Some advice and recommendations for a new member?
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Glasgow
Age: 40
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I've been starting my PPL training in Prestwick and have found that at the stage I'm at it hasn't been the cloud level but the (cross) wind which has kept me on the ground - that and the aircraft that I've been learning in going tech... (dissadvantage in joining a "club" with a few aircraft rather than a more training orientated flight school with multiple aircraft the same).
For me, the weather site I've found most informative is
Weather : Glasgow-Prestwick Scotland - shows the METAR and TAF and converts it into English. Worth getting used to the format so you can do it without the conversion...
For wind try Windfinder - Wind & weather forecast Prestwick Gannet
Use the time to look around different flight schools, get a trial lesson and if you might get to sit in the back seat of other students's lessons if you talk to the right people
The idea of doing the theory is good - but a lot of it will make a lot more sense once you're actually around the aircraft and you can feel what its talking about.
For me, the weather site I've found most informative is
Weather : Glasgow-Prestwick Scotland - shows the METAR and TAF and converts it into English. Worth getting used to the format so you can do it without the conversion...
For wind try Windfinder - Wind & weather forecast Prestwick Gannet
Use the time to look around different flight schools, get a trial lesson and if you might get to sit in the back seat of other students's lessons if you talk to the right people
The idea of doing the theory is good - but a lot of it will make a lot more sense once you're actually around the aircraft and you can feel what its talking about.
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: UK
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PPL training
Hi Amblikai, congratulations on embarking on one of the most amazing experiences you will ever persue. I have recently passed my PPL and I took around two and a half to three years to gain my licence. I completed my training in around roughly 50 hours. I have to admit doing it in a block does make more sence if you have the money but if you are like me then all you want to do is get started. More often than not I was averging one a month sometimes a couple depending on the finances that month but I was still keeping up with my training and progressing well. It is possible you just havge to be keen and keep your goal in sight. Im sure you will get around the weather its actually going to benafit you having some more challenging weather because lets face it the UK weather system does tend to be up and down. There seems to be some great advice on this thread. Soak it all up and make the best decision for you. Im sure which ever route you decide to take it will be perfect because you are flying. Get stuck in. Hope this helps 
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Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Glasgow
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Thanks again for all the advice folks. I've gone ahead and bought the Jeremy Pratt PPL course books and the PPL questions and answers simplifier. Bought mainly on the strength of ct8282's exam experience write up! So thanks for that ct8282!
Getting excited now, waiting on the books to arrive!
Riverrock, Prestwick is more than likely the front runner for my choice of school. I've done some trial lessons with them before and i found them to be really good. What are your experiences with them like now? I'm originally from Ayr so i know the area well.
The other option would be abroad (USA), if the right deal presents itself. I'm over there on business sometimes anyway so might be able to time it right for flights over.
Thanks again for all the advice, i'll be keeping a close eye on weather in the surrounding area. Which seems to be fantastic today!
Getting excited now, waiting on the books to arrive!
Riverrock, Prestwick is more than likely the front runner for my choice of school. I've done some trial lessons with them before and i found them to be really good. What are your experiences with them like now? I'm originally from Ayr so i know the area well.
The other option would be abroad (USA), if the right deal presents itself. I'm over there on business sometimes anyway so might be able to time it right for flights over.
Thanks again for all the advice, i'll be keeping a close eye on weather in the surrounding area. Which seems to be fantastic today!
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Hampshire
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Don't forget to consider what you'll be using your license for. Will you want to go professional? Will you want to fly twins? Will you simply hire a club plane at £150/hr once a month?
You may find that the cost of hiring is such that you rarely get to fly once you have your license. If you consider that you can fly most LAA permit aircraft on an NPPL and you go down that route, you'll be able to get four times as much flying for the same money.
Your medical costs also plummet as the NPPL only requires a GP signed certificate rather than the full class 2 one which costs several hundred pounds and needs to be renewed regularly.
Don't be seduced by the full PPL and think you'll be a better pilot because you have a more expensive ticket. Its flying frequently that makes you a better pilot rather than a few extra hours training followed by a lifetime of an hour a month.
You may find that the cost of hiring is such that you rarely get to fly once you have your license. If you consider that you can fly most LAA permit aircraft on an NPPL and you go down that route, you'll be able to get four times as much flying for the same money.
Your medical costs also plummet as the NPPL only requires a GP signed certificate rather than the full class 2 one which costs several hundred pounds and needs to be renewed regularly.
Don't be seduced by the full PPL and think you'll be a better pilot because you have a more expensive ticket. Its flying frequently that makes you a better pilot rather than a few extra hours training followed by a lifetime of an hour a month.
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Join Date: Jul 2011
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Hi FleetFlyer, having a license has always been a dream of mine since i was very little. I was unfortunately rejected by the RAF for fast jet on medical grounds and i've never had such a kick in the teeth since! I was absolutely devastated. I swore then that i'd one day fly regardless. Even if i had to do it myself! (I've yet to grow wings though.)
Anyway, i'd love to use my license for trips abroad (mainland Europe) and for the pleasure of flying on it's own. It's something i'd like to share too, being able (and competent) to take friends and loved ones with me. I will certainly at some point go as far as IR, partly from a competent pilot point of view but also from practicality. There's a reason we talk about weather so much in this country!
I also have a small obsession with one particular aircraft that is probably more of a fantasy, but i'd love one day to build an RV-4. I'm an engineer and i love the thought of flying a machine which you've built and the RV-4 in particular in my eyes embodies a lot of what there is to love about flying.
As for regular flying, as i say owning a share and building hours in my eyes is a necessity, i would not make the decision to go for my license if i couldn't then 'back it up' with regular flying. Thanks very much for your comments and reply, i hope i answered your question!
Anyway, i'd love to use my license for trips abroad (mainland Europe) and for the pleasure of flying on it's own. It's something i'd like to share too, being able (and competent) to take friends and loved ones with me. I will certainly at some point go as far as IR, partly from a competent pilot point of view but also from practicality. There's a reason we talk about weather so much in this country!
I also have a small obsession with one particular aircraft that is probably more of a fantasy, but i'd love one day to build an RV-4. I'm an engineer and i love the thought of flying a machine which you've built and the RV-4 in particular in my eyes embodies a lot of what there is to love about flying.
As for regular flying, as i say owning a share and building hours in my eyes is a necessity, i would not make the decision to go for my license if i couldn't then 'back it up' with regular flying. Thanks very much for your comments and reply, i hope i answered your question!
