Can I finish my PPL by the end of Feb?

[vabsie]

Hi

I am currently on 21 hours of which about 3 hours are Solo.

My next flight will be my first Nav excercise with my instructor - already planned a couple of dummy routes so starting to get to grips with the planning side of things.

So far I have only been able to fly on "some" weekends due to work commitments ...

The thing is, I have all of February off due to the fact that I will be leaving the country for a few years. I also still have 6 exams left to do.

I can fly every day in Feb but I clearly understand that this will be weather dependent.

What's your feeling if I may ask? Shall I go for it and try to finish it before I leave the UK? Do you think 1 whole month of flying when the weather allows should be sufficient?

This might be a very difficult question to answer as I understand that it depends on the weather and my ability.

Just after some opinions.

Thanks!

Vabsie

[1800ed]

There is enough time in the month to do the remaining hours. It might be quite a tall order to get them in because you're going to need to fly every day to get it all done. The ground exams will take a fair bit of reading and revision; you might be pushing it a bit much...

[ab33t]

The big question here are all the uncontrollable variables , weather ,tech etc anything is possible if you put your mind to it

[jxc]

Get the exams out of the way asap, then you should be allright . where you training

[vabsie]

Thanks for the replies so far.

jxc - Training at Stapleford .. so far haven't had any delays apart from weather really.

Vabsie

[BackPacker]

If you have all of February off, you might want to consider going to the US. If you start now you should be able to get all the necessary paperwork sorted by Feb 1st, but you're going to have to hurry.

Weather-wise, you're almost guaranteed to finish in time if you to go Florida.

If you do intend to stay in the UK, make sure you have an understanding with your instructor. Get his cellphone number if possible, and try to fly at every available opportunity. If that means hanging around at the school for extended periods of time, so be it.

And use the bad-weather days to get all the ground exams out of the way, pronto.

[BabyBear]

7 weeks to do 6 exams and 24 hours ish. No problem, providing the weather is anything like reasonable.

I would suggest getting as many exams done in Jan as possible leaving you 4 weeks to do the flying.

Consider the US schools doing 0 to ppl in less than 4 weeks, including exams and it gives you an idea.

[L'aviateur]

I was in a situation almost identical to yours a few years ago in winter and managed to complete my PPL in 2 weeks including the skills test at Newcastle, however I had the full support of Neil at NFS and all of the instructors. Because I was determined and didn't have the option of sorting out visas for the USA, I stayed in a B&B nearby and was in from 8am every morning either studying or flying, planning routes, preparing and just getting involved. I did a few more solo hours then required, but found that when I could get an instructor, 30-60 min of circuit bashing practicing the procedures helped a lot.

Winter can be a great time to fly, when you have the calm crisp clear blue sky days, with great visibility (and the unusual feeling when you land at quiet and empty grass airfields), whereas the haze in summer can ruin the fun a little bit.

[Lister Noble]

Well,you've got around 30 hrs to fit in between now and end February,that's a lot of hrs to do in 7 weeks in winter.
You will not get more than 2 hrs per day at a good school in the summer including briefs,de-briefs and breaks,a good school will not let you fly more than that.
Weather permitting of course.
I reckon you need to think of another way.
Good luck
Lister:)

[L'aviateur]

Lister, I don't really agree with your 'opinion'. I feel that 3 or 4 hours in a day, particularly with QXC practices etc is a fairly acceptable figure, particularly once you've already gone solo.

"You will not get more than 2 hrs per day at a good school in the summer" You say this quite matter of fact...

[hatzflyer]

In theory its possible, lots of factors will influence it. I actually did all the flying for mine in 8 days back in '83.
I had previously taken all the exams except air law which I did within the first 4 flying days.
This was in the uk, you don't have to go to the 'states!

I was very lucky, every thing went smoothly.I had already bought a plane ( the instructor didn't know that at the time), which was a taildragger (Jodel1050) and I was being taught on a cessna 150.

I managed to put enough hrs on the jodel with a friend (there was no requirement for differences back then) in between the lessons such that I was competent to fly the jodel from day one of licence issue.
I even managed a couple of loops in an aerobat within the training thanks to a very enthusiastic instructor.

I drove to Kingsway with the paperwork and got my licence over the counter .I flew the jodel solo within 2 weeks of buying it.

Its been a slow downhill spiral ever since!

[Lister Noble]

l'aviateur.
The flying school I learned at would not do more than two lessons a day per pupil.
They are a highly respected and professional school and reckon that is enough work load for a student.
The CFI has been instructing RAF and civil for many,many years,so I reckon he might know what he's talking about.

The ground exams are easier to do,just button down,work hard and do one after the other non stop,should easily get them done before end Feb.

Good luck
Lister:)

[onebounce]

The short answer is yes. As long you get about 7 flyable days and, more importantly, your instructor will support you in your push to complete.

[miket_68]

HI.

I might have missed something.

If you are leaving the country, do you need your JAA PPL(A).

I can only assume you are going somewhere warmer, why would anyone go anywhere colder(if infact there is anywhere colder after this weeks weather).

Save your money and take the PPL where you are moving to, is this a short term move or long term.

Just my 2p's worth

Thanks.

M

[Utfart]

I think you can finish as long as the weather permits. I was in the same position in Sweden a few years ago and finished a PPL in Spain in about 10 days. Flying happily ever since. Miket has an excellent point though. If you'll be living outside JAA Land for "several" years, I would check into going to that place early and finishing up there. Great way to meet new people and settle in and almost certainly cheaper. (if that's a concern). Good Luck!

[The Heff]

You can complete the rest of your flying work within a month, no problem. Its just whether you're prepared for a long day of flying. Of course, it doesn't just stop with the fun part; there is the ground study to do as well.

Just don't squander too much 'downtime' in the clubhouse drinking tea and chatting. Open the books and revise the theory. If you treat your PPL training like an actual job, then a month is plenty of time (even with the weather.)

[Kamran Bhatti]

i am on 70 hours now,Waiting for Cross country qualifing flight since last 3 weeks,

I can see the weather forcast for the january is not any good for student pilots.

To be honestly i would see myself very lucky by having on this stage if i can finish in feburary.

And Pls be ware UK weather takes its toll on our Pockets,Why don,t you think for cab air Requena Spain,Good weather and you may be better off to finsih quick.

[Maoraigh1]

First flight of PPL course T.O. 20.15 on 27/7/64 with Wiltshire Flying School at Thruxton in Jackeroo. Air test successfully completed 19.15 on 21/8/64. Short solo to make up hours (to required 30) landed at 19.45. Sent off forms to CAA.
No previous study, but current on gliding experience.
IT COST £135 INCLUDING FULL BOARD.

[jollyrog]

I booked and did three flights in one day when I was doing my PPL. The CFI said it probably wouldn't be very productive, but I did it anyway.

My brain was mush by about about 10 mins into the third flight and it wasn't very productive.

[Lister Noble]

Exactly my point several post back,and my CFI wouldn't do it.
Lister:)

[BabyBear]

Impossible,

The fact that people are doing it demonstrates this is incorrect!

Lister, likewise 7 weeks to do 25 - 30hrs is entirely doable.

7 weeks x 7 days = 49days x 2hrs = possible 98hrs.

So even allowing for your suggested maximum of 2 hours per day and your suggested 30 hrs, there is a requirement to fly 30% (IE 15 from 49) of the days available.

Now if you consider it is possible and neccessary to fly more than 2 hours per day on some days and that it could be less than 30 hours to completion, it is entirely possible to achieve it.

In my view to simply tell the OP it can't be done is irresponsible.

I know of one individual who, having retired, is flying 3 lessons per day, albeit he does around 3 days per week.

[ak7274]

You could always use Fast Track PPL training. Adam at Great circle do everything.
He Instructs from Full Sutton though and that would need accomodation. At least it would concentrate the mind.
No affiliation...... just same Airfield

[UV]

Im not a betting man, but in this case I would wager anything that you will not complete it in what is the worst winter in some peoples living memory!!

Remember in aviation everything works exactly like the speed squared law (double the speed...4 times the drag)...i.e. all things flying/maintenance take twice as long as you think and cost 4 times as much (or vice versa, works just as well).

Perhaps you will let us know! Anyone for a sweepsteak?
UV

[BabyBear]

Anyone for a sweepsteak?

Interesting thought UV, now if it was me I would maybe take you up on it, but not when it is someone else.

It appears to me that with some posters the limiting factor for them getting it done would be their own attitudes, rather than anything else.

There is a world of a difference between thinking; It can't be done (closed mind and resignation to failure) and; How can it be done? (opens the mind to being creative in finding solutions)

[IO540]

One can, depending on one's age, knock off a PPL at a rate of two 1-hr flights per day, so that makes it about 23 days total.

That assumes OK weather all the way, and living/camping next to the airfield :)

That is how one can do it in Arizona (that's how I did my IR out there) but it's tricky over here. Not impossible; just tricky.

[Lister Noble]

Where I was taught to fly,they then operated 3 days per week,more now.
Even so they would not let me do more than two lessons per day.
I was 2 days after my 63rd birthday when I passed,and it took me 53 hrs.
It is possible to have excellent flying days in the winter,but days are shorter and bad weather more likely.
Don't mistake taking a realistic view with being negative.
Anyway,good luck to the original poster,and please keep us updated on your progress.
Lister:)

[UV]

It appears to me that with some posters the limiting factor for them getting it done would be their own attitudes, rather than anything else

With there being no flying for the last 3 weeks or so, how can you possibly say that! He is asking about doing a minimum of 25 hours ( maybe a lot more) at Stapleford, which is probably shut, in the worst winter on record for 30 years....!

Remeber for the type of flying he is proposing he needs very benign weather to boot.

Anyway, good luck to the OP, but dont build yourself up for completing this in the UK in the timescale.
UV

[vabsie]

Thanks for all the replies - quite a mixed bag of opinions then :)

I will continue flying as I'm not sure when in my life I will have a whole month off again .. progress is progress I suppose even if it means I don't finish it in the UK and besides, it's fun.

Cheers

Vabsie

[AndoniP]

apart from that, if you do earn your ppl, will you be able to fly the required amount of hours per year to keep it going? seeing as you're out of the country and all?

[L'aviateur]

In relation to how many hours that can be done a day, firstly whilst a respected school may have an opinion and a limit, this isn't an ultimate authority, as many other highly respected schools may allow and even encourage more flying including those almost solely dedicated to the ab initio training of commercial pilots.
The considerations you have to make include time available, determination, capability and outside factors such as weather. A younger very capable person 'may' have be able to handle a lot more. As for determination, in this kind of weather, if you are at the airport everday consistently then those occasional few hour slots that open up on the bad days will be usable for you. I completed my PPL in winter, and was on site from sunrise to sunset to ensure that I could utilise all opportunities, but that scenario might not suit everyone.
Completing your PPL may be possible, but you have to consider every aspect.