Where/who do you recommend for Hour Building?
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Join Date: Jan 2003
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Thanks guys/gals for all this information, much appreciated.
I don't plan to head off quite that soon to get this hour building done, maybe within a few months, after I've hopefully found a interesting, fun job at Gatwick, and once i've saved a bit.
Once I've completed my PPL, I'll inquire about buying a share flying an a/c, I wonder how much they are??..
The west coast of USA and Canada sounds very intriguing. I'd ideally want to be flying somewhere where the scenery is just too good for words.
Cheers for the good advice SK and FFF, I should have considered allowing more flying hours to spare while at flying college, so one can keep the experience and knowledge up to scratch before CPL/IR.
It also sounds like accommodation is at a good price as well in the US.
When considering the weather in the US and South Africa, what can one expect with the months around December and January?
I'm not too sure if I'm correct, but are there landing fees in the US?
I'm suprised Florida hasn't been mentioned much, I obviously don't know the USA that well :P, it sounds there's better places to go
Cheers
I don't plan to head off quite that soon to get this hour building done, maybe within a few months, after I've hopefully found a interesting, fun job at Gatwick, and once i've saved a bit.
Once I've completed my PPL, I'll inquire about buying a share flying an a/c, I wonder how much they are??..
The west coast of USA and Canada sounds very intriguing. I'd ideally want to be flying somewhere where the scenery is just too good for words.
Cheers for the good advice SK and FFF, I should have considered allowing more flying hours to spare while at flying college, so one can keep the experience and knowledge up to scratch before CPL/IR.
It also sounds like accommodation is at a good price as well in the US.
When considering the weather in the US and South Africa, what can one expect with the months around December and January?
I'm not too sure if I'm correct, but are there landing fees in the US?
I'm suprised Florida hasn't been mentioned much, I obviously don't know the USA that well :P, it sounds there's better places to go
Cheers
Join Date: Mar 2002
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Spike001 - No landing fees in the US. And yes the West Coast is a great place to fly. Can't comment on Florida although I do know that it's a lot flatter! However, if you're feeling adventurous I guess a trip to the Bahamas would be fantastic
For group flying check out the classifieds in:
Flyer
Pilot
Today's Pilot
There's also a forum on the Flyer web dedicated for group flying too.
Also check out The Hangar .
I'm also interested in getting into a group around London/SE and so I've been checking out these sites fairly regularly.
For group flying check out the classifieds in:
Flyer
Pilot
Today's Pilot
There's also a forum on the Flyer web dedicated for group flying too.
Also check out The Hangar .
I'm also interested in getting into a group around London/SE and so I've been checking out these sites fairly regularly.
Why do it if it's not fun?
Join Date: Jul 2001
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Weather in SW USA in Dec/Jan
My 8 weeks of hour-building was in December/Jan 2001/2002.
In 8 weeks, I had three days when I had to cancel flights. One was a cross-country flight where the cross-wind at the destination was outside my limits - I could have flown locally if I'd wanted. One was a mountain cross-country where the cloud-base was below the mountain tops - I could have flown locally if I'd wanted. The final one was an aerobatic flight where the cloud base was too low for aeros - I could have done a local, non-aerobatic flight if I'd wanted.
I guess the weather doesn't get very much better than that.
FFF
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In 8 weeks, I had three days when I had to cancel flights. One was a cross-country flight where the cross-wind at the destination was outside my limits - I could have flown locally if I'd wanted. One was a mountain cross-country where the cloud-base was below the mountain tops - I could have flown locally if I'd wanted. The final one was an aerobatic flight where the cloud base was too low for aeros - I could have done a local, non-aerobatic flight if I'd wanted.
I guess the weather doesn't get very much better than that.
FFF
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about lease of an aircraft or changing of location
I am stuned by some replies.
May I remind you that the hours building is a ''structured hours building", that you need to be advised permanently by at least a professional instructor if the aim is to join an airline at the end.
The hours building is not a serie of "promenades".
As instructor involved in the training since 6 years and as a former crew member of a major airline, I strongly advice all the young guys reading the present thread to make their hour building in a "professional"school if you do not want to spoil your money and if the aim is to join an airline.
You can make your hours building in Europe, in USA, in SA or in the South Est Asia, it depends on your cash or your personal choice but do it in a professional environment
May I remind you that the hours building is a ''structured hours building", that you need to be advised permanently by at least a professional instructor if the aim is to join an airline at the end.
The hours building is not a serie of "promenades".
As instructor involved in the training since 6 years and as a former crew member of a major airline, I strongly advice all the young guys reading the present thread to make their hour building in a "professional"school if you do not want to spoil your money and if the aim is to join an airline.
You can make your hours building in Europe, in USA, in SA or in the South Est Asia, it depends on your cash or your personal choice but do it in a professional environment
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Cheers for the advice. noted.
Do you know of any companies abroad that match your professional criteria?
I've been told in the past that Naples in Florida is a good place to get ones hours.
Cheers
Do you know of any companies abroad that match your professional criteria?
I've been told in the past that Naples in Florida is a good place to get ones hours.
Cheers
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I did my hours building at Naples in Florida. I did 90 hours in four weeks and would recommend going there for a number of reasons:
Naples is a good airfield to fly from. It is an ATC controlled field with Tower and Ground, giving useful experience in operating within a professional environment. Its busy and can be demanding on times.
American attitude to flying is much better than in the UK. Where ever you are, there are so many airfields to choose from, giving ample experience in joining procedures and landings. Remember also that there are no landing fees. If i had done the same number of landings in the UK, it would have cost about a thousand Pounds.
The American ATC is far more favourable to the VFR PPL. I flew into quite major airfields which in the UK you wouldnt go anywhere near, even if you could afford the landing fees!
If you choose the time of year carefully, the weather will be variable and therefore more like the UK in terms of visibility. I only had a couple of crystal clear days, which made things more demanding by far. Strong winds were also an excellent learning experience.
I had a great time out there, combining hours building with a thoroughly enjoyable holiday. Remember though, that 90 hours in four weeks is hard work. You wont fly every day, but those you do will demand between two and six hours a day. Imagine driving an average of four hours a day, (and having to concentrate) and you`ll understand how tiring it can be. It does get easier on the brain after you get used to the new environment though.
If you do go, its important to set a schedule and not to shy away from anything demanding. It would be easy to spend four weeks flying in circles in the local area and staying away from the controlled fields. But a log book full of `locals` will not impress the CAA.
Naples is a good airfield to fly from. It is an ATC controlled field with Tower and Ground, giving useful experience in operating within a professional environment. Its busy and can be demanding on times.
American attitude to flying is much better than in the UK. Where ever you are, there are so many airfields to choose from, giving ample experience in joining procedures and landings. Remember also that there are no landing fees. If i had done the same number of landings in the UK, it would have cost about a thousand Pounds.
The American ATC is far more favourable to the VFR PPL. I flew into quite major airfields which in the UK you wouldnt go anywhere near, even if you could afford the landing fees!
If you choose the time of year carefully, the weather will be variable and therefore more like the UK in terms of visibility. I only had a couple of crystal clear days, which made things more demanding by far. Strong winds were also an excellent learning experience.
I had a great time out there, combining hours building with a thoroughly enjoyable holiday. Remember though, that 90 hours in four weeks is hard work. You wont fly every day, but those you do will demand between two and six hours a day. Imagine driving an average of four hours a day, (and having to concentrate) and you`ll understand how tiring it can be. It does get easier on the brain after you get used to the new environment though.
If you do go, its important to set a schedule and not to shy away from anything demanding. It would be easy to spend four weeks flying in circles in the local area and staying away from the controlled fields. But a log book full of `locals` will not impress the CAA.
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I think I'll just be my usual iconoclastic self and recommend hour-building in... France!
Did it in Florida and South Africa too, but these days I prefer to keep current in European airspace.
Contrary to what most people say, you can fly in France with just a modicum of knowledge of the French language, as long as you fly from/to controlled airfields, or to smaller ones (AFIS etc.) during HJ. FIS is happy to inform you in English.
Landing fees are extremely low (when they exist at all), they are usually not even charged, and you can land at commercial airports (OK, NOT CDG or ORY or NCE); I recently landed (and refuelled) a Cherokee-140 at Lille-Lesquin (29 Euros inc. handling) and Strasbourg-Entzheim (39 Euros inc. overnight stay and handling), and did T/GOs at Chalons-Vatry (far) behind an Air France B777-200ER doing the same. I don't think one could do that in Britain.
Most airspace is Class G til FL 195, granted lots of MIL R-airspace, but overall much less cluttered than Blighty.
A Robin rents for 90 Euros/hour wet (that's 60 quid), a Warrior for 107 Euros (68 Quid).
And you do get good restaurants on most airfields!
Cheers
Did it in Florida and South Africa too, but these days I prefer to keep current in European airspace.
Contrary to what most people say, you can fly in France with just a modicum of knowledge of the French language, as long as you fly from/to controlled airfields, or to smaller ones (AFIS etc.) during HJ. FIS is happy to inform you in English.
Landing fees are extremely low (when they exist at all), they are usually not even charged, and you can land at commercial airports (OK, NOT CDG or ORY or NCE); I recently landed (and refuelled) a Cherokee-140 at Lille-Lesquin (29 Euros inc. handling) and Strasbourg-Entzheim (39 Euros inc. overnight stay and handling), and did T/GOs at Chalons-Vatry (far) behind an Air France B777-200ER doing the same. I don't think one could do that in Britain.
Most airspace is Class G til FL 195, granted lots of MIL R-airspace, but overall much less cluttered than Blighty.
A Robin rents for 90 Euros/hour wet (that's 60 quid), a Warrior for 107 Euros (68 Quid).
And you do get good restaurants on most airfields!
Cheers
Why do it if it's not fun?
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Malaysian eaglet,
Can you please provide a reference which confirms that hour-building must be "structured"? It may be the case for an integrated course (I'm not sure, I don't know very much about integrated courses) but it's certainly not the case for a modular course.
Obviously, flying around the circuit for 100 hours is no use to anyone. And neither is flying return trips to an airport 50 miles away which you know well over and over again. There is certainly a lot to be said for applying some structure to your hour-building. The long cross-country that's required for CPL issue must be completed. If you don't have a night qualification by the time you complete your hour-building you'll have to do the night qualification as part of the CPL. The merits of doing an IMC course during this time are being discussed on another thread. But there is no formal requirement to have any particular structure to your hour-building.
FFF
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Can you please provide a reference which confirms that hour-building must be "structured"? It may be the case for an integrated course (I'm not sure, I don't know very much about integrated courses) but it's certainly not the case for a modular course.
Obviously, flying around the circuit for 100 hours is no use to anyone. And neither is flying return trips to an airport 50 miles away which you know well over and over again. There is certainly a lot to be said for applying some structure to your hour-building. The long cross-country that's required for CPL issue must be completed. If you don't have a night qualification by the time you complete your hour-building you'll have to do the night qualification as part of the CPL. The merits of doing an IMC course during this time are being discussed on another thread. But there is no formal requirement to have any particular structure to your hour-building.
FFF
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malaysian eaglet - I'm sorry to hear that you're stunned and I do see your point of view. Most people will be aware that the hour-building has to be useful. Invariably one is improving their captaincy and decision-making skills and to do that requires some forethought so the flying time isn't wasted as FFF says - and as you said, some contact with an instructor may well be beneficial.
However, to suggest that a series of 'promenades' is of little use, is a somewhat from the truth. I would have thought that carrying out hour-building is several different environments has to be beneficial. I also don't believe that being coached throughout the whole of the hour building by an instructor is the wisest move from the point of view of improving your decicision-making skills.
No. 2
However, to suggest that a series of 'promenades' is of little use, is a somewhat from the truth. I would have thought that carrying out hour-building is several different environments has to be beneficial. I also don't believe that being coached throughout the whole of the hour building by an instructor is the wisest move from the point of view of improving your decicision-making skills.
No. 2
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reference hours Building
Flying For Fun: these are my reference: JAR FCL1 (155) and LASORS + numerous appendices, IEM, AMC of JAR FCL 1.
I have never doubted that flying solo helps for decision making. But the training integrated or modular is ruled by the JAR FCL. There are some specific training which have to be done ... I will not argue any more. Flying For Fun notices that I have 12000 hours of flight in a major airline, so a certain knowledge of what is required to succeed to enter in Airlines... Do not loose your time if your aim is to become a professional pilot
Just an advice of an old flyer.
I have never doubted that flying solo helps for decision making. But the training integrated or modular is ruled by the JAR FCL. There are some specific training which have to be done ... I will not argue any more. Flying For Fun notices that I have 12000 hours of flight in a major airline, so a certain knowledge of what is required to succeed to enter in Airlines... Do not loose your time if your aim is to become a professional pilot
Just an advice of an old flyer.
