Advice on flying whilst at University

[Rusty Cessna]

Hi there folks,

I'm looking for advice on the best way to go about continuing my flying whilst studying for my degree. I'm worried that the student lifestyle is going to dramatically interfere with flying in general, keeping current, and progressing with training.

I am aware that the costs of living whilst at university, and the costs of transport etc can make life difficult at uni, so would anyone care to offer advice on how to go about keeping the hours up, and the progress rolling whilst at uni.

Do you think that flying from a club would be a better option that possibly getting a share in something? Unfortunately it looks like I'm going to have to do this on my own, which isn't a problem, I will get round it somehow, im not about to let my shiney new PPL gather dust!

Many thanks,. .Rusty.

[I have control]

You may find there is a flying or gliding club already established at your university.

[Daifly]

Hi Rusty,

Although it's 8 years since I was in the same boat as you, I can remember dedicating more time to working out how to pay for my flying than my halls bill and food (but not drink of course!)

Firstly there is the obvious one, the UAS (University Air Squadron). Getting in is hard and it depends where you go to Uni too. I went to a Polyversity in the South West which meant that my local UAS was Bristol (based just outside Bath at Colerne) and, with no car, it meant a 2 hour (on a very good day) train trip each way and having to go up the night before. Perhaps my dedication to flying therefore was suspect? Nope, cos I got a job (which nearly ended up full-time in parallel with my course) at a flying school.

Although the pay wasn't that good (15 mins flying for every day worked if I remember rightly) it did mean that I got to fly for an hour every other week, and being at the flying school meant that I got to sit in the right hand seat with PPLs just hour building - and getting on maintenance positioning flights and stuff.

The one thing about Uni is that you have a continuous source of people who want to go flying - think about how many people you meet each day, whether they're your best mates or just on the same course, and you can always fill a spare seat (then it was only £10 for half an hour!) Combined with the flying time I was earning I was averaging about 2.5 hours a month - not great, but it kept my licence current.

The minute I started work after I graduated though my licence lapsed - I don't really subscribe to the "poor student" thing as a result! (Or is it that I'm still paying off my debts now 5 years later!?!)

So, two options, UAS or work for it (and utilise all those students with loads of money in their first grant cheque! (Do people still get grant cheques, or is Tony using it to pay for his (albeit B777) flying?!)

Good luck though, make the most of it. I have to get up in the morning at 6:30 for work - for three years (94-97) I thought there was only one 6.30 in the day, and it was the one when the pubs were open).

Dai.

[Spacer]

I'm in a UAS in Scotland, and its a great laugh. I would reccomend it to anyone thinking of joining the RAF. But don't be disillusioned. You need to be thinking of joining the RAF, and not using it for a free flying club, or you won't be around for long. You might have been able to get away with it in the past, but in these current days of budget cuts and over-budgets...

[Hersham Boy]

Rusty - if you think you are going to be sober enough to consider flying for the next three years you clearly aren't taking the prospect of university seriously :)

Hersh

[DVR6K]

Hi Rusty,

Well, I'm currently in my 3rd year at Exeter uni and have managed to stay current down here. Exeter is blessed with a not too busy, but big, airport, and the best scenery in the south of england.

It's bloody expensive though.

Barclays have been quite good to me and my overdraft covers a bit of flying as well as my extreme drinking and socialising (p1ss ups) so I kinda get by ok. If I can't afford to fly, I whack it on the credit card and worry about it another time. Students always get away with it so don't worry about that side of things!

Plus, there's a mate here who is a keen flyer and we both go up and potter down to Plymouth or something and split the cost. Easy.

Find an airfield, get a plane, go and have fun, and get in debt. Problem solved.

DVR6K

[Rusty Cessna]

DVR6K,

Know Exeter well, I fly from Plymouth so I've been in to TE quite a lot when training, how often do you come down, and in what, might have seen you!

Spacer, I do intend on applying for the UAS, and I do have a strong interest in the RAF, I have also done a flying scholarship, so hopefully I might be able to join what looks like an excellent set up.

Thanks for all posts, . .Rusty.

[FNG]

Rusty, if you can earn, beg or borrow a smallish lump sum, it might be worth bunging it in to a low cost share in something fun like a a Cub, Jodel etc which is not likely to need a new engine, spar or whatever within the next few years. You ought to be able to shift the share to an hour builder later on if you want to get something snazzier when you can afford to.

For instance, I saw an ad at North Weald yesteday for a cheap share deal on a Pup 100 (Tiger_Moth, if you are reading this, that's not far from you in Cambridge and the Pup is aerobatic, well, sort of). There will doubtless be similar at airfields around and about.

The guy that taught me got his PPL whilst at university, and was sufficiently experienced by the end of his degree to get his instructor ticket shortly after he left university. He claims that none of this interfered with his insane drinking, or getting a decent 2.1, and I am inclined to believe him. Of course if you can get into ther UAS, all will be be fabulous, although I gather that it's not as fabulous as it was a few years ago when you might get 30-40 free Bulldog hours a year.

[Rusty Cessna]

FNG,

Thanks for the help, I was actually thinking about a low cost share, but dont know the first thing about it, also, did your friend have much financial support from his parents? I was hoping to advance my training as much as possible through uni, but am going to have to do it on my own, which again, is no great hardship, I'll find a way. How would I go about investigating and subsequently buying a share, what kind of types do you think are available, upside downy stuff always nice! <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

Many thanks, . .Rusty.

[FNG]

Rusty, if your university is within a reasonable distance of an active flying club, the notice board should feature a few shares going from time to time, particularly in types operated on Permits. Relatively inexpensive shares may also be seen advertised in the PFA magazine or on the PFA website. The thing to check on, through talking to group members, asking local PFA people, etc. is whether or not the inexpensive aircraft has been looked after on too much of the cheap, as may sometimes happen. If it has, you probably don't want to get involved. There are, however, a reasonable number of honest, well maintained Cubs, Jodels, Condors, Aircampers etc. around, as well as the various single seaters (Lutons, Nippers, that sort of thing). The capital outlay required may be sufficiently low that a few years on you need not greatly worry about whether or not you can recover your share price. There's always the microlight world, although I know little about that.

The friend I mentioned was lucky in blagging his way into a certain amount of inexpensive or even free flying through contacts in the Tiger Club and other organisations. That was in the 80s, and there is probably less of that available now, but a bit of schmoozing around the local grassroots flying community might still reveal some opportunities.

Where will you be studying?

[Right Stuff]

Just to chuck in a bit more about UAS's - As stated earlier, if you are not serious about joining the RAF my advice would be to stay out. It is an enormous commitment socially as well as on the flying side. I also think it is worth remembering that it is a very different style of flying - demanding, hard work and certainly not for your enjoyment. It is taxpayers money after all!

[BozoUK]

Rusty,

Wasn't too sure from your message if you are at Uni in the Exeter/Plymouth area?

If so, I know of a sixth share available in a C150 based at Exeter - not the most equipped aircraft, but does the job, I flew to St Mawgan in it last week. It's on Public Cat and is being used for contiued training by it's group.

Give me an email if interested.

Nigel

[Rusty Cessna]

BozoUK,

I'm not at UNI in Plymouth, it's where I fly from though.My choices for study at UNI are London, York and Manchester.

Many thanks,. .Rusty.

[ 24 February 2002: Message edited by: Rusty Cessna ]</p>