How long did it take you to complete your PPL?
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radarcontrol,
You'll save a lot of money if you do it in as short a time as possible. I did mine (46hrs) in 3 months last year in the UK and i was working full time. I had only three WX cancellations (i am lucky or what). It can be frustrating if you drag things out. I'm a huge fan of "accelerated" training.
Good luck with the Class 1
Capt. Manuvar
You'll save a lot of money if you do it in as short a time as possible. I did mine (46hrs) in 3 months last year in the UK and i was working full time. I had only three WX cancellations (i am lucky or what). It can be frustrating if you drag things out. I'm a huge fan of "accelerated" training.
Good luck with the Class 1
Capt. Manuvar
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Just dug my logbook out to take a look.
First flight for PPL was on 04/07/2003 and the Skills Test was on 18/08/2003. In that period I actually flew on 19 days. Total time was 45:30.
By the sounds of things I was lucky, I was fortunate to have good weather, a good instructor, lots of spare time and all my flying was prepaid so there was no financial issues.
ASI
First flight for PPL was on 04/07/2003 and the Skills Test was on 18/08/2003. In that period I actually flew on 19 days. Total time was 45:30.
By the sounds of things I was lucky, I was fortunate to have good weather, a good instructor, lots of spare time and all my flying was prepaid so there was no financial issues.
ASI
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Not sure if this is the best advice in your case but...
Why not forget the PPL for now and join a gliding club?
That way you get a nice social pastime that will teach you to fly very well and give you a good grounding in aviation without breaking the bank. Your gliding can reduce the time needed for a PPL by up to 50% once you have a bit more money to play with and it will still look good on a CV.
Although the advice about learning over a short period of time is very valid, I found that with my gliding background the PPL came very easily even though I spread it over a two-year period. I passed my PPL with 34 hours, which was only 9 hours over the minimum I could have done it in (with the gliding dispensation).
SS
Why not forget the PPL for now and join a gliding club?
That way you get a nice social pastime that will teach you to fly very well and give you a good grounding in aviation without breaking the bank. Your gliding can reduce the time needed for a PPL by up to 50% once you have a bit more money to play with and it will still look good on a CV.
Although the advice about learning over a short period of time is very valid, I found that with my gliding background the PPL came very easily even though I spread it over a two-year period. I passed my PPL with 34 hours, which was only 9 hours over the minimum I could have done it in (with the gliding dispensation).
SS
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About 46 or 47 hours over 10 months in the UK, averaging approximately 1 lesson per week. It was about the right intensity for me, without work and family commitments (Mrs W & 2 wolf cubs) suffering.
10 months also allowed plenty of time to steadily work through my ground exams.
My work is very flexible and I am very close to my local airfield which meant I could book lessons often at very short notice when the wx was good. Weather therefore did not greatly hinder my progress except a long spell of high pressure induced haze that put paid to my QXC for a couple of weeks or so.
If however, you, your work, or your flying club are not so flexible and you have to book lessons a long time in advance be prepared for weather related cancellations.
Good luck and enjoy
.
Mr. W.
10 months also allowed plenty of time to steadily work through my ground exams.
My work is very flexible and I am very close to my local airfield which meant I could book lessons often at very short notice when the wx was good. Weather therefore did not greatly hinder my progress except a long spell of high pressure induced haze that put paid to my QXC for a couple of weeks or so.
If however, you, your work, or your flying club are not so flexible and you have to book lessons a long time in advance be prepared for weather related cancellations.
Good luck and enjoy
.Mr. W.
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Having been hanging around the scene for 3-4 years, I think one could summarise:
The min hours is 45.
The quickest rate at which a normal person can knock this off is two 1-hour lessons per day. Perhaps a very bright and technically apt teenager could do more but 2 lessons per day is tiring enough. That comes to say 23 flying days, and make no mistake about it, it will be quite an endurance exercise. If you do it in the USA (looks cheaper on the face of it, weather can be more predictable) it won't be a holiday!
How long does it take to find 23 days with excellent weather in the UK? An honest instructor who isn't out to rip you off won't let you fly in rough weather, and no instructor will let you fly solo unless it is a very clear day indeed, and the forecasts are immaculate too.
If you can take a holiday, and get lucky on weather, you could do it in a month. That would be VERY unusual.
Most people can manage just one lesson per day, which makes two months. It is very rare to get two months of good weather here. Last summer was great but actually a lot of the days were hazy (OK for for people with some hours and alternative means of navigation); haze is OK for basic training but not for solo, and until you get the solo flights in, the training can't progress past a certain point.
That is why the average time is perhaps 6-12 months.
Also, very very few people do it in 45hrs. The average varies according to who you ask but is certainly between 50-70hrs. Older people take longer, as do those less technically apt. If you fall out with an instructor and have to change (not unusual) or happen to pick a naff one (plenty of them about; you don't go to a teacher training college for this job) that alone can add 50% to your total time.
The type of plane must also affect it. Everybody has their favourites so best not go down there
But I bet a decrepit PA38 will take you longer than a PA28 in good condition, and a lot more of the latter are about for subsequent hire.
I once booked every day for 3 months, and managed three flights! My PPL took 10 months (66 hours total) despite almost complete freedom to take time off work.
I would ensure I had the do$h up front (say £8k, less in some places), a job where I could take half-days off at short notice, and allow 6 months.
Start in the spring, i.e. about now. You get clear days, perhaps windy but without the summer haze.
The min hours is 45.
The quickest rate at which a normal person can knock this off is two 1-hour lessons per day. Perhaps a very bright and technically apt teenager could do more but 2 lessons per day is tiring enough. That comes to say 23 flying days, and make no mistake about it, it will be quite an endurance exercise. If you do it in the USA (looks cheaper on the face of it, weather can be more predictable) it won't be a holiday!
How long does it take to find 23 days with excellent weather in the UK? An honest instructor who isn't out to rip you off won't let you fly in rough weather, and no instructor will let you fly solo unless it is a very clear day indeed, and the forecasts are immaculate too.
If you can take a holiday, and get lucky on weather, you could do it in a month. That would be VERY unusual.
Most people can manage just one lesson per day, which makes two months. It is very rare to get two months of good weather here. Last summer was great but actually a lot of the days were hazy (OK for for people with some hours and alternative means of navigation); haze is OK for basic training but not for solo, and until you get the solo flights in, the training can't progress past a certain point.
That is why the average time is perhaps 6-12 months.
Also, very very few people do it in 45hrs. The average varies according to who you ask but is certainly between 50-70hrs. Older people take longer, as do those less technically apt. If you fall out with an instructor and have to change (not unusual) or happen to pick a naff one (plenty of them about; you don't go to a teacher training college for this job) that alone can add 50% to your total time.
The type of plane must also affect it. Everybody has their favourites so best not go down there
But I bet a decrepit PA38 will take you longer than a PA28 in good condition, and a lot more of the latter are about for subsequent hire.I once booked every day for 3 months, and managed three flights! My PPL took 10 months (66 hours total) despite almost complete freedom to take time off work.
I would ensure I had the do$h up front (say £8k, less in some places), a job where I could take half-days off at short notice, and allow 6 months.
Start in the spring, i.e. about now. You get clear days, perhaps windy but without the summer haze.
Not so N, but still FG
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Good Lord, IO540, one, or both of us, must be mellowing in old age. Two remarkable occurrences:-
(1) I actually find myself agreeing with something you've posted.
(2) You have posted something which cannot be summarised as: "UK GA is crap. All flying schools are crap. All rentable UK GA aircraft are crap. All old aeroplanes are crap. All UK PPLs without their own kitted out IFR machines and ratings to match are crap. Anyone who cannot see that this is the case is crap".
Wonder if (1) and (2) are in any way related?*
As they say on another (non flying) forum which I occasionally infest in a different persona: "A glass of wine with you, Sir"
*if not obvious, this is intended at least partly in jest. I take on board some of your usual points, although sometimes think you express them too starkly, and too often.
(1) I actually find myself agreeing with something you've posted.
(2) You have posted something which cannot be summarised as: "UK GA is crap. All flying schools are crap. All rentable UK GA aircraft are crap. All old aeroplanes are crap. All UK PPLs without their own kitted out IFR machines and ratings to match are crap. Anyone who cannot see that this is the case is crap".
Wonder if (1) and (2) are in any way related?*
As they say on another (non flying) forum which I occasionally infest in a different persona: "A glass of wine with you, Sir"
*if not obvious, this is intended at least partly in jest. I take on board some of your usual points, although sometimes think you express them too starkly, and too often.
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FNG
I get the joke, of course.
The reason I frequently write, in a forthright manner, about the decrepit state of UK GA, is because I feel flying is a great privilege, and I can very clearly see it is going to disappear, well within what I hope to be my flying lifetime (say 20-30 yrs to go). My kids will have to go elsewhere to do this.
That much is clear to most outsiders who look at the way it's going (yes, I do know many of them) and who spend 5 minutes looking at the financial and social picture. The huge traditionalist population in GA merely accelerates the process. But, as I've said, farm strip operations will probably always survive.
Today I went up to 7000ft for an hour or two, among truly spectacular scenery (and a little ice) and came back to an airport which is great but whose running costs cannot possibly be met by the resident fleet and where there are about 5x more schools than one needs for the students. But you could build say 1000 houses on it, at £250k each.
Incidentally, nothing wrong with VFR flight. The time I have a go at spamcans with decrepit avionics is when somebody has a go at the IMC Rating (which is another great privilege). Or pretends they can navigate on dead reckoning in 3km vis. Or...
I get the joke, of course.
The reason I frequently write, in a forthright manner, about the decrepit state of UK GA, is because I feel flying is a great privilege, and I can very clearly see it is going to disappear, well within what I hope to be my flying lifetime (say 20-30 yrs to go). My kids will have to go elsewhere to do this.
That much is clear to most outsiders who look at the way it's going (yes, I do know many of them) and who spend 5 minutes looking at the financial and social picture. The huge traditionalist population in GA merely accelerates the process. But, as I've said, farm strip operations will probably always survive.
Today I went up to 7000ft for an hour or two, among truly spectacular scenery (and a little ice) and came back to an airport which is great but whose running costs cannot possibly be met by the resident fleet and where there are about 5x more schools than one needs for the students. But you could build say 1000 houses on it, at £250k each.
Incidentally, nothing wrong with VFR flight. The time I have a go at spamcans with decrepit avionics is when somebody has a go at the IMC Rating (which is another great privilege). Or pretends they can navigate on dead reckoning in 3km vis. Or...
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IO540 - I agree with FNG - I can't fault your advice in your last but one post - a good summary of what you can expect during your PPL that might cause unexpected delays and frustrations.
Mr. W
Mr. W
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As they say on another (non flying) forum which I occasionally infest in a different persona: "A glass of wine with you, Sir"
Not so N, but still FG
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Evo, nothing to do with Dire Straits , I assure you! In fact, if in this other forum you suggested that someone might be an enthusiast for such stuff you would probably be invited to meet them in a foggy field at dawn with a couple of friends (not being a flying forum, the meeting is not for the purpose of eating butties and bitching about the weather) . Clues: no flying, but some Doctor Bernoulli. No golf, but quite a lot of balls. No gardening, but some weevils.
IO, thanks for taking my comments in good part. Much of the decrepitude and cack handedness of GA in this country is indeed depressing, although I hope and believe that your gloomy prognosis for the future is a little too pessimistic.
Returning slightly towards the thread, with apologies to Radarcontrol for the diversion, IO is right to make the point here and elsewhere that it is difficult to engage in this pastime (or to use it as a route to a career) on the cheap. Even doing things the cheap PFA way is only cheap in a relative sense. I'm not saying "this is for us guys with cash and all you povs and students should stick to the flight sims", but there's no use pretending that everyone can do it just because they want to (and this is true whether you are talking about financial resources, about weighing more than your aeroplane, or about being witless and timid). I want to own a formula one team and a string of polo ponies (roughly similar costs for these two hobbies) , but I can't. Tough luck on me.
IO, thanks for taking my comments in good part. Much of the decrepitude and cack handedness of GA in this country is indeed depressing, although I hope and believe that your gloomy prognosis for the future is a little too pessimistic.
Returning slightly towards the thread, with apologies to Radarcontrol for the diversion, IO is right to make the point here and elsewhere that it is difficult to engage in this pastime (or to use it as a route to a career) on the cheap. Even doing things the cheap PFA way is only cheap in a relative sense. I'm not saying "this is for us guys with cash and all you povs and students should stick to the flight sims", but there's no use pretending that everyone can do it just because they want to (and this is true whether you are talking about financial resources, about weighing more than your aeroplane, or about being witless and timid). I want to own a formula one team and a string of polo ponies (roughly similar costs for these two hobbies) , but I can't. Tough luck on me.
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FNG
I am, of course, under no illusion regarding the price of flying. I am also, however, a firm believer that with a bit of willpower, anything can be achieved.
GA flying really is not that expensive in the grand scheme of things. £5000 for a license and £80 to fly after that. I don't deem that to be an insurmountable achievement. It's certainly one I am up to. At the end of the day, most people spend over £5000 on a new car and a lot of money on insurance. You just have to decide where your priorities lie.
RC
I am, of course, under no illusion regarding the price of flying. I am also, however, a firm believer that with a bit of willpower, anything can be achieved.
GA flying really is not that expensive in the grand scheme of things. £5000 for a license and £80 to fly after that. I don't deem that to be an insurmountable achievement. It's certainly one I am up to. At the end of the day, most people spend over £5000 on a new car and a lot of money on insurance. You just have to decide where your priorities lie.
RC
Northern Monkey
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I passed mine in 8 months, from june to febuary, by booking far more lessons than i needed, that way, you are not as badly affected by bad weather. I turned up for all the slots that i had booked, and sat my exams during the days that the wx prevented me from flying. That way, the exams never held up my progress, and the last one was passed towards the end on december.
Good luck,
NB
Good luck,
NB
Not so N, but still FG
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I'm sure that you can do it RC. I was making a general observation, not suggesting you're too skint and should forget it. You seem to have your ideas sorted out and I hope you have a great time learning to fly.
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I started in January 2003 and I'm still absolutely nowhere near completion. As a student you have the advantage of plenty of spare time and the disadvantage of usually being cash-challenged. I know that I spent the majority of my time as a student in the pub, or sitting at home smoking weed. No regrets as I had a great time, but when I think of all that time that could have been spent productively...
I was fairly confident of finishing the PPL course in about a year. I work a fairly cushy shift pattern - two 60-70 hour weeks followed by a week off. When I'm at work, that's all I do - there just isn't the time and energy to do anything else. The week off, you would think, would be ideal for getting some consistent flying in. It's surprising how often you have 2 weeks of seemingly perfect weather followed by a week of low cloudbase, how often there are frontal systems that arrive just at the hour you've booked your lesson, and how often there are seemingly nice days that are in fact hazy and unflyable.
In October, I had appendicitis - a month off work and a month off flying. Since then, my time off has been sparse. The weeks off have evaporated covering other people's holidays and sickness. This week is the first proper week off I've had since November and I've come down with 'flu. The first time I've had any kind of cold or 'flu for three years, which serves me right for gloating when other people were ill. In short, expect some setbacks and try not to be too disappointed when it doesn't all go quite according to plan. I certainly didn't reckon on a 6 month layoff, but it's happened.
I was fairly confident of finishing the PPL course in about a year. I work a fairly cushy shift pattern - two 60-70 hour weeks followed by a week off. When I'm at work, that's all I do - there just isn't the time and energy to do anything else. The week off, you would think, would be ideal for getting some consistent flying in. It's surprising how often you have 2 weeks of seemingly perfect weather followed by a week of low cloudbase, how often there are frontal systems that arrive just at the hour you've booked your lesson, and how often there are seemingly nice days that are in fact hazy and unflyable.
In October, I had appendicitis - a month off work and a month off flying. Since then, my time off has been sparse. The weeks off have evaporated covering other people's holidays and sickness. This week is the first proper week off I've had since November and I've come down with 'flu. The first time I've had any kind of cold or 'flu for three years, which serves me right for gloating when other people were ill. In short, expect some setbacks and try not to be too disappointed when it doesn't all go quite according to plan. I certainly didn't reckon on a 6 month layoff, but it's happened.
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First lesson in January 2000 - yes 2000!!!
From someone who has tried it both the slow way and the more condensed way, do it in as short a time period as you can.
As Monocock and others will know I decided this year to get my PPL finished (at last ) and I cannot believe how much easier it all becomes when lessons are close together and you don't spend half the lesson remembering how to do what you were taught last time.
Winter time does NOT have to be a no-no either. Though cloudbase/wind can be a problem, the visibility over the past couple of weeks has been wonderful. And at least I know how to handle an aircraft in typically English weather. How many US PPL's have flown in showers (well, dodging them anyway?). And done basic instrument training in real cloud?
And before anybody jumps on me for having an irresponsible instructor, the CB's of the last week have stopped me from doing solo nav exercises but haven't stopped me from having lessons, now revision for the Skills test, but lessons none the less.
And in the last month, with 4 lessons a week booked I have managed 20 hours, so don't discount flying in winter.
Best of luck, whichever way you decide to jump.
Cloud
From someone who has tried it both the slow way and the more condensed way, do it in as short a time period as you can.
As Monocock and others will know I decided this year to get my PPL finished (at last
) and I cannot believe how much easier it all becomes when lessons are close together and you don't spend half the lesson remembering how to do what you were taught last time.Winter time does NOT have to be a no-no either. Though cloudbase/wind can be a problem, the visibility over the past couple of weeks has been wonderful. And at least I know how to handle an aircraft in typically English weather. How many US PPL's have flown in showers (well, dodging them anyway?). And done basic instrument training in real cloud?
And before anybody jumps on me for having an irresponsible instructor, the CB's of the last week have stopped me from doing solo nav exercises but haven't stopped me from having lessons, now revision for the Skills test, but lessons none the less.
And in the last month, with 4 lessons a week booked I have managed 20 hours, so don't discount flying in winter.
Best of luck, whichever way you decide to jump.
Cloud
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Much though it pains me to say it, I can see the merit in the opinions of those who have posted advising me to do it in the shortest time possible.
The difficulty I will have is convincing myself in my own mind, especially during the hot summer days with blue skies (yes, we do get SOME) when I look up to see a DR200 flitting around overhead, that I'm really doing the right thing. I put it off for 2 years in a row already and right now, summer 2005 looks like a million miles away.
RC
The difficulty I will have is convincing myself in my own mind, especially during the hot summer days with blue skies (yes, we do get SOME) when I look up to see a DR200 flitting around overhead, that I'm really doing the right thing. I put it off for 2 years in a row already and right now, summer 2005 looks like a million miles away.
RC
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Possibly! Although my time will be more constrained over the winter months, and the weather will be no where near as good. Certainly winter would be a good time to do the theoretical elements of the course however!
RC
RC