PPL hour breakdown
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As others have said, although there is technically a set lesson pattern, I think it can be interpreted to how the club/school wishes to teach. This is certainly the case in my club and we have extra training thrown in.
As to the number of hours, that again depends on your ability, how long a break you have inbetween each lesson and how your instructor rates your progress. Again, wiser heads than I have said here that you will not progress until you have reached a required standard in one area (and don't I know it!
).
Be aware also (and I don't think its been mentioned here yet) that once you have taken your first ground exam, the clock starts ticking. You have 18 months then to complete your ground exams and I believe a further year to complete your skills test (I sit to be corrected on that but I think I am correct).
So have a chat with a club and don't start with any preconceived ideas as they are bound to be shattered within the first few lessons! I've enjoyed my training much more now I have no timescales.
Good luck!
As to the number of hours, that again depends on your ability, how long a break you have inbetween each lesson and how your instructor rates your progress. Again, wiser heads than I have said here that you will not progress until you have reached a required standard in one area (and don't I know it!
). Be aware also (and I don't think its been mentioned here yet) that once you have taken your first ground exam, the clock starts ticking. You have 18 months then to complete your ground exams and I believe a further year to complete your skills test (I sit to be corrected on that but I think I am correct).
So have a chat with a club and don't start with any preconceived ideas as they are bound to be shattered within the first few lessons! I've enjoyed my training much more now I have no timescales.
Good luck!
I agree absolutely - buy what the school recommend in the right order, and get this briefing on how things work from your instructor.
However, just on a few points:
- If you are likely to try and go "pro" get a professional flying logbook now, rather than one of the small PPL types. The extra few quid is not much in the scheme of things but will make life much easier later.
- Normally flights are signed off by the school at the end of a course, rather than per flight.
- Most logbooks record brakes-off to brakes-on, and it is your responsibility to maintain this record. Many of us nowadays keep an electronic backup as well (there are several commercial products, or you can create your own in something like MS-Excel: there are numerous Excel logbooks floating around the web as well if you don't want to write your own).
- If you want a lengthy briefing from your instructor, either book a slot, or pick a miserable-weather-day when he can't fly anyhow.
G
However, just on a few points:
- If you are likely to try and go "pro" get a professional flying logbook now, rather than one of the small PPL types. The extra few quid is not much in the scheme of things but will make life much easier later.
- Normally flights are signed off by the school at the end of a course, rather than per flight.
- Most logbooks record brakes-off to brakes-on, and it is your responsibility to maintain this record. Many of us nowadays keep an electronic backup as well (there are several commercial products, or you can create your own in something like MS-Excel: there are numerous Excel logbooks floating around the web as well if you don't want to write your own).
- If you want a lengthy briefing from your instructor, either book a slot, or pick a miserable-weather-day when he can't fly anyhow.
G
You have 18 months then to complete your ground exams and I believe a further year to complete your skills test (I sit to be corrected on that but I think I am correct).
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Brakes of to brakes on?
Pretty self-explanatory, but I thought it was logged in hours, what if I have ten 1 hour lessons, but each lesson goes over by 15 minutes, that's 2 and a half hours not logged?
Pretty self-explanatory, but I thought it was logged in hours, what if I have ten 1 hour lessons, but each lesson goes over by 15 minutes, that's 2 and a half hours not logged?
Brakes off to brakes on.
If it goes over by 15 minutes, you log 1:15. If you land five minutes early, you log 0:55. (Opinions differ as to exactly how, most commonly to the nearest five minutes, next most common is "decimal time" so to the nearest six minutes: e.g. 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, etc., a few people - mostly glider pilots log to the nearest minute).
And, most places, they'll charge you for that as well. Expect to pay for what you actually fly, not what you book. If you will have trouble paying for over the booked 60 minutes, make sure that your instructor knows that in advance.
You really need to talk to your flying instructor more!
G
(Nowadays I log to the nearest minute, but managed the first 22 years of my flying career logging to the nearest five minutes quite happily.)
If it goes over by 15 minutes, you log 1:15. If you land five minutes early, you log 0:55. (Opinions differ as to exactly how, most commonly to the nearest five minutes, next most common is "decimal time" so to the nearest six minutes: e.g. 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, etc., a few people - mostly glider pilots log to the nearest minute).
And, most places, they'll charge you for that as well. Expect to pay for what you actually fly, not what you book. If you will have trouble paying for over the booked 60 minutes, make sure that your instructor knows that in advance.
You really need to talk to your flying instructor more!
G
(Nowadays I log to the nearest minute, but managed the first 22 years of my flying career logging to the nearest five minutes quite happily.)
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(Nowadays I log to the nearest minute, but managed the first 22 years of my flying career logging to the nearest five minutes quite happily.)
Ever tried writing the actual times down on your PLOG? I find it works quite well as a system.
G
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So I guess if you book an hour, but come back in 55 minutes. It's YOUR fault for not maximizing the other 5 minutes, or does it get carried over?
Aha, well I've only met him once, I have loads of questions this saturday coming!
Aha, well I've only met him once, I have loads of questions this saturday coming!
You and your instructor use the time required for the lesson. Your school will charge you for the time spent.
Sometimes 20 minutes is enough for a lesson, sometimes 90 minutes or even slightly longer is more appropriate. It's just that for most things, about an hour, is about right.
The only thing that is YOUR fault is failing to pay enough attention to the lesson execution or preparation. I suspect that you may have that problem.
G
Sometimes 20 minutes is enough for a lesson, sometimes 90 minutes or even slightly longer is more appropriate. It's just that for most things, about an hour, is about right.
The only thing that is YOUR fault is failing to pay enough attention to the lesson execution or preparation. I suspect that you may have that problem.
G
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So I guess if you book an hour, but come back in 55 minutes. It's YOUR fault for not maximizing the other 5 minutes, or does it get carried over?
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Of course you have to take into account of the time which ATC may make you hold and line up and wait before take off and how busy the circuit is on your return...
..then once you get onto navexes, the time is much longer. On Saturday I arrived at the Club at 1300, and with flight planning, aircraft checks and briefing, off blocks at 1630, on blocks at 1815...then with refuelling the aircraft, putting her in the hangar, debrief, general chat with my instructor (as he's a friend) and locking up...I didn't leave the airfield until about 1945.
So expect to spend a lot of time at the Club. Personally I love it. The more you're around the club, the more integrated you get and the more you learn from other members
..then once you get onto navexes, the time is much longer. On Saturday I arrived at the Club at 1300, and with flight planning, aircraft checks and briefing, off blocks at 1630, on blocks at 1815...then with refuelling the aircraft, putting her in the hangar, debrief, general chat with my instructor (as he's a friend) and locking up...I didn't leave the airfield until about 1945.
So expect to spend a lot of time at the Club. Personally I love it. The more you're around the club, the more integrated you get and the more you learn from other members
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EGKB couple of things that may help
Take your time to enjoy and to allow yourself to absorb the knowledge. I did my PPL over a short period of time (just 6 months) in the UK and found that I had forgotten quite a bit when I came to the MEP and IMC. There is a big difference between learning something to pass a test and really understanding it.
Here is a link to some half price PPL books if you want to save a bit of cash. Discount Books | Discounted Items | Airtime Pilots Shop
Good luck
Take your time to enjoy and to allow yourself to absorb the knowledge. I did my PPL over a short period of time (just 6 months) in the UK and found that I had forgotten quite a bit when I came to the MEP and IMC. There is a big difference between learning something to pass a test and really understanding it.
Here is a link to some half price PPL books if you want to save a bit of cash. Discount Books | Discounted Items | Airtime Pilots Shop
Good luck
Just one small point on the books and such. Nav, met, principles of flight don't really go out of date. Air law does, so buy this one new, latest edition.
For some really good stuff FREE google Pelican's Perch. Consider finding some information by yourself as a useful exercise that will save long term reliance on Pprune, helpful though the members are. There are still public libraries in UK, feel free to study there as well if you have problems finding a quiet time at home. You can dowload stuff from t'internet to a mobile device as well, instapaper is useful to get just the info (text and drawings) without the arty web page stuff, and you can then read on your kindle or ipad or whatever offline.
It is Ok to have more knowledge than the minimum required for the test, but try not to get bogged down in the minute detail on stuff like well, air law. Extra knowledge on met however may one day save you getting badly scared.
What I am trying to say is organise your priorities sensibly, study at home, and use that valuable resource known as a flying instructor. Many of the people here are instructors but you will also get less knowledgeable people posting. Use common sense when sorting out the information you get.
Oh, and did anyone mention not to pay up front?
For some really good stuff FREE google Pelican's Perch. Consider finding some information by yourself as a useful exercise that will save long term reliance on Pprune, helpful though the members are. There are still public libraries in UK, feel free to study there as well if you have problems finding a quiet time at home. You can dowload stuff from t'internet to a mobile device as well, instapaper is useful to get just the info (text and drawings) without the arty web page stuff, and you can then read on your kindle or ipad or whatever offline.
It is Ok to have more knowledge than the minimum required for the test, but try not to get bogged down in the minute detail on stuff like well, air law. Extra knowledge on met however may one day save you getting badly scared.
What I am trying to say is organise your priorities sensibly, study at home, and use that valuable resource known as a flying instructor. Many of the people here are instructors but you will also get less knowledgeable people posting. Use common sense when sorting out the information you get.
Oh, and did anyone mention not to pay up front?
PPRuNe FirstOfficer
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I emphasize what others have stated, develop a good relationship with your instructor. Briefings, de-briefings, e-mails etc... Communication throughout your training is very important, no lesson will always be the same because of a combination of factors, I recently e-mailed mine and ask for a lesson plan just to have an idea and then I study the relevant content within the book and other resources.
Lesson preparation is essential it helps to digest all the information within the book and then actioned in practical terms during the flying lessons.
I am lucky that my instructor is at the club purely for instruction purposes and not simply there to build hours and then jump to the airlines. He likes his PPL instruction and his aerobatics.
Lesson preparation is essential it helps to digest all the information within the book and then actioned in practical terms during the flying lessons.
I am lucky that my instructor is at the club purely for instruction purposes and not simply there to build hours and then jump to the airlines. He likes his PPL instruction and his aerobatics.
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EGKB, I get the feeling from your posts that you are working on the assumption that learning to fly takes a minimum of 45 lessons rather than the actual case of it takes a minimum of 45 hours of flying. Of all the 'hour' lessons I've had I don't think any of them have been an hour on the dot. You pay for the time that you fly (and more than likely the landing fees)
Lets say you are a natural born flyer and ace every skill, you still need a minimum of 45hrs in your log so it doesnt matter if your lessons last 55mins or 70mins, its what you learn in any given time and what the total flying time adds up too that matters.
You'll find the first few lessons will follow a pattern to give you the basic understanding execution of various skills and manoeuvres but they are just that, basic understanding and execution. Once the instructor feels you have a grasp of what is required, he'll move on but you'll still be doing those things in subsequent lessons.
Lets say you are a natural born flyer and ace every skill, you still need a minimum of 45hrs in your log so it doesnt matter if your lessons last 55mins or 70mins, its what you learn in any given time and what the total flying time adds up too that matters.
You'll find the first few lessons will follow a pattern to give you the basic understanding execution of various skills and manoeuvres but they are just that, basic understanding and execution. Once the instructor feels you have a grasp of what is required, he'll move on but you'll still be doing those things in subsequent lessons.
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Weirdfish, I completely understand.
I know you have to put time, money and effort into it. It's just the money and how it works.
Why should I pay for one hour when I only fly 50 minutes? Yet if I fly 1 hour 10 minutes I owe them 10minutes extra? I don't mind but is this the situation I'm still un-clear
I know you have to put time, money and effort into it. It's just the money and how it works.
Why should I pay for one hour when I only fly 50 minutes? Yet if I fly 1 hour 10 minutes I owe them 10minutes extra? I don't mind but is this the situation I'm still un-clear
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To be totally clear you'll pay for the time you spend flying NOT a set charge per session.
What does concern me is you seem very much focused on the cost, which is understandable but you need to be clear that if you think you can just afford what the school/club are advertising, then you possibly can't afford it. I appologise that that sounds presumptuous but unless you do a residential intensive 24/7 course it's highly unlikely you'll be on your skills test on hour 45. Landing fees may not be included and are not an insignificant cost, I'm learning out of Southend so believe me I know that first hand
.
The books and stuff mount up and you'll soon be wanting your own headset. Add to that travel costs and it's a damn expensive hobby.
As long as you're aware of the extras that don't tend to be shown near the headline price of the PPL then you won't be shocked, but don't get confused on how lessons are charged.
What does concern me is you seem very much focused on the cost, which is understandable but you need to be clear that if you think you can just afford what the school/club are advertising, then you possibly can't afford it. I appologise that that sounds presumptuous but unless you do a residential intensive 24/7 course it's highly unlikely you'll be on your skills test on hour 45. Landing fees may not be included and are not an insignificant cost, I'm learning out of Southend so believe me I know that first hand
. The books and stuff mount up and you'll soon be wanting your own headset. Add to that travel costs and it's a damn expensive hobby.
As long as you're aware of the extras that don't tend to be shown near the headline price of the PPL then you won't be shocked, but don't get confused on how lessons are charged.