These Terms and Conditions apply to all flights and flight vouchers bought or placed by, or on behalf of, our clients. By purchasing a Flight with the Company, you agree on behalf of yourself, and if not yourself, the person for whom the flight is intended to be bound by them in their entirety.
Vouchers are valid for twelve months from the date of purchase. Please look at your Confirmation letter to find out which months during the year that you can redeem your Voucher. Any flight purchased must be booked to take place within such period of validity, unless you have attempted to make a booking that had to be postponed for normal operational reasons. The expiry date is marked on the voucher and an extension may be available on payment of a fee.
Booking the Flight Once you have booked the date of your flight, at least 7 days’ notice is required if you wish to make any amendments to the date or time. We reserve the right to postpone a Flight previously booked and to offer an alternative booking. If, for any operational reason, we need to postpone a Flight previously booked we will offer an alternative date at your convenience. Please note that we cannot guarantee that the flight will take place on a specific date.
Because of the nature of the aircraft being used there are age, height and weight restrictions as described below:
Minimum age 18 Years old. * You may need to provide photographic ID Passport/driving license.
Maximum Height 6 foot 6 inches (198 cm), no minimum height.
Maximum weight 230 pound (105 Kg). You will be weighed and measured on the day.
(If you weigh over 230 pounds (105 kg), please contact us as you may still be able to fly in our Spitfire but you may need to visit first to check that you can remain clear of the flying controls and you feel comfortable in the aircraft.)
All flights must be pre-booked. Details of all flight availability is available on our website www.classic-wings.co.uk where you can buy or book your flight online. Alternatively call us on 01223 837453.
All flights are subject to suitable weather conditions, aircraft serviceability and sufficient (minimum) passenger numbers. The Company accepts no responsibility for bad weather, mechanical problems or unforeseen events causing the contracted Flight to be cancelled or altered. The Company cannot be held liable for any costs incurred in this circumstance.
You should arrive in good time for your briefing. If you fail to arrive by your scheduled reporting time on the day of your pre-booked flight, or do not present your flight voucher, then you may forfeit your flight. If you do not produce your booking documentation, you may be asked to provide credit card details pending the production of the original voucher as security.
The Company maintains the right to cancel alter or reschedule your flying activity without incurring any penalty. Should the Company be obliged to cancel, the flyer can be rebooked to another day at no extra cost within the validity of voucher. If the flight is cancelled for whatever reason, it is your responsibility to re-book your flight with the Company.
All flight times are “chocks-off” to “chocks-on”. This means from the time the aircraft begins to move, to when it comes back to a standstill.
Flights are operated in accordance with our Safety Standards Acknowledgement of consent Approval.
We are not qualified to express an opinion confirming that you are fit to fly and you must ensure that you are fit to fly, by consulting your physician if necessary. You must not fly if you are suffering from any serious medical condition (including epilepsy, fits, severe head injury, high blood pressure or heart conditions), or have recently undergone surgery, unless you have a certificate of your fitness to fly from your doctor. You must not fly if you are pregnant or under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The Flyer is responsible for advising the Company of any disabilities or problems of health that might affect personal safety. The Flyer must not have consumed any alcohol prior to the Flight and we will be entitled to prevent a Flyer from flying who in our opinion may have consumed alcohol beforehand. No Flyer will be allowed to take part in any Flight unless they have attended the full safety briefing preceding the Flight.
Unfortunately, safety reasons dictate that you cannot take your own camera in the aeroplane.
DUE TO THE NATURE OF THIS ACTIVITY, IF AT ANY TIME YOU DEEM IT TO BE UNSUITABLE FOR YOU, YOUR FLIGHT IS FULLY TRANSFERABLE PROVIDING THE RECIPIENT MEETS ALL THE PRE-FLIGHT REQUIREMENTS OR IS FULLY REFUNDABLE ANYTIME PRIOR TO ENGINE START. If a flight is delayed by us for any reason, no refund is payable by the Company and an alternative flight can be arranged. If we cancel the flight because in our opinion you are either physically or medically unable to fly, then a full refund will be given or you may gift the flight to another suitable person. All requests for refunds must be made in writing by the original purchaser.
At least 7 days’ notice is required if you wish to change a booking.
By purchasing a Flight, you authorise the Company to store the information provided, which may be kept in both manual and electronic storage systems and to exchange this information as passenger booking circumstances require. Credit card details are not stored by us. The purchaser or the person(s) for whom the Experience is intended needs to be aware that the provision of the service is both seasonal, entirely weather dependant and subject to operational circumstance.
These Terms & Conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with English Law. The parties agree that the English courts have exclusive jurisdiction to adjudicate any dispute which arises in connection with these Terms & Conditions. June 2017
FLIGHTS FOR NON-PILOTS IN A SPITFIRE
What is the History behind flying in ex-military aircraft in the UK and why haven’t we been allowed to do it before?
It is important for us to explain to you, as clearly as possible, the risks involved in flying in a Spitfire. Historically the Civil Aviation Authority, have erred on the side of caution, believing that the average non-pilot has insufficient knowledge to understand the level of risk they are taking when flying a vintage warbird. With the success in other industries of adventure sports such as bungee jumping, car racing etc. there has been a change of policy, providing the operator of the aircraft takes the time to explain the risks to the participants, and minimise these risks as far as possible.
What are the differences between a Spitfire and the aircraft in which you might go on holiday such as a Boeing or Airbus?
The Spitfire is not an aircraft built for passenger carriage. It was built as a war machine whereas Boeing and Airbus make their aircraft almost solely with people’s safety in mind, so there is a clear difference in design philosophy that affects safety. This is compounded by the fact that the technology is many years apart and older aircraft are mechanically less predictable so unexpected failures more likely. That said, flying in all types of aircraft remains very safe, whether it’s used for travel or as a pastime.
So what risks are you taking when you fly the Spitfire, and what can we do and what have we done already to minimise these risks, or reduce them as far as practicable?
Before worrying too much about all the things that could go wrong you should first consider our PILOTS and their history. They are all professionals, from commercial or military backgrounds. They are all highly experienced in flying vintage aircraft, and they undergo regular competency checks and recurrent training by ourselves in addition to the other professional training they receive. Amongst them are some of the finest pilots in the country. Being a good, pilot is about making constant well-informed, safe decisions throughout a flight that will avoid any of the potential scenarios which we will discuss during this briefing. In the event of an incident of any sort, it is about acting calmly and applying professional training to guarantee the best outcome possible from the situation in which they find themselves.
There is a well-known saying in aviation that states: “A superior pilot is one who uses his superior judgment so as not to have to use his superior skill”. So, what can go wrong?
ENGINE FAILURE - In most non-pilot’s minds this means the end! It does not. Just like any other aircraft, the Spitfire will glide and if there isn’t an airport near then the pilot will choose a suitable landing place. The aircraft will stop in about 100 metres so only requires a small field to land.
However, it must be borne in mine that an engine failure at a critical time could result in a significant accident, but all our pilots are very experienced and carry out regular training in how to manage such events.
MAINTENANCE – The aircraft are maintained by the Aircraft Restoration Company (ARC) who are responsible for the maintenance of a large number of Spitfires flying today. Each year the Spitfire goes in for an Annual Check during which time all panels are removed, revealing the control systems, engine and aircraft structure, all of which are thoroughly inspected.
Throughout the season, the aircraft has interim servicing consisting of a 25-hour, 50-hour examination which includes checking the engine, undercarriage and control systems. In addition, the engineers carry out a thorough check prior to each day of flying and remain on hand throughout the day.
MID-AIR COLLISION - This flight will be performed in uncontrolled airspace, which means once we depart the airfield we will not be directed by an Air Traffic Controller. It is, therefore, our responsibility to see and avoid other aircraft, a task you will be asked to participate in once briefed by your pilot prior to the flight.
A key part of your pilot’s job is to maintain a good lookout at all times to ensure the risk of a mid-air collision is minimised but, should the worst happen, you still have options. Mid-air collisions do occur outside controlled airspace every year, however, this is balanced by the fact that there are also hundreds of thousands of safe flights every year. Should this occur you still have options; one of those is bailing out and using the parachute.
SAFETY EQUIPMENT we will give you a comprehensive brief on the equipment you will have with you on this flight, such as flight suit, boots and gloves, helmet, lifejacket and parachute. All this equipment is fire retardant.
PILOT INCAPACITATION There is also the extremely remote possibility that your pilot could become incapacitated. If this were to happen then you’d still be able to use the parachute. However, to reassure you, all our pilots are Commercial Pilots who carry Class I medical certificates, which entails having regular thorough medical examinations to check that they are fit to fly passengers.
And finally, there’s YOUR OWN HEALTH to consider. The Spitfire is a very dynamic aircraft and it is possible to get very excited in it. We are, therefore, obliged to ask a number of questions about your health and weight prior to your flying, whilst we also reserve the right to make our own decision about your suitability for flight. Should we need to have such a discussion with you regarding this, please don’t get upset. We are doing it for your benefit and safety. In some rare cases it might be necessary for you to go to an aviation doctor to assess your suitability to fly. You will need to sign a Medical Declaration prior to your flight and we ask that you read this carefully before signing as it will inform you of any medical conditions that would require medical advice.
Finally, there is also an AGE LIMIT that needs to be considered. There are no upper limits.
Suitability just depends on your physical health together with the mental capacity to be able to remember some simple instructions regarding emergency procedures.
However, we cannot fly anyone younger than 18 without parental consent.
Are there any statistics that contextualise the risks, and is it any more dangerous than a track day, parachute jumping, bungee jumping, kite surfing, Paragliding, hill walking, or even riding a motorbike?
We have looked closely at the risks involved and whilst there is some data available, it is very difficult to provide any reliable figures that would provide a basis for comparison. What we can say is that the risk of serious injury or death in other General Aviation activity for the duration of the flight you are about to undertake would indicate a less than 1 in 300,000 chances of death.
This is a generalised statistic - with the CAA’s guidance and support, we go to a great deal of effort to minimise risk on your behalf, utilising highly experienced pilots, top class maintenance, and robust operational procedures, as well as providing you with comprehensive safety equipment. With this in mind, we consider our operation is probably safer than many other General Aviation activities.
So, in summary, if you choose to fly in the Spitfire, there is an increase in risk, but the overall chance of injury, or indeed death, is likely to be less than many other potentially hazardous activities such as bungee jumping, hang-gliding or motorcycle racing.
If something does go wrong what is your Insurance status when you fly?
The aircraft is fully insured for third party and passenger liability of £25 million to cover these flights.
Summary
We have covered the major risks associated with a passenger flight in a Spitfire and you should now have sufficient information to be able to make a decision on whether you accept these risks and wish to fly with us. If you need any further information then please call us on 01223 837453.
Prior to your flight you will be shown a video which covers all the above information and if you decide that this is not something you wish to go ahead with, we can offer a full refund of the cost of your flight.