Terms & Conditions — Fife Flight Centre
Fife Flight Centre

Terms & Conditions

Governing the provision of flight training, aircraft rental, trial lessons, flight experiences, and related services
Version 1.0 — February 2026
These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of Scotland. Any disputes arising shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Scottish courts.

Please read this document carefully before enrolling with Fife Flight Centre. By enrolling or booking any service, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.

01Definitions and Interpretation

In these Terms and Conditions, the following definitions apply:

  • "The School" means Fife Flight Centre, its owners, employees, instructors, and authorised representatives.
  • "Student" means any individual enrolled with the School for flight training, aircraft rental, or related services.
  • "Renter" means any individual who has completed the required checks and is approved to rent aircraft from the School without instruction.
  • "Training Plan" means a structured programme of flight and ground training agreed between the Student and the School, with scheduled sessions.
  • "Account Credit" means funds held by the School on behalf of a Student or Renter, to be applied against future services.
  • "Standard Rate" means the School's published rate for flight training or aircraft rental in force at the time, without any discount or promotional adjustment.
  • "Block Time" means the elapsed time from the moment the aircraft first moves under its own power for the purpose of flight until it comes to rest at the end of the flight. Block time is recorded via GPS tracking.
  • "CAA" means the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority.
  • "Membership" means an active student or renter membership with the School, which includes flying club access and free landing fees at Fife Airport.
  • "Private Radar" means the School's online booking and flight tracking system.

02Services Offered

The School offers the following services, subject to availability and these Terms and Conditions:

  • Trial Lessons and Flight Experiences
  • Private Pilot Licence (PPL) training
  • Light Aircraft Pilot Licence (LAPL) training
  • Night Rating training
  • Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) Rating courses
  • Hour Building
  • Aircraft Rental

All training is delivered in accordance with the requirements of the CAA and UK aviation regulations. The School operates as a Declared Training Organisation (DTO) registered with the CAA.

03Enrolment and Acceptance

3.1By enrolling with the School, booking a service, or ticking the acceptance checkbox during registration, the Student confirms that they have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions in full.
3.2At enrolment, the Student must provide valid proof of identity (passport or driving licence), emergency contact details, and any additional documentation required under Section 13 (International Students).
3.3A 14-day cooling-off period applies to all enrolments and bookings, regardless of whether the booking was made online, by telephone, or in person. 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 can commence. The parent or guardian will be jointly liable for all fees and charges. No flying or ground instruction will take place until the signed Parental Consent Form has been received by the School.
3.5The minimum age to fly solo is 16 years. The minimum age to hold a Private Pilot Licence is 17 years. These are CAA requirements and cannot be varied by the School.

04Payment 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 the following methods:
  • Automatic payment via Stripe: The Student's registered payment card will be charged on the day following the flight. Students must verify their flight details are correct when checking in the aircraft. In the event of an overcharge caused by a system error, the amount will be credited to the Student's flying account and will not be refunded to the payment card.
  • Card payment on the day: Payment may be made by debit or credit card at the School on the day of the flight.
  • Advance payment: Subject to the conditions set out 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 briefing 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, such arrangements are subject to the finance provider's own terms and conditions. The School is not a party to any such agreement.

05Advance Payments and Account Credit

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 and is content to proceed with self-booking flights.
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 set out in Section 10.
5.6Flights already flown are services delivered and consumed, and are non-refundable under any circumstances.

06Hour 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 any applicable discounts, will be published by the School 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 the terms in Section 10.

07Trial 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.

08Pricing

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.

09Cancellations

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 School Cancellations — Weather and Safety

9.2.1The School and its instructors are the final authority on whether weather conditions are suitable for the planned training exercise or flight. Where the School cancels a flight due to weather or safety concerns, no charge will be made to the Student.
9.2.2The School may need to cancel flights at short notice or at the time of the planned flight due to weather or safety conditions. The School accepts no liability for any incidental costs incurred by the Student as a result of such cancellations, including but not limited to travel costs, accommodation, or lost earnings.
9.2.3Where a Student cancels a flight citing weather conditions but the School has not cancelled the flight, standard cancellation terms and fees will apply, subject to instructor discretion. Students are reminded that training in varied weather conditions is a necessary component of becoming a safe and competent pilot.
9.2.4Solo Students who are not comfortable with prevailing conditions should discuss this with their instructor. The School acknowledges that solo Students may exercise reasonable judgment regarding conditions for solo flight.

9.3 Booking Privileges

9.3.1The School reserves the right to restrict advance booking privileges for any Student who persistently cancels booked sessions.

10Refunds

10.1Flights already flown are services delivered and consumed, and are non-refundable under any circumstances.

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 any advance payments made, minus the value of any flights already taken calculated at the Standard Rate, and minus 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 to receive a refund of unused Account Credit after the 14-day cooling-off period, the following terms 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 against the Student's Training Plan.
  • 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.

10.4 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 as set out in Section 10.3 apply. The Student may be required to provide evidence of the medical outcome (such as a letter from an Aviation Medical Examiner or the CAA) to support their request.

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.

11Student 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 provide accurate and up-to-date personal information at enrolment and notify the School promptly of any changes.
11.3Students must arrive at least 15 minutes before their booked flight to allow time for pre-flight briefing.
11.4Students must have all required materials with them for each lesson (logbook, kneeboard, charts, and any other materials as directed by the instructor).
11.5Students must follow all instructions from instructors, airfield staff, and air traffic control at all times.
11.6Students must report any damage to aircraft or equipment immediately, no matter how minor.
11.7Students must comply with the Code of Conduct set out in Section 14.

12Medical Requirements

12.1A valid medical certificate is not required to commence dual flight training, but is required before a Student may fly solo.
12.2Students are strongly advised to obtain an appropriate medical certificate (Class 2 or LAPL medical) before commencing training to avoid the risk of investing time and money in training that cannot be completed.
12.3Students must notify the School immediately if their medical certificate lapses, is revoked, or if there is any change to their medical status that may affect their ability to fly.
12.4Where a Student's medical certificate has lapsed or been revoked, dual training may continue at the discretion of the School, but solo flying privileges will be suspended until a valid medical certificate is reinstated.
12.5Medical examination fees are payable directly by the Student to the Aviation Medical Examiner and are not included in the School's charges.

13International Students

13.1The School welcomes international students. Fife Flight Centre does not hold a Student Sponsor Licence and is not registered as a sponsor with UK Visas and Immigration.
13.2International students wishing to train at the School must ensure that they hold the appropriate visa or immigration permission to undertake flight training in the United Kingdom. Training courses of up to six months may be undertaken on a Standard Visitor visa, subject to UK immigration rules.
13.3At enrolment, international students must provide: a valid passport (which will be checked and copied); evidence of valid visa, Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), or right to be in the United Kingdom; confirmation that the planned course duration falls within their permitted stay; and emergency contact details (both in the UK and in their home country).
13.4It is solely the Student's responsibility to ensure they have the correct immigration status to undertake training in the United Kingdom. The School is not an immigration adviser and does not provide immigration advice.
13.5The School accepts no liability if a Student's visa or immigration status prevents them from commencing or completing training. No refund beyond the standard refund terms set out in Section 10 will be given if a Student is unable to complete training due to immigration issues.
13.6The School reserves the right to refuse or suspend training if it has reason to believe that a Student does not have valid immigration permission to be in the United Kingdom or to undertake flight training.

14Code of Conduct

All Students and Renters must comply with this Code of Conduct at all times when using the School's services or present on the airfield.

14.1 Alcohol and Drugs

14.1.1In accordance with CAA regulations, Students and Renters must not fly or attempt to fly within 8 hours of consuming alcohol.
14.1.2Students and Renters must not fly or attempt to fly whilst under the influence of any illegal drugs.
14.1.3Students and Renters must not fly or attempt to fly whilst under the influence of any prescription or over-the-counter medication that may impair their ability to safely operate an aircraft. If in doubt, Students should consult their Aviation Medical Examiner.
14.1.4If an instructor suspects that a Student is impaired for any reason, the flight will be cancelled. Standard cancellation fees will apply.

14.2 Airfield and Aircraft

14.2.1Students and Renters must follow all instructions from instructors, airfield staff, and air traffic control at all times.
14.2.2There must be no unauthorised access to aircraft or restricted areas of the airfield.
14.2.3Students and Renters must complete the required walk-around and pre-flight checks before every flight.
14.2.4Any damage to aircraft or equipment must be reported to the School immediately, no matter how minor.
14.2.5Smoking is not permitted airside. Smoking is only permitted in designated non-airside areas.

14.3 During Training and Flights

14.3.1Mobile phones must be switched off or placed in flight mode during all flights.
14.3.2Students must wear appropriate clothing and footwear for flying. Open-toed shoes, loose scarves, and any clothing that could interfere with aircraft controls are not permitted.
14.3.3Students must arrive at least 15 minutes before their booked flight to allow for pre-flight briefing.
14.3.4Students must have all required training materials with them for each lesson.

14.4 General Behaviour

14.4.1All Students, Renters, and visitors must treat staff, instructors, and fellow students with courtesy and respect.
14.4.2Abusive, threatening, discriminatory, or antisocial behaviour will not be tolerated and is grounds for immediate suspension from training.
14.4.3All health and safety procedures must be followed at all times.

14.5 Photography and Social Media

14.5.1No filming or photography is permitted during flight without the prior permission of the instructor.
14.5.2Students are welcome to photograph and share their achievements (such as first solo flights and skill test passes) on social media, but must not post any content that could bring the School into disrepute or compromise safety.

14.6 Suspension and Expulsion

14.6.1The School reserves the right to immediately suspend any Student or Renter who poses a risk to safety.
14.6.2Persistent or serious breaches of this Code of Conduct may result in permanent expulsion from the School.
14.6.3Standard refund terms as set out in Section 10 apply in the event of expulsion.

15Aircraft and Safety

15.1All aircraft operated by the School are insured. The insurance excess is covered by the Student's Membership. Students are not required to carry their own aircraft insurance.
15.2Students and Renters must report any damage to, or defect in, any aircraft or equipment to the School immediately, regardless of how minor it may appear.
15.3The School reserves the right to recover the full cost of repairs or replacement from any Student or Renter where damage to an aircraft or equipment is caused by gross negligence or wilful misconduct.
15.4Following an insurance claim, the School reserves the right to restrict or withdraw aircraft rental privileges if the Student or Renter can no longer be covered under the School's insurance policy.
15.5Solo Students must be monitored by the School. Renters may fly during any period of airport operation.
15.6The School and its instructors have final authority on whether any flight may proceed. This includes decisions based on weather, aircraft serviceability, Student readiness, and any other safety consideration.

16Liability and Risk

16.1Flight training and the operation of aircraft carry inherent risks, including the risk of serious injury or death. By enrolling with the School and participating in flight training or aircraft rental, the Student acknowledges and accepts these inherent risks.
16.2Nothing in these Terms and Conditions excludes or limits the School's liability for death or personal injury caused by the School's negligence, or for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation.
16.3Subject to Section 16.2, the School's total liability to the Student in respect of all losses arising under or in connection with these Terms and Conditions, whether in contract, tort (including negligence), breach of statutory duty, or otherwise, shall not exceed the total fees paid by the Student to the School.
16.4The School shall not be liable for any indirect or consequential loss or damage, including but not limited to loss of earnings, travel costs, accommodation costs, or loss of opportunity.

17Force Majeure

17.1The School shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performing its obligations under these Terms and Conditions where such failure or delay results from circumstances beyond the School's reasonable control, including but not limited to: severe weather conditions or natural disasters; airfield closures or restrictions; aircraft unavailability due to maintenance requirements or regulatory directives; instructor unavailability due to illness; changes to aviation regulations or CAA directives; pandemic, epidemic, or public health emergency; government restrictions, orders, or legislation; or industrial action, civil unrest, or acts of terrorism.
17.2In the event of a force majeure event, any Account Credit held by the Student will be retained and remain available for use once the event has passed, subject to the credit expiry terms in Section 5.3. The Student shall not be entitled to compensation for any delays or losses caused by a force majeure event.

18Insurance

18.1Fife Flight Centre maintains appropriate insurance cover for its operations, including public liability insurance and aircraft insurance.

19Personal Belongings

19.1The School accepts no liability for loss of, or damage to, personal belongings left in aircraft or on School premises.
19.2Lost property will be held by the School for a period of 90 days, after which it may be disposed of without further notice.

20Data Protection and Privacy

20.1The School collects and processes personal data in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
20.2The personal data collected by the School may include: name, address, date of birth, contact details, medical certificate status, training records and progress, payment and billing information, and flight tracking data.
20.3The School may share Student data with the following third parties, where necessary for the delivery of its services: the Civil Aviation Authority (for examination entries, licence applications, and regulatory compliance); examiners (for skill test bookings and administration); third-party software providers used in the operation of the School (including booking systems, Stripe payment processing, and Private Radar flight tracking); and the School's insurers (in the event of an incident or claim).
20.4The School will not share Student data with any other third party without the Student's express consent, unless required to do so by law.
20.5Student records will be retained for a period of 6 years following the Student's last activity with the School, after which they will be securely destroyed.
20.6The School may use photographs and video footage of Students for marketing and promotional purposes, including on its website and social media channels. By enrolling with the School, the Student consents to such use. Students may withdraw this consent at any time by notifying the School in writing.
20.7For Students under the age of 18, parental or guardian consent for the use of photographs and video is obtained via the Parental Consent Form.

For further detail on how we use your personal data, please see our Privacy Policy.

21Intellectual Property

21.1All training materials, course content, presentations, digital whiteboard content, and other educational resources produced by or on behalf of the School remain the intellectual property of Fife Flight Centre.
21.2Students may not copy, photograph, record, distribute, or share any of the School's training materials without the prior written permission of the School. This includes, but is not limited to, screen recordings or photographs of digital content displayed during lessons.

22Third-Party Costs

22.1Students should be aware that the following costs are not included in the School's training or rental rates and are payable separately:
  • Landing fees at other airfields: Landing fees at airfields other than Fife Airport will be charged to the Student at the rate in force at the relevant airfield. Landing fees at Fife Airport are included with an active Student or Renter Membership.
  • CAA examination fees: Fees for CAA theoretical knowledge examinations are charged at the time of the examination.
  • CAA licence and registration fees: Payable directly to the CAA. Current fees can be viewed at www.caa.co.uk.
  • Medical examination fees: Payable directly to the Aviation Medical Examiner.
  • Training materials: Students are responsible for purchasing their own training materials, including textbooks, charts, flight computers, kneeboards, and other equipment as required.
  • 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.

23Termination

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 the Student's 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 set out in Section 10 apply, regardless of the reason for termination.

24Complaints Procedure

24.1Any complaints should be directed to the Manager of Fife Flight Centre in writing at info@fifeflightcentre.com.
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.

25General Provisions

25.1Governing Law: These Terms and Conditions are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Scotland. Any disputes arising under or in connection with these Terms and Conditions 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 in respect of the services provided.
25.3Severability: If any provision of these Terms and Conditions is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.
25.4Variation: The School reserves the right to amend these Terms and Conditions from time to time. Students will be notified of any material changes. Continued use of the School's services following notification of a change shall constitute acceptance of the amended Terms and Conditions.
25.5Waiver: No failure or delay by the School in exercising any right or remedy under these Terms and Conditions shall constitute a waiver of that right or remedy.
25.6Third Party Rights: No person other than the Student and the School shall have any rights to enforce any of the provisions 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.
Questions about these terms? Contact us at info@fifeflightcentre.com and we'll be happy to clarify anything before you enrol.