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Trial flight- what to expect?

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Old 10th Jan 2014, 16:47
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Trial flight- what to expect?

A couple of weeks ago I bought a coupon for a 30' flight that can be used either for a sight seeing flight or for a few touch and go. I decided to take the T&G options. I already discussed with the guy who would be the licensed pilot for the flight. I understand that he is not an instructor thus he clearly stated he would take the aircraft over the threshold.

When I was discussing with him I told him I like to use the coupon as a trial lesson. So I am contacting the great knowledge of PPRuNe what should I keep in mind before and during the flight?

Any answers would be welcome!

Rwy in Sight
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Old 10th Jan 2014, 16:56
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RWY

If you bought a flight and the pilot is not an instructor but only a PPL I would be very cautious about the legality of what you have bought.
I am a bit out of touch on trial flights etc but i am sure others will advise you.
On a proper trial flight you should be able to takeoff and even land with guidance

Pace
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Old 10th Jan 2014, 17:05
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I'm with Pace on this one. I would ask them about the legality of the flight as I have my doubts about it. I work at an aero club that offers trial lessons which are done with qualified Instructors. A sight-seeing flight requires an additional certification. I f they cannot satisfy you on these points, don't do it.
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Old 10th Jan 2014, 17:58
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This sounds like the French 'Bapteme de l'air' which is apparently legal in France subject to certain pilot requirements and within an aero club.

The same arrangement in most other European countries would be illegal unless it was a trial lesson with an instructor or under an AOC.
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Old 10th Jan 2014, 19:04
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I would also question the legality, taking the last post into account.

Having said that, if you've got the choice of sight seeing, or flying it down an approach knowing control will be taken at the threshold, I'd take the sight seeing every time.

It will be a lot more fun for you as you will be able to relax and take a lot more in. If you're new to the environment of an airborne aircraft, you will want some time in straight and level just to see how it all feels, flying approaches early on really isn't fun, can be very hard work, bumpy, you're not sure where to be looking, the instructor will be pointing things out including gauges which you just won't be familiar with. This overload of the senses has been known to put a lot of people off flying by throwing too much at them too soon.

So take it easy, relax, and enjoy the flight.
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Old 10th Jan 2014, 20:31
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Vol d'initiation aka baptęme if done by a non instructor...has to be done by either a CPL or a PPL with minimum 200 hours, sliding currency of 30 hours over the last twelve months, approved by the club, notified to the club's insurance company, class one or two medical less than a year ago. There is a limit on what percentage of the club's activity can be in vol d'initiation, if I remember correctly below eight percent not counting open days, and it has to be in an aircraft normally used by the club.
You may fill all the seats, P1 does all the handling. Take off and landing at the same airport, no aerobatics, maximum flight time thirty minutes.

Or you can have a trial lesson given by an instructor, PPL or CPL, and take the controls. You can still fill all the seats.

No reason not to go sightseeing in either case, no point at all in doing circuits.

There are also various restrictions for the club on how the flights may be advertised and sold.
There are concessions on the thirty hours for pilots who also fly gliders.

French law, not applicable elsewhere
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Old 11th Jan 2014, 08:45
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PC

There was no indication by the poster that this flight was in france under french regulations! Nothing in his post or details other than somewhere in europe

Pace
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Old 11th Jan 2014, 11:26
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I thought the OP was greek.

In which case it really doesn't surprise me if this is going on.

http://www.pprune.org/professional-p...ckmailing.html

I am sure the majority of greeks are law abiding and similar to ourselves.

But I suspect in this case we have PPL hour building who will claim that its cost sharing if caught.

You can't use anything about this flight for the purposes of gaining a license.
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Old 11th Jan 2014, 13:56
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True, Pace. I was enlarging upon and clarifying information posted by Mark1. The French system is rarely understood by those outside it (and quite a few of those inside it)
Though I suppose the OP could be in France.........
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Old 11th Jan 2014, 14:25
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I can't really see how the French system can be different these days now the EASA stuff is now European law.

Under JAR could understand why they could opt out and ignore anything they didn't like but now? How do they get away with ignoring it.
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Old 11th Jan 2014, 17:44
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I can't really see how the French system can be different these days now the EASA stuff is now European law.

Under JAR could understand why they could opt out and ignore anything they didn't like but now? How do they get away with ignoring it.

Because they are French?
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Old 11th Jan 2014, 17:52
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Hausser les épaules…?
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Old 11th Jan 2014, 18:31
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Bah ouaih. Tt a fait
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Old 12th Jan 2014, 11:30
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I can't really see how the French system can be different these days now the EASA stuff is now European law.
It's not 8th April 2014 yet when some pilot licensing derrogations end - most of the rest ending in April 2015.
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Old 14th Jan 2014, 11:12
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Bonjour a tous, hi guys.

No I am not in France but I read your answers. The trial flight is run under a local aeroclub. I contact them last night to use the offer. They sent me an application form to join the club. The guy I am flying with is a PPL with significant experience on sport flying - mainly landing and navigation contest.

So I understand I would be consider as a member of the flying club for the flight. We areed to handle the flight as a trial lesson but I am not sure if it is worth to get a log book and register it as a flight toward a potentiel PPL.Also, he agreed to give me some more time during the briefing.

Yes I am aware about the HERO aviation school although they did an offer for a very cheap PPL (in the region of 9.000 €) including all the hours but I did not take up the offer.

Rwy in Sight
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Old 14th Jan 2014, 11:49
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I don't know if the regulations are different where you are, but this would not be allowed in the UK. Sharing the cost is ok (say 50/50 towards the total cost), but you would not be able to count this time towards your PPL. Describing this as a Trial Lesson is wrong as the guy is not an Instructor.
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Old 14th Jan 2014, 11:58
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You really need to check the legality of this flight, and what you're covered for if things go wrong. Sounds like there's no way this flight could be legal.
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Old 14th Jan 2014, 12:29
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In addition to the aviation legalities of this, if the voucher say it can be done as a trial lessonI would also question the trade description side of this, a lesson must be done with an instructor can be logged towards a PPL and the time counts, a trial flight done as a sightseeing trip either legally or illegally, but with a non instructor, cannot.
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Old 14th Jan 2014, 13:30
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To return to the OP question:

You can expect the time to seem to pass very quickly.
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Old 16th Jan 2014, 06:02
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I too would be wary of the legality, best book with a qualified instructor
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