Best time to learn to fly
How much of the year the weather allows training flights in each country, from weather reports at airfields with flight schools.
Share of daylight hours each month with weather suitable for training flights (cloud base at least 3,000 ft, visibility at least 5 statute miles / 8 km, wind no more than 20 knots, no thunderstorms, freezing conditions or snow).
| Country | Whole year | Best months | Hardest month | Airfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 91% | April, May, and August | March | 34 |
| Greece | 88% | May, June, and July | February | 5 |
| Spain | 87% | June, July, and August | January | 16 |
| Italy | 82% | June, July, and August | February | 13 |
| United States | 79% | June, July, and August | December | 690 |
| Mexico | 79% | January, February, and March | September | 19 |
| Hungary | 78% | June, July, and August | December | 5 |
| Argentina | 75% | January, November, and December | July | 18 |
| France | 74% | July, August, and September | December | 184 |
| Germany | 72% | June, July, and August | January | 18 |
| United Kingdom | 68% | April, July, and August | December | 55 |
| Sweden | 65% | May, June, and July | December | 29 |
| Belgium | 65% | June, July, and August | December | 6 |
| Poland | 64% | June, July, and August | December | 7 |
| Netherlands | 64% | May, June, and August | December | 16 |
| Denmark | 62% | June, July, and August | December | 6 |
Which countries have the best flying weather?
Australia tops our comparison: the typical airfield there has weather suitable for training flights in 91% of daylight hours. Southern Europe follows, with Greece at 88%, Spain at 87% and Italy at 82%, alongside the United States at 79%.
Northern Europe is at the other end. The typical airfield in the United Kingdom is flyable in 68% of daylight hours, in Sweden 65%, in the Netherlands 64% and in Denmark 62%.
Seasons matter more than the yearly figure
In northern Europe the gap between summer and winter is much bigger than the yearly average suggests. In Sweden the typical airfield goes from 87% in June to 37% in December, and in Poland from 88% to 31%. In Spain the same comparison is 97% in July and 76% in January.
In the southern hemisphere the seasons are reversed: Argentina’s best month is December. In Mexico the seasons follow the rain, and the dry months from November to April are best.
Why it matters for your training
Every cancelled lesson stretches out your training, and long gaps between flights usually mean extra hours to get back up to speed. Choosing when, and sometimes where, you train can make a real difference to how long a licence takes and what it costs. Each country guide below shows the month-by-month figures and the regions with the best weather.