North West - Gaining Experience

[JustOneMoreQuestion.]

Good afternoon,

Probably something that's been done to death in the past, but times change.

As a low hour PPL, wanting to build experience, I wondered if anyone knew of any businesses in the North West that may be willing to take on a protege pilot? Basically, I've read about some aircraft sales businesses that will allow their stock to be flown if they're close to overhaul time for peanuts. Other companies who may collect and deliver aircraft after servicing etc (whatever it may be). I'm full time employed, so not looking for an actual 'job', nor would I want paying (partly because I don't have a CPL), but mostly because it would only be on the odd occasions.

If anyone has any ideas, please let me know.

Hope that makes sense

Equally, if you're reading this thread and own an aircraft in the north west England and would want someone to pay for the use of it / buy a share in it, I'm looking to do this as I have family all over the country.

Many thanks

JOMQ

[BoeingBoy]

JOMQ,

Just to cover a few points. Sadly there are only a handful of aviation sales companies in the UK and none in the North West. If they did want a ferry pilot they would not use a new PPL due to insurance costs. The less hours you have the more it would cost them to put you in the aircraft. That said, my aircraft was delivered by a ferry pilot who was a local PPL (to the sales company) but had several hundred hours on my type. It's not impossible to pick up free flying but it's very dependant on luck and location. If you happen to be on an airfield and drop on someone who is looking to be picked up from maintenance at another field you might find they are willing to pay your fuel to go and fetch them back. That's the sort of thing you might find but the opportunities are sporadic to say the least. Your best start is to advertise on your local flying club notice board that you are willing to help in any way but don't expect to be knocked over in the rush.

As for groups then again, your local club notice board is the best starting place along with the many ads placed in flying mags and online. Again, I'm afraid with low experience you may find some syndicates unavailable until at least 100hrs PIC but that's your best bet for cost effective flying over renting at schools.

After that your looking at towing gliders (not usually available without considerable gliding experience yourself) or body dropping. There are a couple of parachute clubs in the North West that might be worth a visit, but like all aspects of free flying you might need to get in the queue.

Good Luck.

[Council Van]

The phrase is pissing in the wind I am afraid.

As the poster above mentions notices on flying club notice boards and meet people, get on with them, (I note that this is in the PPl section but you will have to get on with all sorts of people you would not normally spend time with if you are ever decide on becoming an airline pilot but that is half the fun of the job, finding out about others intererests, likes and what they have done in their life) but come across as being pleasant confident BUT not arrogant.

Get out there and meet people and you might just get lucky.

I did know a lad some twenty years ago (he had a CPl/IR ex full time at Oxford) who got a lot of time flying a a privetly owned pressurised piper single turbo prop that cruised at 25000ft. It helped him getting into British Midland when the job market was tremendously competitive.

He was right place, right time and formed a very good friendship with the aircraft owner very quickly.

A mixture of luck and well matched personalities.

[Jim59]

After that your you're looking at towing gliders

Even that's not as easy as it used to be. Since spring this year you have needed a Sailplane Towing Rating on your licence to tow a sailplane using an EASA aeroplane. Prior to then the Chief Tug Pilot at a gliding club could train you. Unless you already have the rating you need to attend a formal course to get the rating. There have been no courses run in the UK so far this year (no doubt someone can prove me wrong) although that is in the process of changing. A (very) small number of gliding clubs will be in a position to run the course shortly, including my own which hopes to have everything in place by January. (Which of couse means that at present there is a shortage of qualified tug pilots.)

To be a tug pilot requires a significant commitment in time and relatively few without gliding experience are accepted.

[cats_five]

Even that's not as easy as it used to be. Since spring this year you have needed a Sailplane Towing Rating on your licence to tow a sailplane using an EASA aeroplane. Prior to then the Chief Tug Pilot at a gliding club could train you. Unless you already have the rating you need to attend a formal course to get the rating. There have been no courses run in the UK so far this year (no doubt someone can prove me wrong) although that is in the process of changing. A (very) small number of gliding clubs will be in a position to run the course shortly, including my own which hopes to have everything in place by January. (Which of couse means that at present there is a shortage of qualified tug pilots.)

To be a tug pilot requires a significant commitment in time and relatively few without gliding experience are accepted.

Quite a few clubs these days use a Eurofox which according to their website is "a NON EASA annex II aircraft operating on a LAA or BMAA permit to fly". However your chances of being allowed to tow with no gliding experience are pretty minimal.

[Jim59]

Quite a few clubs these days use a Eurofox which according to their website is "a NON EASA annex II aircraft operating on a LAA or BMAA permit to fly". However your chances of being allowed to tow with no gliding experience are pretty minimal.

Agreed, and the rating may not be required to fly one but I don't know if that is licence dependant (EASA vs UK licence). The rating can only be added to an EASA licence.

As of 20 Nov 18, the following gliding clubs can deliver the sailplane towing course; Booker, Bicester, Cambridge, Deeside, East Sussex, Lasham, London.