To fly or not to fly?
 

Folks,

I'm after some of your thoughts/experiences.

Quick overview of my situation:

PPL in March 2009, now studying ATPL with BGS part-time. First 8 exams done and passed, on with second lot. My question concerns currency.

For various reasons I am compelled to finish my ATPL studies before the end of the year. This takes up a lot of my time during evenings and weekends. I haven't flown since the beginning of December and I'm now really starting to miss getting up and about over Northumberland.

I know, however, that safety ultimately boils down to currency (and a few other things, obviously). Should I try and maintain my practical skills at least, say, once a month by doing a skills check with my CFI or be patient and wait until I have the time to fly more regularly?

I'm open minded on this one folks so I'd like to hear as many differing opinions as possible.

Thanks in advance

Tim

Anybody? :O

Hello!

It depends entirely on your budget: If you can afford it, go flying. If not anything else, it will motivate you to go on with your studies.

If you are on a tight budget, save your money for the coming expenses (instrument and ME training are going to be _very_ expensive). I don't know your training scheme, but if it is anyting like ours here, you will continue your practical training with basic instrument flying either in the procedures trainer or in the real aeroplane. Especially the procedures trainer is so totally different from flying VFR in a single engine aeroplane that your montlhy training flight is not going to make any difference. You literally have to start from scratch anyway.

So, you like to fly (or miss flying very much): Go flying. But for your training it is not required. (Just my personal view after nearly two decades of instructing).

Happy learning!

Go gliding, keeps you hands and feet connected, bloody good fun, and costs a next to nothing compared to powered flight.

Only down side is it doesn't go towards you hour building

But Gliding takes up shed loads of time. A whole weekend spent pushing, pulling, winch driving and lucky if you get one flight. time better spent either relaxing or studying I'd say!

Gliding is great fun though!

What he said!

While I agree it keeps your hands and feet connected, it does little for your procedures, ATC, fuel planning etc etc.