PPL: how long?
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PPL: how long?
Im 17 and starting university in September where, ill study computer science.
However, I finish school (A levels) in about June time giving me about 3 months in which ill be doing nothing. Over this time I would like to try to get my PPL but how realistic would it be to get a PPL in just 2/3 months?
What would be the best options: stay in the UK or go abroad. Head of people who go abroad to study for PPL but wouldn’t the cost of hotels/car rental just up the cost so much that it would have been cheaper to stay in UK?
Thanks for any help.
KBaB
However, I finish school (A levels) in about June time giving me about 3 months in which ill be doing nothing. Over this time I would like to try to get my PPL but how realistic would it be to get a PPL in just 2/3 months?
What would be the best options: stay in the UK or go abroad. Head of people who go abroad to study for PPL but wouldn’t the cost of hotels/car rental just up the cost so much that it would have been cheaper to stay in UK?
Thanks for any help.
KBaB
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It would be very realistic to get a ppl in 2/3 months
If u looked around u could probably find a 3 or 4 week ppl course run in the USA for about £2500 including accommodation. If u got a cheap ticket there and dont spend too much u could probably come back with a ppl having spent less than £3000. I think lots of these courses are British run schools so u wouldnt have to convert ur license or anything(although i might be wrong)
If u chose to do it in Britain then u could probably do it for less than £4000 because there are quite a few places that offer cessna 150/152s at under £70 an hour but remember u have to add on other stuff like ground tuition costs(but some places do that free) and the cost of a medical but like i said u will probably be able to do it for less than £4000 and if ull be flying in the UK then this might be better as ud be more used to the weather and stuff
Something id recommend u try to get would be a magazine called "Learn to Fly Guide" which is a magazine produced by Flyer magazine once a year. It has a very useful listing of every flying school in the uk and tells u how much course and hourly rates are at each.
It will show u what the cheapest airfield near u is and also contains advertisements for several ppl course in America.
Hope ive been of some help
If u looked around u could probably find a 3 or 4 week ppl course run in the USA for about £2500 including accommodation. If u got a cheap ticket there and dont spend too much u could probably come back with a ppl having spent less than £3000. I think lots of these courses are British run schools so u wouldnt have to convert ur license or anything(although i might be wrong)
If u chose to do it in Britain then u could probably do it for less than £4000 because there are quite a few places that offer cessna 150/152s at under £70 an hour but remember u have to add on other stuff like ground tuition costs(but some places do that free) and the cost of a medical but like i said u will probably be able to do it for less than £4000 and if ull be flying in the UK then this might be better as ud be more used to the weather and stuff
Something id recommend u try to get would be a magazine called "Learn to Fly Guide" which is a magazine produced by Flyer magazine once a year. It has a very useful listing of every flying school in the uk and tells u how much course and hourly rates are at each.
It will show u what the cheapest airfield near u is and also contains advertisements for several ppl course in America.
Hope ive been of some help
Guest
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Looking at my learn to fly guide(its two years old but prices couldnt have changed that much) I found that theres some place in California which offers a 4 week UK ppl (so u dont need to convert it) at £1945 which i think gives u 40 hours and a guaranteed ppl at £2495 which gives u 48-55 hours. It includes all tests and accommodation, all u have to pay for is ur flight there
the phone number ( in England ) is 01329 832139, e-mail is [email protected]
I dont how close u r to these places but there are some very good deals in England too eg some place in bedfordshire : skyline school of flying offers a 40 hour ppl course at £2600
the phone number ( in England ) is 01329 832139, e-mail is [email protected]
I dont how close u r to these places but there are some very good deals in England too eg some place in bedfordshire : skyline school of flying offers a 40 hour ppl course at £2600
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Tiger_Moth,
I'd be wary of accepting any 40 hour PPL courses if I were you, considering you need a minimum of 45 hours to qualify.
How old did you say that guide was?
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KBaB,
I've just completed my PPL in the UK, with a total time of just under 6 weeks. It was very reasonably priced, and I didn't have any of that namby pamby California weather to lull me into a force sense of security!
(I also had to adhere to correct radio procedures, etc)
In my opinion, the bottom line is, train in the country you intend to fly in, if you think about it, it makes a lot more sense!
FJW.
I'd be wary of accepting any 40 hour PPL courses if I were you, considering you need a minimum of 45 hours to qualify.
How old did you say that guide was?
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KBaB,
I've just completed my PPL in the UK, with a total time of just under 6 weeks. It was very reasonably priced, and I didn't have any of that namby pamby California weather to lull me into a force sense of security!
(I also had to adhere to correct radio procedures, etc)
In my opinion, the bottom line is, train in the country you intend to fly in, if you think about it, it makes a lot more sense!
FJW.
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STAY IN THE UK ! For the reasons the above post mentions. It works out at the same cost in the long-term, after conversion costs etc, with a lot less hasle.
I did mine in 4 weeks in the Uk, back in 95. You'll have to work hard though. Expect to be in the flying school full time.
What part of the Uk are you in, we might have some suggestions for schools ?
I did mine in 4 weeks in the Uk, back in 95. You'll have to work hard though. Expect to be in the flying school full time.
What part of the Uk are you in, we might have some suggestions for schools ?
Guest
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thanxs guys for the advice, yeh think the UK is easier (a holiday would have been nice tho) 
im close to Newcastle upon Tyne. Newcastle aeroclub close by, and Teesside is only a 40min drive away.
KBaB
(Edit to add this) i could also go to school around London area as i have a mate who lives in S london. this is also good as im moving that way in september, so if i didnt get finished it would be no hassle to continue at the same club.
[This message has been edited by KBaB (edited 18 April 2001).]
im close to Newcastle upon Tyne. Newcastle aeroclub close by, and Teesside is only a 40min drive away.
KBaB
(Edit to add this) i could also go to school around London area as i have a mate who lives in S london. this is also good as im moving that way in september, so if i didnt get finished it would be no hassle to continue at the same club.
[This message has been edited by KBaB (edited 18 April 2001).]
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No seriously though, it took me about a year or so (part time, with a few lapses in training due to weather,money etc) to get about half way through, then I did the second half in Portugal in one week!
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Today is a good day for vanity and chasing after the wind.
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Today is a good day for vanity and chasing after the wind.
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There are a lot of things to take into account here. First, check out any school thoroughly, and get a personal recommendation if at all possible. It's not uncommon for schools to go bust and disappear, taking students' money paid upfront with them. Happens far too often. Even if they don't do that, the fact that a school advertises, with glossy ads and cheap prices, doesn't mean it's any good. Stories of poor mainenance and safety records abound, and a high turnover of inexperienced instructors is even more common. Schools which have cheap rates are usually cutting costs somewhere; you don't get anything for nothing in aviation or in life. Even if such things don't cost you your savings, or even your life, they may well drastically increase the time it takes you to get your PPL.
I have no personal experience of short courses in the US, but I've heard too many stories of people getting ripped off because they didn't do enough research. Some people, on the other hand, do fine, so don't completely give up that idea. Short courses in the UK tend to be scuppered by the weather; I've known people who spent the three weeks they booked doing the ground exams and looking at the low clouds. Wherever you do it, a short course for a PPL will NOT be a holiday; it's bloody hard work and you'll be at it non-stop. I did both my PPL(A) and PPL(H) part time locally, but both schools had their quotas of fulltime students looking permanently shellshocked. If you do go that route, try to do at least some of the ground exams beforehand; that way you have some chance of enjoying the whole process.
Lastly, I should point out that Tiger_Moth hasn't even done his PPL yet, so while he wants to help, he really doesn't know any more than you do yourself.
Good luck!
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Whirly
To fly is human, to hover, divine.
I have no personal experience of short courses in the US, but I've heard too many stories of people getting ripped off because they didn't do enough research. Some people, on the other hand, do fine, so don't completely give up that idea. Short courses in the UK tend to be scuppered by the weather; I've known people who spent the three weeks they booked doing the ground exams and looking at the low clouds. Wherever you do it, a short course for a PPL will NOT be a holiday; it's bloody hard work and you'll be at it non-stop. I did both my PPL(A) and PPL(H) part time locally, but both schools had their quotas of fulltime students looking permanently shellshocked. If you do go that route, try to do at least some of the ground exams beforehand; that way you have some chance of enjoying the whole process.
Lastly, I should point out that Tiger_Moth hasn't even done his PPL yet, so while he wants to help, he really doesn't know any more than you do yourself.
Good luck!
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Whirly
To fly is human, to hover, divine.
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ariel,
I did my PPL(A) at Welshpool and my PPL(H) at Tiger Helicopters at Shobdon. And I didn't take my own good advice on choosing a flying school. One lives and learns
E-mail me if you want more details.
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Whirly
To fly is human, to hover, divine.
[This message has been edited by Whirlybird (edited 22 April 2001).]
I did my PPL(A) at Welshpool and my PPL(H) at Tiger Helicopters at Shobdon. And I didn't take my own good advice on choosing a flying school. One lives and learns
E-mail me if you want more details.------------------
Whirly
To fly is human, to hover, divine.
[This message has been edited by Whirlybird (edited 22 April 2001).]
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The guy who taught me did his PPL in 6 weeks, in the UK, whilst at university (not in the UAS), but it took me 11 months (whilst working full time). If you were lucky with weather and not otherwise busy, you probably could do it in the UK in 2-3 months, aiming to fly several times a week, weather permitting.
I'm in the "learn in the UK camp" although I can see the attractions of the US option. Perhaps the biggest draw back there is the inability to check out the US schools properly without visiting. I binned my first (UK) flying school after one lesson and wouldn't have been in a position to do that in California or Florida.
If you decide to learn near London then WLAC at White Waltham draws regular plaudits in the Private Flying forum. I would strongly recommend Skysport, who I learned with, for the quality of the aircraft (Pups and Bulldog) and the instruction (enthusiasts) but they might not be ideal for you as their instructors are part-time and are not always available all week.
Another alternative, why not the UAS? Wish I'd done that....
I'm in the "learn in the UK camp" although I can see the attractions of the US option. Perhaps the biggest draw back there is the inability to check out the US schools properly without visiting. I binned my first (UK) flying school after one lesson and wouldn't have been in a position to do that in California or Florida.
If you decide to learn near London then WLAC at White Waltham draws regular plaudits in the Private Flying forum. I would strongly recommend Skysport, who I learned with, for the quality of the aircraft (Pups and Bulldog) and the instruction (enthusiasts) but they might not be ideal for you as their instructors are part-time and are not always available all week.
Another alternative, why not the UAS? Wish I'd done that....
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thanks for advice. UAS was somthing i looked into but i think id rather fly in my own time, when and where i want. not sure if the UAS is like lessons ie.. be here when you are told to be. (any advice?)
could always do my PPl while at uni, just with so much time off before hand it would be a shame not to do anything constructive with it.
KBaB
could always do my PPl while at uni, just with so much time off before hand it would be a shame not to do anything constructive with it.
KBaB
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As a u.k. flying instructor who has also done quite a lot of flying in Florida (hour building)I would recommend that you do your training in the U.K. The guaranteed pass system that a lot of American flying schools offer does not mean that you will be trained to a very high standard. I have had to check out a few pilots who were trained in America and in most cases the standard of flying was not good.
Also I saw some dangerous sights in America, at some of the airfields the circuit was so busy (12 aircraft) at once, two aircraft trying to land on the same piece of runway at the same time, warbirds arriving in the circuit un-announced & doing beat ups & cutting up other circuit traffic. This sort of thing would not happen in the U.K.
Also i've heard horror stories from people who have gone to America for their ppl or cpl and after having handed over their money have come back without a licence as their was not enough aircraft available for them to complete the course in the time available.
The cost of getting a licence in the U.K. by the time that you have got your medical bought maps, crp1 computer & books etc, will probably be around £4500 - 5000 provided that you do it in the minimun 45 hours. Hope this has been of some help, if you do decide to go to the u.s, choose your training establishment carefully!!
Also I saw some dangerous sights in America, at some of the airfields the circuit was so busy (12 aircraft) at once, two aircraft trying to land on the same piece of runway at the same time, warbirds arriving in the circuit un-announced & doing beat ups & cutting up other circuit traffic. This sort of thing would not happen in the U.K.
Also i've heard horror stories from people who have gone to America for their ppl or cpl and after having handed over their money have come back without a licence as their was not enough aircraft available for them to complete the course in the time available.
The cost of getting a licence in the U.K. by the time that you have got your medical bought maps, crp1 computer & books etc, will probably be around £4500 - 5000 provided that you do it in the minimun 45 hours. Hope this has been of some help, if you do decide to go to the u.s, choose your training establishment carefully!!
