Hour Building advice
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34
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From: UK
Hour Building advice
Im currently building up my hours in the uk based in north west. I passed my PPL earlier in the year and found a lovely little c150 which is a delight to fly. At the moment I have just been finding my feet, taking family and friends up and flying around my local area. I love every second of it but feel I need to begin to push my self to try new things and go new places. Can any one offer me some advice on the types of things I should be doing in order to prepare my self for embarking upon a CPL. I have a night qualification so im thinking it would be wise to use this too as part of my hour building. Any suggestions would be welcome many thanks. 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,366
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From: UK
I used to get the vouchers out of either flyer or pilot, just to give me somewhere different to go that I wouldn't otherwise of thought of.
Depending on your budget, it would be well work getting an IMC rating. Great experience, makes your hour building easier, and great prep for the CPL/IR
Depending on your budget, it would be well work getting an IMC rating. Great experience, makes your hour building easier, and great prep for the CPL/IR
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,598
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From: Amsterdam
Get as much different experiences under your belt, not just C150 time burning holes in the sky.
IMC, night, aeros, formation, do a European tour, fly at charity events with sick kids, see if you can get some tailwheel time, perhaps some gliding (although gliding may not count towards your CPL).
If only, it will mean that on your first interview you've got something interesting to tell, and a logbook to back up your stories.
IMC, night, aeros, formation, do a European tour, fly at charity events with sick kids, see if you can get some tailwheel time, perhaps some gliding (although gliding may not count towards your CPL).
If only, it will mean that on your first interview you've got something interesting to tell, and a logbook to back up your stories.
Fleet Manager
Joined: Aug 2006
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 7,090
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From: Ontario, Canada
Indeed, the experience.
Though I don't want to sound unkind, you"ll create a better impression with those who might hire you one day, if you have concentrate on building up experience rather than just hours. It has been wisely said that you can have a thousand hours, or an hour a thousand times.
Fly as many different types as you can, then start to vary the conditions of the flying. Early on, I won favour with owners of more advanced aircraft, by being willing to wash their aircraft. Perhaps your local airport and security environment makes this difficult, but if you can, it's a way to broaden your horizons, flying in types you might not normally get close to...
Though I don't want to sound unkind, you"ll create a better impression with those who might hire you one day, if you have concentrate on building up experience rather than just hours. It has been wisely said that you can have a thousand hours, or an hour a thousand times.
Fly as many different types as you can, then start to vary the conditions of the flying. Early on, I won favour with owners of more advanced aircraft, by being willing to wash their aircraft. Perhaps your local airport and security environment makes this difficult, but if you can, it's a way to broaden your horizons, flying in types you might not normally get close to...
