Best time to learn to fly in the United Kingdom
How often the weather allows training flights in each month, from weather reports at 55 airfields with flight schools in the United Kingdom.
Across 55 airfields, 68% of daylight hours have weather suitable for training flights. The best months are April, July, and August. December is the most difficult month, at 51%.
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).
The flying year in the United Kingdom
Across 55 airfields with flight schools, the typical UK airfield has weather suitable for training flights in 68% of daylight hours. That is lower than the sunnier parts of Europe, but the year splits clearly into a good half and a difficult half.
The big change comes in spring: the typical airfield goes from 60% flyable in March to 77% in April. From April to September every month is at or above three-quarters, with July (81%) and August (79%) the best. Winter is hard going: in December (51%) and January (54%) only about half of daylight hours are flyable, and there are fewer daylight hours to begin with.
Where the weather is best
Surprisingly for many people, Scotland comes out ahead of England in our data. Airfields on the east side of Scotland, such as Inverness and Perth, are among the most flyable in the country, helped by being sheltered from the prevailing westerly weather.
In England the differences between airfields are small. Airfields in the south-east, such as Rochester and Southend, do slightly better than the average.
Planning your training
Most UK students fit lessons around work, so the season matters a lot. Starting in early spring lets you build up to solo flying and the solo cross-country by the summer, when cancellations are least likely.
If you start in autumn, expect some lessons to be cancelled for low cloud, wind or rain, and budget for a few extra hours to stay current between flights. Intensive full-time courses work best between April and September.
Questions
What is the best time of year to learn to fly in the UK?
April to September, when the typical airfield is flyable in at least three-quarters of daylight hours, peaking in July at 81%.
Can you learn to fly in winter in the UK?
Yes, but expect more cancellations. In December and January only about half of daylight hours are flyable at the typical airfield, and days are short.
Flying weather by month
| Month | Typical airfield | Most airfields |
|---|---|---|
| January | 54% | 51–58% |
| February | 56% | 53–61% |
| March | 60% | 57–64% |
| April | 77% | 73–78% |
| May | 77% | 75–79% |
| June | 76% | 72–78% |
| July | 81% | 77–84% |
| August | 79% | 76–81% |
| September | 75% | 72–77% |
| October | 68% | 64–70% |
| November | 60% | 57–64% |
| December | 51% | 47–57% |
By region
Airfields with the most flyable weather in the United Kingdom
| Airfield | Whole year | Best months |
|---|---|---|
| Inverness Airport (EGPE) Scotland | 80% | April, July, and August |
| Perth Airport (EGPT) Scotland | 76% | April, May, and July |
| Rochester Airport (EGTO) England | 73% | June, July, and August |
| London Southend Airport (EGMC) England | 73% | June, July, and August |
| Glasgow Prestwick Airport (EGPK) Scotland | 73% | April, May, and June |
| Gloucestershire Airport (EGBJ) England | 72% | May, June, and July |
| Exeter Airport (EGTE) England | 72% | May, July, and August |
| Dunkeswell Aerodrome (EGTU) England | 72% | May, July, and August |
| Cambridge City Airport (EGSC) England | 71% | June, July, and August |
| Fowlmere Airfield (EGMA) England | 71% | June, July, and August |
How we worked this out
Based on hourly weather reports (METAR) from 2016 to 2025 in the Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive, at the weather station closest to each airfield and no more than 30 km away. Only daylight hours count. For each month we show the typical (median) airfield, with the middle half of airfields as the range.
Cite this data: BookFlightSchools, “Best time to learn to fly in the United Kingdom: flying weather by month”, 2016–2025. https://bookflightschools.com/flight-schools/united-kingdom/weather