Do you have any advice? Starting PPL in two weeks. (already started :))
 

Hi guys!

I'm starting my PPL in two weeks. I will be flying on PA28. Have you got any advice for a newbie? :p

Are you going for commercial eventually? If so you're going to want to get a class 1 medical certificate and its best to get this ASAP. All in all in took me about 6 months to get mine - 2 weeks for initial examination then all the rest waiting for follow ups (which proved to be nothing as they expected (best to be sure obviously)). This obviously set my solo flight back quite a bit.

Other than that get studying (Air Law first) and have fun!

One other thing I'd advise getting you're own headset quite soon; I always find that most borrowed ones from the club pinch the top of my head. My reconmendation would be the David Clark 13.4 - simply love it. On top of the comfort is the deseases that can spread in borrowed sets. However having said all that make sure you have a couplel of lessons first to make sure flying is for you.

- Pay attention
- Ask loads of questions, especially when you aren't sure
- Take note of what the instructors are saying
- Enjoy it, you will have a ball! The PA28 is a nice aircraft.

Thanks for the reply! I already hold a class 2 medical, and going for Class 1 probably in March.

I have bought the starter pack (Pooley's) and I have already started Air Law, and I can say, it's a bit boring, but I had a look through the other books and they seem far more interesting :p

I have been in the air quite a few times, a friend of mine has a PPL and he takes me with him quite often and I love it!

About the handset, I have seen handsets for 90 pound and for 500 pound :eek: I don't think buying the cheapest one is a good idea, but I also don't want to spend 500 pound on it! I'm working part time and still studying. I earn enough just to fly an hour per week. Maybe in the summer I will be able to fly more. I'm hoping to get my PPL by the end of summer. Hopefully!

Any other advice highly appreciated.

All the above are excellent comments.

A few things to note:-

A landing is simply a controlled collision with a planet.
The only time you have too much fuel is when you are on fire.
The 3 most usesless things in aviation are the sky above, the fuel on the ground and the runway behind you.
Aviate, Navigate, Communicate.

Finally the two golden rules
1. Always fly the plane
2. Don't forget rule 1

Have fun !!

One more thing, what do you think is the best way to do your exams, I mean a list? I've started air law for now, not really sure what to do then, maybe meteorology? Is it helpful in another subject?

You're getting the picture fast, kid!! :ok:

Enjoy it - it's a great ride (apart from Air Law).

Vems
 

Air Law has some very important stuff in it,especially if you don't want to collide with other aircraft!
Good luck.
Lister

I know that air law is really important. Some bits are not that boring, but of course I'll study it all. I want to pass for at least 90%. It's not that hard. I'm a fast learner and studying comes easily.

Get the exams which involve cramming a load of indigestible stuff then regurgitating it onto your marksheet (such as Air Law, AGK and to a certain extent Human Factors) out of the way first:

Then you can do the 'interactive' exams (Comm , Nav and Met) once you've started flying and can relate to the subjects and more importantly address any queries to your instructor.

You've got loadsa time: get up there and enjoy the experience.........

Cusco: ;)

A few things that helped me:

1. Get an airband radio and listen to how the pros do it (or don't!)
2. Stick post-its in your car with check lists......if traffic lights red, practice MAYDAY calls and crash checks -if green PAN call and checks...honest!
3. Hook up with other students and back seat on their sessions.
4. Read EVERYTHING associated with aviation that you can get your hands on.
5. Ask/take the opportunity to chuck the plane around/push the envelope/unusual recovery angles etc -it will give you LOADS of confidence.
6. If in doubt, ASK!!!
7. NAV -get used to MATZ penetration/zone transits -don't be afraid to ask!

Have fun!

You have already had an input on headsets . Do nt take anyones advice on headsets excepting for the clarity and perhaps their anr capabilities . Everyone is different and the worst thing that can happen to you is you buy a headset which clamps your head like a vice 30 minutes into your training flight , you will very quickly stop learning .
Try as many as you can and see what suits you personally . I originally bought a DC and its bloody awful and uncomfy I am now investing in bse .xIm mot sure transair would appreciate you turning up with a picnic and sittin in a corner of their shop wearing each of their headsets for an hour to get a proper feel for it , but that would give you a much better appreciation of how comfy it will be in the long term .
Most importantly ENJOY your training save the stress and anxiety for when you go commercial
Good Luck

I'm not really stressed out because of the training. It's going to be fun! I'll save the stress for later ;)

DOC, unfortunately, I don't have my driving licence yet! :p

About the handsets I'm still not really sure which I'm going to buy, thing is, I'll have to buy in online, there's no actual pilot shop near in my area, at least not one I'm aware of, so I won't really be able to try out so many handsets.

Vems - does your flying club have a decent selection of sets? Thats how I found out about the DC 13.4 - by trying it one day in a lesson. GIZZAJOB is quite right that a badly fitting headset is a nightmare and the last thing you want is to own said headset. :* If you can't try many then my advise would be to read reviews online and have a look at the padding at the top of the headset, though there really is no substitute for trying them I suppose (GIZZAJOB hates DCs and I love them so who knows what you'll think).

In terms of the order of exams my instructor told me Air Law, Navigation and then it doesn't really matter (though I'd say Comm third but then thats something that comes with practice). Do you have the PPL Confuser? If so thats really useful for exam prep, especially in something like Air Law.

If your going commercial a good headset is a investment in your health

Get an ANR personally I like the old style DC's the new style ones are :mad:

Yeah, I have the PPL confuser. I have read all air law through, did some questions, and now I'm reading over the bits I still don't understand or can't remember. It is very useful. I was thinking about doing human factors after air law, as it's a pretty thin book and I would get through it pretty quick and then start Nav.

I'm not really sure about the selection of headsets at my flying school. I'll find out about that.

I will be going commercially so I will be definately getting a headset, I just need to have a look at few pilot supplies website's, read some reviews and maybe ask about the headsets at my flying club. Thanks for the advice guys!

If you want to take a look at a good selection of headsets, why not plan a x-country flight, eventually, to a field that has a decent pilot shop? I'm not based in the UK so I wouldn't be able to suggest one but there has to be a few good pilots shops at airfields within a reasonable distance. If it's far away, try to hook up with a fellow student who trains with the same instructor. You fly one leg, he flies the return leg.

I live in Scotland, and really, have no idea of a pilot shop anywhere in Scotland, I would have to go to England, that's a bit far!:rolleyes:

Always read through notes on the last lesson, and the lesson ahead before you get in the plane. It's free on the ground to just go through a circuit in your head, in the air you're paying £2 a minute or more.

Stay focused, and keep looking forward. Studying the ground exams alongside flight training makes them more relevant, and therefore more interesting, but you need to get them out of the way. You don't want to end up ready for a test, but still with 3 or 4 exams to cover.

Have fun, and take something positive away from every flight.

I guess I'll write an exam every 2/3 weeks. Would take me quicker to get through the books but I still have full time work and other things to take care of during the week so I only study when I feel like it and when I want to.

I'll definately get the exams out of the way before my skills test. That's for sure. I have had a read through the first manual, what exercises you do on your first few lessons. I guess before every lesson I'll read what I've done, what I'll be doing today and what I'll be doing on the next lesson. Hopefully it will make it easier. :)