What "extras" will I need for my PPL?
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What "extras" will I need for my PPL?
Hi everyone, I just had my first lesson towards my PPL yesterday at Stapleford and found the whole experience just amazing. I am just interested as to what "extras" such as log books, check lists, headsets etc I will have to purchase? My instructor asked me to get my own headset but Ive been looking around and am slightly confused about the subject of active/passive headsets - what's the difference? Could anyone suggest a good headset for around the £140 mark?
Thanks in advance for any help
Thanks in advance for any help
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Asking which headset is a bit like asking which car - but there are two main players in the £140 area, David Clark and Peltor. The Clarks are industry standard, and you can buy lots of clones at various prices, I personally thought they were rather uncomfortable, and have had the same Peltors for many years. I picked them by going to Transair and trying on all the ones they had. I think that's the best thing to do.
Bernie
Bernie
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Basically ANR (active headsets) have a series of small microphones, which pick up ambient noise and cancel it out. Passive headsets have big gel cups which clamp down around the outside of your ear, these block out the noise this way. Cant go wrong with a David Clark, even if it is a bit past £140. David Clark H10-30 Headset
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Headsets can generally be picked up cheaper off of ebay. I bought my David Clark a couple of years ago and haven't had any problems with it at all. Have flown for around 3 to 4 hours a day in it without problems.
Getting the ENC \ ANR version was a bit of a waste of cash.
Although the "Rolls Royce" of the headset world seems to be the Bose-X.
Rough list of stuff
Books - you'll be best off going with what your school recommends either Jeremy Pratt or Trevor Thorn
Headset - has been done to death before on here, David Clarks seem "industry standard"
Bag - for all of your stuff
Map - aviation chart. Make sure you have the current one
Nav. stuff - ruler, protractor & pens (ohp type)
Knee board - any type will do
Watch - any type
High vis jacket - might not need it for training but at some point you will
Log book - for recording all of your time in
PLOG book - you can print them out yourself but I use the transair one
Whizz wheel - you'll get used to this in the end
That's about it, imho
Getting the ENC \ ANR version was a bit of a waste of cash.
Although the "Rolls Royce" of the headset world seems to be the Bose-X.
Rough list of stuff
Books - you'll be best off going with what your school recommends either Jeremy Pratt or Trevor Thorn
Headset - has been done to death before on here, David Clarks seem "industry standard"
Bag - for all of your stuff
Map - aviation chart. Make sure you have the current one
Nav. stuff - ruler, protractor & pens (ohp type)
Knee board - any type will do
Watch - any type
High vis jacket - might not need it for training but at some point you will
Log book - for recording all of your time in
PLOG book - you can print them out yourself but I use the transair one
Whizz wheel - you'll get used to this in the end
That's about it, imho
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AJ,
save your money.
get a log book ( as you need to log each flight and your instructor will show you how to start ) and the first text book..( i know what i would recommend but ask your instructor what he wants you to use ).
it is best to read the lesson you have completed for the day at home when it has time to sink in...and then the next one you are going to your instructor should tell you each time what you will be doing next lesson. some lessons are repeated ( depending on ability ) ...and some are repeated many times ( like takes offs and landings ).
sounds to me a bit unfair that you are asked to go to the expense of a set of earphones at your stage. the training outfit usually provides these . any outfit i ever instructed in provided them for its students.
not everybody finds that they like it
..( sounds like you're not in that group ), and not everybody finishes the course 
so i would keep the expense to a minimum at this stage. things like a computer for navigation and the next text book i would leave for the moment.
stick to the basics of how to fly at this stage so as not to get confused.
good luck and enjoy...
the dean.
save your money.
get a log book ( as you need to log each flight and your instructor will show you how to start ) and the first text book..( i know what i would recommend but ask your instructor what he wants you to use ).
it is best to read the lesson you have completed for the day at home when it has time to sink in...and then the next one you are going to your instructor should tell you each time what you will be doing next lesson. some lessons are repeated ( depending on ability ) ...and some are repeated many times ( like takes offs and landings ).
sounds to me a bit unfair that you are asked to go to the expense of a set of earphones at your stage. the training outfit usually provides these . any outfit i ever instructed in provided them for its students.
not everybody finds that they like it
..( sounds like you're not in that group ), and not everybody finishes the course so i would keep the expense to a minimum at this stage. things like a computer for navigation and the next text book i would leave for the moment. stick to the basics of how to fly at this stage so as not to get confused.
good luck and enjoy...
the dean.
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AJ,
Peltor are excellent value for money,I preferred using my own headset almost immediatley,I ended up with Pilot ANR and am very happy with them over last 3 years but Peltor are one of the best passive sets around.
There is loads of stuff about this subject on here and few agree with each other!
Your instructor should point you in the way of everything you need and I expect Stapleford stocks most of it.
Try to keep ahead with the ground school and knock them off one after the other,again your instructor should tell you in which order.
Good luck.
Lister
Peltor are excellent value for money,I preferred using my own headset almost immediatley,I ended up with Pilot ANR and am very happy with them over last 3 years but Peltor are one of the best passive sets around.
There is loads of stuff about this subject on here and few agree with each other!
Your instructor should point you in the way of everything you need and I expect Stapleford stocks most of it.
Try to keep ahead with the ground school and knock them off one after the other,again your instructor should tell you in which order.
Good luck.
Lister
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Ive used a "generic" more or less unbranded set before and they have been fine really. I have to say though i have a pair of DC's now which are a lot nicer. Gel ear covers so they are comfortable and the noise reduction is great so you get excellent clarity through them
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Thanks for all the great advice! I was talking to the shop keeper at Stapleford recently and he told me to avoid the exams for the moment and to focus myself on the Flying element. When would you suggest making a start on the ground school side of things? I think that money will soon prove to be an issue as I'm funding my training myself, I just hope I can find a balance between what I can afford and maintaining regular lessons so that I can benefit from them the most.
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With respect to the exams, some of them are very relevant to the flying you are doing, while some are just relevant to flying full stop.
A lot of schools make you do Air Law before first solo. This isn't actually a legal requirement, but is probably good practice.
Navigation and Met are a lot easier once you have some practical experience, so I would focus on those later.
Human Performance is the easiest by far, so I would do Air Law 1st, then Human Performance so you have 2 exams under your belt quite quickly.
All the rest may be easier with practical experience, but not in a big way, so fit them in as you study for the others.
Once you start studying for exams, and you have chosen your textbooks (I used AFE, and found them to be quite good) buy a PPL confuser. It really helps with exam prep.
Good Luck.
RTN
A lot of schools make you do Air Law before first solo. This isn't actually a legal requirement, but is probably good practice.
Navigation and Met are a lot easier once you have some practical experience, so I would focus on those later.
Human Performance is the easiest by far, so I would do Air Law 1st, then Human Performance so you have 2 exams under your belt quite quickly.
All the rest may be easier with practical experience, but not in a big way, so fit them in as you study for the others.
Once you start studying for exams, and you have chosen your textbooks (I used AFE, and found them to be quite good) buy a PPL confuser. It really helps with exam prep.
Good Luck.
RTN
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Gerry, who runs Gerran Avaiation (the shop at Stapleford) is a very nice guy. It sounds as if he gave you the right advice i.e. just get what you really need at the moment.
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Ask the instructors at your FTO if any of them sell stuff or can get you discount via their accounts with suppliers. It's usually cheaper than buying it yourself online, or whatever.
I've saved a bundle doing that
I've saved a bundle doing that
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I think I might have seen you yesterday after your flight at Stapleford in reception, was your instructor a young guy with glasses, and did you have a red/black sweatshirt on ?.
Anyway, I've got the Telex Echelon headset which is one of the cheapest that Transair do (although I didn't get mine from them) and I've had it for over 3 years and it is fine. The only thing I've done is put some of those cotton ear covers on it, as the plastic covering the ear cups gets a little sweaty after a while
What you could do is start off with a cheaper one (much better to have your own than a loaner that has been on hundreds of heads ) then once you have your PPL and can carry passengers, you could upgrade to a better one and use the old one for your passenger.
I'd also echo the comments about getting the first Trevor Thom (or whatever it's called these days)book and reading through each lesson before and after you do it, so you know what to expect on each flight. You should be able to find one on Ebay to save a few quid, if not they are £20 from Transair.
Good luck and I'll probably see you around at EGSG !!.
Anyway, I've got the Telex Echelon headset which is one of the cheapest that Transair do (although I didn't get mine from them) and I've had it for over 3 years and it is fine. The only thing I've done is put some of those cotton ear covers on it, as the plastic covering the ear cups gets a little sweaty after a while
What you could do is start off with a cheaper one (much better to have your own than a loaner that has been on hundreds of heads
) then once you have your PPL and can carry passengers, you could upgrade to a better one and use the old one for your passenger.I'd also echo the comments about getting the first Trevor Thom (or whatever it's called these days)book and reading through each lesson before and after you do it, so you know what to expect on each flight. You should be able to find one on Ebay to save a few quid, if not they are £20 from Transair.
Good luck and I'll probably see you around at EGSG !!.
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I know it's a bit of a wait, but I bought my DC's from Transair in their January sale for only 20 quid more than ebay.
Amazon marketplace is good if you want brand new books cheap - i bought most of my Trevor Thoms from there - brand new, current editions way below retail price.
It's definitely a good idea to pace your purchases; anything relevant to aviation is always expensive!
Amazon marketplace is good if you want brand new books cheap - i bought most of my Trevor Thoms from there - brand new, current editions way below retail price.
It's definitely a good idea to pace your purchases; anything relevant to aviation is always expensive!
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I managed to buy all the Pratt books off ebay for between £4.50 and £13 each, all were either new or A1. Headset was a Pilot ANR for 120 ish off Ebay. There's no need to rush, hold off & a bargain will come along. On the other hand, you could say - £7000+ to learn, why worry about saving a tenner on a book & buy yourself a Bose-X for £600 I just get a small amount of satisfaction from getting a bargain!
I just get a small amount of satisfaction from getting a bargain!
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ive got my ppl books if your intrested and i fly from stapleford as well so am there more or less everyday.
appart from headsets and log book you will need a fuel dipstick, fuel drain, clip board, vfr chart, diversion ruler, time/airspeer ruler, CRP5 and one or two other things for your map.
you will enjoy it dont worry!
appart from headsets and log book you will need a fuel dipstick, fuel drain, clip board, vfr chart, diversion ruler, time/airspeer ruler, CRP5 and one or two other things for your map.
you will enjoy it dont worry!
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Bags
Hi AJ1990,
You do need a bag for your kit.
If you go to Argos, up unitil recently at least they have had a Pierre Cardin pilot case for £19.99 that is every bit as good as bags costing £35 at Transair.
When I was having flying lessons, I also found it convenient to leave the pilot case in the clubhouse while flying and take only the things I needed for the lesson (headset, kneeboard, chart, etc) to the aircraft. For this purpose, I used one of those Nike bags that you buy in the sport kit shops. Once in the aircraft and with all my various toys organised for the flight, the bag would be rolled up and put in my pocket.
Broomstick.
You do need a bag for your kit.
If you go to Argos, up unitil recently at least they have had a Pierre Cardin pilot case for £19.99 that is every bit as good as bags costing £35 at Transair.
When I was having flying lessons, I also found it convenient to leave the pilot case in the clubhouse while flying and take only the things I needed for the lesson (headset, kneeboard, chart, etc) to the aircraft. For this purpose, I used one of those Nike bags that you buy in the sport kit shops. Once in the aircraft and with all my various toys organised for the flight, the bag would be rolled up and put in my pocket.
Broomstick.
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Argos selling Pierre Cardin Pilot cases?? Didn't believe it till I checked. Will buy one tomorrow!
Maybe you could find a bargain ANR headset in Lidl! Good deals on glass cockpits, I believe...
Maybe you could find a bargain ANR headset in Lidl! Good deals on glass cockpits, I believe...
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I think I'm going to go for the Peltor 8006, does anyone know of any local shops near Stapleford other than Gerren Aviation? The only other place I've found is Transair in Victoria, it's just I would rather be able to try out a couple of headsets before parting with my hard earned cash .
.
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fuel dipstick
Fuel gauges are notoriously inaccurate so the mantra is to always visually (preferably with a calibrated dipstick) check fuel quantity. Problem is, with in-fuselage tanks (Robins for instance) there is no way to visually check fuel quantity unless the aircraft has a sight gauge, and with in-wing fuselage tanks (Piper, Cessna) a slight bank to the left or right (uneven ground, difference in oleo pressure) can make a big difference in apparent fuel quantity at your measuring point. Better to err on the side of too much fuel.
diversion ruler, time/airspeer ruler
It may seem too simple but it is surprisingly accurate. Accurate enough at least for a diversion ETA.