Help ... I really do want to become a pilot ...
 

Boys and girls ...

I have not had a bigger task in 7 years on these boards ..

My 30 year old, white, female bank manageress wants to become a pilot and she is VERY serious about it.

She would have given the left - well you know what - if she could - so she is very serious about it.

Boys and girls I know all te negativities re racism and reverse racism etc ... but she is female and she is a star and I really want to help her.

Anybody got any suggestions excep to do a PPL for R50k ?

Cheers and thanks in advance !

Gunsss

well now, unfortunetly the best bet would be to get a PPL for R50K. otherwise the other option is microlights which as we all know arent the safest and can only fly in good weather. little bit top much turbulence and u get flipped over like theres no tomorrow.

fixed wing PPL in a cessna152 or something of the sort is the best bet. :ok: :ok:

Ok thanks Rayton .. now ppl she has ( we all know it is easy and should not be a problem).

Now she needs 20 ? 250 hrs to do her cpl.

Where do people get these hours these days ?

I remember in my days we could fly Citation 's as a sandbag and log the hours and charge nothing (of course). How do young people with little money get hours these days ?

Where does SAA fit in (as she is a female - she might stand a chance) ?

Any help appreciated !

Cheers and thanks so far. :ok:

Gunsss

SAA's unofficial (as in now there'll be a bunch of posts telling me how wrong I am and noone in SAA will ever repeat it but believe me..) position is that new junior recruits have to be under 30 or they will not recoup the cost of the training against a 30 year career.

I had to investigate why my '30 plus, ATPL, got the hours, flown all over Africa and Middle East, and passed all 7 interviews' wife did not get in.

Don't shoot me - just the messenger.

Tx for the response goaround7.

This corresponds with a mate (Capt SAA) that I phoned.

He also had the magic number 30 up his sleave.

Ok so whereto next ? :confused:

I dont think there is really a specific short-cut, go out there get her hands dirty, and WORK for what she wants, simple as that, short cuts are costly in the long run, even if its just for the type of treatment short-cutters get from their collegues who worked to be where they are, not to mention the gaping hole in her aviation upbringing.

Take it, leave it.....

Oooowwww
 

It must be Luuuvvvv,

No seriously, I learnt to fly in Capetown when an hour in a C150 was R12:60 an hour and a Piper Apache (Fred's) was R25.00 so I feel desperately for the people trying to start now.

I will only say what I said to my heir apparent,

1) Immerse yourself in every single facet of aviation that is free.

2) Hang out with, drink with, chill out with and learn the language of the industry.
3) Join a club, AS A MEMBER, hover (Don't get rejected by the earth) around Hangars, Aircraft, Pilots, Instructors, ATC people, if you can - the Tower.
4) Want it so bad you can taste it, smell it, feel it and touch it, ache so badly to leave ground at any opportunity, beg for rides as pax or baggage.
5) Write the exams - study like it's the only way you are going to get off the ground.
6) Get a friend who is close to a simulator, any simulator, beg.

7) Only take a job which is directly related to what you ultimately want to be, a bank manager will take years to earn enough to pay for it so find an in.

8) Don't let anyone shake your faith in YOU and your abilities.

Finally, listen for the spoken and unspoken opportunity, the increased interest in what you want to be, focus in on it and raise the stakes.

People get sponsored, even today, people are helped, and bank managers can make it.

- and when you have done everything that you can, keep on doing it because you will always wonder what you missed.

- and just maybe you will live the dream!

Imagegear

Thanks for the reply I Rest in Peace in Kabul ;)

Imagegear - a wonderful post - many thanks.

I have tried to encourage her in my own words but I think this will take the cake.

PS: I think we are of the same age category as I cycled to Wonderboom to do my ppl. R10 per hour and R5 for the instructor.

My dad had very limited funds but he had enough for me to do anything I would like ( I never knew it was only R1k). I remember he said I can buy the best broom if I want to clean the streets of Pretoria ... I was 15 and only went solo on my 16th birthday.

His greatest surprise was when he got R400.00 back from DCA / Goverment as a state sponsorship of some kind ?

Thanks Dad :ok:

Gunzz, possibly
 

I did my PPL at GHFC with Kucki and an ex-RRAF Instructor in 1975 at 28. Then I went to Rand to carry on, will have to get the old log book out.

Imagegear

Eischh that was nearly the same time.

Rudi von Brauershaven was my instructor and then an ex SAAF Bucanneer driver. (names to be looked up in the civvy logbook).

Eischh those where the days .. hopefully I can make this young lady just as happy :ok:

Make 'em happy
 

Gunsss, Im pretty damn sure you could make this lady just as happy....

" Now you hold the joystick with your right hand.........not too tight, but enough to be able to steer this machine to its destination.......aaahhh, thats right, well done. Now that we got your grip sorted out, lets start by gently moving the joystick back....notice what happens to the attitude....move it forward again, and see the corresponding change.....well done, now continue practising that a few times. BOOM..... well that concludes our first lesson...... I hope you notice how the motion of the joystick, affects the attitude of the machine....."

See, easy.....:ok:

Hey IRP I see it is a tad lonely in Kabul ... lift the veil my man ... it will help :E

Gunns

The flying school where your son did his PPL sometimes and i mean sometimes runs a cadet scheme, suggest she gets her PPL and then speak to the owner, think he offered it to your son if im not mistaken, however she should be very prepared to work hard for not much else and then when she is done have to pay back the hours but if she wants it bad enough she can do it that way.

Only way us poor pepole can do it, there are a few other schools that also offer that type of thing no more flying citations for hour building, wish i could do that and i have a comm and a job!!!

Goodluck! :ok:

Tx Sky Waiter ... just had a call from the said gentleman.

It is a small world and we might just make a plan for her :ok:

Take care out there.

PS: My son is second year "Building Construction and Management" and after that if he is still interested (and at this stage he IS) - his flying carreer will go ahead again.

At least he has something else behind him (not like his dad with a car licence) ;)

Hi ImageGear
Good post, classic advice for the desperate wannabe - I have to agree with Gunns!
Maybe we know each other as I did my PPL at GHFC at the end of '75 with Mitch Stirling & Kenny van Niekerk. Did my test with the redoubtable Ron Turton. As for Kucki - I remember her well, when I got my PPL she let me get some twin experience sitting up front with her on Namaqualand Lugdiens when I travelled as SLC!
Isn't a small world aviation? Miss flying in Africa, but not the baggage it comes with now.
Porridge

Oh Oh, Lumbered - Porridge
 

Right on both counts - Mitch Sterling, great guy, dunno if he's still around and the redoubtable Ron (but very fair) Turton for me also.

I remember toting a certain gentleman halfway around the Western Cape, on a "Nav Test" with his lady friend. I logged just short of 4 hours in ZS-GHF, mostly at FL90.

On a triangle to Sutherland, all the way across to somewhere near George and back to FACT. It was a hell of a cross-country and more like a joy ride for the "Examiner".

Did you know Kucki is married and living in Seattle ?. Very active with a radio station if the web is anything to go by.

She moved across to Namaqualand Lugdiens shortly before I left the Cape.

Sorry to reminise Gunzz but the very best of times.

Imagegear.