PPL study on a budget

[CAP A330]

Originally Posted by rudestuff

I wouldn't bother with the CBIR exams, just take the ATPL exams and use those. You don't even need to do all of them. If you do the relevant IR subjects first, there is nothing stopping you using those instead of the IR or CBIR exams. A good idea would be:
1. PPL + Night
2. Get your IR ATPL subjects while building 50 hours XC PIC
3. CBIR (try not to use a simulator*)
4. Remailing ATPL subjects while hour building
5a. CPL SE (if tight on time or money)
5b. MEP, MEIR, CPL SE (if not)

*You dont want to avoid simulators necessarily, in some circumstances they can be very useful, but any IR training in the aircraft also counts as flight time for the CPL while simulator time does not. That's why you want to avid anywhere that tells you to get the CPL first - you're doing 45 hours on top of your 200 rather than included in it.

Do you have a write up on how everything should be structured for minimums, targets for hours etc?

[rudestuff]

Originally Posted by CAP A330

Do you have a write up on how everything should be structured for minimums, targets for hours etc?

I can, but planning what you need to do is half the fun. If I do any more for you I'll be flying the plane!

Don't be one of those guys who gets a PPL + 100 hours PIC without thinking things through, then spends £20k more than they needed to - have a plan.

The following assumes absolute minimums for each course, puts them in optimum order then fills in hour building requirements for each to find the minimum dual and solo required and thus the remaining hours which can be flown either dual or PIC - the wiggle room.

Course: .......... Dual: ....... PIC: .........TT/PIC:
PPL..................25............ 20............45/20
PPL test............................1.5...........46.5/21.5
Night................4...............1..............51.5/22.5
HB1 XC..............................20...........71.5/42.5
​​​​​IMC..................15.............................86. 5/42.5
IMC test.............................1.5.........88/44
HB2 IMC XC.......................25..........113/69
CBIR.................10............................123/69
IR test.................................2............125/71
MEP..................6..............................131/71
MEP test.............................2...........133/73
MEIR................2..............................135/73
MEIR test............................2............137/75
HB3 PIC ............................25...........162/100
CPL...................15............................177/100
TOTAL...............77............100.........177/100

As a skeleton plan this leaves up to 23 hours of extra dual training as wiggle room - any more and you will go over 200 hours. It's not much but actually quite achievable. Once you get past the PPL stage it's mostly procedural, most people will be ready for the IR long before they reach the minimum hours for example.

Budget 10-15 extra dual on your PPL and 8 on the MEIR upgrade (which is officially 3 sim/2 airplane - essentially one sortie - you'll probably need 3.)

Hour building: HB1 + HB2 = 45. HB1 could be as low as 5 and HB2 as high as 40 - they're there to meet the requirement of 25 hours post PPL for IMC and 50 XC PIC for IR. HB2 must include at least 15 hours IMC with a safety pilot for CBIR requirements. If it says XC you need to fly cross country!

You'll notice the CBIR is based on the IMC to CBIR route. This allows an extra 15 hours PIC vs the 40 hour 'taught' CBIR route - which buys you wiggle room. I've allowed 25 hours but take as many hours as needed within reason between IMC and IR, it's all hour building. Have your safety pilot hit you in the head every time you stray from heading/altitude/airspeed. Back-seat others doing their IR training for free training!

HB3 is your remaining PIC hours to make 100. If you need them earlier, use them. More solo practice during PPL may help you get to standard - you need to preserve your dual hours if possible but dont worry about hitting the PPL at 45 hours, you can go over on the solo hours because they still count as PIC. Hell you could pass the PPL with 80 hours (35 Dual and 45 solo) and you would still be on track for a minimum hours CPL.
If you are tight on money or time is running out on the ATPLs, skip the MEP and MEIR. It'll take your training up to the 210 hour mark but if you time the market then when you finish you'll have a brand new MEIR and MCC which is really all the airlines are interested in.

Turn up to every lesson prepared. Know the checklists and POH by heart. Chair fly and back-seat as much as possible and this plan will work for 95% of people. If you can find a cheaper way to do it let me know.

*Edited - I didn't give enough CBIR PIC credit!

[605carsten]

Awesome breakdown of the way to go !!

I think the reason nobody timebuilds during ATPL theory study is because the integrated courses are done in chunks, so no flying is planned during that “phase”… but with modular you can still time build and have fun to break up the monotony of ploughing thru all the theory work.

[paco]

Some of the subjects are best studied while you are flying. Don't forget you can train while you are studying - some schools seem to think that you can't./

[kingsult]

Great plan from Rudestuff.
The key in getting it done right is to not waste too much time while flying. The more time you leave between the lessons, the longer it will take you to learn.
Let's say that your budget allows you to fly once a week, delay the start in order to condense the flying hours. You will get more return from flying 3 times a week than once a week.