent course that has not yet commenced, see Section 5.7.4.

10.4 — Medical Grounds

10.4.1Students are strongly advised to obtain their medical certificate before commencing training. If a Student is unable to obtain or retain a medical certificate and wishes to cease training, refund terms in Section 10.3 apply.

10.5 — School Unable to Deliver

10.5.1In the event that the School is permanently unable to deliver the training or services for which advance payment has been made (for example, loss of DTO registration, permanent cessation of trading, or permanent unavailability of suitable aircraft), the Student will receive a full refund of unused Account Credit.
10.6This refund policy does not affect the Student's statutory rights.
11

Student Obligations

11.1Students must comply with all applicable UK aviation regulations, CAA requirements, and the School's rules and procedures at all times.
11.2Students must inform the School promptly of any change in medical status, legal status, or other circumstance that may affect their ability to train or fly.
11.3Students must arrive punctually for all bookings. Late arrival may result in a shortened or cancelled flight, and cancellation fees may apply.
11.4Students must not consume alcohol within 8 hours of a flight and must not fly if under the influence of any medication that may impair their ability to do so safely. The School reserves the right to cancel a flight and apply the no-show fee if it believes a Student is unfit to fly.
11.5Students are responsible for maintaining the currency of any licences, ratings, or certificates required for the training they are undertaking.
11.6Students are responsible for all personal equipment required for training, including appropriate clothing and footwear.
12

Medical Requirements

12.1The following medical standards apply:
  • LAPL(A): LAPL Medical Certificate issued by a UK-approved Aviation Medical Examiner (AME).
  • PPL(A): Class 2 Medical Certificate issued by a UK-approved AME.
  • CPL(A) / ATPL(A): Class 1 Medical Certificate issued by a UK-approved AME.
12.2It is the Student's responsibility to obtain and maintain the appropriate medical certificate. Medical examination costs are not included in any course fee.
12.3The School strongly advises obtaining a medical certificate before commencing training and accepts no liability for fees paid where a Student cannot meet the required medical standard.
12.4Students seeking a Class 1 Medical Certificate should be aware of the UK CAA's BMI assessment protocol. Students with a BMI above 35 may be subject to additional assessment requirements. Students are advised to contact a CAA-approved AME directly for current guidance.
13

International Students

13.1Students who are not UK or Irish nationals must ensure they have the legal right to undertake flight training in the United Kingdom before commencing training.
13.2Flight training for recreational purposes (LAPL or PPL) may be permissible under a Standard Visitor Visa, subject to applicable rules. The School does not provide immigration advice and Students are responsible for ensuring their own compliance with UK immigration law.
13.3Students training for commercial qualifications (CPL, ATPL, IR, MCC) will generally require a Student visa under a licensed Student Sponsor. The School will advise Students on requirements at the time of enrolment.
13.4The School reserves the right to terminate training immediately if a Student's legal right to train in the UK ceases. Standard refund terms apply.
14

Code of Conduct

14.1The School expects all Students, Renters, and visitors to conduct themselves in a professional, respectful, and safe manner at all times.
14.2The following behaviours are strictly prohibited and may result in immediate suspension or termination:
  • Conduct that endangers the safety of any person on the ground or in the air.
  • Aggressive, threatening, or abusive behaviour towards any member of staff, fellow student, or visitor.
  • Wilful damage to or misuse of School aircraft, equipment, or facilities.
  • Providing false information to the School or any regulatory authority.
  • Flying or attempting to fly when unfit to do so.
  • Any conduct in breach of UK aviation law or CAA regulations.
14.3The School reserves the right to report any conduct that may constitute a criminal offence or breach of aviation law to the appropriate authorities.
15

Safety

15.1Safety is the absolute priority of the School at all times. All flying operations are conducted in accordance with UK aviation regulations and the School's Safety Management System.
15.2Instructors have absolute authority to cancel, terminate, or take over any flight if, in their professional judgement, it is necessary to do so for safety reasons.
15.3Students must follow all safety instructions given by instructors and ground staff without question. Disagreement with any safety decision should be raised after the flight through the School's complaints procedure.
15.4Students and visitors must comply with all airfield rules and procedures applicable at Fife Airport and any other aerodrome used during training.
16

Aircraft

16.1The School will allocate aircraft for training and rental at its discretion and does not guarantee the availability of any specific registration or type.
16.2If an aircraft is unavailable due to technical issues or maintenance, the School will endeavour to offer an alternative. If no suitable alternative is available, the flight will be rescheduled at no charge.
16.3Renters are responsible for conducting a pre-flight inspection and satisfying themselves that the aircraft is airworthy before flight. Any defects must be reported to the School before the flight.
16.4Damage to School aircraft caused by a Student or Renter through negligence or misuse will be the financial responsibility of the Student or Renter, up to the aircraft's insurance excess.
17

Solo Flying

17.1Solo flying will only be authorised by the Student's instructor when they are satisfied the Student has reached the required standard.
17.2Solo authorisations are valid only for the conditions, route, and aircraft type specified by the instructor at the time of authorisation.
17.3Students must not exceed the limits of their solo authorisation under any circumstances.
17.4Students undertaking solo flights are expected to exercise appropriate pilot-in-command judgement, including in relation to weather. A Student who, after consultation with their instructor, elects not to fly solo due to genuine concerns about conditions will not generally be charged a cancellation fee.
18

Examinations and Tests

18.1The School will advise Students when it considers them ready to sit ground examinations and undertake skills tests. The decision to sit an examination or test is ultimately the Student's.
18.2Examination fees are charged at the time of each examination and are set by the CAA or the relevant provider, subject to change.
18.3CAA skill test and licence issue fees are the Student's responsibility, payable directly to the CAA. Students are referred to the CAA's published Scheme of Charges at caa.co.uk for current fees.
18.4The School accepts no responsibility for a Student's failure to pass any examination or skills test.
19

Data Protection

19.1The School processes personal data in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
19.2Personal data is used for administering training, complying with regulatory requirements, and communicating with Students about their training and the School's services.
19.3The School is required to submit certain Student information to the UK CAA as part of its DTO obligations. By enrolling, the Student consents to this disclosure.
19.4The School retains Student records for 6 years after the Student's last activity with the School, after which records will be securely destroyed.
19.5Students have the right to access, rectify, and (in certain circumstances) erase their personal data. Requests should be made in writing to the School.
20

Photography and Media

20.1The School may take photographs and video footage of Students during training for use in marketing materials, the website, and social media. By enrolling, the Student consents to this use unless they notify the School in writing to the contrary.
20.2Students may withdraw consent at any time and may request removal of their images from the School's published materials.
20.3Students must not publish photographs or video taken from School aircraft on social media or any public platform without the School's prior consent.
21

Force Majeure

21.1The School will not be liable for any failure or delay in performing its obligations where such failure or delay results from circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to: adverse weather, airfield closure, aircraft unserviceability, regulatory changes, pandemic or public health emergency, acts of God, or any other event of force majeure.
21.2In the event of a force majeure event, affected flights will be rescheduled as soon as reasonably practicable. No cancellation fee will be charged for flights cancelled by the School on force majeure grounds.
22

Third-Party Costs and Membership

22.1The following costs are the Student's responsibility and are not included in the School's training rates:
  • Landing fees at other airfields: fees charged by other aerodromes visited during cross-country exercises are payable by the Student directly or will be recharged at cost.
  • Medical examination fees: payable directly to the AME.
  • CAA examination and licence fees: payable directly to the CAA — see Section 18.3.
  • Training materials: Students are responsible for textbooks, charts, flight computers, kneeboards, and other required equipment.
  • Headsets: Students may purchase or rent headsets from the School or obtain their own.
22.2The School's Student Membership includes flying club access and free landing fees at Fife Airport only.
23

Termination

23.1The School reserves the right to terminate a Student's training or Membership with immediate effect on any of the following grounds:
  • Safety concerns — the Student poses a risk to themselves or others.
  • Breach of the Code of Conduct set out in Section 14.
  • Non-payment of fees.
  • Failure to disclose a change in medical status that affects ability to train.
  • Loss of valid immigration status (international students).
  • Persistent cancellations or failure to engage with training.
  • Any criminal conviction relevant to aviation.
23.2In the event of termination, the standard refund terms in Section 10 apply, regardless of the reason for termination.
24

Complaints Procedure

24.1Any complaints should be directed to the Manager of Fife Flight Centre in writing.
24.2Complaints will be acknowledged within 7 days of receipt.
24.3A full response will be provided within 14 days of receipt of the complaint.
25

General Provisions

25.1Governing Law: These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of Scotland. Any disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Scottish courts.
25.2Entire Agreement: These Terms and Conditions, together with any Training Plan and the Parental Consent Form (where applicable), constitute the entire agreement between the Student and the School.
25.3Severability: If any provision is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.
25.4Variation: The School reserves the right to amend these Terms from time to time. Students will be notified of any material changes. Continued use of the School's services following notification shall constitute acceptance of the amended Terms.
25.5Waiver: No failure or delay by the School in exercising any right or remedy shall constitute a waiver of that right or remedy.
25.6Third Party Rights: No person other than the Student and the School shall have rights to enforce any provision of these Terms and Conditions.
25.7Statutory Rights: Nothing in these Terms and Conditions is intended to affect the Student's statutory rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 or any other applicable legislation.
— End of Terms and Conditions — Version 2.0, April 2026