Officers from Northern Constabulary and the CAA visited the offices of Highland Flying School on Saturday morning, at Inverness Airport, and took photocopies of documents including training schedules and records in connection with maintenance of aircraft, payments and membership.The Inverness Courier exclusively revealed last week that the flying school was under investigation following an allegation of irregularities.

Saturday's visit was pre-arranged with Highland Flying School executives Maggie and Peter Brooks who said they were assisting with the investigations.

"We have nothing to hide," said Mrs Brooks. "I am helping them go through everything."

Highland Flying School, which operates from Highland Aero Club premises, is the service provider to the club and anyone learning to fly with the school must first become a member of the club, with membership fees thought to be around £60.

The investigation is understood to centre on financial dealings between the club and the school.

It is the only flying school north of Dundee and is highly regarded, having gone from strength to strength since it was set up in September 2000.

The school, which also has a base at Stornoway Airport, operates seven aircraft and is one of the busiest flying schools in the United Kingdom with around 100 students learning to fly at any one time.

As well as teaching people toward gaining their private pilot's licence and providing specialist training, the school also operates pleasure flights.

Yesterday, members of the Highland Aero Club said they had no knowledge of what was going on, although some said there had been rumours a former flying school employee may be behind the allegation.

Treasurer David Edes explained the club knew very little about the investigation. "Everything seems to be running as normal," he said.

Documents relevant to the investigation are taken from Highland Flying School at the weekend. Iona Spence

Committee member Bill Falconer added the investigation was a mystery.

"We are worried because we don't know what is going on," he said. "If there has been any wrong-doing, we should know about it, but, to date, there has been no indication of what it is all about."

The club has around 250 members.

A spokesman for Northern Constabulary confirmed police had attended the flying school offices with a view to establishing if any criminal activity had occurred.

The aviation regulator also confirmed it was looking into matters surrounding the flying school, but refused to go into detail other than to state inquiries were at an early stage.

"An investigating officer from the CAA did attend on Saturday," he said.

"It was a pre-arranged visit to check on some paperwork."

h.paterson@inverness-courier.co.uk

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