View Full Version : Hour Building advice
Airlinepilot1687
3rd Dec 2011, 18:40
Im currently building up my hours in the uk based in north west. I passed my PPL earlier in the year and found a lovely little c150 which is a delight to fly. At the moment I have just been finding my feet, taking family and friends up and flying around my local area. I love every second of it but feel I need to begin to push my self to try new things and go new places. Can any one offer me some advice on the types of things I should be doing in order to prepare my self for embarking upon a CPL. I have a night qualification so im thinking it would be wise to use this too as part of my hour building. Any suggestions would be welcome many thanks. :)
I used to get the vouchers out of either flyer or pilot, just to give me somewhere different to go that I wouldn't otherwise of thought of.
Depending on your budget, it would be well work getting an IMC rating. Great experience, makes your hour building easier, and great prep for the CPL/IR
BackPacker
3rd Dec 2011, 19:12
Get as much different experiences under your belt, not just C150 time burning holes in the sky.
IMC, night, aeros, formation, do a European tour, fly at charity events with sick kids, see if you can get some tailwheel time, perhaps some gliding (although gliding may not count towards your CPL).
If only, it will mean that on your first interview you've got something interesting to tell, and a logbook to back up your stories.
Pilot DAR
3rd Dec 2011, 19:45
Indeed, the experience.
Though I don't want to sound unkind, you"ll create a better impression with those who might hire you one day, if you have concentrate on building up experience rather than just hours. It has been wisely said that you can have a thousand hours, or an hour a thousand times.
Fly as many different types as you can, then start to vary the conditions of the flying. Early on, I won favour with owners of more advanced aircraft, by being willing to wash their aircraft. Perhaps your local airport and security environment makes this difficult, but if you can, it's a way to broaden your horizons, flying in types you might not normally get close to...