Originally Posted by
BEagle
Huh? The NST must be flown before the NPPL QX-C; the GST may not be flown until all other NPPL training requirements have been completed, including the NST and QX-C.
Sorry - I wasn't clear - that's what I was trying to say.
I was trying to point out that if you were doing a PPL course, and you did the QXC, that QXC wouldn't count towards an NPPL as you hadn't done the Navigation Skill test.
So if you plan on keeping your options open as long as possible, you might be better to do all the NPPL paperwork, do the NST, get a Class 2 medical, do a longer cross country, then decide nearer the end if you want to do some extra for the PPL (probably minimal additional training) or stay with the NPPL.
I'm a PPL student with only experience of the EASA/JAR-PPL so your knowledge of this at a practical level (actually - in pretty much all levels!) is much greater than mine so I'm sure the OP would welcome your advice in how to keep their options open.
On the Instrument Flying, my school did with me a bit over an hour of instrument appreciation (including a practice SRA thanks to Prestwick ATC which was great fun but very hard work!) with me. My instructor said they always do at least an hour, hence my comment that for practical purposes, the same amount of IF training is likely on either route. I have no idea how widespread that is.