A question regarding hour building.
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A question regarding hour building.
Looking at some schools to do some building later this year, and some of them state by booking in 50 hour blocks you get the reduced rate. Fair enough, but the time limit, quoted as between 10 to 12 days, to complete your 50 hours seems a bit intense.
For those that have followed this path, does it work out ok, or are you a bit too knackered to really fly constructively following this schedule ??
ta,
Gb.
sp edit.
For those that have followed this path, does it work out ok, or are you a bit too knackered to really fly constructively following this schedule ??
ta,
Gb.
sp edit.
I say there boy
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That works out at 4-5 hours a day. It's certainly do-able, but is quite demanding, especially if aircraft unservicabilities / weather constrains things.
I persoanlly wouldn't want to accept a tighter timescale than this (I did 60 hours in 3 weeks when I did mine).
cheers!
foggy.
I persoanlly wouldn't want to accept a tighter timescale than this (I did 60 hours in 3 weeks when I did mine).
cheers!
foggy.
Surely to a flying school as a business, an aeroplane is an expensive and valuable commodity. They can only give you cheap useage rates and effectively exclusive use, if they can guarantee that they know how long it's going to be unavailable to them, and it's not too long.
G
G
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Thanks for the replies folks.
Yeah I don't disagree with you Genghis, a flying school would be daft not to do it that way. No doubt about it.
I just wanted to get the perspective of the guys who have done it that way, to find out how "do-able" it is.
Yeah I don't disagree with you Genghis, a flying school would be daft not to do it that way. No doubt about it.
I just wanted to get the perspective of the guys who have done it that way, to find out how "do-able" it is.
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GB,
I am about to embark upon an hour-building exercise (I need 50 P1). I'm doing it at Stapleford (M11/M25 junction) and they do block bookings at 70 quid per hour for a C152. I'm sure they will have a minimum, but I don't think it's 50 hours. May be worth a call.
Good luck.
LB
I am about to embark upon an hour-building exercise (I need 50 P1). I'm doing it at Stapleford (M11/M25 junction) and they do block bookings at 70 quid per hour for a C152. I'm sure they will have a minimum, but I don't think it's 50 hours. May be worth a call.
Good luck.
LB
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I burnt 100 hours out in Florida late last year over the space of a month. I didn't seem to find trouble at all getting the hours into each day although some days I did fly quite a bit. Generally my day started at 8am at the school taking off between 9-10am after planning etc. Did touch and go's, full stops along the way and ended up somewhere for lunch. Usually an hour or so off for a bite to eat then back to base by about 6pm. Generally my hour building was quite casual compared to some. There were brit military guys out there converting from rotary that were really going for it.
A few other thoughts spring to mind though.
Remember to take into a/c when the 50 hour check will occur (and any other scheduled maintenance for that matter) especially if you plan on taking the aircraft away from home base for an extended period of time.
Also there have been a load of previous posts on making use of your hour building time and not just burning holes in the sky. I would strongly agree with these sentiments. It gets a drag after a while but do put in the effort to do proper planning (including weather breifs) and try not to use the GPS as your sole navigational source. I suggest you do a search on the earlier threads for more tips. If you havent done your 150nm cross country which I think is needed for the CPL then make sure you tick this off during one of your flights as well. Also grab some night hours as well.
Hope this helps. Drop me an email if you want more.
A few other thoughts spring to mind though.
Remember to take into a/c when the 50 hour check will occur (and any other scheduled maintenance for that matter) especially if you plan on taking the aircraft away from home base for an extended period of time.
Also there have been a load of previous posts on making use of your hour building time and not just burning holes in the sky. I would strongly agree with these sentiments. It gets a drag after a while but do put in the effort to do proper planning (including weather breifs) and try not to use the GPS as your sole navigational source. I suggest you do a search on the earlier threads for more tips. If you havent done your 150nm cross country which I think is needed for the CPL then make sure you tick this off during one of your flights as well. Also grab some night hours as well.
Hope this helps. Drop me an email if you want more.
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I would say that if you have night and/or instrument rating then this helps get the hours done much easier.
I did 200 hours in one month flying around the states in a PA28. Hard work? Sure, but also a lot of fun. Did quite a bit of sightseeing too. Try and find people to fly with you if you can, just to make it a more enjoyable experience. Or arrange to fly with another hour builder (both of you with your own aircraft).
The 200 hours was no real problem, there were a couple of days of bad weather but if you are open minded and flexible you can get it done.
I hired from Air Desert Pacific in California, they have very good "block hour" deals.
I got a PA28 straight out of the hangar with 100 hours to fly before the next mandatory check.
Top tips.
Have a Rand McNally road map with you to choose good places to go.
Get the plane organised inside, with everything you are going to need in an easy to find place. Such as maps, approach plates, etc.
Get one of those huge AOPA telephone directory sized guides. They have all the airports listed along with accommodation, which FBOs have free accommodation/ courtesy cars, opening hours, etc.
Plan a good adventure!
Get up early. Watch the Weather Channel often. Never rush yourself. Plan the next day's flight the evening before.
I used to get up early and be flying by 8am. Get a routine going -
check weather channel, get to airport, ring 1-800-WX-BRIEF for latest weather and NOTAMs and file your flight plan (always, whether VFR or not I would). Go to aircraft, check it over, check fuel.
Go!
Fly for 2-3 hours, more if you want. Perhaps fly from A to C via B for added interest. Stop at an airport for a drink and a break before continuing. Get update on weather.
Arrive somewhere interesting and borrow courtesy car from FBO. Go visit the sights, have lunch, etc. Late afternoon (or evening if you have night rating) set off for another 3 hours or so flying, perhaps two 2 hour legs with a break in between.
This way you get to see a lot of airports. Many times in the evening we would go out. Check out what you want to do sightseeing wise then find the nearest airport. You'd be surprised how much you can fit into a day.
You can fly across America and back in not too many hours, even in a Cherokee.
Final tip. Don't get blase about it. Question your actions often. You may have done the same thing the last 2 weeks but that doesn't mean you won't make an error today. Always double check weather, fuel and weight and balance.
You will learn an immense amount if you do it this way and also have a hell of a lot of fun!!
If anyone wants any specific info let me know and I can e-mail you.
I did 200 hours in one month flying around the states in a PA28. Hard work? Sure, but also a lot of fun. Did quite a bit of sightseeing too. Try and find people to fly with you if you can, just to make it a more enjoyable experience. Or arrange to fly with another hour builder (both of you with your own aircraft).
The 200 hours was no real problem, there were a couple of days of bad weather but if you are open minded and flexible you can get it done.
I hired from Air Desert Pacific in California, they have very good "block hour" deals.
I got a PA28 straight out of the hangar with 100 hours to fly before the next mandatory check.
Top tips.
Have a Rand McNally road map with you to choose good places to go.
Get the plane organised inside, with everything you are going to need in an easy to find place. Such as maps, approach plates, etc.
Get one of those huge AOPA telephone directory sized guides. They have all the airports listed along with accommodation, which FBOs have free accommodation/ courtesy cars, opening hours, etc.
Plan a good adventure!
Get up early. Watch the Weather Channel often. Never rush yourself. Plan the next day's flight the evening before.
I used to get up early and be flying by 8am. Get a routine going -
check weather channel, get to airport, ring 1-800-WX-BRIEF for latest weather and NOTAMs and file your flight plan (always, whether VFR or not I would). Go to aircraft, check it over, check fuel.
Go!
Fly for 2-3 hours, more if you want. Perhaps fly from A to C via B for added interest. Stop at an airport for a drink and a break before continuing. Get update on weather.
Arrive somewhere interesting and borrow courtesy car from FBO. Go visit the sights, have lunch, etc. Late afternoon (or evening if you have night rating) set off for another 3 hours or so flying, perhaps two 2 hour legs with a break in between.
This way you get to see a lot of airports. Many times in the evening we would go out. Check out what you want to do sightseeing wise then find the nearest airport. You'd be surprised how much you can fit into a day.
You can fly across America and back in not too many hours, even in a Cherokee.
Final tip. Don't get blase about it. Question your actions often. You may have done the same thing the last 2 weeks but that doesn't mean you won't make an error today. Always double check weather, fuel and weight and balance.
You will learn an immense amount if you do it this way and also have a hell of a lot of fun!!
If anyone wants any specific info let me know and I can e-mail you.
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Time building
I did the same thing last year. Not quite as intense though. Flew from POC to the south tip of Florida (APF). Did it in 50 hours. Had to divert to different states for weather once or twice. We actually got stuck down in Florida and had to wait a few days for a tropical depression out in the gulf o blow itself out. Great fun, and learned alot.
I also want to emphasize - question everthing and don't get lazy. It's easy to become 'strung out' on those trips if you make long legs with short stops.
I also want to emphasize - question everthing and don't get lazy. It's easy to become 'strung out' on those trips if you make long legs with short stops.
