New PPL's who never fly again
One version of that story (PPL and never again) will go along the lines of the applicant trying to fulfil his "life long dream" with a resigned wife tolerating the training in an "if you must" attitude with the clear idea that the same guy who can't hang up a picture straight or fix the broken toilet flush at home will anyway never graduate.
Then he does... shock, horror. And she will go and fly with him after having nervous breakdowns each time they fly airline to the canaries and come back down a nervous wreck, doing a JP II on the tarmac and voting with her refound feet never on the pain of death coming close again to one of these infernal machines. Followed by nagging on cost, "time you could spend with me", e.t.c and that was it...
Seen it in variants, over and over again. So before folks should start spending serious cash on flight instruction, a good idea will be to get their partners on board, possible organize a flight with friends or other people to see if once they have their ticket, they will share the passion. If not, walk away (either from flying or....)
I'm lucky that I never had this problem in my life. My former relationship got into flying herself eventually, my wife enjoys our plane and even my mother enjoyed the few times she flew with my then ride (C150).
On the personal side, getting the PPL should be a means to an end, not an end to the means. Getting a license for the sake of that, well, the result is predictable. Getting it in order to fly, to travel, to do things, they may look differently.
Then he does... shock, horror. And she will go and fly with him after having nervous breakdowns each time they fly airline to the canaries and come back down a nervous wreck, doing a JP II on the tarmac and voting with her refound feet never on the pain of death coming close again to one of these infernal machines. Followed by nagging on cost, "time you could spend with me", e.t.c and that was it...
Seen it in variants, over and over again. So before folks should start spending serious cash on flight instruction, a good idea will be to get their partners on board, possible organize a flight with friends or other people to see if once they have their ticket, they will share the passion. If not, walk away (either from flying or....)
I'm lucky that I never had this problem in my life. My former relationship got into flying herself eventually, my wife enjoys our plane and even my mother enjoyed the few times she flew with my then ride (C150).
On the personal side, getting the PPL should be a means to an end, not an end to the means. Getting a license for the sake of that, well, the result is predictable. Getting it in order to fly, to travel, to do things, they may look differently.
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There is little logical about spending £hundreds of pounds on a morning to risk your life in a battered 30 year old spamcam, waiting hours for the weather to be suitable, and following checklists that the un-initiated would think would be excessive for space flight.
And then you take off!!
And then you take off!!
The thought of quitting after I got my PPL never occurred to me, and even now I find it incredulous that someone would pour a significant portion of their time, effort and money into such a venture only to walk away. I see flying as part of who I am, and while I know there will come a day when I will have to surrender my medical I will still fly (with an instructor next to me) until I cannot get into the aircraft any more.
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Something I've not seen referred to here is the very high probability of getting shouted at as a low time PPL flying in UK. I'd say that a single event of this type chokes off quite a lot of new PPL's who never come back as a direct result. My evidence is as follows:
a) It's perfectly possible as a high time PPL in UK to get shouted at, so heaven help the low timers!
b) Shouting at PPL's is a UK national trait that can be seen and heard clearly, not just at airfields, but on the radio and on this and other forums***.
My personal solution to this negative mentality, the high costs and the suffocating bureaucracy was to start flying in the States once I had a PPL and about 60 Hrs. Without this, I would probably have given up as well. With it, I had no trouble keeping current each year in an environment that was hassle free, exciting and capable of limitless reward. That's why I still do it, more than 30 yrs later.
*** by "shouting at" I'm referring to all the kinds of intimidation that is dished out to PPL's by instructors, ATC, FISO's and various assorted airfield hangers on, all too often in front of the poor sop's passengers. Just look at the endless cases of 'infringements' every month in the UK where the pilot should have been helped by a flight following service, not reported to the authorities.
a) It's perfectly possible as a high time PPL in UK to get shouted at, so heaven help the low timers!
b) Shouting at PPL's is a UK national trait that can be seen and heard clearly, not just at airfields, but on the radio and on this and other forums***.
My personal solution to this negative mentality, the high costs and the suffocating bureaucracy was to start flying in the States once I had a PPL and about 60 Hrs. Without this, I would probably have given up as well. With it, I had no trouble keeping current each year in an environment that was hassle free, exciting and capable of limitless reward. That's why I still do it, more than 30 yrs later.
*** by "shouting at" I'm referring to all the kinds of intimidation that is dished out to PPL's by instructors, ATC, FISO's and various assorted airfield hangers on, all too often in front of the poor sop's passengers. Just look at the endless cases of 'infringements' every month in the UK where the pilot should have been helped by a flight following service, not reported to the authorities.
Something I've not seen referred to here is the very high probability of getting shouted at as a low time PPL flying in UK.
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I am more than happy to take feedback, from anyone, but if someone starts shouting, or being rude they will get more than they bargain for. I may be a novice pilot but I am not a novice person 
Simon
Simon
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Something I've not seen referred to here is the very high probability of getting shouted at as a low time PPL flying in UK. I'd say that a single event of this type chokes off quite a lot of new PPL's who never come back as a direct result. My evidence is as follows:
a) It's perfectly possible as a high time PPL in UK to get shouted at, so heaven help the low timers!
b) Shouting at PPL's is a UK national trait that can be seen and heard clearly, not just at airfields, but on the radio and on this and other forums***.
My personal solution to this negative mentality, the high costs and the suffocating bureaucracy was to start flying in the States once I had a PPL and about 60 Hrs. Without this, I would probably have given up as well. With it, I had no trouble keeping current each year in an environment that was hassle free, exciting and capable of limitless reward. That's why I still do it, more than 30 yrs later.
*** by "shouting at" I'm referring to all the kinds of intimidation that is dished out to PPL's by instructors, ATC, FISO's and various assorted airfield hangers on, all too often in front of the poor sop's passengers. Just look at the endless cases of 'infringements' every month in the UK where the pilot should have been helped by a flight following service, not reported to the authorities.
a) It's perfectly possible as a high time PPL in UK to get shouted at, so heaven help the low timers!
b) Shouting at PPL's is a UK national trait that can be seen and heard clearly, not just at airfields, but on the radio and on this and other forums***.
My personal solution to this negative mentality, the high costs and the suffocating bureaucracy was to start flying in the States once I had a PPL and about 60 Hrs. Without this, I would probably have given up as well. With it, I had no trouble keeping current each year in an environment that was hassle free, exciting and capable of limitless reward. That's why I still do it, more than 30 yrs later.
*** by "shouting at" I'm referring to all the kinds of intimidation that is dished out to PPL's by instructors, ATC, FISO's and various assorted airfield hangers on, all too often in front of the poor sop's passengers. Just look at the endless cases of 'infringements' every month in the UK where the pilot should have been helped by a flight following service, not reported to the authorities.
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'Which one is on duty today, the nice one or the grumpy one?'
Case in point: back in year 2000, a C-172 crashed and burnt on takeoff from our airfield, killing 3 and seriously injuring 1 person. The AFIS was provided by the glider operations in progress that day, and the person on duty was a grumpy one. He shouted twice at the low time pilot preparing for his takeoff, first when the pilot wanted to take off opposite to the glider winching direction due to recent change in wind direction. Second time the AFIS shouted at the pilot when he was in the middle of his take-off checklist, testing the flaps. The grumpy voice was asking why was he such a turtle, and urging him to hurry up now and start the take-off roll immediately, due to incoming gliders that want to land soon.
The effect was predictable, the poor guy took off in a rush, with flaps forgotten in landing position, against a slightly rising terrain. He didn't have the experience to realize this and solve it somehow, even with a controlled crash landing ahead. Instead the landing flaps were retracted in one go and the aircraft entered a low-level turn, stalling and falling from about 30 meters.
This was a sober reminder to us, that safety is first, angry shouting to be ignored at all times, and if necessary, handled after landing with a phone call or a personal visit.
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They only shout at you because you're flying and they ain't. It's perfectly understandable.
On a more serious note, just ignore them or come up with a pithy reply. There is a well known club in a flat bit of the country that has an air to ground guy of superb ill temper. I was inbound once and and gave 'G*** inbound request airfield info.' To which I got the usual garbled
'You are unintelligable', this from a guy that gives mumblers a bad name.
My immediate reply,
'Does your life have any purpose?'
'G*** say again?'
'G*** downwind to land'
On a more serious note, just ignore them or come up with a pithy reply. There is a well known club in a flat bit of the country that has an air to ground guy of superb ill temper. I was inbound once and and gave 'G*** inbound request airfield info.' To which I got the usual garbled
'You are unintelligable', this from a guy that gives mumblers a bad name.
My immediate reply,
'Does your life have any purpose?'
'G*** say again?'
'G*** downwind to land'
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So I'm a current PPL student. Dabbled a bit 10 years ago after being made redundant and getting a chunk of cash. Thought of training full time for CPL and flying as a change in career, but chose to carry on with existing career to get to a point where I enjoy it as a hobby. Fast forward to now - everything has come together very nicely and I have the money and the time to do just that.
I am now loving every minute, having recently restarted. Whilst I cannot for one minute imagine getting my licence and then stopping, I am perfectly accepting of the fact that at some point it may no longer grab my interest and I may well get to the point where I have satisfied my lust for learning a new skill. If so, I have no problem in that whatsoever, but as I say, right now, I cannot imagine that happening. Every time I think I can't get more excited by the whole experience, it just gets better and better.
I am now loving every minute, having recently restarted. Whilst I cannot for one minute imagine getting my licence and then stopping, I am perfectly accepting of the fact that at some point it may no longer grab my interest and I may well get to the point where I have satisfied my lust for learning a new skill. If so, I have no problem in that whatsoever, but as I say, right now, I cannot imagine that happening. Every time I think I can't get more excited by the whole experience, it just gets better and better.
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It could have been me but for a Minimax I could afford. Next month it is all mine and the summer beckons. No range, no speed, no passengers but SSDR and a pretty thing that flies. A small aeroplane can cost as little as a ten year old sports car or a year's membership of a golf club so if you can handle the fear, you can do it.
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New Lease Of Life
So, I see where you're coming from and having done my PPL here in Perth some 15-20 years ago I flew around the local areas out of Jandakot with friends and family. Did trips over to Rottnest Island and enjoyed interacting with ATC to fly into Perth Airspace for views over the city. I even flew up and down the coast to Bussleton and Dongara/ Geraldton.
As time went by I still enjoyed the flying but found I was going less and less frequently until latter years really only flew 1 or 2 times a year. At this point and with the ever increasing prices and also with my less frequent flying leading to less confidence in the busy area that we are in I finally didn't bother at all.
In the early days I always wanted to Instruct just for the pleasure of instructing but could not justify the CPL and Instructor Course costs that I would have incurred on top of the PPL and so didn't peruse it.
Skip forward and now I have converted to a far more cost effective form of flying? It is both challenging and fun and also allows me to not only own my own aircraft but take it and fly it just about anywhere on a trailer... Yes Microlighting (flexwing). On top of this I am now embarking on gaining hours and experience to get an Instructors rating and get involved in promoting this affordable and fun form of aviation.
Don't get me wrong, flying GA was fun too but I can justify my Microlights easier
As time went by I still enjoyed the flying but found I was going less and less frequently until latter years really only flew 1 or 2 times a year. At this point and with the ever increasing prices and also with my less frequent flying leading to less confidence in the busy area that we are in I finally didn't bother at all.
In the early days I always wanted to Instruct just for the pleasure of instructing but could not justify the CPL and Instructor Course costs that I would have incurred on top of the PPL and so didn't peruse it.
Skip forward and now I have converted to a far more cost effective form of flying? It is both challenging and fun and also allows me to not only own my own aircraft but take it and fly it just about anywhere on a trailer... Yes Microlighting (flexwing). On top of this I am now embarking on gaining hours and experience to get an Instructors rating and get involved in promoting this affordable and fun form of aviation.
Don't get me wrong, flying GA was fun too but I can justify my Microlights easier
Local club down this way encourages the new , or not so new pilots ; by having a '' flying buddys '' page on 't web . To intro like minded people to encourage each other to get airborne with a buddy . Likewise 2 new guys have today formed a group and bought a less ''expensive'' a/c .
The link to the LAA can encourage , interesting flying .....
Welcome to the Light Aircraft Association
'' Blue side up ''
condor .
The link to the LAA can encourage , interesting flying .....
Welcome to the Light Aircraft Association
'' Blue side up ''
condor .
