What we do at Limerick Flying Club
Limerick Flying Club (LFC) is a not for profit flying club based at Coonagh Airfield, Limerick. We have approximately one hundred members who essentially “fly for fun”, and in support of that endeavor, volunteer their time to run the club and maintain our home airfield. All of our members are expected to participate in club operations and activities, and this helps us to reduce costs and make flying more affordable for everybody.
Pilot Training
We teach our student members how to fly and get to them to the point where they can obtain their Private Pilot License (Airplane) (PPL(A)).
Private Pilots
We provide a social and professional atmosphere where members who hold a pilots license can pursue their hobby and maintain their flying skills on an ongoing basis.
Introductory Experience Flight
We Introduce flying to prospective pilots, and those who wish to experience flight in a light aircraft, through our “Experience Flight” vouchers.
Our Aircraft
We operate three Italian built Tecnam P2002 types at present. These are 2-seat Light Sport Aircraft and use engines made by ROTAX in Austria. They have excellent performance and fuel economy and are well suited to the short field conditions
of the Coonagh runway.
All three Tecnams are great training aircraft. All are equipped with the necessary modern instruments and navigation equipment required by IAA examiners for conducting qualifying flight tests.
More than 50 Years flying in Coonagh!
Limerick Flying Club has a long rich history operating from Coonagh Aerodrome. We were first established in 1970 by three aviation enthusiasts and have since grown to a membership of over 100 pilots and student pilots.
Frequently asked questions
Here are some answers to questions we commonly receive. If you have a question that is not answered here, or need any more info, feel free to contact us.
Click here to download a pdf copy of our FAQs.
Because the club is run and operated by the membership on a voluntary basis, we regret we cannot maintain a seven day a week presence at Coonagh. This includes the covering of phones. We have a voice mail system in use which is checked regularly. We also use email and Facebook Messenger.
Most flight training and voucher flights take place on Saturdays and Sundays between 11.00 and 17.00 with extended hours up to 18.00 during the period May to September. Some flight training can take place on weekdays and summer evenings by strict prior arrangement with your flight instructor.
Club members who hold a Private Pilot’s Licence or higher rating may fly seven days a week subject to weather and aircraft availability
The club operates through a company Limerick Flying Club (Coonagh) Company Limited by Guarantee. The committee members for the time being, act as directors (without remuneration) of the company and in effect the flying club. As mentioned previously the committee is supported by groups of club members who give freely of their time and assist in maintaining the airfield, club house and in running flight operations by acting as Duty Pilots on the basis of duty rosters (a half day once every four weeks).
Ultimate control for the operation of the club and liaison with the regulatory authorities is with our Chief Flying Instructor who is assisted by a number of other flight instructors. They, like the committee, help run the club and participate in what is essentially their hobby or past-time which is “flying for fun”!
To become a full member, you must complete a simple application form (click here to download the form), the information from which is protected by GDPR. The form requires your full name, address, phone, email and date of birth. If you have previous flight experience or already hold a Licence there is a provision to include such information. If under the age of eighteen, the form must be signed by a parent or guardian who must be at the airfield when such members are flying.
The vouchers include the cost of Temporary Membership in respect of which a Temporary Membership form must be completed before the flight. Details of this form will be provided upon purchase of a voucher.
The minimum age to join LFC is sixteen. Student Pilots may not fly solo until their sixteenth birthday. The minimum age to hold a PPL(A) is seventeen.
For flying members, we have two main categories of membership:
New members joining after 1st March pay a pro-rata amount based on €360 until the year end.
You have the option to pre-pay some of your flights or pay-as-you-go after each flight. We accept VISA/ Mastercard debit and credit cards, cheques or cash. If pre-paying you can do so by EFT or set-up a standing order. We will do a regular reconciliation of your flying account to help you keep track of costs.
The aircraft we operate are in the Light Sports category. There is a maximum load the aircraft can operate with in terms of the pilots and fuel on board. This requires careful juggling under a procedure called Weight and Balance. As a consequence, there are limitations on both weight and height of those who can fly in these aircraft. As a rule of thumb persons weighing more than 90kg are regarded as too heavy to fly in the aircraft. Again, because of the height of the canopy persons taller than about 6 feet 3 or 4 inches would find the cockpit as restrictive and uncomfortable in terms of their height.
From time to time we find that we have to decline people the opportunity to fly because their physique exceeds these limits imposed by the manufacturer of the aircraft so we apologise profusely in advance.
Yes – we have a facility where this can be paid by a monthly standing order of €30 subject to a minimum of twelve payments.
We do not do:
Yes – all of our activities including flight training, flight operations, safety and standards, aircraft maintenance, Introductory Flights and Airfield Licence and Operation are regulated by the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) under the auspices of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
If you have questions about the process of getting a private pilots license please see Learn to Fly .