Meet Your Instructor
About Us
Welcome to Elevation Airsports
Founded in 2020, we’re a fixed-wing microlight flying school based at Gloucestershire Airport, Staverton. We offer both flight training and self-hire in the Ikarus C42B aircraft.
Whether you’re booking a trial lesson as a gift or starting your journey to become a pilot, you’ve come to the right place. Training at one of the UK’s busiest general aviation airports gives you real-world experience from day one, helping you become a more confident, proficient pilot, faster.
What Sets Us Apart
Professional Training
Learn with a CAA-approved instructor at one of the UK’s busiest general aviation airports.
Confidence from Day One
Gain real-world experience in air traffic, radio work, and busy airspace.
Accessible Flying
Affordable lessons in the economical Ikarus C42B, with pay-as-you-fly pricing.
Year-Round Availability
Hard runways and airport facilities mean flying doesn’t stop when the weather changes.
Personal Approach
One-to-one lessons and tailored guidance to help you reach your flying goals.
Thrill of Flight
Experience the excitement and freedom of flying from your very first lesson.
Meet Your Instructor
Tom Hay, Chief Flying Instructor
Tom has a real passion and enthusiasm for aviation, especially flying training and teaching. If he’s not in an aircraft you can usually find him talking about flying to anyone willing to listen. Having a customer-focused attitude with a patient manner and a drive to deliver the best possible experience to students, allows them to get the most out of their lessons. But don’t take it from us, hear what some of our customers have to say about him here.
Tom started flying in his early teens with his Dad and this was the spark that further ignited his passion for aviation. He went on to learn to fly fixed wing microlights, soloing at 16 and getting his pilot licence just after his 17th birthday, even before getting his driving licence.
Starting his career in aviation as an apprentice with David Young at Kemble Flying Club, at just 20 years old he attained his flying instructor (restricted) rating on both fixed wing and flexwing microlights.
After learning the art of instruction under the watchful eye of David Young, Tom moved to East Sussex to develop his experience and expand his knowledge working for his now late friend Richard Foster at Flight Sport Aviation. Based at Deanland over the Summer and Requena in Spain, this was a perfect opportunity to broaden the horizons.
In 2016 Tom moved back to Gloucestershire to take on the role of Chief Flying Instructor at The Flying Shack, Gloucestershire Airport.
Wishing to continue instruction and teaching, in 2020 Tom set up Elevation Airsports based at Gloucestershire Airport flying the Ikarus C42, with the vision to continue to provide first class instruction.
Tom is also an experienced EASA PPL holder having flown across Europe, dabbling in some night flying, aerobatics. Occasionally he indulges that side of flying in slightly heavier aircraft.
