What should I do?
Join Date: Sep 2007
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littleflyer,
Dont join the ATC to get 'free flying' i've just left after being in cadets for 3 years. The ATC is financed for 20mins flying per cadet a year, and believe me they stick to it. Not only that you'll probly pay about £70 a year in subs, so is it really worth it? My answer...no.
Dont join the ATC to get 'free flying' i've just left after being in cadets for 3 years. The ATC is financed for 20mins flying per cadet a year, and believe me they stick to it. Not only that you'll probly pay about £70 a year in subs, so is it really worth it? My answer...no.
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Pedant Alert!!
If your postings are anything to go by (and by that I mean your spelling, syntaxe and grammar are better than many three times your age on here), you will succeed in your aspirations.
May I commend to you the Flyer Forum (based on Flyer magazine) http://forums.flyer.co.uk : there is a dedicated section for student pilots where you can read about people at all stages of their flying/learning careers.
May I commend to you the Flyer Forum (based on Flyer magazine) http://forums.flyer.co.uk : there is a dedicated section for student pilots where you can read about people at all stages of their flying/learning careers.
Join Date: Jan 2001
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I am delighted you are so keen to learn to fly and wish you all the best. May I just ask one small question? Are you only just 14 or nearly 15? The reason I ask this is because I have a nasty feeling the validity of your written exams could expire before you can legally have your PPL. As far as I know they are only valid up to two years before they have to be retaken if you have not gained your PPL by then. As you can't have your licence until your 17th birthday this is a bit of a worry. Please check carefully with your FI as I would hate you to have to spend more money (and take more of those exams) than necessary.
There was a thread recently about the Air Training Corps where many people told of their experiences, do have a look at it. If you decide to go to University then DO join the UAS (University Air Squadron)
There was a thread recently about the Air Training Corps where many people told of their experiences, do have a look at it. If you decide to go to University then DO join the UAS (University Air Squadron)
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See if you can help out at your local airfield, unpaid at first and then maybe for some small remuneration once you are 16 (many companies insurance will not let them employ people under 16). Even if its just cleaning aircraft, answering the phone, refuelling etc. If you are responsible then and trustworthy then they will encourage you and probably let you have some free flights etc. It will also give you a chance to find out more about flying and where your interest lies.
Doing well at GCSEs and A levels cannot do any harm either.
Doing well at GCSEs and A levels cannot do any harm either.
DX Wombat - even if littleflyer passed all except one exam on her 14th birthday and the final one when she's 15 years and 6 months old (i.e., passed them all in an 18 month period), they'd be valid for licence issue until she was 17 years and 6 months old.
But what she mustn't do is to pass them ALL before she's at least 15. Otherwise they would have lasped by the time she could apply for her PPL.
All exams must be passed within an 18 month window.
They are then valid for licence issue for 24 months from the date of passing the last exam.
But what she mustn't do is to pass them ALL before she's at least 15. Otherwise they would have lasped by the time she could apply for her PPL.
All exams must be passed within an 18 month window.
They are then valid for licence issue for 24 months from the date of passing the last exam.
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When is the end?
BEagle
You raise the interesting point, that is; 24 months from the last succesful exam. This would seem unfair although you are, of course, correct. Should the student complete their exams within 6 months they have a further 2 years. A total of two years and 6 months. But, should they take the full 18 months for the writtens then they have 3 years and 6 months to complete. A full year longer. Bloody stupid!
You raise the interesting point, that is; 24 months from the last succesful exam. This would seem unfair although you are, of course, correct. Should the student complete their exams within 6 months they have a further 2 years. A total of two years and 6 months. But, should they take the full 18 months for the writtens then they have 3 years and 6 months to complete. A full year longer. Bloody stupid!
Join Date: Apr 2002
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The UASs
Hi DX Wombat,
I thought I heard some short time ago that the university air squadrons were to be axed, the RAF having finally realised that very few Ex UAS graduates actually join the Air Force. Am I wrong?
Broomstick.
I thought I heard some short time ago that the university air squadrons were to be axed, the RAF having finally realised that very few Ex UAS graduates actually join the Air Force. Am I wrong?
Broomstick.
Join Date: Jan 2001
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Thanks BEagle - I'm glad I was wrong. 
Broomstick - I don't know and unfortunately I can't contact my usual source of such information at the moment, but BEagle might know. - By the way, with regard to your Username - have you ever seen those brilliant, radio-controlled microlights which are witches on broomsticks complete with black cat rudder? Watching them skimming along just above hedge height at Rufforth a few years ago must have given some passing motorists quite a funny turn.
This isn't one of the ones I saw but it gives you a good idea.
Broomstick - I don't know and unfortunately I can't contact my usual source of such information at the moment, but BEagle might know. - By the way, with regard to your Username - have you ever seen those brilliant, radio-controlled microlights which are witches on broomsticks complete with black cat rudder? Watching them skimming along just above hedge height at Rufforth a few years ago must have given some passing motorists quite a funny turn.
This isn't one of the ones I saw but it gives you a good idea.
Join Date: Apr 2002
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Honest! It wasn't me!
Hi DX Wombat,
It wasn't me in that picture! Honest!
No, this is the first I have ever heard of these. Aren't they a hoot?
I notice the cat part is right at the back of the aircraft. This is good because flying with a cat on your broomstick can be a pain: they are apt to get ideas above their station.
The other day, after our usual sortie scattering wicked spells over Slough, (John Betjeman was right about that place,) we were flying home over Eaton College. My cat asked if I would send him there one day to get himself an education in magic so he could be a witch like me. ‘Turned out he thought it was Hogwarts. I take his point about the appearance of the place: there is a certain similarity. But Eaton College is Eaton College, not Hogwarts; and believe me, Guys, aint nuthin’ magic ever come out of that place!
Broomstick.
It wasn't me in that picture! Honest!
No, this is the first I have ever heard of these. Aren't they a hoot?
I notice the cat part is right at the back of the aircraft. This is good because flying with a cat on your broomstick can be a pain: they are apt to get ideas above their station.
The other day, after our usual sortie scattering wicked spells over Slough, (John Betjeman was right about that place,) we were flying home over Eaton College. My cat asked if I would send him there one day to get himself an education in magic so he could be a witch like me. ‘Turned out he thought it was Hogwarts. I take his point about the appearance of the place: there is a certain similarity. But Eaton College is Eaton College, not Hogwarts; and believe me, Guys, aint nuthin’ magic ever come out of that place!
Broomstick.
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Hey people.
Dont worry as I have already read about the exam time limit and I have left Navigation and Flight Planning until next year when I will be working towards my corss country and solo so it will be of more practical. You are all very assertive here on Pprune.
I am quite surprised that I appear to be a good speller as that would usually be my down fall.
Thx again!
_Little-Flyer_
Dont worry as I have already read about the exam time limit and I have left Navigation and Flight Planning until next year when I will be working towards my corss country and solo so it will be of more practical. You are all very assertive here on Pprune.
I am quite surprised that I appear to be a good speller as that would usually be my down fall.
Thx again!
_Little-Flyer_
It's not mandatory to pass them though!
CG
More seriously, pupils can choose the level of commitment to science: single science is a bit of everything, not a lot; double is 'two GCSEs worth'; whilst triple science is the Chem, Biol and Phys that oldies remember.
CG
More seriously, pupils can choose the level of commitment to science: single science is a bit of everything, not a lot; double is 'two GCSEs worth'; whilst triple science is the Chem, Biol and Phys that oldies remember.
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In my school the 'more able' pupils do 'higher' science worth 2 GCSE's, and the 'less able' do the lower which is 1 GCSE.
I am doing the higher one and all ready have 1 GCSE in it (A). It is a bit of everything.
I am doing the higher one and all ready have 1 GCSE in it (A). It is a bit of everything.
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Absolutely no criticism of you, SAM-man, but your school is letting you down badly. It's not the only one.
Single or double award GCSE science isn't really up to scratch for the brighter pupils. You should be able to do three separate sciences at that sort of level. Unfortunately most schools don't have the resources or timetable space to teach them. Or, like most independent schools, they don't want to teach them because if the bright pupils do double award, they all get A*s, whereas if they did three separate ones, they would learn more but might get As or even (heaven forbid) Bs, pushing the school down the league tables.
Not done in the interests of the pupils, but of the senior management team getting their promotions/pay rises.
Tim
Single or double award GCSE science isn't really up to scratch for the brighter pupils. You should be able to do three separate sciences at that sort of level. Unfortunately most schools don't have the resources or timetable space to teach them. Or, like most independent schools, they don't want to teach them because if the bright pupils do double award, they all get A*s, whereas if they did three separate ones, they would learn more but might get As or even (heaven forbid) Bs, pushing the school down the league tables.
Not done in the interests of the pupils, but of the senior management team getting their promotions/pay rises.
Tim
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Personally i prefer what we do now, much easier.
30% of the final GCSE is from tests we do in class (we do 12 tests all together. 4 biology, 4 chemistry, 4 physics. The best one out of the 4 gets put forward). 40% is from tests we do in the 'hall', multiple choice (we get the chance to retake if we mess up) and the other 10% is from 'assessment grades' which the teacher marks us on... (well, you can imagine what we all get...)
So personally it works out better for me.
30% of the final GCSE is from tests we do in class (we do 12 tests all together. 4 biology, 4 chemistry, 4 physics. The best one out of the 4 gets put forward). 40% is from tests we do in the 'hall', multiple choice (we get the chance to retake if we mess up) and the other 10% is from 'assessment grades' which the teacher marks us on... (well, you can imagine what we all get...)
So personally it works out better for me.
Join Date: Jan 2001
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Sam, I hope you realise you have just fuelled the fires of those who claim that the stand of today's GCSE qualification is not just decreasing but plummeting. 
I just learn what i have to learn, and try my best
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But, Sam-MAN, it doesn't work out better for you at all. Easier, yes. Better, no.
All that will happen is that your knowledge of science will be poor. So, when you do a job (or a PPL) which requires sound scientific knowledge, you won't have it, and you will have a much harder job doing it (or will lose out to someone better educated, e.g. an immigrant...)
Tim
All that will happen is that your knowledge of science will be poor. So, when you do a job (or a PPL) which requires sound scientific knowledge, you won't have it, and you will have a much harder job doing it (or will lose out to someone better educated, e.g. an immigrant...)
Tim