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BatteriesNotIncluded
8th Apr 2016, 18:20
For the past two years I’ve been very seriously considering, finally, to pursue a PPL.

I’ve forever and a day been interested in aviation, so much so that it was locked in as a career choice for the first 15 years of my life. For reasons that have since evaporated with time, the other passion in my life took over: film (which is now my profession, one that has coincidently funded my PPL!)

At the start of this year, 2016, it was time to start the search for a flight school. I had a 5 week gap coming up in my otherwise full-on schedule, and I wanted to train 5-6 days a week. I live in West London so I naturally started looking at schools and training programs within my vicinity, including Denham Aerodrome, Fairoaks, West London Aero Club and the further afield Stapleford. All of which were good, but all were slightly more expensive than I’d hoped (I needed and wanted the PA28 as I’m not the smallest of frames at 6ft2). Some were very responsive to the idea of a tailored program, given that I’d be training so intensely, others were a simple and standard “pay as you fly” deal.
Then came in the idea of looking in Bristol. I grew up in the South West and the family home is just some 20 miles south from there. The most prominent I found, Bristol and Wessex, came very highly rated, had a long lineage and a great fleet and facilities. It took a matter of two days to have a blisteringly great deal and membership squared away, thanks to Nick - their marketing consultant and fellow pilot. A week later, I was in Somerset so I had the chance to see everything in person and meet the lovely owner, Barry.

I told everyone that, whilst yes, I have set myself a target of 5-weeks, I don't want to rush anything. I want to be a safe and knowledgeable pilot and I cannot forget the simple fact that a PPL is a journey and not just a destination!

It was official, though, I was to start in late March. I had better start revising.

Here is my log so far. My free time finishes very early May, so I'm fully booked with lessons until then. I'll be updating this log every Friday with my progress.



[LOG - Last updated 30/04/16]

Thursday 25/03: 1HR C152, F.I LH, 1TO&L, ex 4.1, 5
Monday 28/03: (no flying, weather cancelled)
Tuesday 29/03: (no flying, weather cancelled) EXAMS: Air Law (94%) & Op Procedures (100%)
Wednesday 30/03: 2.5HRS, 2 flights, 2 TO&L, ex 4.2, 6.1, 6.2
Thursday 31/03: 2.5HRS, 2 flights, 2 TO&L, ex 7.1, 8.1, 8.2, 9
Friday 1/04: 2.5HRS, 2 flights, 2 TO&L, ex 10a, 10b1/b2, 11

Monday 4/04: (no flying, weather cancelled)
Tuesday 5/04: 1HR, 1 flight, 5 TO&L, ex 12/13
Wednesday 6/04: (no flying, weather cancelled)
Thursday 7/04: (no flying, weather cancelled) EXAMS: Meteorology (100%) & Communications (100%)
Friday 8/04: 1.5HR, 1 flight, 6 TO&L, ex 12/13

Monday 11/04: (no flying, weather cancelled)
Tuesday 12/04: 2.4HRS, 4 flights, 14 TO&L, ex 12/13 & 14. FIRST SOLO
Wednesday 13/04: 1.3HRS, 2 flights, 2TO&L, ex 18a
Thursday 14/04: 2.4HRS, 2 flights, 2TO&L, ex 18a, ex 20 EXAMS: Aircraft General (100%) & Human Performance (100%)
Friday 15/04: No flying

Monday 18/04: 2.4HRS, 2 flights, 2TO&L, ex 18a
Tuesday 19/04: 1.3HRS, 1 flights, 1TO&L, ex 16
Wednesday 20/04: 2.6HRS, 2 flights, 2TO&L, ex 18a&b
Thursday 21/04: 1.9HRS, 2 flights, 6TO&L, ex 12/13 (X-wind), ex 19
Friday 22/04: (no flying, weather cancelled)

Monday 25/04: (no flying, weather cancelled)
Tuesday 26/04: 1.1HRS, 1 flight, 1TO&L, ex 18c EXAMS: Principles of Flight (92%) & Flight Planning and Performance (100%)
Wednesday 27/04: (no flying, weather cancelled)
Thursday 28/04: 2.5HRS, 2 flights, 2TO&L, ex 17/19 & 18a
Friday 29/04: (no flying, weather cancelled)
Saturday 30/04: 0.7HRS, 1 flight, 4TO&L, ex 12/13 (x-wind)

(A special thanks and shout-out to my instructor, Nafis Rehman, who continues to push me to be the best I can be. And a big thanks to all the others at the club, too)
rnzoli
8th Apr 2016, 19:37
your greates enemy will be the weather I guess

how much spare time you have for weather cancellations?

do you have a plan "B" in case you run out of time?
BatteriesNotIncluded
9th Apr 2016, 05:50
You are most definitely right. As you can see I've had a fair number of weather cancellations already.

My plan B is that I journey back on weekends (weather permitted again of course) until I'm done. Fortunately my next job is 5-day weeks (I factored this in before I began my PPL) so this is not a problem. Just petrol money will go up!
rej
9th Apr 2016, 07:56
Good luck and well done for giving yourself a target; good to see that you are not leaving the exams until the end like so many do. The weather may well be a extending factor but don't let that deter you from completing what is the best activity; what happens after training only gets better. My advice is to, within safe limits, get airborne with your instructor in some challenging weather; it is a great way to learn decision making and it certainly helps to develop capacity and awareness. After 28 years in the aviation industry, 2 years ago I did my PPL in 13 weeks (including 2 weeks away on holiday and holding down a demanding full-time job); if an old boy like me can do it ...... Subsequently the addiction has resulted in over 130 hours in my log book and an IMC and night rating. Consistancy and recency are vital to achieve the learning curve; good luck and I will look forward to reading your blogs along the way. Safe flying and I hope we get the opportunity to catch up for one of those £150 cups of coffee us GA pilots buy at weekends
BatteriesNotIncluded
9th Apr 2016, 10:22
Thank you for your reply rej - it's always nice to hear that my target isn't an unrealistic one!

It's funny, your advice is impeccably timed. Just yesterday, after my circuit bashing lesson (and the rest of the week having been written off) I said to my instructor for us to go up during some moody weather, just so I can get the experience of it.

I have the full intention of going onto get a night rating, IR(R) and later on down the road a multi-engine rating. Stratosphere's the limit now.

Aviation had my interest prior to learning. Now that I am, and I'm sure even more so when I pass, it has my attention.

That coffee would be great!
chevvron
9th Apr 2016, 15:57
Back when the minimum for issue of a PPL was 35 hours, I completed the syllabus in 31 hours (then did 4 hours revision before I could take my GFT) and about five weeks, taking so many days purely due to days lost through poor weather. I attended 5 days per week.
This was in November and I already had about 40 hours gliding which didn't count for a reduction in hours as I didn't have a Silver C Certificate.
foxmoth
9th Apr 2016, 17:40
I did much the same as Chevvron, in fact mine was on an air cadet scholarship and they allowed 4 weeks for 30 hours so it was fairly standard.
Maoraigh1
9th Apr 2016, 22:39
Did the 30 hour PPL complete in under 4 weeks, 1964 July/August at Thruxton on Jackeroo. (Modified Tiger Moth, lacking it's high cruise speed.) Had previous gliding experience. No radio, electrics, brakes, starter, to worry about. No ATC at Thruxton, and I think about 10 trainers including Piper Colts. Near to Army Air Core training airfield, so plenty of traffic to look out for. And not much inside the cockpit to distract.
tmmorris
9th Apr 2016, 23:31
I did the whole thing in 3.5 weeks at Welshpool in 2001. Great experience.

And I paid for the whole thing up front - very stupid...
BatteriesNotIncluded
10th Apr 2016, 12:31
Fascinating to hear of your experiences. Thanks for sharing.

One reason I chose Bristol & Wessex was because I'd be learning in controlled airspace (class D) and jumping in the deep end as far as the radio is concerned.

I've paid for everything up front too(!), which I know is extremely risky and controversial, but B&W are a sound establishment and I've paid via the credit card so I'm none too concerned. If I was learning over the space of a several months or more, however, I wouldn't have considered it. Do not try this at home!
AdamFrisch
10th Apr 2016, 15:25
Batteries - good luck with your endeavor!

I'm in the film business too, used to be in London, although I've now moved to the states. Film has afforded me the opportunity to now be on my third owned twin aircraft and I love it more than ever! So keep going, get your IR's and Multis and I hope to see you in the sky one day.
BatteriesNotIncluded
10th Apr 2016, 17:38
Batteries - good luck with your endeavor!

I'm in the film business too, used to be in London, although I've now moved to the states. Film has afforded me the opportunity to now be on my third owned twin aircraft and I love it more than ever! So keep going, get your IR's and Multis and I hope to see you in the sky one day.

Thank you, Sir.

Fantastic endorsement, given that you are clearly proving I can do both! If you are the man I think you might be, then I have seen a film you've worked on!

I'll be sure to keep you all updated, PPL and beyond!
BatteriesNotIncluded
12th Apr 2016, 16:42
I'll be updating my log this Friday, but I flew my first solo today.

So THAT's why I've spent a chunk of change on this flying malarkey!
foxmoth
12th Apr 2016, 18:53
Congrats BNI! :D
BatteriesNotIncluded
12th Apr 2016, 21:20
Congrats BNI! :D
Thank you Foxmoth :)
rej
14th Apr 2016, 20:57
Congrats on going solo; all the best for the next stage. Keep the updates coming
BatteriesNotIncluded
15th Apr 2016, 08:31
Thanks rej :)

I've just updated my log in the OP to reflect this week's progress. I'm now onto Nav (having done advanced turning yesterday too) and I'm finding it a lot to do! Suddenly I'm not just learning to fly the plane, I'm having to do a lot more things on top. Even adding 23 mins onto 1448 local can be a brain scrambler with a plane strapped to your back.

I'm piecing it all together and I'm hoping it'll get easier with each lesson. I was intending to fly today, but weather and other responsibilities got in the way - I was okay with that though because I need a moment to digest everything.

Also, had a tyre blow out on the ground roll after touchdown yesterday! Question marks over something on the runway as the landing was within limits and textbook, frankly. Seems it was a new one for both of us in the cockpit!
The Ancient Geek
15th Apr 2016, 11:26
Learn about mental arithmetic shortcuts.
1448 + 2 = 1450
1450 + 23 = 1513
1513 - 2 = 1511
BatteriesNotIncluded
15th Apr 2016, 11:38
Learn about mental arithmetic shortcuts.
1448 + 2 = 1450
1450 + 23 = 1513
1513 - 2 = 1511

Thanks for the tip, Sir.
BatteriesNotIncluded
22nd Apr 2016, 12:10
A little update after this week's worth of flying (see log)

Did more Nav ex's this week, which improved massively after the first effort. A trip to Wolverhampton went without a hitch and a triangle route the next day was "textbook". So I'm pleased with the nav progress!

Other exercises covered this week has been instrument appreciation with the foggles, PFL's and some bad weather circuits.

I'm pleased with this week's progress. One thing that is clear now, however, is I won't make my 5-week window. I think if I was learning 7-days a week and the weather was more on my side, I could've done it. Frankly, however, I've been comfortable at this pace and more than happy for it to run over.
BatteriesNotIncluded
30th Apr 2016, 18:28
Another week in the bag. Unfortunately plagued with some unfortunate weather this week, which means I will be returning to London with just shy of 30 hours (29.6)

I'm coming back for a few days next week, which I'm hoping will bring me up to 33 hours, by which time I'll be concentrating on solo consolidation, bringing me up to 43 hours, leaving a few hours spare for mock test and revision... and then ready for test!

The one area I'm concentrating on is my landings. They are all within limits, but they could be a lot smoother. My approaches are stable, I'm just trying to find that round-out and flare balance. Today was another step forward there.

I have recorded all my lessons with two GoPro's, so I'll put a lesson or two up soon.
AdamFrisch
30th Apr 2016, 19:59
All instructors teach you to land power off. And it's a good practice for smaller planes and shorter fields. But try to land with just a smidge of power next time (if you have the rwy). I almost guarantee you'll make a greaser.
BatteriesNotIncluded
1st May 2016, 10:26
All instructors teach you to land power off. And it's a good practice for smaller planes and shorter fields. But try to land with just a smidge of power next time (if you have the rwy). I almost guarantee you'll make a greaser.

Thanks for this Adam, I can see how it would work! I'll put it to my instructor to try :)
How are the skies treating you this past week?