Kurusha logo KurushaFlying School & Club

Thruxton Airfield · Hampshire

Your flying adventure
starts here.

Friendly, professional flight training and aircraft hire from one of southern England's best-equipped general aviation airfields.

Explore training Talk to us
Scroll

A flying school that feels like a flying club

Serious training.
Relaxed atmosphere.

Kurusha runs a Declared Training Organisation and flying club at Thruxton Airfield. We train new pilots, add ratings for qualified pilots and welcome self-fly hirers.

Operations started from the Nissen Hut at Thruxton on 4 August 2024 with G-BNRP and four part-time instructors. We now have six instructors and two PA-28s, G-BNRP and G-ARVV.

We won't ask you to pay for a course in advance or fly when the weather is marginal. The aim is simple: good instruction, sensible decisions and enjoyable flying.

6experienced instructors
2PA-28 aircraft
4featured training options
EGHOThruxton Airfield

A proper airfield

Train at Thruxton

Asphalt and grass runways, rescue and firefighting cover, a café and easy road access just off the A303. Free parking is right outside the Kurusha office.

Discover Thruxton ↗

From first flight to all-weather confidence

Choose where you want to go next.

Trial flying lesson
01

Trial Lessons

Take the controls and fly around Highclere Castle, Salisbury Cathedral, the New Forest or even the Needles with an instructor beside you.

No experience is needed, and the time can count towards a PPL.

30 · 45 · 60 minute options
Aircraft flying over countryside
02

Private Pilot Licence

Build the skills, knowledge and judgement to fly safely and carry friends and family around the UK.

The PPL course includes a minimum of 40 hours flying, ten hours solo, nine technical knowledge exams and a Skill Test.

PPL(A) · NPPL(A)
Runway lights at night
03

Night Rating

Extend your flying into the hours of darkness with focused instruction in night circuits, navigation and the different visual environment after sunset.

Minimum 5 hours · No flight test
Aircraft instrument panel
04

IR(R) Instrument Rating

Learn to control and navigate the aircraft by instruments so that less favourable weather doesn't automatically mean the end of the flight.

15 hours minimum · Exam · Skill Test
“
Kurusha Flying School transformed my flying. The team are really supportive, the training was very professional and they really made me feel comfortable from day one.
Jackson

People, not a production line

Meet the instructors.

Experience ranging from military helicopters and test flying to airline training, mountain flying, bush flying and more than five decades of instruction.

N

Nick

Head of Training

An instructor and examiner since 1989, with commercial aeroplane and helicopter licences and a career spanning military flying, instructing, examining and aviation management.

D

Dan

Instructor

More than 10,000 hours, from vintage biplanes and trainers to turboprops and commercial jets. A former airline Training Captain who teaches LAPL and PPL.

S

Simon

Instructor

Over 23 years flying and more than 2,400 hours instructing on LAPL, NPPL, PPL, night and differences training, including mountain and bush flying experience.

D

Don

Instructor & Examiner

More than 50 years flying and 5,000 hours instructing across PPL, CPL, night, IR(R), aerobatics and FI courses, with extensive UK and international experience.

A

Andrew

Instructor

Former RAF Nimrod pilot, Tucano instructor and Boscombe Down test pilot who now enjoys vintage aircraft, aerobatics, tailwheel flying and traditional navigation.

R

Raph

Instructor

A commercial pilot and instructor since the late 1990s, Raph has around 3,000 hours, mostly teaching PPL. His background includes hang-gliding and microlights, and he also teaches IR(R), night and 3-axis microlights with a patient, sympathetic approach.

Straightforward pricing

Pay for the flying you do.

Prices include VAT.

Trial lesson
£146.50 / 30 min

Also £213.75 / 45 min or £287 / 60 min.

Book a flight →
Other charges and membership +

Groundschool and exams: £48 per hour (minimum 45 minutes), extra to pre-flight briefs and as arranged with the instructor.

Instructor in your own aircraft: £60 per hour.

Self-Fly Hire membership: £20 per month, payable in advance by Standing Order. Includes clubhouse access, aircraft use and free entry to most social events.

Around the club

News & events.

Flying is only part of it. Talks, social evenings and club events bring pilots and students together away from the cockpit.

SEPTEMBER · 2026

Our new Nissen hut is taking shape

Our new Nissen hut is currently being built and we hope to move in in a few weeks' time.

Earlier club news +

Quiz Night

The club hosted an aviation quiz night in the Nissen Hut, with drinks very generously donated by a local microbrewery.

Christmas Curry Night

Our December social event was a curry night at The Plough in Grateley.

Talk by Rob Tierney

Rob Tierney presented a talk about how he ‘liberated’ a Bell UH-1 Iroquois helicopter from the Argentinians after the Falklands conflict.

Winter Flying & Carb Icing

Nick presented a timely talk about the extra risks that need managing during winter flying.

Night Rating

We opened bookings for night rating and refresher training.

Farnborough Airshow Safety

Richard Pillans, Flight Director at the Farnborough International Airshow, spoke about maintaining airshow traditions alongside modern safety requirements.

Opening Day BBQ

Kurusha launched with a BBQ, drinks, perfect weather and around 30 pilots, students and prospective flyers.

Ready when you are

Come flying.

Whether you're considering a first lesson, continuing your training or looking for an aircraft to hire, talk to us.

Download our information leaflet
Send us a messageWe'll get back to you as soon as we can.

We'll use your details only to respond to your enquiry. See our .

Emailadmin@kurusha.uk→ Nick07808 682704→ Dan07776 180684→ Find usThe Nissen Hut, Thruxton Airport, SP11 8PN↗

Kurusha Flying School & Club

  1. General
    • All persons hiring aircraft from Kurusha for whatever reason are deemed to have read and understood the rules on this website, and agree to comply with any other rules and procedures that may be published by Kurusha.
    • To fly Club aircraft as PIC, all pilots must either be paid-up members of the Kurusha Club or a suitably-qualified instructor. Instructors are automatically included on the insurance when they are instructing Club members, whether or not they’re members themselves.
    • Club instructors are not bound by the recency rules in this section, but if out of date may not fly as PIC without the agreement of the Chief Instructor.
    • SFH members may only fly as PIC if they have been checked out by one of the Club’s instructors and been signed off as competent. A flight with one of the Club’s instructors is required at least once per year, regardless of the circumstances. This includes instructors. The content of the checkout is not prescribed, but it should include some non-GPS navigation, a stall, a PFL and a circuit. Instructor may use their judgement to shorten or lengthen the checkout as necessary. The validity of a checkout will be one year plus to the end of the month.
    • Pilots flying Club aircraft are liable for the insurance excess, should they have an incident that requires an insurance claim; this currently stands at £1200. If the Club management decide not to claim on insurance, pilots having an incident will be liable for an amount that will not exceed the insurance excess. This paragraph does not apply to students flying under the authorisation of an instructor, in which situations the instructor will also not be held liable for the excess.
    • In order to fly as PIC of Club aircraft, members must have at least a UK NPPL or PPL(A) with a type/group/class rating that allows them to fly the Club aircraft, as well as an appropriate medical. This includes any differences or familiarisation training that may be necessary, such as tailwheel or variable-pitch propeller training. It is each member’s responsibility to keep their licence, ratings and medical in date. Copies of each member’s licence and medical will be kept on file.
    • If two Club members fly together then one or other must be designated as PIC for the purposes of that flight.
    • Members must keep their paper logbook up to date and produce it for inspection if requested by Club management.
    • SFH members must fly at least one take-off and landing in each six week period as PIC or under the supervision of a Club instructor in order to stay current for Club purposes. Members who fail to achieve this must undertake a dual flight with a Club instructor before flying PIC (at the discretion of the Head of Training).
    • Pilots hiring Club aircraft must not have claimed on any aviation insurance policy within the previous five years. Pilots who do not declare this and have an accident may find themselves liable for the full cost of any accident or incident.
    • Students and self-fly hirers must follow the checklists provided for each aircraft.
    • The keys for the aircraft are normally kept in the clubhouse. The PIC should normally swap the aircraft keys for their car keys in order to not forget to put the aircraft keys back on the hook.
    • Hi-viz is to be worn airside at Thruxton.
  2. Maintenance
    • Aircraft maintenance may be carried out only by approved maintenance providers.
    • Maintenance that may be carried out by pilots is limited to the following:
      • Tightening dzus and other panel fasteners;
      • Topping up engine oil;
      • Cleaning panels and transparencies.
  3. PIC responsibilities
    • Pilots flying Club aircraft are responsible for ensuring:
      • The safety and security of the aircraft, and any passengers when airside.
      • That they carry enough fuel and oil, and that these are the correct types. For the purposes of this paragraph, ‘enough fuel’ means sufficient for start-up and taxy, take-off and climb, trip plus 10%, diversion plus 10% (if IFR), approach and landing, plus a 30 minute reserve.
      • The safe hangaring of the aircraft (whenever possible) or secure picketing and covering of it, in the event of an overnight stop, including the fitting of all available ‘remove before flight’ items (e.g. the pitot cover).
      • That they follow up any noise or nuisance complaints made against them.
      • That they adhere to the limitations of their licence and ratings.
      • That personal items such as maps, pens etc. are removed from the aircraft after flight in order to ensure that there are no unknown loose items left in the aircraft. The aircraft should be cleaned if they return dirty from a flight, and the inside must be left tidy.
      • That copies of all required documents are in the aircraft prior to flight. The documents that must be carried are:
        • Certificate of Airworthiness
        • Airworthiness Review Certificate
        • Certificate of Registration
        • Noise Certificate (if required)
        • Insurance Certificate
        • Mass and balance data
        • Radio Installation Certificate and Radio Licence
        • Pilot licences and medical certificates
        • A current aviation map of the appropriate area. If electronic, the battery status must be confirmed to be adequate prior to departure. The carriage of a paper chart is strongly recommended.
        • Interception procedures
      • That in the event of an accident/incident, the occupants DO NOT, under any circumstances, accept responsibility in full or in part for the accident/incident. This is a requirement of our insurance. Pilots who accept responsibility might be required to pay the full cost of the accident if the insurance does not pay out as a consequence.
      • That any required reports are completed immediately after flight, including MOR, birdstrike, airprox etc.
  4. Aerobatics
    • It should go without saying that aerobatics may only be flown in those aircraft that are so cleared.
    • Members must have an aerobatic rating and be checked out by a Club instructor who is authorised to teach aerobatics before they can fly aerobatics as PIC in Club aircraft. In addition, they must have logged at least half an hour of aerobatics or demonstrated aerobatic competence to a Club aerobatics instructor in the previous month.
    • Club instructors may not teach aerobatics unless their licence permits this and they have received instruction in recovery from inverted spins.
    • Aerobatics are not flown in such a way as to cause nuisance to persons on the ground. The absolute minimum height above ground is to be 2000 ft unless practising for or competing in an organised aerobatic contest, in which case such practice must be at a location that has been specifically notified for the same and the minimum height is then in accordance with the minimum box height for the level of competition.
    • Any bags (e.g. flight bags) carried during aerobatics must be strapped in securely. There must not be any loose articles in the aircraft that could cause a flight safety issue or an injury. No bags other than flight bags are to be carried during aerobatics.
  5. Financial
    • Flight times for billing are taken from the CloudbaseGA sensor whenever possible. This calculates chock times and airborne times to the nearest second and ensures that not only are you billed for what you’ve actually done but also that the aircraft are serviced at exactly the right time. When calculating figures for the ‘Flights’ page, chock times are rounded to the nearest five minutes, but always such that the overall time is within 2.5 minutes of the decimal figure. We do this because logbook times should be rounded to the nearest five minutes.
    • Bills must be paid promptly; credit will not be extended. Invoices will be generated after flight; payment will be due on receipt. Payments for flights are to be made by bank transfer whenever possible. If credit/debit cards are used for payment then an extra 1% extra may be charged.
    • Payment for membership is to be made monthly in advance by Standing Order.
    • Pilots hiring the aircraft (Self-Fly Hire) are normally to fill up the aircraft to tabs (approx 34 USG) after each flight; the cost will be put on the Company’s account.
    • Cancellations within 24 hours of flight may incur a charge, the rate for which will be £35 + VAT per booked diary hour.
  6. Landaways
    • Club members may take an aircraft away for periods of up to one day, with prior agreement, but a minimum charge of up to three hours’ worth of flying may be made. Discretion may be applied depending on how busy the day would otherwise have been.
    • If any maintenance is required during a landaway this is not to be carried out or organised before speaking to Club management. This excludes the topping up of engine oil and anything else that may be required as part of a normal daily inspection as per the Flight Manual.
    • If any reportable accident or incident should occur while away from Thruxton, Club management must be informed before the aircraft is moved either under its own power or using a tow, unless such action is for safety purposes or is demanded by the site operator. If the aircraft is to be moved before approval by Club management, photos are to be taken of the aircraft, showing the damaged area(s) and the surroundings.
  7. Weather & associated limits
    • The PIC shall adhere to the limits set out here.
    • Home-made instrument approaches in IMC are forbidden; only notified approaches published in the AIP may be used for airfield approaches in IMC. Pilots may let down en route in IMC only as low as the MSA or 1000 ft above the highest obstacle within 8 km, whichever is the higher.
    • A Safety Altitude (SA) shall be established for navigational flights:
      • VFR: A Safety Altitude shall be established for each leg of a VFR navex. Navexes should normally be flown no lower than 1000 ft above the highest obstacle within 8 km of the aircraft unless the PIC is certain of the aircraft position and is satisfied that it is safe to descend below the Safety Altitude, although this can be reduced to 500 ft at instructor’s discretion, and lower still when necessary for instructional purposes (e.g. teaching low level navigation). By night below 3000 ft AMSL the aircraft shall remain clear of cloud with the surface in sight and with a minimum visibility of 5 km. The cloud ceiling shall not be less than 1500 ft.
      • IFR: Except when necessary for take-off or landing, the aircraft shall be flown at a level of at least 1000 ft (2000 ft in mountainous areas) above the highest obstacle located within 8 km of the estimated position. When flying outside controlled airspace, the aircraft must be flown in accordance with the IFR cruising levels.
    • Instructors must observe the privileges of their licence and ratings and adhere to any weather limits specified in the Flight Manual.
    • Day VFR Weather Minima for Kurusha Club Pilots and Students
      • Students
        • Circuiting: cloud base no less than 500 ft above circuit height; visibility min. 5 km; crosswind max 5 kt (or at FI’s discretion); max 20 kt surface wind.
        • Local area flying: cloud base higher than MSA (i.e. 2300 ft AMSL near Thruxton); visibility min. 8 km; crosswind max 5 kt (or at FI’s discretion); max 20 kt surface wind.
        • Cross-country: cloud base higher than MSA en route; visibility min. 8 km; crosswind max 5 kt (or at FI’s discretion); max 20 kt surface wind.
      • PPL holders – less than 100 hours PIC
        • Circuiting: cloud base no less than 500 ft above circuit height; visibility min. 5 km; crosswind limit as per the Flight Manual; max 25 kt surface wind.
        • Cross-country: cloud base higher than 1500 ft agl en route; visibility min. 5 km; crosswind limit as per the Flight Manual; max 25 kt surface wind.
      • PPL holders – 100 or more hours PIC
        • Circuiting: cloud base no less than 1200 ft above aerodrome; visibility min. 3 km; crosswind limit as per the Flight Manual; max 30 kt surface wind.
        • Cross-country: cloud base higher than 1500 ft agl en route; visibility min. 5 km; crosswind limit as per the Flight Manual; max 30 kt surface wind.
      • Derogation for IMC-rated PPL holders
        • Takeoff and circuiting VFR: cloud base no less than 800 ft above aerodrome; visibility min. 1500 m.
        • Visual approach VFR: cloud base no less than 1000 ft above aerodrome; visibility min. 1500 m.
      • Derogation for IR-rated PPL holders
        • Takeoff and circuiting VFR: cloud base no less than 600 ft above aerodrome; visibility min. 1500 m.
        • Visual approach VFR: cloud base no less than 1000 ft above aerodrome; visibility min. 1500 m.
      • Derogation for CPL(A) and ATPL(A) holders: No specific minima apply other than as specified in the AIP and Flight Manual.
    • Night VFR Weather Minima for Kurusha Club Pilots and Students
      • Solo students and PPLs with less than 100 hr PIC: as per Day VFR; cloud ceiling no less than 1500 ft agl.
      • All other pilots: cloud ceiling no less than 500 ft above circuit height or 1500 ft agl, whichever is higher; visibility min. 5 km; crosswind limit as per the Flight Manual; max 30 kt surface wind.
    • IFR weather minima
      • Pilots with an IMC rating: As per the aerodrome operating minima in the AIP; cloud base no less than 200 ft above procedure minimum.
      • Pilots with an IR: As per the aerodrome operating minima in the AIP.
  8. Night flying
    • Pilots who have not flown a club aircraft at night for more than ninety days must fly with a club instructor before solo night flying.
    • Club instructors should fly a night mutual sortie before the first night instructional trip of the winter. This can be waived at the discretion of the Head of Training.
    • It should be remembered that in order to carry passengers at night pilots must have completed one landing at night within the last ninety days.
    • A torch must be carried by each pilot.

Kurusha Limited

Privacy Policy

Last updated November 16, 2024

This Privacy Notice for Kurusha Ltd (‘we’, ‘us’, or ‘our’), describes how and why we might access, collect, store, use, and/or share (‘process’) your personal information when you use our services (‘Services’), including when you:

  • Visit our website at kurusha.uk, or any website of ours that links to this Privacy Notice
  • Engage with us in other related ways, including any sales, marketing, or events

Questions or concerns? Reading this Privacy Notice will help you understand your privacy rights and choices. We are responsible for making decisions about how your personal information is processed. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our Services. If you still have any questions or concerns, please contact us at admin@kurusha.uk.

Summary of key points

This summary provides key points from our Privacy Notice. The sections below contain the full detail.

Table of contents
  1. What information do we collect?
  2. How do we process your information?
  3. What legal bases do we rely on?
  4. When and with whom do we share personal information?
  5. Cookies and tracking technologies
  6. How long do we keep your information?
  7. How do we keep your information safe?
  8. Do we collect information from minors?
  9. What are your privacy rights?
  10. Do-not-track features
  11. Updates to this notice
  12. How can you contact us?
  13. Review, update, or delete data

1. What information do we collect?

Personal information you disclose to us

In Short: We collect personal information that you provide to us.

We collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us when you register on the Services, express an interest in obtaining information about us or our products and Services, when you participate in activities on the Services, or otherwise when you contact us.

Personal Information Provided by You. The personal information we collect may include names, phone numbers, email addresses, mailing addresses, usernames, contact preferences, and encrypted password and pin.

Sensitive Information. When necessary, with your consent or as otherwise permitted by applicable law, we process training records.

All personal information that you provide to us must be true, complete, and accurate, and you must notify us of any changes to such personal information.

2. How do we process your information?

In Short: We process your information to provide, improve, and administer our Services, communicate with you, for security and fraud prevention, and to comply with law. We may also process your information for other purposes with your consent.

  • To facilitate account creation and authentication and otherwise manage user accounts.
  • To request feedback.
  • To send marketing and promotional communications where permitted by your preferences.
  • To save or protect an individual’s vital interest.
  • To contact users about flight bookings and social events.

3. What legal bases do we rely on to process your personal information?

In Short: We only process your personal information when we believe it is necessary and we have a valid legal reason to do so under applicable law.

The GDPR and UK GDPR require us to explain the valid legal bases we rely on. These may include consent, legitimate interests, legal obligations and vital interests.

In legal terms, we are generally the ‘data controller’ under European data protection laws of the personal information described in this Privacy Notice, since we determine the means and/or purposes of the data processing we perform.

4. When and with whom do we share your personal information?

In Short: We may share information in specific situations described in this section and/or with specific third parties.

Business Transfers. We may share or transfer your information in connection with, or during negotiations of, any merger, sale of company assets, financing, or acquisition of all or a portion of our business to another company.

5. Do we use cookies and other tracking technologies?

In Short: We may use cookies and other tracking technologies to collect and store your information.

We may use cookies and similar tracking technologies to gather information when you interact with our Services. Some online tracking technologies help us maintain security, prevent crashes, fix bugs, save preferences and assist with basic site functions.

The static public site itself has been designed not to require non-essential cookies. The separate Members system may use cookies or other storage required for login and operation.

6. How long do we keep your information?

In Short: We keep your information for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this Privacy Notice unless otherwise required by law.

No purpose in this notice will require us keeping your personal information for longer than thirty six (36) months past the start of the idle period of the user’s account, unless a longer period is required or permitted by law.

When we have no ongoing legitimate business need to process your personal information, we will either delete or anonymise it, or securely isolate it until deletion is possible.

7. How do we keep your information safe?

In Short: We aim to protect your personal information through a system of organisational and technical security measures.

We have implemented appropriate and reasonable technical and organisational security measures designed to protect the security of any personal information we process. No electronic transmission or storage technology can be guaranteed to be 100% secure.

8. Do we collect information from minors?

In Short: We do not knowingly collect data from or market to children under 18 years of age.

We do not knowingly collect, solicit data from, or market to children under 18 years of age. If we learn that personal information from users less than 18 years of age has been collected, we will take reasonable measures to delete such data. If you become aware of any such data, please contact nick@kurusha.uk.

9. What are your privacy rights?

In Short: In some regions, including the UK, EEA and Switzerland, you have rights that allow you greater access to and control over your personal information.

These may include rights to request access, rectification or erasure; to restrict processing; data portability where applicable; and to object to processing. You may withdraw consent where processing relies on consent. You may also have the right to complain to the relevant data protection authority.

You can unsubscribe from marketing and promotional communications at any time by emailing or phoning us.

Account Information

You may log in to your account settings and update your account, or contact us. Upon a request to terminate your account, we will deactivate or delete your account and information from our active databases, subject to information we are permitted or required to retain.

10. Controls for do-not-track features

Most web browsers and some operating systems include a Do-Not-Track feature. At this stage, no uniform technology standard for recognising and implementing DNT signals has been finalised. If a standard is adopted that we must follow in future, we will describe that practice in a revised version of this Privacy Notice.

11. Do we make updates to this notice?

In Short: Yes, we will update this notice as necessary to stay compliant with relevant laws.

We may update this Privacy Notice from time to time. We encourage you to review it periodically.

12. How can you contact us about this notice?

If you have questions or comments, contact our Data Protection Officer by email at nick@kurusha.uk, by phone at 07808682704, or by post:

Kurusha Ltd
Data Protection Officer
4 Hawthorne Close
Grateley
Andover SP11 8JL
England

Kurusha Ltd is the data controller. Nicholas Gribble is the UK representative for the purposes described in this notice.

13. How can you review, update, or delete the data we collect from you?

You have the right to request access to the personal information we collect from you, details about how we have processed it, correction of inaccuracies, or deletion where applicable. You may also have the right to withdraw consent. Contact admin@kurusha.uk.