Hi guys,
ive had a change of mind to the way i will go about my PPL exams. im thinking of starting my PPL next month, and that gives me 14 months before i can take the exams. my mum and dad are more comfortable with me doing it this way as opposed to doing a crash course at OBA when im 17. The school im probably going to do my taining at is Alouette flying club, there lessons are also £120 an hour. Does anyone have any advice or tips for me.:ok:

thanks
callum

The thing with doing a PPL in the UK is that it'll take far, far longer.

I was in the same position as you a few years back, and opted for OBA. The weather and frequency of getting to Biggin Hill were two factors that would really slow progress...in fact, you can't even use public transport to get to Alouette because it's a mile in the depths of the airfield! ClassAir, next door, is also very good. Great instructing and lots of experience.

I ended up doing 4 written exams at Biggin Hill, and the flying and 3 exams in America. Whilst the intensive training is tiring, it's a great experience and a sound way (financially and educationally) to learn to fly.

99jolegg:

the kid is only 15, where would he get all the money at that age to fund a trip to america!!!!!!

Go of an enjoy doing your ppl, it doesnt really matter where you do your ppl, you get the same lciense from the CAA at the end of it!!!!!

Callum,

I did my PPL with Surrey & Kent but I've heard plenty of good things about Alouette. I'd recommend either, from what I hear they're a good deal better than the larger establishments near the entrance!:ok:

I agree with Celtic Pilot, enjoy doing your PPL over here and learn to fly in less than perfect viz. It can be frustrating being told you can't have a lesson but as you gain experience it will give you an appreciation for why there are VMC minima.

Best of luck.

I think the RT experience you'll get on these small crowded isles will stand you in good stead in the future. Likewise, learning to fly safely in some of the busiest skies around will also confer benefits.

I'm not sure of this, never having been there, but I think in the wide-open sunny skies of Florida there isn't much scope or need to talk to anyone or keep out of the way of other planes, so coming back is a culture shock!

I suppose it all depends on how you view the PPL. As the first step on the road to ATPL, and nothing more, it might make more sense to go at it and get it out of the way.

Good luck.

yeah thanks guys.
i was talking to one of the f/i at biggin and he said when he did his ppl in florida they dont concentrate on weather and traffic issues that you would expect in the uk e.g crosswind and vis.

thanks
callum

Similar position to you five years ago when I was 15, deciding where to go and what to do. In the end I opted for OBA when I was 17 in the Summer holidays between AS and A levels, just because it was so much cheaper (although prices were about half the price they are now). Paid for it by being a hot chickeneer at Tesco. I say hot chicken, it was more luke warm with a lovely greasy sheen - ahhh such happy memories. I was more interested in getting it done quick, which is why OBA won out to my local airfield.

Anyway - did PPL and IMC in five weeks. Weather is not always perfect - very bumpy in the afternoons, and vis is usually between 3 - 8 miles in haze, so don't think it is brilliant flying conditions. Plus if you go out in the Summer holidays there will be a spattering of similarly aged people out there at the same time so it's a good laugh and life experience. The intensive part of it is not all that hard, just start studying for the exams before you go and you'll be fine. My full review is here (http://www.profpilot.co.uk/obaarticle.html).

Saying all that - I know people who have managed to do PPL in similar sort of timescale over here in the Summer, plus you get more used to UK procedures and airspace. Also, I'm not sure how much cheaper it would work out to be now with the higher prices when you factor in flights and living costs (although Tesco is alot more expensive than WalMart. And it doesn't have guns.)

JohnRayner: Around Ormond you need to speak alot (towered airport, plus it is under the shelf of Daytona Class C), but when on your cross countries it is as busy as you make it to be. You can choose to get flight following and be busy, (as you are instructed to by OBA) especially if you are flying up and down the coast, but some people ignore this and just fly on quietly. The airspace in Florida is the busiest I have ever flown in, at times just on a cross country you can have three or four other aircraft in sight all GA (hence the strong nudge towards getting flight following). Ormond is a very busy airport and with Embry Riddle, OBA, and Sunrise all doing circuits at the same time I have been number seven for landing before now. Essentially that whole waffle could probably be boiled down to: yes it is quite busy.

Whatever you choose - you'll have fun! Good luck!:ok:

I would recommend doing your training in the UK also. If you ever want to go commercial in later years it would be good to say you have all your flight experience and RT knowledge from the UK rather than the US where the flying is very different.

Best of luck with it, you will have a ball!

Hi there, I am also looking at starting my PPL in about 3-4 month' time - though i realise that coincides horribly with the nights coming in. So i am considering what's the best way to go about it.

How long do you think it would take to complete with flying at the weekend if I were to do it in the UK? Is 3 hours on average at the weekend realistic? The nearest school to me in the UK is Denham, I have considered going to America but it seems it would be difficult to get the time off work to do it all in one stint. I am not necessarily in a hurry to get it done, though obviously i think you need to be flying frequently enough to actually progress.

Any input would be welcome, thanks.

Callum,
I'm now 17 and I have been flying since my 14th birthday. I am now about to take my IMC test and have done all my training (apart from the first 10 hours) with a small flying club rather than commercial school. I have found that the instructors at the smaller schools are far more experienced pilots. All of the f/i's are hugely dedicated and are far more friendly. Also there is a lot more of support to be had from clubs.
My advice to you is to keep it as local as you can, and sit down with the f/i and work out a program of lessons that suits you. try and solo on your 16th birthday if you can. I did and it's such a fantastic experience and it's also a target that you can work towards. I would also advise that you look at getting Airlaw out of the way as soon as possible.

all the best.
jon

Hi
I was in the same predicament as your self about America and UK. I chose the UK and it took me close to a year to complete. Looking back on it how I could have done 7 written exams and all the flying in 3 weeks I dont know.
I think taking your time and enjoying it getting used to the UK conditions is the best way.
I do know lots of people who are even airline pilots who have done even their commerical in Florida though so arguments are for and against.

I personally view it as I wouldn't learn to drive in the USA and then come back to the UK to drive as things are different.

Also watch this space as EASA (new agency to controll aviation in Europe) has said that it doesn't want any training to be done outside of Europe.

Evert day's a schoolday. Thank you very much!

:ok:

As waiterpiliot says, the airspace around Daytona can be a hornets' nest.

G-BFUN, care to post a source for your report on EASA?

Rj111:

How long do you think it would take to complete with flying at the weekend if I were to do it in the UK?

That all depends on availability, weather, etc. A guy at my local club (a big regional club) has managed to do 4 hours in 4 months...doesn't sound great, although the beautiful summer weather probably didn't help him much.

European pilot training industry 'heads for paralysis' (http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/07/10/225169/european-pilot-training-industry-heads-for-paralysis.html)

Ian:cool:

Well I would suggest that you wait till you are old enough to sit for a Private Pilot Check ride. In the States its 17 you can be a student pilot at 16. As a long time Flight Instructor, I have a general rule, I will not give instruction to anyone under 17 simple as that. Now there is no reason why you can't be saving up money. I would get a job at the local airport, that is if they let you do that sort of thing in the UK and be a hanger gopher. I washed a lot of aircraft in my day. As for the 120 lbs an hour, golly that is a lot of money, 207 USD at the current exchange rate. At the rock gut min, here in the states at that rate you are looking at a min of 8280 just for the fight time. I don't know what the averaged time to certification in the UK, here in the states its running around 70 hours or so. I think You are looking at spending a lot of money.

The best advice is to do your training in the UK at no more than one school and that includes ATPL. Take your time. I also started flying when I was 15, and as I've always wanted to be a pilot.. I decided that I'll go for it. Don't rush your training it won't help. Stay at school, work part time or full time if you want to leave school, you'll gain new experience and save up money for your training, and then everything will fall into place somehow. It won't be easy, I can promise you that :E but if you really want it, it'll work out.


Good luck and happy landings :ok:

The best advice is to do your training in the UK at no more than one school and that includes ATPL
When you say "ATPL" do you mean ATPL exams (not the same at the licence!!) or CPL flying training.

Whilst it's probably not a good idea to chop and change between schools, there is no harm in two or even three schools for different elements i.e. PPL at school 1, CPL at school 2, IR etc at school 3. There are very few schools that offer all ratings and licences and even fewer who do the groundschool element!

Cheers

Whirls

George Semel Wrote:
As a long time Flight Instructor, I have a general rule, I will not give instruction to anyone under 17 simple as that

Can i ask why this is?

Whirls, yes. I meant the ATPL exams, I should have been more specific. I agree that there's not that many schools who offer all the courses. I choosed a different school because of that.. even though its about 100km away :8 and it takes me a long time to get there.

Also, he lives in London, so there are chances that he will find a school that does it all :E

Edit!


" As a long time Flight Instructor, I have a general rule, I will not give instruction to anyone under 17 simple as that "

Why :confused: ?

the kid is only 15, where would he get all the money at that age to fund a trip to america!!!!!!

Doing a JAA PPL in the US is generally cheaper or same price as in europe INCLUDING travel, food and accommodation, VISA etc. And with UK flying prices I would definitely say cheaper. I did my training at OBA and I can highly recommend it to any mature and motivated individual (Immature and unmotivated PPL students, stay way).

And who says HE is going to fund the trip? :)

Duffer2007, I am aware of the general background and was querying G-BFUN's post "EASA ... has said that it doesn't want any training to be done outside of Europe". Such a statement is so patently absurd that I doubt very much whether EASA has said anything like it.

Im doing the majority of the funding as im getting a weekend job. the only thing that i asked my parents for is the starter pack and a headseat. my parents have offered to pay but i declined.

It is my recommendation that you get your PPL in the UK, at the airport that you can get to the easiest and quickest way. Over the course of a PPL you are at the airport as much as you can, doing ground school, waiting for weather, flying, learning, chatting, etc. I was probably up at the airport (Biggin Hill) between four and five days a week, not all day, but after work (early shift), before work (late shift), lunchtime (long lunch!!) and on days off and weekends. Evenings were spent at lectures, or teaching sessions, or just chatting to more experienced students. I completed my ppl in 4 months, at about 52 hours. This included a couple of club trips which were great experiences and hour built!

I did all my exams at a ground school separate from the flying instruction school, that was the way I prefered it. Not all instructors have time to coach you through the exams, so a separate ground school meant that I got the max out of both schools.

If you go to the US and get your PPL, you will have to do at least 5 or more hours here to get to learn the UK weather plus the local area knowledge of the airport you will probably fly out of once you have your PPL. What is the point of having to re learn all this? Oh and you will still need the US RT taught out of you!

Also, if you learn in the UK you can make friends with guys in similar situations as you and buddy up not only for the learning but also after for the flying to Le Touquet and beyond.

Good luck, it is hard work but very rewarding.