Multi-tasking Mel on running Soloflight

 Soloflight
Airfield: Humberside International Airport (EGN)
Where: 10NM W of Grimsby, Kirmington, Lincolnshire
Runways: 03/21, 09/27
Facilities: Fixed wing and Heli Flight Training, trial flights, private hire, fuel, Flightstore Pilot Shop, resturant, ATC
T. 01652 688833
W. www.soloflight.co.uk

Words: Kirsten Corrigan

It’s two years since Mel Stewart lost her husband Glen in a flying accident. Rather than shut up shop at Soloflight, the Humberside-based flying school Mel ran with Glen, she has soldiered on.

Multi-tasking is clearly Mel’s strength. As she answers the phone, she is also guiding me through the club’s new online booking system while tending to Connie, her Highland Terrier. Many people saw Glen as the face of Soloflight but Mel has always been behind the scenes, essentially running the business. Established in 1977 by Glen, the flying school has a reputation for providing flight training with a personal touch, and students come from as far as Sheffield, Leeds, Harrogate and Scarborough to learn here.

“That’s the great thing about flying,” says Mel. “It’s a leveller. It doesn’t matter how much money you have or who you are, everyone has to pass the same exams and work hard to get their licence. You’re all here for the same reason.” Mel hasn’t stopped for breath since the accident. “You just get on with it. When Glen died I had to keep going. I still had to pay the mortgage.”

Glen had been flying since the age of 15, making his name in the 1970s as an aerobatic pilot, and later as a stunt pilot, aircraft dealer and ferry pilot before starting the school. With over 20,000 hours logged, he never wanted to pursue an airline career but simply hoped to pass on his love of flying.

“We thought nothing of flying over to France for lunch and that’s what we try to tell our members – there are no limits to flying. It’s what you make it,” says Mel.

Last September saw the club’s first Open Day, organised to raise money for The Glen Stewart Flying Scholarship. Over 1300 people attended the event, with some taking trial flights and others just soaking up Mel’s hospitality. The Airport donated 100 free landings and £1500 was raised for the charity, and did plenty to further GA in the area. Among the many things Mel is involved in, is a commitment to the pilot aptitude testing scheme at RAF Cranwell, which helps potential pilots decide whether or not to embark upon their flight training.

Mid-conversation, the door bursts open and CFI Heather Sugden bounds in to tell me how wonderful Soloflight is, then disappears as her next student arrives. Mel speaks highly of her, telling me she’s a busy mum, helicopter flight instructor and also flies out to the North Sea oil rigs. “She’s amazing,” says Mel. “If you want to learn to fly helicopters, you learn with Heather. She’ll tell you what she thinks, and if you don’t like it – tough.”

While the sky looks a little clearer, Mel insists I take a ride in G-BAFU, the club’s recently repainted Piper Cherokee, with instructor Richard Amor. As I take my place in the left-hand seat, slightly confused and nervous, it dawns on me that I might have to do some flying today!

Despite the grey clouds looming overhead, part-time fixed-wing instructor Richard is eager to chat. He’s a former helicopter winchman and flying has been part of his life since childhood – his father was in the RAF and Richard worked on the Wessex and Sea King for almost 30 years. Taxiing out, Richard tells me a bit about Humberside Airport and tries to distract me from the unsettling 20kt wind. But I needn’t have worried as takeoff is a breeze and before I know it, we’re at 1000ft. Now my turn! Richard asks me to take control and I’m flying!

A leisurely trip around the Humber Bridge taking in the views of Hull, battling against the wind and then back again, and my first lesson is over in a flash.

As we sit on the apron chatting for another hour I realise why people stay with Soloflight. I feel like I have all the time in the world to ask Richard all those silly questions that I might shy away from otherwise, and more importantly, he wants to feed my curiosity.