1. Types of Flying School. There are two types of flying school where you can train: Registered Training Facilities (RTF) and Flight Training Organisations (FTOs).

RTFs, as their name implies, register with the CAA to carry out training for the Private Pilot's Licence and associated ratings ONLY (such as Night, IMC, etc.). They sign a form to certify that they have qualified instructors and operate from a licensed airfield.

Any school that intends to carry out any "professional" training - including ab-initio multi-engine, commercial licence, instrument rating, flight instructor courses, etc. - must be approved by the CAA as a Flight Training Organisation (FTO). This means that they have satisfied the CAA on their financial standing, instructors, premises, quality systems, aircraft, aerodrome, course material and many other issues. Furthermore, they are visited and inspected by CAA staff every year. In addition they are required to make available to students information such as course feedback forms from previous students and they should be willing to show you the CAA report of their last inspection.

Beware that the term "FTO" is used rather loosely (mainly by the flying press who ought to know better). Any CAA approved FTO - in any country - must have met the above requirements.

2. Your ultimate goal. You may well have no clear idea at this stage about whether you want to fly for fun or maybe go for a commercial licence later. While this is not a problem, you may well wish to consider that if you might want to go on for a commercial licence it would probably be a good idea to do your basic training at a school that can also do your commercial training. You may also feel that you can get more information about an FTO, rather than an RTF, and most certainly you should be more assured of the financial security of an FTO if you are considering paying up front for your course. If, however, your heart's delight is to operate a taildragger from a grass strip then a well-recommended RTF is almost certainly your best bet.

3. Ambience. Training for a PPL should be largely enjoyable. Some of the training for a professional licence can be downright gruelling. You would do well to visit as many schools as you can reasonably train from beforehand to make an assessment of them. Try to ask yourself if you feel particularly at home at any of them - you will perform better, especially when you are having a difficult time, if you feel at ease with your chosen school and its staff.

4. Facilities . You need to consider what measure of expertise you would like to have "under your belt". If you want to have and use a night rating, for instance, it makes sense to fly from an airfield with night landing aids that is normally open for light aircraft at night. Likewise, if you want any form of poor weather capability your chosen school should be at an airfield with approach aids, preferably ILS and/or NDB.

5. Weather Conditions. If you are training for a PPL to be used only on fine, gentle days in summer, then by all means train wherever the weather conditions are good. If you are seriously thinking about a commercial licence, or want to fly on your PPL in marginal weather, then you would be well advised not to train in any country that offers multiple runways (hence always almost into wind), little cloud, and no turbulence - you will subsequently struggle in parts of Europe.

6. Instructors. Check on the availability of your chosen instructor. A good school will do its utmost to keep you with the same instructor as much as possible. Check also that the school either has its own examiner or, for CAA exams, good access to a CAA Examiner.

7. Cost. When you have considered all the above factors then, and only then, should you start comparing costs. The reason we suggest you do it in this order is because what you should be looking for is Value, rather than pure Price, and until you have considered all the factors mentioned above you won't really be able to value what you are being offered. Of course your goal comes into this consideration again: there are sadly far too many pilots who have got cheap PPLs only to subsequently spend far more than they had previously saved on getting up to standard for their CPL. Do feel free to quiz the school about their charges, and do make sure there are no hidden ones such as home landing fees.