How long did it take for you to get your ppl
Join Date: Mar 2006
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14 days. Had my first air experience detail on 22nd July in Chipmunk G-AORL and was airsick, did my GFT on 5th August in G-APAI and the dates were the in the same year! That was as a CCF cadet on a Flying Scholarship at The Wiltshire School of Flying in the early '60's at Thruxton. Flew the Chipmunk, DH82A and the Thruxton Jackaroo in the 30 hours required at that time, as well as all of the ground school.The Ministry of Aviation issued my PPL on 30th August, all nicely typed in a linen bound cover, and I don't think it cost me a penny. Readers may understand why I am hacked off at having to pay the CAA a King's ransome to convert it to an EASA licence, just so I can continue to fly my own aeroplane in my own country.
Join Date: Dec 2014
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Did it slowly
At my age, having a family and working a job at the same time, in a club arrangement, it took a long time. In the calendar, it took 1 year and 8 months, but you can safely substract 9 months due to a major overhaul of the (at that time one and only) training airplane.
In the logbook I had 56 hours and 40 minutes at the end of the practical skill test.
But it is a continous journey, as so many said before. Already at the end of my training period, I noticed that my CFI started to care less and less about my solo flights, I could get his endorsement easily from him for various practice flights, and when I got back, his reaction was "Was everything OK?". At first I was surprised and thought about offending him with something personally
only to realize it was part of the process of becoming a pilot And even another 50+ hours of flying alone or with my passengers, I learn something new on every flight.
In the logbook I had 56 hours and 40 minutes at the end of the practical skill test.
But it is a continous journey, as so many said before. Already at the end of my training period, I noticed that my CFI started to care less and less about my solo flights, I could get his endorsement easily from him for various practice flights, and when I got back, his reaction was "Was everything OK?". At first I was surprised and thought about offending him with something personally
only to realize it was part of the process of becoming a pilot And even another 50+ hours of flying alone or with my passengers, I learn something new on every flight.
I am hacked off at having to pay the CAA a King's ransome to convert it to an EASA licence, just so I can continue to fly my own aeroplane in my own country.
I believe we are OK to carry on flying on our UK PPL untill 2018 at present, maybe for ever.
As you can see I can't "quote" previous posts as I once could, why not?!! Please help!
I believe we are OK to carry on flying on our UK PPL untill 2018 at present, maybe for ever.
As you can see I can't "quote" previous posts as I once could, why not?!! Please help!
Last edited by Fishtailed; 21st Dec 2014 at 23:22.
Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
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Never did get to own a PPL (almost got there but not quite and eventually gave up), or a CPL.
After almost twenty years of military flying did the exams (twice) and training/ testing and finally popped out as an ATPL holder.
After almost twenty years of military flying did the exams (twice) and training/ testing and finally popped out as an ATPL holder.
Join Date: Mar 2014
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Started theory mid May with distance learning course as a pedestrian, passed all exams in one shot early September.
Started flying in July, passed exam early November with hours in the 50's (with about 10h bad weather training with little training content relevant for the exam but great for later, I took as it was booked anyways, not all were nice experience, but I do not regret having trained such with an instructor on the right) - took 5 different instructors to match my odd time constraints.
16 weeks duration for theory, 17 weeks for flight training, 26 weeks total from pedestrian to pilot, hours in the 50's and all parallel to fulltime+ working.
Started flying in July, passed exam early November with hours in the 50's (with about 10h bad weather training with little training content relevant for the exam but great for later, I took as it was booked anyways, not all were nice experience, but I do not regret having trained such with an instructor on the right) - took 5 different instructors to match my odd time constraints.
16 weeks duration for theory, 17 weeks for flight training, 26 weeks total from pedestrian to pilot, hours in the 50's and all parallel to fulltime+ working.
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Rochdale
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Just finished my NPPL course, started 28th February and passed my GST on 16th December, 45 hours total time including some solo flying I did just to 'stay current' when instructors weren't available to be in the air with me, also did 3 dual XC flights as Blackpool closed before I could fly out solo to it.
Overall I loved the course and the pace was just right for me (about 4 lessons a month), did about 8 hours of ground school to pass the theory exams and an intensive 6 lesson RT course to pass the radio exams.
Just waiting for the CAA to send me the magic bit of paper now so I can carry on learning
Biggest piece of advice I'd give anyone is to make sure you read ahead in the syllabus and understand the lesson you are flying next so you can ask questions and be prepared, AND, after your lesson reflect on what you have learned, what went well, what went not so well and why. Finally, don't do what I tend to do, which is beat yourself up if something is less than perfect, although that's probably just more a personality thing..
Overall I loved the course and the pace was just right for me (about 4 lessons a month), did about 8 hours of ground school to pass the theory exams and an intensive 6 lesson RT course to pass the radio exams.
Just waiting for the CAA to send me the magic bit of paper now so I can carry on learning
Biggest piece of advice I'd give anyone is to make sure you read ahead in the syllabus and understand the lesson you are flying next so you can ask questions and be prepared, AND, after your lesson reflect on what you have learned, what went well, what went not so well and why. Finally, don't do what I tend to do, which is beat yourself up if something is less than perfect, although that's probably just more a personality thing..
Join Date: Oct 2000
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6 months and 60 hours November to April, 21 years ago.
Working full time so almost exclusively weekends.
Mildest winter for decades : only lost two days for weather.
Cusco
Working full time so almost exclusively weekends.
Mildest winter for decades : only lost two days for weather.
Cusco
Five weeks and thirty hours ( an approved course) in 1962, Kidlington. It would have been four weeks but I took a week off to do a CCF camp at Bicester.
Learned on Colts but managed transition to Chipmunk, Auster Terrier and Tripacer as well. Good deal because our Math teacher had a Chipmunk at Kidlington and we got to 'borrow' it for the price of gas.
Learned on Colts but managed transition to Chipmunk, Auster Terrier and Tripacer as well. Good deal because our Math teacher had a Chipmunk at Kidlington and we got to 'borrow' it for the price of gas.
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: 18nm NE grice 28ft up
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Seven months and 42.5 hours in 1988. Mostly with the one instructor and usually Sunday mornings.
It was done between February and September and thanks to the reliable East of Scotland weather there were only three cancellations.
Just a thought. I wonder how much I don't know as the study material was two skinny Birch and Bramson books.
D.O.
It was done between February and September and thanks to the reliable East of Scotland weather there were only three cancellations.
Just a thought. I wonder how much I don't know as the study material was two skinny Birch and Bramson books.
D.O.
Join Date: Aug 2002
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45 hours for an EASA SEP over 3 months. Hard work with flying twice on some days between April send July this year, trying to prep for the 9 exams and working full time. Well worth the effort as the joys of flying are so much better than anyone ever said.