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How to Pay for your PPL

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Old 15th Jun 2006, 18:34
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How to Pay for your PPL

Hi all,
anyone got some good advice and tips on how to save your pennys and get that PPL?
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Old 15th Jun 2006, 18:55
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1) get a (better) job
2) stop spending it on other stuff (all about sacrifice really)
3) Go to local flying club, show enthusiasm, wash aircraft.......use initiative, however the fact that you have to ask the question probably shows you dont have any
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Old 15th Jun 2006, 18:57
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1. Get all your exams out the way as soon as possible so they dont hold you up during which you fly "unnecessary" hours

2. Fly the cheapest aircraft you can find - it is the same PPL whatever you learn on,

3. Learn at a field with low landing fees, it is surprising how they add up,

4. Fly as intensily as you can, you will learn more quickly,

5. Fly as often as you can with others. They will probably let you do some of the flying even before you get your PPL and will not charge you,

6. Buy your books etc on eBay or from another club member, the cost of new books adds up,

7 Make sure you get a good instructor from the start. Find out by asking other students. There are some really bad instructors around and you will waste a lot of money with them.

These tips will not necessarily make you the best "student" pilot but will save you money in getting your PPL. For example, if you then want to go on to flying something more complicated than you learnt in, you may find the savings you made in learning on a "basic" type are lost in the "conversion" to something more sophisticated.

PS I have assumed the other interpretation of your question!!
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Old 15th Jun 2006, 21:25
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I don't believe anyone who says they can't afford it; I got mine while I was studying for a PhD and earning about £8k a year.

Basically:
a) I rarely went out drinking and, if I did, I only had a couple.
b) Thank God for Tescos Value. Cheap pasta and tomato dinners with veg-various and meat on special occasions.
c) Got a part-time job for 10 hours a week during evenings and weekends.

This meant I could afford a lesson every week or two. I got my PPL in 18 months and around 55 hours.
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Old 15th Jun 2006, 22:58
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Actually, it's even easier than all that. Just decide you're going to do it. Once you do that, the ways and means become obvious. Until you do that, they'll completely elude you.

Basically, what Aerbabe said.

Pitts2112
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Old 15th Jun 2006, 23:09
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How to Pay for your PPL

1. Cash
2. Cheque
3. Debit / Credit card

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Old 16th Jun 2006, 07:56
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There is always Plan B

1. Wait until you are middle aged
2. Pay off mortgage
3. Learn to fly

It worked for me!
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Old 16th Jun 2006, 08:06
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Like Pitts Said if you want something badly enough, you will find ways.
I am young, and could not afford to pay, but i reliazed that i pay heaps to play soccer every weekend, with this in my mind i figured that the refs are getting paid heaps - Even for Juniors and womens.
Solution become a ref and give up my Weekends running around fields. Now can afford to fly once every 2 weeks.
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Old 16th Jun 2006, 08:15
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Give him/her a break.
At 15 years old, most people will struggle without affluent parents.
Not many opportunities at that age for a part time job to fund flying.
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Old 16th Jun 2006, 08:24
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St. Helier

Sorry if i sounded like i was having a go at you. Just saying that wierd jobs can some times pay more than the average part time jobs.

Bahn Jeaux

I am only 16 and admit that if money doesn't flow for a week or two, it is really nice if parents can help out.
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Old 16th Jun 2006, 08:51
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Thumbs up wow

I am really sorry St Helier people here seem to have given you a hard time
OK giving them credit some of it is true SO here are your options

You can go to the USA and do it there YES it is cheaper I did mine there and believe me there are NO landing fees, touch and goes are Free, you will have lots of fun I did but I did my PPL in 4 weeks I flew every day twice a day and studied for my exams all night.
If you can do your exams in the UK then go to the US and concentrate on flying you will be OK.
It cost me about £3000 for the flying and exams then i had to pay for accommodation which was $60 US per night for 3 weeks, food and stuff is cheap out there but is not a good as the UK. I would reccommend Florida Naples Air.

Another Option is Malta if you can't go to the US they are great out there I am doing hours building, talk to a guy called Bent at Blue Air they have a school in Denmark too if you want to do your night rating at the same time as your PPL which I strongly advise. It's cheap, and the planes are in great condition, stick with a 152 do not upgrade !!! If you buy blocks its cheap, and if you pay per hour its about 150 EUROS including instructor, landing fees, VAT and your briefing !!!!! Accommodation in Malta is about 30 Euros per night ,, you'll have to work like a dog but you can do it !!! It's beautiful too !!! It takes about 3 weeks if you do it every day from 0 hours.

Look around and talk to pilots who have done it, go to the Thistle on the 23rd Sep and talk to recently qualifed students ask them how they did it ,, I have met loads of PPL students who did the funniest things to save money and they got there in the end,, the thing is don't give up ,, you can do it just keep focused, shop around and talk to PPL students (GAT BASH http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=204302
)
All the best
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Old 16th Jun 2006, 09:00
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P.S.

P.S. I moved from Jersey I am from St Saviours as flying there is EXPENSIVE
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Old 16th Jun 2006, 14:34
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Get your parents to pay for it thats what im doing its great
although your parents may not have the money so save up and if you want it cheep pay it all up front although many argue this is a bad idea if you know the club is good then as far as I see it there isnt any problem.
And get to know people at the club its good to get free tuition even if you cant log it you can still use it so that when you do fly you can add it to what you already know
David
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Old 16th Jun 2006, 16:33
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It's still the wrong question (assuming that you don't want to get a PPL just for box ticking and never fly again).

The right question is: how will you pay to keep flying afterwards?

Getting the PPL itself is a one-off capital cost. You just borrow the money. Many people simply wouldn't notice the extra interest from adding £6k or whatever to the mortgage, given today's house prices. Even if your only route to getting your hands on £6k is a personal loan at 20% that's still only around £23 per week interest, and you can get that doing a paper round these days.

So the interest on the capital you borrowed to do the PPL is lots less than you're going to be spending to keep flying.
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Old 16th Jun 2006, 16:56
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15 year olds can get a 6,000 pound loan? Things have changed since the last time I lived in Britain.

Maybe I am being dim, but if you're 15 and presumably staying on in school for a bit, how about the air cadets?

http://www.aircadets.org/

It's something to do in your spare time, other than hard drugs, orgies and violence, or whatever it is the yoof are into these days. Of course I have no idea how much seat time you actually get with them. Their website does claim the following:

"There are also exciting opportunities for cadets to learn how to fly, with scholarships for both powered flight and gliding. In general, every cadet will be given opportunities to fly during their time as an active member of an ATC or CCF squadron."

Just make sure you don't sign the wrong bit of paper and end up shoveling s*** and unexploded ordinance in Basra.



Originally Posted by Gertrude the Wombat
It's still the wrong question (assuming that you don't want to get a PPL just for box ticking and never fly again).

The right question is: how will you pay to keep flying afterwards?

Getting the PPL itself is a one-off capital cost. You just borrow the money. Many people simply wouldn't notice the extra interest from adding £6k or whatever to the mortgage, given today's house prices. Even if your only route to getting your hands on £6k is a personal loan at 20% that's still only around £23 per week interest, and you can get that doing a paper round these days.

So the interest on the capital you borrowed to do the PPL is lots less than you're going to be spending to keep flying.
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Old 16th Jun 2006, 18:00
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I’m not to certain how the whole banking system works, but the "pay £23 a week" at first seems a good idea, but thinking about it doesn’t seem to be overly beneficial. I for one am planning to go to University after sixth form and the extra cost of helping to contribute for the fees and paying for the £6000 seem very daunting.

My suggestion is simply pay the money when you get it (like I am) and I overall get £80-£85 a month towards lessons, simply by delivering a few newspapers daily. Unluckily, I don’t get much funding from my parents and have to pay for the majority of the course.

Simply ask a local newsagents if they have a spare round (they often do as my "Boss" does some of the papers himself, and will be more than happy to pay someone a couple of a pound a week, so he can get a few extra hours "kip"). Soon, I will be taking on an extra round which will bring in an £184 a month (not including funding from parents). Not bad for a part time eh? That’s approximately 2 lessons a month (one every two weeks).

Unfortunately, working isn’t easy (much to my horror) and often requires a lot of lost sleep. But keep telling yourself “I will get there!” And you will,(Eventually).

I have to echo what others have said, there are part-time jobs out there, and you simply have to look for them!
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Old 16th Jun 2006, 18:18
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Originally Posted by AerBabe
I don't believe anyone who says they can't afford it;

I don't believe anyone who says they CAN afford it. Paying a couple of pounds a minute for flying is just something you have to do until you've got it out of your system.
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Old 17th Jun 2006, 09:41
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15 and can't afford a PPL

The Air Cadets as above is a good idea, Her Majesty has got loads of aeroplanes.

Also, why not think about gliding. Sure, it's not for me, I like to take at least one engine with me each time I get airborne but many don't.

It's cheap and I'm sure it'll teach you a lot that you couldn't get elsewhere.

You can always then get a NPPL (SLMG) quite cheaply, swap that for an NPPL (SSEA) and you've got a PPL.

Another tip form an oldie - enjoy the journey, don't worry about where you're going (that's a general life tip and not necessarily a Nav tip).
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Old 17th Jun 2006, 10:35
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St Helier,

1) Have you looked into applying to organisations such as GAPAN, RAFA and Air League? All have scholarships and bursaries available to young people like you. The Air Cadets is a very good suggestion, they offer flying and gliding scholarships to their members as well as a BTEC in aviation studies.

2) A quick google will reveal that some flying and gliding clubs in the UK offer scholarships to young people. Contact thse clubs, pay them a visit and find out what might be on offer.

3) Join your local flying club. If you can't afford to pay for flying training then join as a social member, the people you will meet will have much to offer. Most pilots enjoy flying keen young people and often a quick hand with re-fuelling or help washing the aircraft is payment enough.

4) Send a CV to the flying clubs in your area offering assistance or part time work. Again there could be spare seats available and the experience will be good (not to mention the extra money you could earn).

5) As J.A.F.O mentioned earlier, gliding can be a very enjoyable and inexpensive way of getting into the air. Junior memberships and discounted flying rates for young people are available at most gliding clubs.

6) Don't waste money having to re-sit exams, study thoroughly and practice exam papers as much as you can before sitting the real one.

Stick with it and have as much fun as you can on the way.
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Old 17th Jun 2006, 10:36
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Originally Posted by Dr Jekyll
I don't believe anyone who says they CAN afford it. Paying a couple of pounds a minute for flying is just something you have to do until you've got it out of your system.
I haven't borrowed a penny so far and I have been flying up to 3 times a week when the weather is good.
I'm working 2 jobs, 6/7 days a week, no summer holidays, no big nights out, no fancy clothes. The wardrobe of a high street shopper is probably worth more than a PPL.
And speaking about keeping your PPL current once you got it... well most flying clubs sell packages.. you can get 10 hours for little over 700 quid, which is not too bad. One can certainly afford that a couple of times a year !
Again, it's a matter of priorities. I don't intend to work 7 days a week for the rest of my life, but for now is an investment which is worth a try. I wasn't lucky enough or smart enough to get into aviation when I was younger, when I could have had parents' support. I discovered it too late so I have to work a little harder at it.
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