28 Day (20 Flying) / 45h50m PPL(A) Completed at ANT, Blackpool
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About as long as the course! Posted 30th March, came back 23rd April, so 24 days. That seems about typical; two chaps that qualified shortly before and after my course received theirs after about three weeks also.
Firstly congratulations on a notable achievement. Under the new EASA rules, the Examiner is now responsible for ensuring that the candidate meets all the requirements for licence issue before he conducts the skill test:
That means you now need 45 hours before you are eligible to commence the skill test; something few examiners are aware of. Lets hope the CAA don't notice!
FCL.1030 Conduct of skill tests, proficiency checks and assessments of competence
(a) When conducting skill tests, proficiency checks and assessments of competence, examiners shall:
(2) verify that the applicant complies with all the qualification, training and experience requirements in this Part for the issue, revalidation or renewal of the licence, rating or certificate for which the skill test, proficiency check or assessment of competence is taken;
(a) When conducting skill tests, proficiency checks and assessments of competence, examiners shall:
(2) verify that the applicant complies with all the qualification, training and experience requirements in this Part for the issue, revalidation or renewal of the licence, rating or certificate for which the skill test, proficiency check or assessment of competence is taken;
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SS - that's the total including the £595 diesel. Original post modified slightly to clarify.
Whopity - an interesting area! Obviously I'm biased, and the intent may differ, but that is not what it says in plain English. FCL.1030 (a) uses the wording "when conducting". If they meant to state that 45h should be completed before the test, they should have used "whilst conducting", or indeed "before commencing" as they use "after completion" in FCL.1030 (b).
As the skills test covers an extended period, "when" in this context implies "at any point during the conduct of the test". It does appear to preclude completing the test before you have 45h, but as I hit that point 50m before the end of the test this is no problem.
The application form of course contains a declaration by the examiner to the effect that the experience requirment of FCL.1030 has been met, but this is filled in after the test, hence again no problem.
The CAA did not seem to have any issue with it when the logbook was sent in anyway
Whopity - an interesting area! Obviously I'm biased, and the intent may differ, but that is not what it says in plain English. FCL.1030 (a) uses the wording "when conducting". If they meant to state that 45h should be completed before the test, they should have used "whilst conducting", or indeed "before commencing" as they use "after completion" in FCL.1030 (b).
As the skills test covers an extended period, "when" in this context implies "at any point during the conduct of the test". It does appear to preclude completing the test before you have 45h, but as I hit that point 50m before the end of the test this is no problem.
The application form of course contains a declaration by the examiner to the effect that the experience requirment of FCL.1030 has been met, but this is filled in after the test, hence again no problem.
The CAA did not seem to have any issue with it when the logbook was sent in anyway
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Hi Aaron - last minute advice indeed! This is going to sound very basic but just make sure you can practice what you've been taught and try to stay relaxed; my skills test was about the most relaxed flight I'd had up to that point, but then again to say I was tense at the start of the course would be a massive understatement. It did help to know that the aircraft was capable of a lot more than I needed from it also - 45 degree turns are nothing to worry about when you've experienced 90 degrees (which I expect is nothing once you start going upside down).
You will know if you are ready - obviously you've done your solo QXC and the 10 hours required so you can handle the aircraft, just a matter of making sure you know the drills, particularly PFL/EFATO. The worst bit for me was the various types of landings at the end, but after you pass remember that you can then just fly to where you're going and land once, no more circuits Going through drills sat at home works well, and make sure you have any paperwork you need where you can get to it (in your kneeboard).
Believe in yourself and good luck!
You will know if you are ready - obviously you've done your solo QXC and the 10 hours required so you can handle the aircraft, just a matter of making sure you know the drills, particularly PFL/EFATO. The worst bit for me was the various types of landings at the end, but after you pass remember that you can then just fly to where you're going and land once, no more circuits Going through drills sat at home works well, and make sure you have any paperwork you need where you can get to it (in your kneeboard).
Believe in yourself and good luck!
Well done. This takes me back to 1982 when I completed my PPL at ANT on an Air Cadets Flying Scholarship. Four weeks in a B&B at Blackpool and 39 hours for the issue of a PPL. I loved every minute of it and it was an excellent start to my career in aviation. Back then it was Keith Whyham who was running the school, with the Instructors being primarily Bill Robinson and Ian Sixsmith, who I later worked for when he was the CFI at MSF. Great times and I still remember looking down on Blackpool Tower out of the window of the Cessna 152 on my first solo and realising that I was actually on my own in an aeroplane. It is something never to be forgotten, even after 12,000 hours or so flying.
You are now entering into a world that many dream of being, but few actually achieve. Every time you taxi out and see people watching from the the side of the fence, remember that they too would like to be where you are sitting. Never stop learning and always take on board good advice: it is the only thing in aviation that actually costs nothing. Enjoy your flying and keep safe.
You are now entering into a world that many dream of being, but few actually achieve. Every time you taxi out and see people watching from the the side of the fence, remember that they too would like to be where you are sitting. Never stop learning and always take on board good advice: it is the only thing in aviation that actually costs nothing. Enjoy your flying and keep safe.
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Inspirational thread, thanks for taking the time to post all of the details of your training. I'm 17.5hrs into my NPPL(M) in a Eurostar after 3.5 months. Loving every minute of it and cant wait to be able to go flying when ever I want (or when my wallet allows) with my girlfriend, kids, mum, whoever will come with me! Its a dream that has been 33 years in the making for me....
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Well done in passing, great achievement. When I commenced my PPL in 2000, I paid up front on my credit card. In 2001 the flying school went bust, but as I had paid by credit card I never lost any money, and was given a cheque to finish off my PPL at another establishment.