Groundschool classes or self study?
 

Am about to start the modular route, question was:

For the PPL phase, would like to hear opinions if groundschool classes are necessary or is self study enough to get you through?

Are the groundschool classes an unnecessary outlay or a luxury in terms of cost, I was looking at stapleford's 6 day brush up classes and cabair's 18 week programme.

Cabair's is £411 for the 18 weeks (exams included)
Stapleford's is £35 per day (9am - 5pm) x6

Your views would be appreciated.

depends how commited you are. If you need prompting then I would go the class route .

Unless you have no discipline for self-study, PPL studies can be completed from the books at home easily. So can ATPL (with the required brush-up courses).

Cheers

Whirls

For PPL self study is good enough!

Regards.
I gonna start ATPL´s at London Met, now yes!, GROUND SCHOOL POWER!

Well..... is all that above means, that in UK is possible to apply for PPL exams just 'right from the street' ?
No obligatory ground school or whatever / only with self study preparation? :eek:
Much obliged for an answer.

Yes.

Cheers

Whirls

whirly,

Think your wrong there. I know the IAA requires a certain number of hours of groundschool must be completed, sorry I cant think of the figure off the top of my head but there is one. The hours must be completed and an instructor must sign off to say he/she has completed the groundschool.

IAA application form:
http://www.iaa.ie/files/2009/docs/20...AR-FCL_PPL.pdf

note section 3

Just what I thought so:ugh:

....but after a moment of one cell brainstorm....

How about PPL theory distance learning (just like ATPL).
Is it doable in UK, if so which FTO is doing such operations;) ?

EI-CON, the questioner specifically asked about the UK. I answered with respect to the UK of which, since 1922, Ireland has not been part.

Cheers

Whirls

Whirls,

Pleaseeeee provide more details! Is that light at the end of PPL theory tunnel?
Where I can sit exams, at any FTO in UK?

You would normally sit the PPL exams at the school with whom you are going to do the flying. However, if both schools agree, you could (and I did) sit the exams at one school and carry out the flying with another.

Cheers

Whirls

whirly, appologise for posting on the IAA however they are both part of JAA so I assumed similar requirements.

However I still find it hard to believe the CAA doesnt reqire one to do groundschool and the IAA does. But maybe so I can on post on what I've experienced i.e. the IAA.

If I remember correctly (which I usually don't) you only need ground school for PPL if you fail any subject more than 3 times. The requirement for CPL/ATPL is for 4 weeks ground school to be signed off by the school.
PPL exams can be done at any FTO.
This is in the UK.

Thanks Whirls & Jarvy !!!
Good news especially i'm from Holland but not Dutch :) And prefer taking exams in english.

Feel free ... but you can't assume that all JAA member states have the same rules. In the UK, the aviation law is governed by the Air Navigation Order which was enacted by Parliament and therefore takes precendent over the JAA. Ireland may well have a similar act as may the other states.

Cheers

Whirls

fair enough and I stand corrected, should have done my PPL in UK would have saved a fortune on groundschool!

I'm not a pilot, but even for the PPL I think sharing the learning experience with a group of other students is a good thing. This schooling will obviously cost, so a study group of like-minded people could be an alternative...personally I enjoy being presented with material to consider and assess rather than self-study alone with some rather dry textbooks for comapny. I know the tests aren't "difficult", but that doesn't mean the learning has to be ALARP. If you intend to process further, then it will be money well-spent IMO.

hugel

The JAA is simply an amalgamation of all the differences.

Maybe if you're twelve!!!! :} Personally, I couldn't think of anything worse .... much prefer to study on my own and more productive too. :ok:

Cheers

Whirls

I think there is a difference between being spoonfed and learning with others. Presumably life as a pilot is one of self-reliance (any psychologists in da house?) so I imagine many of those aspiring to become a pilot prefer to be in control of the learning experience...

Anyone who has suffered from mistakes and lack of clarity in textbooks will understand the limitations of studying alone...these days of course we have ...fora !

hugel