PPL Staying Current
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Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Santa Clara, California
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PPL Staying Current
For people who only fly as a hobby (no intention of going commercial, etc), how much do you fly to keep current?
By current, I don't mean legally current. I mean ACTUALLY current. ie. familiar to the point that flying is fairly effortless and also confident on emergency handling.
I am a low time PPL (100 hours), having just finished it a few months ago. I have been flying about every 2 weeks (sometimes longer due to weather and schedule), and I can feel I am already significantly less proficient than when I just passed the checkride.
I am still proficient enough to be confident solo-ing, but flying feels a lot more stressful now (to remember everything) and occasionally I would lose track of altitude or airspeed for a bit and be 100-200 ft off or 10-20 knots too fast. Also, I don't feel relaxed enough that if a real emergency hits, I'd be able to handle it perfectly.
It's probably also due to switching to faster and more complex airplanes (Citabria to DA20/DA40), but I think lack of flying also plays a role.
When I took the checkride, I could fly to about twice as good as required by the test standard all day, and still be sight seeing. I can't do anywhere close to that now.
I am planning to start flying once a week to fix that (I can financially do it... just need to find time), but I was just wondering, how much do people fly to maintain proficiency? and does the requirement decrease as you become more experienced?
Is maintaining a pilot license really THAT high maintenance? (2 hours a week for as long as I want to be current)
By current, I don't mean legally current. I mean ACTUALLY current. ie. familiar to the point that flying is fairly effortless and also confident on emergency handling.
I am a low time PPL (100 hours), having just finished it a few months ago. I have been flying about every 2 weeks (sometimes longer due to weather and schedule), and I can feel I am already significantly less proficient than when I just passed the checkride.
I am still proficient enough to be confident solo-ing, but flying feels a lot more stressful now (to remember everything) and occasionally I would lose track of altitude or airspeed for a bit and be 100-200 ft off or 10-20 knots too fast. Also, I don't feel relaxed enough that if a real emergency hits, I'd be able to handle it perfectly.
It's probably also due to switching to faster and more complex airplanes (Citabria to DA20/DA40), but I think lack of flying also plays a role.
When I took the checkride, I could fly to about twice as good as required by the test standard all day, and still be sight seeing. I can't do anywhere close to that now.
I am planning to start flying once a week to fix that (I can financially do it... just need to find time), but I was just wondering, how much do people fly to maintain proficiency? and does the requirement decrease as you become more experienced?
Is maintaining a pilot license really THAT high maintenance? (2 hours a week for as long as I want to be current)
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My own experience (a year further on than you) is that the flying seems more stressful irrespective of how often you fly because you are in that period where you start to realise that the PPL was just the start. I doubt you really are less proficient now - you are probably just more aware of any deficiencies. Reading the posts on here emphasises how much there is still to learn and experience.
For me, I found it very rewarding to do some flying with other non-instructor pilots as well as solo trips.
Before we got the PPL, we all heard everyone say it was just the start, but its not until you actually start flying 'for real' that the true meaning of this sinks in.
On the other hand, for those who took up flying because its absorbing, this is part of the fun. It's the learning curve which keeps it absorbing.
For me, I found it very rewarding to do some flying with other non-instructor pilots as well as solo trips.
Before we got the PPL, we all heard everyone say it was just the start, but its not until you actually start flying 'for real' that the true meaning of this sinks in.
On the other hand, for those who took up flying because its absorbing, this is part of the fun. It's the learning curve which keeps it absorbing.
Join Date: Mar 2012
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Also, I don't feel relaxed enough that if a real emergency hits, I'd be able to handle it perfectly.
What I also find helpful is repeating your emergency action list to yourself whilst (e.g.) in the car - it makes your passenger safety briefing seem more competent if you go through the procedures without any "ummm.... and then I'll.... ahhh..... oh yes, I remember, next is: stop the engine by pulling the mixture".
Repeating the check lists (and moving your hand to the area where the action will take place) will help you memorise the actions, should you have to cope with a true emergency....
For me, I found it very rewarding to do some flying with other non-instructor pilots as well as solo trips.
Last edited by Steve6443; 9th Feb 2013 at 09:08.
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I fly about 50hrs / year but within that I have taken 2 steps.
1. I joined Air Search as a pilot. This provides me with challenges that require me to use all of the things I have learned concerning air law, nav, weather, and weight/balance. This stops me simply flying around areas that I know and becoming complacent with modern GPS capability. It also is a very worthwhile charity (here in the UK).
2. Each quarter I schedule a training session to practice all of the emergency and more difficult procedures for helicopter flight. EOL to the ground, hydraulics failure, instrument, last tail, sloping ground, confined areas, limited power land/departures, etc.
This last one I adopted when I reasoned that the likelihood of perfectly executing an emergency procedure in a high-stress "real life" problem when last practiced about a year ago, and before that another year ago, was "nil". In the last 2 years I have had (on different aircraft) a hydraulic failure on departure, and an electrical failure in flight. That extra practice was key - I think - in remaining calm and simply flying the aircraft, whilst as a secondary tast dealing with the systems problem. As a result both turned out to be "non-events" in terms of "excitement".
1. I joined Air Search as a pilot. This provides me with challenges that require me to use all of the things I have learned concerning air law, nav, weather, and weight/balance. This stops me simply flying around areas that I know and becoming complacent with modern GPS capability. It also is a very worthwhile charity (here in the UK).
2. Each quarter I schedule a training session to practice all of the emergency and more difficult procedures for helicopter flight. EOL to the ground, hydraulics failure, instrument, last tail, sloping ground, confined areas, limited power land/departures, etc.
This last one I adopted when I reasoned that the likelihood of perfectly executing an emergency procedure in a high-stress "real life" problem when last practiced about a year ago, and before that another year ago, was "nil". In the last 2 years I have had (on different aircraft) a hydraulic failure on departure, and an electrical failure in flight. That extra practice was key - I think - in remaining calm and simply flying the aircraft, whilst as a secondary tast dealing with the systems problem. As a result both turned out to be "non-events" in terms of "excitement".
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It might be a good idea to ask yourself - why stay current in the first place?
For me, I fly for fun. I regularly fly with sick and handicapped children, I fly aerobatics and the occasional "regular" sightseeing flights.
If those purposeful flights together don't give me enough rolling currency, then I'm going to step back and consider whether it's all really worth it. But I don't intend to throw good money after bad: Flying just to keep current. For what?
So far there have been two winters where I ended up outside the legal currency limits. Did I mind? Not at all. As soon as the weather turned nice again I did a few flights to regain legal and practical currency, and had a blast throughout the summer.
For me, I fly for fun. I regularly fly with sick and handicapped children, I fly aerobatics and the occasional "regular" sightseeing flights.
If those purposeful flights together don't give me enough rolling currency, then I'm going to step back and consider whether it's all really worth it. But I don't intend to throw good money after bad: Flying just to keep current. For what?
So far there have been two winters where I ended up outside the legal currency limits. Did I mind? Not at all. As soon as the weather turned nice again I did a few flights to regain legal and practical currency, and had a blast throughout the summer.
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For flying, or with passengers? There is a difference in most places. Or Club currency, different again.
I ended up outside the legal currency limits
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My own experience (a year further on than you) is that the flying seems more stressful irrespective of how often you fly because you are in that period where you start to realise that the PPL was just the start. I doubt you really are less proficient now - you are probably just more aware of any deficiencies. Reading the posts on here emphasises how much there is still to learn and experience.
Perhaps you should set aside some time during your flying time to practise some emergency procedures - for example, tomorrow I will be flying and have scheduled for myself an emergency landing from 2000' agl onto the runway without power (if the airfield isn't too busy).
1. I joined Air Search as a pilot. This provides me with challenges that require me to use all of the things I have learned concerning air law, nav, weather, and weight/balance. This stops me simply flying around areas that I know and becoming complacent with modern GPS capability. It also is a very worthwhile charity (here in the UK).
It might be a good idea to ask yourself - why stay current in the first place?
I am WAY within club and legal currency, but I feel like I'm not very practically current.