Time taken to complete PPL within UK
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Time taken to complete PPL within UK
Hi All
I understand that this question is subjective but I am interested in other people's experiences in completing the PPL.
I am looking to begin flight training in April/May next year and have looked at a range of schools in the UK and US. I understand that there +/- points for each one but how long it has taken individuals to gain their PPL within the UK??? Did the weather significantly affect your training??? In the UK, I would be doing most of the flying at weekends.
Kind Regards
Social
I understand that this question is subjective but I am interested in other people's experiences in completing the PPL.
I am looking to begin flight training in April/May next year and have looked at a range of schools in the UK and US. I understand that there +/- points for each one but how long it has taken individuals to gain their PPL within the UK??? Did the weather significantly affect your training??? In the UK, I would be doing most of the flying at weekends.
Kind Regards
Social
Fly Conventional Gear
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Flying on average about one hour per week I completed my PPL in almost exactly a year. The weather was a problem during the winter, I sometimes went for three weeks without flying, although in the run up to going solo I managed to get flying on a more regular basis.
By the way I'm not sure I'd recommend doing a JAA PPL in the US, the flying is great out there but personally I think if you're doing a licence that's to be used in the UK then it should be done in the UK.
By the way I'm not sure I'd recommend doing a JAA PPL in the US, the flying is great out there but personally I think if you're doing a licence that's to be used in the UK then it should be done in the UK.
Upto The Buffers
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Did mine commencing Jan '06. Took 4 months total. Weather was terrible until late March. Booked 4 or 5 lessons per week and usually flew 2 or 3. The continuity helped a lot and I passed in 45hrs.
The USA route might look attractive, but you ideally need to do all the exams and R/T license before you go. Also, by the time you've paid for flights there/back, sorted out a visa and all the hassle that goes with it, then had to do some more lessons back in the UK to get used to proper weather and R/T you might not find it as cheap as it initially seems.
The USA route might look attractive, but you ideally need to do all the exams and R/T license before you go. Also, by the time you've paid for flights there/back, sorted out a visa and all the hassle that goes with it, then had to do some more lessons back in the UK to get used to proper weather and R/T you might not find it as cheap as it initially seems.
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I would also caution the US route. We have had a number of people at the club over the last few years who have done their training in the US either a JAA licence or a FAA one.
They have in general needed a large number of hours dual before they were safe to fly solo. The flying environment is just totally different. Unused to grass and in need of the comfort of runway lengths we just do not have. That plus the weather and different R/T makes for them an often unexpected conversion period.
Let me be clear, I'm not in any way knocking US instruction and training, but they are doing it on a large continent and we fly from a small island.
They have in general needed a large number of hours dual before they were safe to fly solo. The flying environment is just totally different. Unused to grass and in need of the comfort of runway lengths we just do not have. That plus the weather and different R/T makes for them an often unexpected conversion period.
Let me be clear, I'm not in any way knocking US instruction and training, but they are doing it on a large continent and we fly from a small island.
Fly Conventional Gear
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For IR training I would recommend the US, purely because the access to approaches is so much better.
But for PPL training the US route is not so good.
But for PPL training the US route is not so good.
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Another point.....I do not know why you want a PPL but it is the case that the drop out rate after gaining a licence is very high.
I suggest that it makes sense not to focus on the licence itself but on the flying.
If you have lessons at the rate that you can afford to sustain as a hirer after you have the licence you will not get the 'financial hangover' that stops many from flying for a while after qualification. They then get into the perpetual check situation because they are never current on the occasions they can afford to fly, it all becomes soul destroying and they give up.
If you want to be involved in flying then at a good club you will be, and will feel to be, as soon as you begin to learn. And you will continue to be for as long as you want because you can afford what you are doing in a sustainable way. Solo will arrive; cross country and eventually a licence. You then just carry on.
I suggest that it makes sense not to focus on the licence itself but on the flying.
If you have lessons at the rate that you can afford to sustain as a hirer after you have the licence you will not get the 'financial hangover' that stops many from flying for a while after qualification. They then get into the perpetual check situation because they are never current on the occasions they can afford to fly, it all becomes soul destroying and they give up.
If you want to be involved in flying then at a good club you will be, and will feel to be, as soon as you begin to learn. And you will continue to be for as long as you want because you can afford what you are doing in a sustainable way. Solo will arrive; cross country and eventually a licence. You then just carry on.
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I've done the PPL for the fun of flying rather than as a route to the airlines so I took my time over the course and also found the weather interrupted my progress many times. Took just over 60 hours during 18 months of training to get the licence and I now have 85 hours total time. I can see the sense in ploughing in through the PPL on the way to something else but if it's not going to be your career what's the rush?
As one instructor said to me: "It's all about the flying." The cost of hiring the aircraft for the average PPL is only going to be a little bit cheaper than flying dual with your instructor so I found that passing the test was my almost my secondary concern by the time I was ready. It was just another fun sortie with a bit of added pressure.
Since passing I've tried out a few very different aircraft and I'm now investigating a group to try and bring the cost down in future. I would say the training is one of most fun things I've ever done so I wouldn't be in a hurry. It's something to savour.
Lunchmaster
As one instructor said to me: "It's all about the flying." The cost of hiring the aircraft for the average PPL is only going to be a little bit cheaper than flying dual with your instructor so I found that passing the test was my almost my secondary concern by the time I was ready. It was just another fun sortie with a bit of added pressure.
Since passing I've tried out a few very different aircraft and I'm now investigating a group to try and bring the cost down in future. I would say the training is one of most fun things I've ever done so I wouldn't be in a hurry. It's something to savour.
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Contacttower.. do you have an IR?
Im not sure what your getting at with that remark..
Theres plenty of facilities in the Uk and if you go galloping of to the states to do your instrument rating you'll need to do a conversion to use it in the Uk, so whats the point?!
By the time youve paid airfares, hotels etc and cost of the conversion you may aswell have stayed home and done it on your doorstep!
DPT
Im not sure what your getting at with that remark..
Theres plenty of facilities in the Uk and if you go galloping of to the states to do your instrument rating you'll need to do a conversion to use it in the Uk, so whats the point?!
By the time youve paid airfares, hotels etc and cost of the conversion you may aswell have stayed home and done it on your doorstep!
DPT
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I did my PPL in the summer just past, It was full time and still took 3 months becasue although we had some good weather this summer, there was a lot of appauling weather too. I literally spent over half of those 3 months on the ground. Plus I don't think I had the most organised school in the world either.
Fly Conventional Gear
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Im not sure what your getting at with that remark..
Theres plenty of facilities in the Uk and if you go galloping of to the states to do your instrument rating you'll need to do a conversion to use it in the Uk, so whats the point?!
Theres plenty of facilities in the Uk and if you go galloping of to the states to do your instrument rating you'll need to do a conversion to use it in the Uk, so whats the point?!
True if you want a JAA IR then it has to be done in the UK but there are a lot of people flying N reg with FAA IRs in the UK so your comment that you need to convert the IR isn't completely accurate.
All I was saying was that licencing issues aside as a pure training enviroment for instrument flying the US is better.
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Contacttower...
My point is simply that You cannot compare the IR training in Busy Uk airspace with the 'empty' uncluttered skys over the majority of the US and unless you happen to know somebody with an N Reg you WILL have to get a conversion.
If however cash is more important and you'd rather save a few quid and get yr approaches at exactly the time you want then go ahead.. have a nice day!!
DPT
Edit.. If the US is 'better' why is a conversion required???
My point is simply that You cannot compare the IR training in Busy Uk airspace with the 'empty' uncluttered skys over the majority of the US and unless you happen to know somebody with an N Reg you WILL have to get a conversion.
If however cash is more important and you'd rather save a few quid and get yr approaches at exactly the time you want then go ahead.. have a nice day!!
DPT
Edit.. If the US is 'better' why is a conversion required???
Fly Conventional Gear
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My point is simply that You cannot compare the IR training in Busy Uk airspace with the 'empty' uncluttered skys over the majority of the US and unless you happen to know somebody with an N Reg you WILL have to get a conversion.
You are of course right about the N reg and the current N reg situation could change for the worse in the future.
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Back to the original question!
I did my trial lesson in Feb '82 and got my PPL in Jul '83, so about 18 months and almost 60 hours. I was a shiftworker at the time but was only able to fly at weekends so there were unavailable days for that reason as well as the usual wx etc problems. It seemed about the right pace and I do like the idea of pacing it at a rate you'd expect to hire at, hadn't heard of that one before, excellent concept, well done tiger!
TheOddOne
TheOddOne
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Edit.. If the US is 'better' why is a conversion required
Maybe because it is a different country....???
As to high density traffic......England is not the only place on earth that has high density traffic...unless you mean illegal immigrants.
Maybe because it is a different country....???
As to high density traffic......England is not the only place on earth that has high density traffic...unless you mean illegal immigrants.
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I learnt at BAFC at high wycombe and went in and out from central London on my scooter 1 or 2 times a week. 1st summer I went solo and then I stopped all lessons then until the following spring - as the weather seemed to conspire against any consistancy. The following summer I got my PPL and came through in about 50hrs.
By contrast, most of the folks who have trained in S/Africa or USA seem to come back from their crash course with part of the sylabus incomplete - Usually the navigation - and seem to need at least 10 hrs to adjust to the rather more restricted environment that is the UK.
Do it here, you'll enjoy it. Don't rush it either - unless you have a pressing need - it's part of the fun.
By contrast, most of the folks who have trained in S/Africa or USA seem to come back from their crash course with part of the sylabus incomplete - Usually the navigation - and seem to need at least 10 hrs to adjust to the rather more restricted environment that is the UK.
Do it here, you'll enjoy it. Don't rush it either - unless you have a pressing need - it's part of the fun.
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but how long it has taken individuals to gain their PPL within the UK???
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Chuck... Just for the record, it wasnt me that initially said the training was 'better' one place or the other... Your quoting a quote.
Also, I didnt say the uk was the only place with congested airspace... Hoooowwwever, I would argue that UK airspace IS generally far busier than the majority of US airspace and would suggest that anybody who claims otherwise is simply looking for an argument.
Getting to the point of the thread though.. (sorry mod
) I started my PPL in the Uk and after many weeks of weather related delays I took myself out to the states and completed it there.. bloody good fun it was too!!
My head hurts now!!
DPT
Also, I didnt say the uk was the only place with congested airspace... Hoooowwwever, I would argue that UK airspace IS generally far busier than the majority of US airspace and would suggest that anybody who claims otherwise is simply looking for an argument.
Getting to the point of the thread though.. (sorry mod
) I started my PPL in the Uk and after many weeks of weather related delays I took myself out to the states and completed it there.. bloody good fun it was too!!My head hurts now!!
DPT
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BRL said
Anything for you BRL 
First got into a light aircraft 2 years ago.......High 80's in terms of total hours - Did my QXC Thursday - so still going - but getting there!!.
Hours include 11 1/2 hours aeros in Bulldogs and a Super Decathlon in the UK and Florida (was on holiday and couldn't resist a throw about
)
The rest has been in the UK - in a Bus (Ooops sorry! -A PA28 Warrior 161
) - apart from a quick wizz about in a Tecnam the other week.
I know I've done numerous hours which DIDN'T ADD specifically to my training..... but my poor old instructor couldn't keep me on the ground - I don't think he knows what to do with a sulking female. I'd rather be up playing.... even in the circuit 
.... rather than stay on the ground and save my money for better conditions.
I've been up with friends in Luscombes, Warriors and a Seneca and think I've learned a lot from watching them flying - whilst I navigated or did the RT.
I'm not doing it for an immediate career move (maybe FI one day) - I'm having great FUN & made LOTS of friends!!!!!
Quote:
but how long it has taken individuals to gain their PPL within the UK???
Can we just not answer the question without going all around the houses for once........
but how long it has taken individuals to gain their PPL within the UK???
Can we just not answer the question without going all around the houses for once........
First got into a light aircraft 2 years ago.......High 80's in terms of total hours - Did my QXC Thursday - so still going
- but getting there!!.Hours include 11 1/2 hours aeros in Bulldogs and a Super Decathlon in the UK and Florida (was on holiday and couldn't resist a throw about
)The rest has been in the UK - in a Bus (Ooops sorry! -A PA28 Warrior 161
) - apart from a quick wizz about in a Tecnam the other week.I know I've done numerous hours which DIDN'T ADD specifically to my training..... but my poor old instructor couldn't keep me on the ground - I don't think he knows what to do with a sulking female
. I'd rather be up playing.... even in the circuit .... rather than stay on the ground and save my money for better conditions.I've been up with friends in Luscombes, Warriors and a Seneca and think I've learned a lot from watching them flying - whilst I navigated
or did the RT.I'm not doing it for an immediate career move (maybe FI one day) - I'm having great FUN & made LOTS of friends!!!!!
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11 weeks. June-August 1983. C150, 3 different instructors. Brilliant weather, and I can still remember the first solo grin like it was yesterday.
Good luck, socialsec1 and enjoy your flying
Good luck, socialsec1 and enjoy your flying
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I would also warn people about going the USA route.
I did most of my training over in the USA and enjoyed every single minute of it. Now that I'm flying back here in the UK nothing seems to measure up to the flying over there (for me at least) and many things are disappointing and fustrating. I would never have experienced the choice of many hundreds of airfields and strips, the lack of controlled airspace, no landing fees, airport courtesy cars, self service pumps, super friendly FBOs, etc.
If I hadn't gone the USA route I'd probably be a lot more content with the UK GA scene.
I did most of my training over in the USA and enjoyed every single minute of it. Now that I'm flying back here in the UK nothing seems to measure up to the flying over there (for me at least) and many things are disappointing and fustrating. I would never have experienced the choice of many hundreds of airfields and strips, the lack of controlled airspace, no landing fees, airport courtesy cars, self service pumps, super friendly FBOs, etc.
If I hadn't gone the USA route I'd probably be a lot more content with the UK GA scene.