Derek Davidson

[gyrotyro]

I did some of my PPL training with Derek and then later my initial IMC rating.

He is a first class in instructor, old school and now as he is 80 really old school!

He gets the job done and is thorough and reliable.

Give him a call.

[r10bbr]

how much did Derek charge you, I'm gone see how it goes with Derek before looking at other schools, i really would like to finish before september intake for ATPL

[Momoe]

3 weeks isn't impossible. I did mine in 3 weeks and 1 day because the day of the GFT was unflyable.

I did mine at Clacton on C152/C172 for navex's but circuit work/general flying was in Supercubs, I went for the tail dragger option as I was looking to get into a syndicate with a Chipmunk and a Tigermoth.

Read your reference material until you know it inside out and everything is clear, on the days when flying isn't advisable, get your exams out of the way.
Any days when flying is possible, grab an instructor and go, I went solo fairly early and did circuits ad nauseum till they let me go on navex's.

I paid 50% up front, 25% half way through and balance after 3 weeks.
I lodged with one of the instructors so that kept costs down and guaranteed me getting there on time every day.

Agree with Whirly and airpolice, you want to become qualified and pay money to do it, it's not complicated - find somewhere that will accommodate you but be prepared to commit yourself fully also.

p.s. Didn't get in the Chippy/Moth syndicate, but ended up in an Auster group which was great fun.

[r10bbr]

Momoe, i have done all my exams and now i have just the skills test to do, i really hoped my first flying school whom i paid to do my ppl would have accommodate me and put me first but it seems i was just another figure where instructors chose when to fly not when student was available

[Whirlybird]

"i have done all my exams and now i have just the skills test to do".

I thought you said in an earlier post that you hadn't yet gone solo and had all the nav etc to do. Which is it?

[r10bbr]

i have completed all the PPL exams , and have just left the skills test to do, i have yet to go solo and from my exercise sheet i have been told i have to do the following after solo, which are cross country / solo cross country etc

[hobbit1983]

You do know you need a minimum of 10 hours solo prior to skills test...?

[r10bbr]

yes i do understand, just frustrated at being mucked about with my first school and hope to complete my ppl in start of September intake for ATPLs

[glum]

I'm very surprised at the number of hours you've flown without going solo.

I did it at about hour 15 I think, and I'm aware others will do it in less than 10.

This post isn't to question your ability, it's to question the syllabus - I presumed it was standard, and that each student worked through the same lessons in order meaning you'd get to lesson X "solo circuit" and fly it once the instructor thought you ready?

Can instructors mix and match the lesson order?

[r10bbr]

i too am surprised & distraught i assumed i would have flown solo in under 20 hours, where i have learnt my PPL I'm not sure whether instructors can mix and match lesson order's but from my knowledge and what i was told after solo i had the following left to complete : Forced landing without power/Precautionary landings/Navigation/Navigation at lower levels and reduced visibility/Radio navigation/Basic instrument flight

i just hope i can complete the following within the 3 weeks as stated by Derek Davidson, thus i can start my ATPLS in September

[Auster Fan]

I wish you well, but as others have said, think you're being pretty optimistic, not least because of the vagaries of the British weather, especially where preparation for and completing your Qualifying Cross Country is concerned...You've not made any mention of the oral/practical radio exam you will need to pass either? Have you passed that along with the other written exams?

[r10bbr]

i have passed my radio exams and the 9 exams just the flying left

[Genghis the Engineer]

All the difficult bits then!

I can absolutely see why you need to consider changing school, but equally you'd only be starting ATPL groundschool in September as you won't have the hours to do the flying course - and there are plenty of those that will start any time.

Best of luck, yes do seriously look at changing school, but I think you need to be realistic about what's achievable in the timescale you're aiming for. And, being frank, whether you have the aptitude to go "pro" if you've not soloed in that many hours at a reasonably intensive flying rate (I'm sure you are up to getting a PPL eventually, but the professional licences do take a significantly higher standard of flying).

G

[Whirlybird]

r10bbr, some of what you say seems a bit strange. You haven't soloed yet, after 40+ hours. That in itself is normal for some of us. It took me that long, and some others too. But it usually means you haven't reached the standard for an instructor to let you fly an aircraft alone. There are many reasons for that. It may be due to poor instruction, lack of aptitude, slow learning ability, unsuitable weather, a difficult airfield at which to learn, and possibly other reasons too. In my case and I suspect many others, it was all of the above.

Now, it may be that you're different, and for some reason your instructors are holding you back although you're good enough to go solo, but it seems unlikely. That rarely happens. Either way, it's about time you changed school and instructor, and try to get some honest feedback as to what your problems are, and why you haven't soloed yet.

As to trying to finish by September, you might, but it's going to be hard. You summarise the exercises you have to do; well, trust me, that's quite a lot! If you're a very fast learner and have good instruction and ideal weather you might manage it in three weeks, but most people wouldn't. It may well take you longer, and maybe you should get used to that idea.

On that point, please don't worry if it takes you a long time. I don't agree with what Genghis said; even some of us slow learners can 'go pro'. It just takes us a little longer, that's all. I got my CPL and instructor's rating, but eventually I gave up expecting to do anything at all in minimum hours. As a newish helicopter instructor, I had a student who couldn't seem to learn, and I passed him on to the CFI in case it was my fault. This chap wanted to get a CPL(H), but eventually a couple of instructors sat down with him and explained that he could probably do it, but it would take a long time. He was so relieved to realise he could make it and we weren't giving up on him that his flying improved quite a bit. You see, putting yourself under time pressure doesn't help, and often hinders your progress!

So I'd say stop trying to rush things, find a school and instructor you get on with, and learn at YOUR pace. Of course I may be wrong in all of the above, because you haven't told us everything and I'm not psychic; this is just based on what I think has been happening. Feel free to ignore all I've said if you want. But hopefully some of it will help.

[r10bbr]

i appreciate all the feedback to summarise i have completed all the 9 exams but have yet to take the skills test or go solo

yes it differs people to people but from what i have stated i may need another 20 or 30 lessons, from what i gathered in terms of the exercises that are left from the syllabus

what annoyed me as to why i decided to change schools/instructors and seek alternative options is that during my PPL training even after telling the school/instructors i have taken 6 months off to complete the PPL as a whole, i have had 5 instructors in total all alternating with my lessons and feel that favouritism are been given to the new students/international students, thus sticking with one instructor is hard as it is due to not been given slots to fly etc

my initial thread was about DerekDavidsons 3 weeks PPL completion possibility and review, thus i wanted to ask if anyone had completed this course or knew of someone, looking back on it i feel i should have gone to the states back when i started, by now i would have completed my PPL and some what be in between my ATPLS

i appreciate all the replys to this thread and hope i have not come across like a head less chicken or a drama queen. i do understand it takes time & effort and money to complete the PPL but i feel that the flying school should have made me a priority even after i have told them my situation and my free time, but i will bot rant about that here

[Genghis the Engineer]

Fair point Whirly - knowing you and your flying background pretty well, I agree that you do demonstrate that slow does not (necessarily) equate to poor - you proved that conclusively.

G

[Parson]

r10bbr

Don't be disheartened about what has happened. What's done is done - draw a line under it and set yourself a plan for the rest of your flying (and career if that is what you intend).

I wouldn't recommend rushing to get your PPL done so that you can start your ground school. The PPL isn't a 'tick in the box' on your way to becoming a professional pilot. You are learning fundamental skills that you will build on later and you do not want to develop any bad habits.

The CPL is really just a glorified PPL in a complex aircraft, flown to tighter limits. And the IR is effectively visual flying by other means. If you can't fly straight and level and in trim at PPL level you are going struggle with your IR course. I'm not up to speed with current rates but I suspect that a typical IR training route is pushing £1000 these days so any extra training needed is going to hurt....

Try schools close to home initially - always good to be in your own bed at night. Explain your situation and find an instructor/school you are comfortable with and come up with a plan to complete your PPL and importantly hone the skills you will need as you develop.

And don't forget to enjoy it....

[Momoe]

Parson,

although there is nothing like being in your own bed, the 3 week intensive course I did meant that I lived and breathed aviation for the entire period.

I wanted a PPL and there was nothing else on my mind, I did struggle initially as I was trying to take in learning to fly (although I had about 3 hours stick time) through a friend, getting exams out of the way and it was a very steep curve.
Getting exams out of the way and being able to concentrate on flying was a big milestone and going solo was the other big one.

I strongly believe that immersing myself was the best way for me and might work for others too, we are all different but flying virtually every day consolidated what I had learnt, basically, there was no appreciable time lapses to forget anything.

This meant that I became confident of my nav skills and would use NDB's and VOR's to cross check position to the extent that I would get navex's when the weather was less than optimal.

Chipping away at a PPL at weekends and a few hours in the week doesn't give you that, maybe this suits some people but it definitely will take longer and it will almost certainly cost you more, not just in up front capital but in incidental costs such as travelling.

The OP is frustrated with their lack of progress so with all the ground work completed, I would try a weeks intensive course and see how that goes.
If it goes well, the confidence gained will go a long way to ensuring the rest of the flying part of the PPL is completed expediently.

[Parson]

Momoe,

I've nothing against an intensive flying course - after all, CPL and IR are just that. Point I was making was not to rush things to hit what would appear to be an arbitrary date to start groundschool.

The other side of the coin to intensive flying (and of course more gradual learning) is maintaining those skills....

[parkfell]

Learning to fly takes time. You need to be able to absorb it at your pace. Osmosis?
Pushing too hard, three lessons a day is futile. You are not a machine with a positronic brain.
What is important long term is the quality. Get it right at the PPL stage, and the CPL/IR stage will be straight forward.
And probably the most important basic skill is TRIMMING, and trimming well.
Acquire this skill, and it will stay on rails. Failure to trim well ends up in a constant battle of Man v. machine.
40+ hours without first solo is a cause for concern.........