Do you have any advice? Starting PPL in two weeks.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 79
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From: United Kingdom
It's still cheaper to buy a 10hour block than an hour for 165 pounds though. I do take the fact that recession is here into the account, of course but hopefully nothing will happen and to be honest the school doesn't look like it's going to go bust in the near future. I think I'm pretty safe there. 
I would be finishing my PPL by something like December if I did everything the way I do it now, although from mid march I will be flying more often than I do now, so I'll probably get less lessons cancelled, but I think that by the end of october I should be fine, as over summer I'm pretty much free for a whole month as I'm taking out holiday at work and I'm off college by the end of may and as I'm not going on holidays until something like december, I'll have a lot of time to get on with flying, and hopefully the weather will be fine
Thanks guys!
I would be finishing my PPL by something like December if I did everything the way I do it now, although from mid march I will be flying more often than I do now, so I'll probably get less lessons cancelled, but I think that by the end of october I should be fine, as over summer I'm pretty much free for a whole month as I'm taking out holiday at work and I'm off college by the end of may and as I'm not going on holidays until something like december, I'll have a lot of time to get on with flying, and hopefully the weather will be fine
Thanks guys!
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 31
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From: east boston..
Purchase a ppl confuser... very handy to help you study for the exams the book gives you previous example questions on all the subjects, i found it very helpfull. also back seat with another student when you can this is nice because you can sit back relax and watch all the other students mistakes which will help you not to make them !!
Have fun ..........
Have fun ..........
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 239
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From: France
Some days it will feel like you are making rapid progress, some days it will feel slower and some days it will feel like you are going backwards. This is perfectly normal so don't worry.
Unless you move to Phoenix quite a few lessons will be postponed for Wx, so be prepared mentally for this disappointment or comfort yourself by thinking that it is better to be disappointed on the ground than bricking it in the air. Make good use of this unexpected time to study ground stuff.
Unless you move to Phoenix quite a few lessons will be postponed for Wx, so be prepared mentally for this disappointment or comfort yourself by thinking that it is better to be disappointed on the ground than bricking it in the air. Make good use of this unexpected time to study ground stuff.
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 223
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From: Toronto, Ont, Canada
If you want to listen to ATC, you can do so over the internet
Europe Airport Feeds | Live Air Traffic Control Audio Feeds | LiveATC.net
(I didn't see any Scottish feeds though).
Another fun way to stay sharp is with a flight simulator, especially if you're only flying once a week or less.
flightgear.org is free and just as good or better than MSFS / Xplane.It has worldwide sceney (which you have to download seperately ftp://ftp.linux.kiev.ua/pub/mirrors/...Scenery-1.0.1/ , (it includes one "block (10x10) degrees of scenery centered on KSFO)
Mike
Europe Airport Feeds | Live Air Traffic Control Audio Feeds | LiveATC.net
(I didn't see any Scottish feeds though).
Another fun way to stay sharp is with a flight simulator, especially if you're only flying once a week or less.
flightgear.org is free and just as good or better than MSFS / Xplane.It has worldwide sceney (which you have to download seperately ftp://ftp.linux.kiev.ua/pub/mirrors/...Scenery-1.0.1/ , (it includes one "block (10x10) degrees of scenery centered on KSFO)
Mike
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 79
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From: United Kingdom
Hey guys!
I had my lessons today and I did pretty well.. I think!
I did some trimming first, as I've not been flying for the past three weeks and as it was only my 3rd lesson I couldn't get it perfect! I guess that comes with practice! Taxying was much better this time! Oh, RT.. I messed that up, it was the first time I got to get a taxi clearance, and I was a bit slow there
I had to go through every single word in my head before I got anything out of me! Ohh, and I got to take off for the first time is well, even though I'm not supposed to be doing it yet, my instructor let me 
and as it was pretty bumpy.. i was going everywhere
I did second part of the straight and level and it was pretty good! Oh, I so can't wait until next week!
I had my lessons today and I did pretty well.. I think!
I did some trimming first, as I've not been flying for the past three weeks and as it was only my 3rd lesson I couldn't get it perfect! I guess that comes with practice! Taxying was much better this time! Oh, RT.. I messed that up, it was the first time I got to get a taxi clearance, and I was a bit slow there
I had to go through every single word in my head before I got anything out of me! Ohh, and I got to take off for the first time is well, even though I'm not supposed to be doing it yet, my instructor let me and as it was pretty bumpy.. i was going everywhere I did second part of the straight and level and it was pretty good! Oh, I so can't wait until next week!
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 21
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From: Cardiff
hi all the best for your lessons.
would advise you get the tough ones out of the way first. Nav and Technical, i would advise because the Nav skills you'll learn will help with your training anyway.
with regards to headsets a decent set will let you concentrate so much better during lessons. I have allways used Dave Clarke 13.4's. They are reliable, robust, comfortable for up to 2.5 hours and not madly expensive.
all the best
J
would advise you get the tough ones out of the way first. Nav and Technical, i would advise because the Nav skills you'll learn will help with your training anyway.
with regards to headsets a decent set will let you concentrate so much better during lessons. I have allways used Dave Clarke 13.4's. They are reliable, robust, comfortable for up to 2.5 hours and not madly expensive.
all the best
J
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 79
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From: United Kingdom
Thanks!!
Once again.. lessons cancelled. Huh.
I'm not going to get a headset just yet to be honest, I'll wait another few lessons to check which one are quite good and I like wearing if you know what I mean!
Once again.. lessons cancelled. Huh.
I'm not going to get a headset just yet to be honest, I'll wait another few lessons to check which one are quite good and I like wearing if you know what I mean!
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 196
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From: Southend (SEN/EGMC)
Good to hear that it's going well so far
I can't wait until I start the proper training (hopefully i'll fight off Epilepsy!)
My suggestion is, is that if lessons keep on getting cancelled, brush up on stuff from the textbooks perhaps?
Apologies if that was a stupid question
Happy landings!
I can't wait until I start the proper training (hopefully i'll fight off Epilepsy!)
My suggestion is, is that if lessons keep on getting cancelled, brush up on stuff from the textbooks perhaps?
Apologies if that was a stupid question
Happy landings!
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,546
Likes: 2
From: Oxford, UK
Hi, Vems! with that many cancellations, you must be trying to fly in Scotland! Never mind; you've got something pretty special up there that is worth looking into, deesideglidingclub.co.uk. Check it out and get a mate to drive there with you, but phone and ask about the weather prospects first, and probably a good idea to book as well. Sometimes spring conditions are excellent at Deeside. And there are special rates for students.
Meanwhile, here is my advice regarding RT. There are three very useful things to say to controllers:
Stand by!
Say again? and
Unable!
No seriously, do not be intimidated by radio. Controllers are there to serve you. Keep your message short and simple. If they want more information they will ask for it.
Just one more question, do they still make you use a plastic wheel calculator? In my day it was a required item on the course, never to be seen again once you had the rating!
Best wishes!
Meanwhile, here is my advice regarding RT. There are three very useful things to say to controllers:
Stand by!
Say again? and
Unable!
No seriously, do not be intimidated by radio. Controllers are there to serve you. Keep your message short and simple. If they want more information they will ask for it.
Just one more question, do they still make you use a plastic wheel calculator? In my day it was a required item on the course, never to be seen again once you had the rating!
Best wishes!
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 79
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From: United Kingdom
Well, I do brush up on everything before I go up and go through the exercise in my head is well. Even when my lessons are cancelled, I still brush up and do the same as if I was there.
mary meagher, that's why I love scottish weather!
thanks for the website! I'll check it out.
About radio, I think that's the worst thing for beginners I guess once I'll know what to say I'll have no problems with it! It comes with practice. So I'm not that worried about it now, plus my instructor tells me exactly what to say so I don't mess it up that badly!
Haven't used the calculator yet! If they'll do make me use it, I'll let you know
Oh, I've been studying Met for the past few weeks, finished the book and started off PPL confuser questions, some are really confusing! I guess this exam will be harder than air law
Anyways, thanks for all the advice guys!!
Vems.
mary meagher, that's why I love scottish weather!
thanks for the website! I'll check it out.
About radio, I think that's the worst thing for beginners
I guess once I'll know what to say I'll have no problems with it! It comes with practice. So I'm not that worried about it now, plus my instructor tells me exactly what to say so I don't mess it up that badly! Haven't used the calculator yet! If they'll do make me use it, I'll let you know
Oh, I've been studying Met for the past few weeks, finished the book and started off PPL confuser questions, some are really confusing! I guess this exam will be harder than air law
Anyways, thanks for all the advice guys!!
Vems.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
From: United Kingdom
For some reason, weather got better this week and I didn't have my lessons cancelled. 
Climbing, descending.. it was pretty easy stuff.
I'm well hoping that the good weather will keep up so I could fly weekly now!
Climbing, descending.. it was pretty easy stuff.
I'm well hoping that the good weather will keep up so I could fly weekly now!
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
From: United Kingdom
Hey guys! Once again
I had my lessons cancelled today - strong winds, but I did fly last week. We basically just had a revision of what we did from my first lesson and now I'm starting turns. Was meant to start today, although due to bad weather that's moved to Saturday. Any advice on that?
I didn't really write much about 2 weeks ago, to be honest there wasn't much to write, exercise was pretty simple, straight forward.
Last week though.. I think I got it all right, apart from looking at the instruments few times and going everywhere
But then when my instructor covered up all the instruments, my flying was perfect Next week I got to keep my head out of the cockpit
Hopefully, over summer months, I'll be able to get more hours in (depends on work, as I won't be at college from 12th of June anymore
) but from september.. Hello college again. Oh, I got into a Aircraft Engineering course so at least I won't be bored to death by the current subjects I do at college.
And.. I decided to write up the Met exam. I was a bit stressed out but the more I learned the more I got myself mixed up. Really. So I just run through the notes and went for it.. then .. got .. 85%. I got 3 questions wrong which truthfully I haven't even thought through. I decided to get Aeroplane Technical out of the way next, the book will take me a bit more time than Human Factors & Pilot Performance etc. so I'll get that out of the way by the end of May, then for June I planned to do Human Factors & Pilot Performance and maybe radiotelephony, and then over summer, get over with Nav and then just keep flying..
At least that's just 5 to go..
I'm hoping that by the end of year I'll be able to finish PPL and by the begginings of next year, start ATPL and hour building.
Ohh.. I hope you're still awake..
Vems.
I had my lessons cancelled today - strong winds, but I did fly last week. We basically just had a revision of what we did from my first lesson and now I'm starting turns. Was meant to start today, although due to bad weather that's moved to Saturday. Any advice on that?
I didn't really write much about 2 weeks ago, to be honest there wasn't much to write, exercise was pretty simple, straight forward.
Last week though.. I think I got it all right, apart from looking at the instruments few times and going everywhere
But then when my instructor covered up all the instruments, my flying was perfect Next week I got to keep my head out of the cockpit Hopefully, over summer months, I'll be able to get more hours in (depends on work, as I won't be at college from 12th of June anymore
) but from september.. Hello college again. Oh, I got into a Aircraft Engineering course so at least I won't be bored to death by the current subjects I do at college. And.. I decided to write up the Met exam. I was a bit stressed out but the more I learned the more I got myself mixed up. Really. So I just run through the notes and went for it.. then .. got .. 85%. I got 3 questions wrong which truthfully I haven't even thought through. I decided to get Aeroplane Technical out of the way next, the book will take me a bit more time than Human Factors & Pilot Performance etc. so I'll get that out of the way by the end of May, then for June I planned to do Human Factors & Pilot Performance and maybe radiotelephony, and then over summer, get over with Nav and then just keep flying..
At least that's just 5 to go..
I'm hoping that by the end of year I'll be able to finish PPL and by the begginings of next year, start ATPL and hour building.
Ohh.. I hope you're still awake..
Vems.