From Zero to Forty Five - my PPL Diary
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Northants
Age: 80
Posts: 227
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Mazzy,
Long time no "speak". I trust you are well. I do hope you find a way of continuing to fly on a more regular basis, it would be such a waste of all the effort, the blood, sweat and tears that went into getting your ppl!!.
Just as a personal update, you may remember we were learning pretty much at the same time, and qualified not too far apart. It's bloomin' expensive to hire at £120 per hour (Warrior), but I've kept it up and have just reached the required 12 hours (with 7 hours P1), so I'm OK before the Winter sets in, though I still have 6 months to go before the second year deadline. It's nevertheless comforting to have the required hours, and the 1 hour with instructor under my belt - I realistically cannot see me doing much more than 25/30 hours in a full year.
The checkride was taken care of when I spent an hour on a checkride with my new flying clubs' CFI, and he will sign off my next two years privaliges after Xmas. I have now joined Coventry Aeroplane Club (following the demise of East Mids Flying School*). Covaero have two virtually new Warrior 161's owned by the members, beautifully equipped with two garmin 430's, and electric backup for suction, an ELT beacon etc. After the 15000 hour tubs I learned on, they are both so taught and lovely to fly. Coventry is not as busy (yet!) as East Mids, but with Thomsonfly and Wizzair increasing services weekly it seems, it won't be too long!!
I started the IMC, and have done about 10 hours to date, though I've let these lessons lapse over the last three months. I'd like to get that up and running again.
Just a thought, at Covaero, members are encouraged to fly together, thereby halving the cost. One is P1 outbound, the other, P1 on the return. maybe that's a way forward?
Whatever, I do hope you do not let your license lapse, and wish you the very best for your future flying,
Cheers
CF
* Rumour has it EMFS have a purchaser, and may well be continuing at East Mids - I very much hope so, they are a great organisation
Long time no "speak". I trust you are well. I do hope you find a way of continuing to fly on a more regular basis, it would be such a waste of all the effort, the blood, sweat and tears that went into getting your ppl!!.
Just as a personal update, you may remember we were learning pretty much at the same time, and qualified not too far apart. It's bloomin' expensive to hire at £120 per hour (Warrior), but I've kept it up and have just reached the required 12 hours (with 7 hours P1), so I'm OK before the Winter sets in, though I still have 6 months to go before the second year deadline. It's nevertheless comforting to have the required hours, and the 1 hour with instructor under my belt - I realistically cannot see me doing much more than 25/30 hours in a full year.
The checkride was taken care of when I spent an hour on a checkride with my new flying clubs' CFI, and he will sign off my next two years privaliges after Xmas. I have now joined Coventry Aeroplane Club (following the demise of East Mids Flying School*). Covaero have two virtually new Warrior 161's owned by the members, beautifully equipped with two garmin 430's, and electric backup for suction, an ELT beacon etc. After the 15000 hour tubs I learned on, they are both so taught and lovely to fly. Coventry is not as busy (yet!) as East Mids, but with Thomsonfly and Wizzair increasing services weekly it seems, it won't be too long!!
I started the IMC, and have done about 10 hours to date, though I've let these lessons lapse over the last three months. I'd like to get that up and running again.
Just a thought, at Covaero, members are encouraged to fly together, thereby halving the cost. One is P1 outbound, the other, P1 on the return. maybe that's a way forward?
Whatever, I do hope you do not let your license lapse, and wish you the very best for your future flying,
Cheers
CF
* Rumour has it EMFS have a purchaser, and may well be continuing at East Mids - I very much hope so, they are a great organisation
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Surrey
Age: 43
Posts: 900
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Since it seems to be a little bit of a reunion going on I thought I'd poke my nose in here! Glad to see that you are all still about. Sorry to hear your struggling to keep flying mazzy, I know your pain! Its so expensive to just even stay current let alone fully enjoy the licence we all worked so hard on! Hope you manage to find away through it, are you still considering getting an FI? That would be one way you could fly and not have to pay for it? Although you may need to get a CPL first if any school will actually allow you to teach, I don't really know how it works!
Update from me is that I'm going to be starting with Ryanair on 26th Nov and will be flying the 737-800, so am looking forward to doing the TR and then getting in the air in the real thing early next year!
Happy landings and blue skies to you all!
Update from me is that I'm going to be starting with Ryanair on 26th Nov and will be flying the 737-800, so am looking forward to doing the TR and then getting in the air in the real thing early next year!
Happy landings and blue skies to you all!
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Northants
Age: 80
Posts: 227
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wow Blinkz!! You have moved on a lot, 737/800, absolutely fantastic, very well done. Congratulations to you - the nearest I get to Boeings/Airbuses is via several friends who fly for the airlines - Virgin/BMI/BA. I keep telling them it's not a proper job, just a paid hobby.
Very envious, and the very best of luck,
Cheers
CF
PS I don't get high enough for blue skies!!
Very envious, and the very best of luck,
Cheers
CF
PS I don't get high enough for blue skies!!
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Good to see this thread resurface again - my update:-
I've been making good progress and flying regularly - this coming weekend is the big one. PPL Theory and final Solo Nav on the Saturday, Flight Test booked for Sunday.
I've got endorsements for tail-wheels and wobbly props signed off and will be starting to work on NVFR, retractable u/c and possibly some multi-engine over the next couple of months.
I've been making good progress and flying regularly - this coming weekend is the big one. PPL Theory and final Solo Nav on the Saturday, Flight Test booked for Sunday.
I've got endorsements for tail-wheels and wobbly props signed off and will be starting to work on NVFR, retractable u/c and possibly some multi-engine over the next couple of months.
I don't think it's particularly important that you go solo as soon as possible in your training. Yes, it is a milestone in your flying career, of course, but there's no need to rush it. Trust your instructor's judgment.
I was dreading my instructor getting out and saying I could go solo. The first time he did it I told him I wanted to do another hour of circuits. It was the end of a day in which I had done 2 hours of flying. I was tired. I was also fixated with flying a perfect circuit and approach, followed by a 'greaser' of a touch down. I knew I couldn't do that, but what I didn't realise is that it wasn't important at this stage. Safety was paramount. I was safe, but I wasn't confident.
I exercised my fledgling 'airmanship' and said no, but went solo the next day on 17 hours.
I was dreading my instructor getting out and saying I could go solo. The first time he did it I told him I wanted to do another hour of circuits. It was the end of a day in which I had done 2 hours of flying. I was tired. I was also fixated with flying a perfect circuit and approach, followed by a 'greaser' of a touch down. I knew I couldn't do that, but what I didn't realise is that it wasn't important at this stage. Safety was paramount. I was safe, but I wasn't confident.
I exercised my fledgling 'airmanship' and said no, but went solo the next day on 17 hours.
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Aberdeen, UK
Posts: 526
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
To fly with passengers you must have completed 3 landings within the preceeding 90 days. If taking pax at night, one of the 3 landings must have been at night - that's called "keeping current".
If hiring club aircraft, many clubs insist that you have flown previously within the last 30 days.
As far as renewing your JAA PPL(A) licence is concerned, you must, in the 2nd year of your licence, complete 12 hours as Pilot in command one of which must have been with an instructor.
See Lasors 2007 (search Google for the pdf).
(I think!
)
Note that although going up and doing 3 circuits every 3 months, while it does satisfy the currency requirements for pax, probably won't do your flying any good!
If hiring club aircraft, many clubs insist that you have flown previously within the last 30 days.
As far as renewing your JAA PPL(A) licence is concerned, you must, in the 2nd year of your licence, complete 12 hours as Pilot in command one of which must have been with an instructor.
See Lasors 2007 (search Google for the pdf).
(I think!
)Note that although going up and doing 3 circuits every 3 months, while it does satisfy the currency requirements for pax, probably won't do your flying any good!
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Northants
Age: 80
Posts: 227
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Keeping current.
Most flying schools/clubs have a 30 day rule. ie you must have flown in the previous 30 days, or you have to go up with an instructor for a (usually very quick) check ride. It's to do with insurance cover I believe.
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Bucks
Age: 39
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ok cheers guys! So i could probably get away with at least 2 landings a month or is my maths bad from getting up at 4am to go to work at heathrow?!?!
Not that im just gonna do 2 landings a month i wanna do as much as possible, depending on how much overtime there is
James
Not that im just gonna do 2 landings a month i wanna do as much as possible, depending on how much overtime there is
James
Last edited by james747james; 14th Nov 2007 at 16:10.
Spicy Meatball
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Liverpool UK
Age: 41
Posts: 1,115
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ie you must have flown in the previous 30 days, or you have to go up with an instructor for a (usually very quick) check ride.
Don't get me wrong, nothing is better than experience, but I think sometimes the club goes a bit over the top...
The Original Whirly
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Belper, Derbyshire, UK
Posts: 4,326
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Mazzy, hi! I haven't visited this thread for ages, so nice to see it's still around.
Maz, if a simple checkout is taking two hours, something is wrong. Either you've forgotten everything you ever knew, or the instructor wants the hours.
I don't know which it is, but if the second, find another school.
You're not all that far from Sleap, are you? Much cheaper hire than Liverpool, no landing fees for home aircraft, and....YOU ONLY HAVE TO DO A CHECKOUT WITH AN INSTRUCTOR IF YOU HAVEN'T FLOWN FOR TWO MONTHS! Friendly little club too - I miss it.
It might be worth the extra drive for you.
Another option is to take off to France for a few days and do some flying with Sue Burgess-Virr, a British instructor who lives near Limoges and practically specialises in getting Brits their 12 hours - it's how I got mine. See www.nearlyheaven.com.
If none of that works, bite the bullet and revalidate your PPL by test. A friend just did it and said it was no big deal - no nav, and about an hours general handling...and Bob's your uncle. He said he's always going to do it that way. He did it at Sleap - I have no idea if all flying schools and examiners are the same. But it's certainly cheaper than flying 12 hours for the sake of it.
The other option is to give up flying till you have the money, then renew by test. If you don't leave it too long, it should be no big deal. Again, there's no point in flying simply in order to be allowed to carry on flying! Stopping for a few months or even years really isn't the end of the world.
Hope some of that helps at least a little.
Hang in there.
Whirly
Maz, if a simple checkout is taking two hours, something is wrong. Either you've forgotten everything you ever knew, or the instructor wants the hours.
I don't know which it is, but if the second, find another school.You're not all that far from Sleap, are you? Much cheaper hire than Liverpool, no landing fees for home aircraft, and....YOU ONLY HAVE TO DO A CHECKOUT WITH AN INSTRUCTOR IF YOU HAVEN'T FLOWN FOR TWO MONTHS! Friendly little club too - I miss it.
It might be worth the extra drive for you.Another option is to take off to France for a few days and do some flying with Sue Burgess-Virr, a British instructor who lives near Limoges and practically specialises in getting Brits their 12 hours - it's how I got mine. See www.nearlyheaven.com.
If none of that works, bite the bullet and revalidate your PPL by test. A friend just did it and said it was no big deal - no nav, and about an hours general handling...and Bob's your uncle. He said he's always going to do it that way. He did it at Sleap - I have no idea if all flying schools and examiners are the same. But it's certainly cheaper than flying 12 hours for the sake of it.
The other option is to give up flying till you have the money, then renew by test. If you don't leave it too long, it should be no big deal. Again, there's no point in flying simply in order to be allowed to carry on flying! Stopping for a few months or even years really isn't the end of the world.
Hope some of that helps at least a little.
Hang in there.
Whirly
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Worcester
Age: 72
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi Mazzy,
2 hours for a check ride!!! My skills test wasn't much longer than that. My last club check ride (post knee surgery kept me grounded for 10 weeks
) was about 40 minutes. Slow flight, steep turns, unusual attitudes and a PFL plus a couple of t & G's.
Hope you can keep flying Mazzy, I must admit finances do limit my aerial activities some what, but then thats part of the challenge. If it was as cheap as chips the world and his wife would be up there. God forbid the skys become as crowded as the roads.
Thanks for the tip Whirly my sister has a house near there. Me thinks cheap holiday and cheap(er) flying must be good for the soul.
Chris
2 hours for a check ride!!! My skills test wasn't much longer than that. My last club check ride (post knee surgery kept me grounded for 10 weeks
) was about 40 minutes. Slow flight, steep turns, unusual attitudes and a PFL plus a couple of t & G's.Hope you can keep flying Mazzy, I must admit finances do limit my aerial activities some what, but then thats part of the challenge. If it was as cheap as chips the world and his wife would be up there. God forbid the skys become as crowded as the roads.
Thanks for the tip Whirly my sister has a house near there. Me thinks cheap holiday and cheap(er) flying must be good for the soul.
Chris
Spicy Meatball
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Liverpool UK
Age: 41
Posts: 1,115
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks guys
Whirls, I think you've summed up my plans there pretty well - I am gonna wait a while and then think about taking it all on board again (I have something in the pipeline at the moment which should soon - wont say too much yet)
I've never had a bad thing to say about my club, and I hopefully never will, but one thing for sure is that they love getting the hours in for their customers (natural I guess - they are a business). I can pretty much guarantee, that when I come to re-validate by test, it will be the full works - nav and all. Now, as some have you have pointed out, you've not had to do this, however, I've never disagreed with getting experience - I just feel a little down hearted sometimes when I know they may be shafting you for cash at the end of the day, it's the CAA that make the rules and the clubs that bring the money in (I've worded that last sentence carefully there, as the CAA do make money).
Whirls - I have even considered moving to another part of the UK where I can get the 'Sleap' type of flying - we are very limited up here in the north west...
Keeping the positive vibes - onwards and upwards - I'll get there in the end
Cheers
Lee
Whirls, I think you've summed up my plans there pretty well - I am gonna wait a while and then think about taking it all on board again (I have something in the pipeline at the moment which should soon - wont say too much yet)
I've never had a bad thing to say about my club, and I hopefully never will, but one thing for sure is that they love getting the hours in for their customers (natural I guess - they are a business). I can pretty much guarantee, that when I come to re-validate by test, it will be the full works - nav and all. Now, as some have you have pointed out, you've not had to do this, however, I've never disagreed with getting experience - I just feel a little down hearted sometimes when I know they may be shafting you for cash at the end of the day, it's the CAA that make the rules and the clubs that bring the money in (I've worded that last sentence carefully there, as the CAA do make money).
Whirls - I have even considered moving to another part of the UK where I can get the 'Sleap' type of flying - we are very limited up here in the north west...
Keeping the positive vibes - onwards and upwards - I'll get there in the end
Cheers
Lee
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Northants
Age: 80
Posts: 227
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
30 days
Mazzy,
I recently had a situation where I had not flown for 6 weeks, outside of the 30 day rule. All I had to do was 2 circuits with an instructor, total time brakes off/on, 20minutes, and I was immediately cleared to take the plane (went straight out!)
Maybe I misread your post, but you should not be having to do 2 hours just to get 30 day current,
Cheers CF
PS, I'm 75% through the IMC and it looks like it's being canned by EASA - great!!
I recently had a situation where I had not flown for 6 weeks, outside of the 30 day rule. All I had to do was 2 circuits with an instructor, total time brakes off/on, 20minutes, and I was immediately cleared to take the plane (went straight out!)
Maybe I misread your post, but you should not be having to do 2 hours just to get 30 day current,
Cheers CF
PS, I'm 75% through the IMC and it looks like it's being canned by EASA - great!!
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Wirral
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Received the letter today that my flying school, Cheshire, has gone in to liquidation 
Sadly the number of lessons canceled due to this years bad weather had a lot to do with their problems which is understandable, I had twice as many flights cancelled than I actually had!
My main problem now is getting my training records so I can transfer them to my new flying school
Sadly the number of lessons canceled due to this years bad weather had a lot to do with their problems which is understandable, I had twice as many flights cancelled than I actually had!
My main problem now is getting my training records so I can transfer them to my new flying school
Last edited by WALSue; 7th Dec 2007 at 20:45.
Spicy Meatball
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Liverpool UK
Age: 41
Posts: 1,115
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Funny that Sue, LFS have just acquired a 172.....
I have to admit, that however painful it is that I haven't flown - I think the weather has actually helped me in this situation. In all of my 25 years, I don't think I can ever remember such a bad 2 years or so of weather!
It's a really nasty forecast for all of the UK this weekend....
I have to admit, that however painful it is that I haven't flown - I think the weather has actually helped me in this situation. In all of my 25 years, I don't think I can ever remember such a bad 2 years or so of weather!
It's a really nasty forecast for all of the UK this weekend....
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Wirral
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Last I saw of the CATS 172 it was parked up in Hawarden but I wouldn't be surprised if its the same one now at LFS
Hopefully weather will improve early next week, got another lesson booked for Monday, I've not been out since Sept
Hopefully weather will improve early next week, got another lesson booked for Monday, I've not been out since Sept
Spicy Meatball
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Liverpool UK
Age: 41
Posts: 1,115
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well - what can I say!
It's been a very long time since I posted here - I decided to log in to prune and see some of my old posts.I havent logged in for a very long time (in pprune terms!) and I thought it only right to let you know what's going on.
About 2 months ago I was in search of a new job (wanting to climb the career ladder and all that) - we also put our house up for sale, again, looking to move up the ladder. So, the house goes on the market on, lets say Saturday.......here's the good bit.....
By Tuesday we get a call saying wev'e had an offer (which was accepted) and on Wednesday, I found out I had got this great new job. I had to control the excitement, knowing that if I got too carried away with all the good progress, I'd end up doing something stupid.
So where is this going (after all, I did say at the start of this thread that I wouldn't talk about life and all it's struggles etc)? Well, the new wage, and lack of having to travel about 4 hours per day, may very well mean that I can start flying again. 9 days ago was the 2 year anniversary of my PPL flight test, which means that I dont' have the 12 hours required. HOWEVER this may not be a bad thing. Rather than waste lost of money bimbling around, I can now spend some quality time with an intstructor, working on my skills in order to get my 'wings' back
(By the way - nothing wrong with bimbling around)
Sorry to re-incarnate this old thread, but after so many dedicate posts, I only see it fair to say Hi and let you know how things are,
Congratulations to Blinkz and DiscoChocolate, who are now flying for Ryanair, it doesn't seem that long ago since we were talking about Air Law
See you in the air...
Cheers
Lee
It's been a very long time since I posted here - I decided to log in to prune and see some of my old posts.I havent logged in for a very long time (in pprune terms!) and I thought it only right to let you know what's going on.
About 2 months ago I was in search of a new job (wanting to climb the career ladder and all that) - we also put our house up for sale, again, looking to move up the ladder. So, the house goes on the market on, lets say Saturday.......here's the good bit.....
By Tuesday we get a call saying wev'e had an offer (which was accepted) and on Wednesday, I found out I had got this great new job. I had to control the excitement, knowing that if I got too carried away with all the good progress, I'd end up doing something stupid.
So where is this going (after all, I did say at the start of this thread that I wouldn't talk about life and all it's struggles etc)? Well, the new wage, and lack of having to travel about 4 hours per day, may very well mean that I can start flying again. 9 days ago was the 2 year anniversary of my PPL flight test, which means that I dont' have the 12 hours required. HOWEVER this may not be a bad thing. Rather than waste lost of money bimbling around, I can now spend some quality time with an intstructor, working on my skills in order to get my 'wings' back
(By the way - nothing wrong with bimbling around)
Sorry to re-incarnate this old thread, but after so many dedicate posts, I only see it fair to say Hi and let you know how things are,
Congratulations to Blinkz and DiscoChocolate, who are now flying for Ryanair, it doesn't seem that long ago since we were talking about Air Law
See you in the air...
Cheers
Lee
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Northants
Age: 80
Posts: 227
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hey Mazzy, good to hear from you. This is a "Classic" thread that should never be allowed to die!!
Hopefully your new circumstances will see you back in the air soon. I am still flying out of East Mids occasionally, though mostly out of Coventry these days in new Warrior 111's. As we spend much of the Summer in Chichester, I'm just about to start flying out of Shoreham too, converting to a very nice new 172 - will make a change from the PA28's.
Best of luck,
CF
Hopefully your new circumstances will see you back in the air soon. I am still flying out of East Mids occasionally, though mostly out of Coventry these days in new Warrior 111's. As we spend much of the Summer in Chichester, I'm just about to start flying out of Shoreham too, converting to a very nice new 172 - will make a change from the PA28's.
Best of luck,
CF
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Norfolk UK
Age: 80
Posts: 1,200
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi Mazzy,
Good to hear from you and the good news re job,house etc.
I am due for my two year renewal with instructor flight before 11th May and will be doing it in a Stearman sometime in April.
I fly most weekends in the L4 Cub ,weather permitting, and we have also just moved house to a smaller property about 3 miles from our previos place, so that we can keep the same friends etc.
Good luck.
Lister
Good to hear from you and the good news re job,house etc.
I am due for my two year renewal with instructor flight before 11th May and will be doing it in a Stearman sometime in April.
I fly most weekends in the L4 Cub ,weather permitting, and we have also just moved house to a smaller property about 3 miles from our previos place, so that we can keep the same friends etc.
Good luck.
Lister