Lanzarote CP Completion course

The Flying

The flying on Lanzarote isn’t suitable for beginners although it works really well for those trying to finish their Club Pilot rating or for post CP development.

The island works on micro-climates and choosing the correct site can be crucial. Most sites offer a mixture of both thermic and dynamic conditions. At one end of the scale we have El Cuchillo which is a massive thermic pump during the hottest part of the day, to Mirador del Rio, a stunning bowl 1400ft above the landing field with silky smooth air.

As the position of the sun moves, we will follow it and fly two or more sites in a day. There are about five sites that we use 95 % of the time and maybe ten others that we fly occasionally. On a good day there will be 2500 – 3000 ft cloud bases and while this is not a destination for big XC flying, small ones are possible and we’ve helped many pilots through their first XC flight out here.

There is all of this, and then there is the Famara Ridge. The scale takes your breath away! You will take off inland and have to really work to make transitions over gaps until you finally arrive on the costal cliff. From here you can float all the way to Mirador (26 km round trip). It is absolutely stunning to fly above the cliffs, listening to the waves crash nearly half a mile below.

All of the sites are located within a 45 minute drive of the villa and a plentiful supply of hire cars means that we can use different sites at the same time if necessary.

While we will prioritise flying, if we do get a non-flyable period there is so much to see and do on the island which has been settled by the Spanish since the early 1400’s. There are many interesting old buildings and structures including castles, cathedrals, aljibes and salt pans. Architectural development hasn’t been dormant and some of the most iconic structures on the island are designed by the former mayor, Cesar Manrique.

There are natural environment is breath taking with a volcanically active area set in the Fire Mountains, the El Jable desert, both recent and ancient lava flows, white and black sand beaches and crystal clear waters surrounding the island to swim.

We eat in some of the places that only the locals know ranging from beach side tavernas to outstanding restaurants. We’ll take you to a cave bar for a cocktail in the evening and it looks like something out of a James bond movie.

Other activities we try to squeeze in include surfing and body surfing, caving, go-Kart racing, hiking, as well as visiting some of the iconic museums

Accomodation

In Lanzarote we stay in a fantastic Villa in one of the older villages on the island, away from the commercial tourist resorts. There will be a choice of shared or private accommodation in the villa. This villa has everything that you’d expect from a luxury property including a fantastic pool, WiFi, and it’s beautifully furnished.

We organise breakfasts as well as two meals in the villa each week, using the best of local ingredients and for the remaining nights we can introduce you (if you wish) to some of the special places to eat on the island.

Leaving the UK winter behind and stepping off the plane into warm gentle breezes is a wonderful feeling.

The temperature can vary considerably; while normally pleasant in just a T-shirt and shorts, evenings and mornings can be quite chilly. Occasionally we do get heat waves and midday can be scorching. Fortunately, the sea is never far away and we often end up swimming to cool off.