Dear Mr Nags Teeth ...

I did my hours building in Portugal !

Cheap rates (£40/hour wet). The place I went to, just north of Lisbon had about 4 C152's, a C172, a Piper Cub and even a Cherokee Six !

I managed to do about 50 hours in around 10 days!

I will be going back there later this year for more!

I believe they are planning to build acommodation at the aerodrome, so people that wish to do hours building can stay there too ... for 5 Euros a night! Not too shabby!

Great Flying, Lots of Navaids you can practice tracking to/from. Lovely scenery, and of course, great weather!

I did mine at the end of last summer, and although they tend to get a lot of fog in the mornings at this time of year, the afternoons are cracking!

When you sum up the costs of going to the States, you really dont spend much more, if any, by staying in Europe!

ATC is great too .... Portuguese Military, and the English is spot on!

I recommend them to anyone ......

Anyone for details, just email or PM me !

ABO

www.flighttraining.org
Nothing wrong with hours building in the US at all- as mentioned there are some very challenging areas- but you will probably gain more from a stint in Canada

If you can cope with the hassle of buying and selling, why not think about buying a cheapo single seat PFA type (Luton Minor, Taylor Mono ect) and literally flying the pants off it! You can buy something quite decent for around £5K, and sell for a similar amount next year to help pay for your CPL course. If you manage a couple of hundred hours you will find each hour probably only cost £20!!! I have a friend who did something similar and flew 700 hrs over 12 months!

SS :ok:

Cheapest European hour building
 

hi
anybody out there like to throw a few ideas at cheap hour building options in europe?any types at all from rental to 'free work' doing parachute drops or the like!

Hubair in belgium,It use to say 40euro per hr according to there the website. Just give them call in case this changed.

Hour Building
 

Can anyone suggest any good places in the USA to complete some hour building. I know places like Ormond offer free housing, are there any other schools like this? any help would be great, thanks. Basically just looking to do 50 hours on the cheap and do abit of touring. Thanks

time building programme
 

I woul like buy a time building programme on A320 (500 Hours). The only way that i found on web to get it is by Eaglejet. Anyone knows any other company or flight school that provides it?? thanks for your help!!!!!

You want to build 500 hours on an A320 at your own expense??!! :ooh:

You could try Astraeus (Bond). Not sure if they do A320 line flying, maybe just Boeing?

www.flyastraeus.com

no, astraeus only B737. For me will be good also a time building in far east

hour building
 

hi quifflegend,

check out www.aussie-air.com
they have good rates for hour building

safe flying all

mike

If you want cheap try Air Desert Pacific based at KPOC in California (L.A. Basin). I've used them twice and can't fault them. The aircraft are an all Piper fleet, they are quite used but a couple of the Archers (N2925Q particularly) are quite nice.

http://www.airdesertpacific.com/

Hi,

not the states, but South Africa as secret for hour-building.

I've done my PPL with www.th-aviation-conneXions.com , close to world-famous Kruger Park.

The rates for hour-building are negotiable, I fly the Tecnam for 590 Rand, approx. 95 US-$, not that cheap as in the US. But the experience to fly in the bush, approach and land difficult bush strips are unique....

Depending on the hour-package you may get more attractive rates.

Clear sky!

Hi There,

I do my Multi Hour building at Orlando Flight Training in Orlando (name gives it away huh) FlyOFT

Moheet

I've used them twice and can't fault them !

Charlie zulu Im curious , you have been hour building twice but mentioned on a different tread that your about to start an atpl groundschool in Naples . Why would you be hour building twice and not even completed an atpl course ? seems like your jumping the gun there a bit as the hour building usually come after the atpl's to build the hours requirement for the cpl .

Flighttime

Hour Building Pre-CPL
 

As some of you will know, I was off at ADP in late January and most of February. I had planned to build 54 hours but in reality (due to severe weather) only managed to acquire 25. However I did experience conditions out there which will have made me a better Pilot, one who is even more respectful of 11,000ft Mountains ;)

My situation is that I need to fly around 45 more hours before I can start my CPL training.I am looking at booking a CPL/MEP/IR at Aeros, the course would be starting in late June.Just as a side line lol is Aeros a good choice?

My question really relates to what would be the most advisable form of action to take. I want to really stay here (the UK) and try and complete these hours. I have little UK air time and could do with the experience! However with the weather as it is, maybe it would be best to get away somewhere and fly 30hrs or so?

Money is not such an issue, I have my US verification etc I would be willing to go down under etc any options suggested would be appreciated!

Cheers guys and gals

I was in a similar position last year, I needed to accumilate 60hrs before early June to start at a different EGBJ training provider.
My advice - if money is not an issue you would be mad not to do it in the UK - get experiece of british airspace, get to know the area and airspace where you will be taking your CPL it will give you a huge advantage for the course. Although the weather is crap there is rarely a day when you cannot do any flying at all and the experience of the conditions will make you a better pilot.
I managed 60hrs in 2 months comfortably. (April & May '04).
I also recommend a structured hours building programme if you can find one. If not, flying from a school that also does CPL training is a good idea - on those marginal days when I was undecided on flying, it was often a CPL instructor gave me a firm kick up the rear and said get on with it! (There is no better way of practicing diversions than doing it for real!).

BTW In my opinion Aeros is a very good choice of schools.

Good luck

101

Cheers 101, that's the feeling I have as well, I currently fly out of EGNX and its a 45 mile round trip sometimes just to fly 1hr.The weather can change so much between where I live and the airport. They do not offer CPL or IR which is a shame as the IMC training was top notch.

As for my UK time, which is mostly instrument work, I haven't even landed at an away field! :) The closest I came was to making some go around's on a NDB approach into Leicester. I am still some what nervous about flying in the UK, but that is down to lack of practical experience.

I could do with building some hours at Gloucester perhaps before the CPL? Might be an idea :D

When it comes down to money, It is certainly not endless, but I want to pay for the best I can afford. If UK flying will help me more, UK it is, if you see what I mean.

I know what you mean about Instructors kicking you up the back side to get you up there. However we were dealing with sigmets where I was so I was VERY apprehensive.One day an instructor said that I should do a long x-country and advised that the weather would be fine.I stayed local and it was a good job because it turned IFR within the space of a few minutes lol !

Cheers

Echo the words of the Captain. In light of what you have said you should definitely spend every one of those hours flying in the UK. Not only that but spend every one of them flying to other airfields. Bear these words in mind: constructive hour building.
NF

I can vouch for Aeros, have done the majority of my hours-building with them (worth asking if their Cherokee is available, very reasonable rates for block hours), and an IMC course. Top-notch instruction and a friendly atmosphere there.


FT

Do the CPL qualifying Q X-C as part of your pre-course hours building! There's no reason why you shouldn't. Also, if you haven't done so already, get your Night Qualification sorted before the days get any longer!

Aeros has an excellent reputation.

Thanks.

BEagle, I already have a night rating and completed my CPL X-country in America. It was just over 400nm if I remember rightly.

Nice Flaps, I've tried to be constructive with my hours so far.Flying in different environments etc anyone who has flown in and around the LA basin will vouch for that lol

Tiger, I'm going down to Aeros today so will ask about block hours.

Thanks for the advice

Just did some number-crunching. If 30 hours incl. all dual checks, landing fees etc on an IFR (non-airways) PA28-140 comes out to over £2600, I'd be most interested to know....

Have you thought about buying a share ? I know of one in which 30 hours would cost appx £1050 (not inc the share price which you'd get back when you sell anyway).

PM if you want to know more.

Well, I visited Aeros today and was most impressed.Was shown round the aircraft, had a go on the FNTP, managed to land it lol All my questions were answered thoroughly, the people were very friendly and obviously know what they are doing.I ended up later on (after the visit) booking up for CPL,MEP and MEP IR. They can also make me a deal on hour building which is useful.I think I have made a sound choice. My course start date is June 27th, so I have to get cracking with those hours. Any thoughts? :D


buzz, to be honest I did look at that option, but i'm afraid time is not on my side as my course start date is 27th June and many shares etc are not open to short time hour builders.Thanks for the input.

Cheers

CPL relevent hour building practice suggestions in UK
 

im all set for starting the CPL next month and would like some suggestions of what i can do to prepare for the course.
3 hours in the 20 hours of flying i need ive been honing my stalls and steep turns.
I would like to get as much practice as possible for course related skills practice so would like some suggestions from you folks out there who've been there and done that.

many thanks

Check out this thread I listed the format of the test. May be an idea to practice some of this stuff.

All the best.

Hey Chintito,

check your pm's

HP

Right, as I mentioned above i'm now booked up for June 27th for CPL/IR etc Before then I need to fly between 45 and 62 hours.If I reach 62 I would only have to do a 50hr IR which would be a bonus (I would have 200 TT with 100 PIC).

The Aeros cherokee which is an hour builder is fully booked for weeks, which removes that as an option for now. I will have to look at this option in a few weeks time.

However I need hours and fast, so I'm obviously looking at America. I have a brand spanking new Airman certificate (plastic card like a credit card lol ), however I need somewhere to fly!

California is my first choice, should be good weather and I could fly the routes I didn't manage to complete in Feb.

But which schools are going to be safe (fleet wise) and are not going to rip me off? ADP were good, very honest and professional but ideally I'd like to go elsewhere. I would need to book ASAP, any help would be appreciated!

Is Australia a viable option? Canada is very expensive to fly to so I have virtually ruled out 'my second home.'

Cheers

JAS

Any information on Anglo American at San diego? I have looked in the search engine and most of the topics are quite old. I appreciate that there was some ill feeling between PPrune and AAA, (and rightly so) but have these issues etc been resolved? What is there reputation like now?

Anybody with recent experince at AAA it would be great to hear your views.

I really just need a safe aircraft to fly solidly for 3 weeks. I don't mind paying a bit extra for a more reliable bird. The last time I went state side, I did have a few tech problems which cost me time and flying hours.

Thanks

JAS

Hey Happy Pilot and Chinchito. Is there any chance you could share any info with me. Would love some advice on productive hour building.

Wherever you do your pre-CPL hour building, remember to do it THE HARD WAY, i.e. do the VFR navs sticking to the CPL margins, with VFR dead-reckoning, a proper log, some general handling, practicing glide approaches, PFLs (remembering the 500 ft rule), flapless approaches, some radio-nav fixes during the VFR legs, etc. These are all part of the CPL skills test, and practicing beforehand will give you a decent head start.

I had about 25 hours to do while waiting for my ATPL results and before starting CPL, so I went back to France, signed up with a local flying club, got checked out and did quite a few VFR navs there.

A good idea also is to try to do your hour building in a similar a/c to the one you'll be using on the non-complex part of the CPL course - for instance a PA-28 if you'll be using a Warrior, so you'll have a seamless transition.

Enjoy the CPL :ok:

FougaMagister, very sound advice. I am only looking at renting PA28's as I will be completing my training on an all Piper fleet. I try and make my hour building as structured as possible always with the CPL in mind. With any luck I will fly around 20hrs at Aeros in a PA28 prior to CPL start. During that time I will cover many of their structured routes etc and will have an instructor with me from time to time to keep me in check!

I need a PA28 and quick :)

How about Chandler Air Service?

Cheers

JAS

Just Another Student

Check up on the requirements, but I believe you can do the 50-hour IR as long as you have passed the CPL, I certainly did before CPL issue. You presumably then don't need the 200 hours pre-IR, and only need 45 hours.

If you can get down to Bournemouth very I may be able to get you some cheap hour building.

Send Clowns

I'm just going on what Aeros have told me, however I'll have a look in the Lasors.

If you could PM me regarding the hour building that would be great.I am looking at most options other than the PFA and aircraft share route.

Cheers

JAS

I didn't really consciously hour build as such, as before I decided to pursue the CPL/IR etc I'd just been racking up lots of "useless" (but great fun) hours flying lazy aeros.

So the CPL was actually a bit of a shock to the system!

My advice would be spend less time on the GH and more on nav. On the GH it's going to be better to have an instructor tell you if you're doing it right rather than you reinforce what might be bad habits on your own with noone telling you otherwise. There's plenty of time on the course to sort all that out.

On the nav side, try and fly vaguely test profile type routes, that is, a 50nm or so route to a small-ish town, followed by a diversion. Ok, it's difficult to "surprise" yourself, but I suppose it's feasible, that after finding your original destination, pick another place to find and start getting used to planning the diversion on the hoof, that is drift, groundspeed, eta, check the route for airspace, danger areas, etc. Try and fly through at least a MATZ or some perhaps some class D, and be disciplined about making sure you're always speaking to someone for a FIS wherever possible. Get very slick at RT! It really needs to be second nature.

Hope this helps, SS

Clowns, I'm doing the ATPLs with BCFT at the mo, DL of coarse, I understand you work for them, can you get me some cheap hours building?? :) I'm spending £135 p/hr on AA5As at a well known school at Blackbushe and it's tough going!!

I would practice everything, SS, every instructor is different, and if you are particularly weak on one area, personally I would practice that. Maybe take a safety pilot with you, maybe someone with a commercial licence, who can give you good advice.

Maybe they could introduce you to the things that will be new to you, like instrument flying, partial panel, timed turns and stuff like that. Agree with SS on the NAV, get slick with RT, and channel those VFR skills. Push yourself on cross country flights, it will make it all the more easier when it comes to the course.

Hour building?
 

Hello everyone,
does anyone know what sort of hour building rates can be found in the south Essex area?


Many Thanks

Dave C

Well i can't help on actual rates, however do look at the PFA. I'm clonking up ours for the miserly rate of £25 per hour by buying a share in a PFA machine which will hopefully be sell-able in 12 months, if I give it away in a year or two... it was still cheaper than renting at £100 an hour.

Give Stapleford Flight Centre a call. They will give you £65 per hour on a 152 if you put a bit of money up front. Dont know if they still offer that rate but they were late last year.

Good place to hour build as they have so many 152s (15-20 i think) you would always have an aircraft available.

Foz