Flying school at Bristol Airport to cease operations after nearly 100 years

An historic aeroplane club and flying school at Bristol Airport is to close its doors after nearly a century. Bristol and Wessex Aeroplane Club has been training pilots since it was established in Filton in 1927. It also offers plane hire and taster lessons for aviation enthusiasts.

The club has been owned by Royal Navy veteran Barry Bailey since 2009. The former seaman has taught hundreds of people to fly planes over the last 15 years. Bristol Airport said on Friday (August 30) the club was closing because the multi-engine aircraft instructor had decided to "concentrate on his other business interests".

The flight school will operate until the end of February 2025, after which time the nearest flight training centres will be at Gloucestershire Airport, Cotswold Airport and Dunkeswell Aerodrome in Devon. When asked what will happen to the club building, which contains a café and flight simulator, Bristol Airport said it had "no further information at this point" about its future use.

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Rupert Lawrie, commercial director of Bristol Airport, said: “Having Bristol and Wessex Aeroplane Club here at Bristol Airport has been a real string to our bow. I’ve personally enjoyed looking out the window and watching all of the various aircraft over the years. We wish Barry ever success in the future.”

Mr Bailey said he had recently been splitting his time between Bristol and London, and "the time was right" to focus on his business interests in the capital. “I’ve truly had so much fun and look back with very fond memories of helping all of our former students," he said.

"I’ve seen so many of them leave newly qualified and then arrive years later as captains and first officers, responsible for taking people safely on their holidays." He added: "I would like to say a special thank you to operations director, Gary Thomas, and his team, who have supported the business seven days a week.”

Bristol and Wessex Aeroplane Club was founded at a temporary base in Filton by a group of plane enthusiasts who wanted to promote civil flying in Bristol and its districts. Sir Samual Hoare, the air minister at the time, opened the club on October 8, 1927.

It relocated to Whitchurch in 1930 when Bristol City Council bought farmland for a municipal airport. In 1957, the club moved to the ex-RAF Airfield at Lulsgate where it has been based ever since. When the club was first established, flying charges were 25 shillings per hour, rising to 30 shillings at peak times. Pilot membership was three guineas.