Private Pilots Licence

[Sport_Turismo_GTS]

this is my username said:

I'm a flying instructor.

For some people getting the licence is the priority - maybe they are on a journey to become a professional pilot, or they have a particular project or requirement for which they need to be able to fly. In that case the most cost and time effective way is to fly frequently so that by the time you are near the end of the course you haven't forgotten too much of the stuff that you were taught at the beginning.

For most people they are looking for a new leisure activity - in which case getting a licence is a journey not a destination. It doesn't matter how long or how many hours it takes as long as you are enjoying yourself on the way. Flying doesn't suddenly become free (or even cheap) once you have a licence, so extra hours with an instructor aren't costing you much more than you would be paying if you are flying on your own.

If someone comes to me and tells me that they are planning to fly once a month, I will normally tell them that they are unlikely to ever get a licence with that run-rate. If they come once a week, then it will work. Somewhere between the two there is a cross-over where achieving a licence will happen - where that is depends on their ability and how much effort they put in.

As others have said - avoid paying up front (flying schools regularly go bust; offering discounts for up-front payments is not a sign of good financial stability), and if you do pay up front use your credit card.

Thank you.

As described in my original post, I’ve yet to experience an initial ‘flight experience’, so thoughts of a PPL are some way off, but I was keen to find out more about the process etc.

At this stage I have no intention of going beyond the PPL, for me this would be very much enjoying the journey and potentially having a new leisure activity that I could participate in in the future.

[Sticks.]

Sport_Turismo_GTS said:

That’s really helpful, thanks.

Headcorn is around 30mins away, subject to traffic, so this is likely to be the most convenient location for me. It’s a shame that the flight voucher that I have is for Shoreham.

I enjoyed my time at Headcorn, it's a friendly place, so if you're keen to do it, go for it.

[Sport_Turismo_GTS]

Sticks. said:

I enjoyed my time at Headcorn, it's a friendly place, so if you're keen to do it, go for it.

We will see! I’ll report back after my trial flight.

[Siko]

Some good advice above but there are multiple ways to get your ppl. I started paying for lessons (PPL A) during a year out from uni and did one a month, interspersed with lots of Microsoft Flight Sim (95?) practice to refresh what I learnt. Whilst I ran out of money after 7 or so, it ignited a passion and here I am nearly 30 years later with a relatively modest 6500hrs military/civilian. Currently hold an ATPL H and fly offshore for a living….so you never know where those trial lessons and even a handful of hours might take you. Good luck and have fun

[Sport_Turismo_GTS]

Siko said:

Some good advice above but there are multiple ways to get your ppl. I started paying for lessons (PPL A) during a year out from uni and did one a month, interspersed with lots of Microsoft Flight Sim (95?) practice to refresh what I learnt. Whilst I ran out of money after 7 or so, it ignited a passion and here I am nearly 30 years later with a relatively modest 6500hrs military/civilian. Currently hold an ATPL H and fly offshore for a living….so you never know where those trial lessons and even a handful of hours might take you. Good luck and have fun

I’m too old for a career change, but as a new hobby this could be an interesting journey!

[eharding]

magpie215 said:

Get your class one medical done early.....no class one no ppl.

Since when? A Class 2 or LAPL medical certificate will suffice, depending on the type of PPL you are training for.

[Sport_Turismo_GTS]

eharding said:

Since when? A Class 2 or LAPL medical certificate will suffice, depending on the type of PPL you are training for.

I read about the need to get a Class 2 medical ahead of the first solo flight?

[CanAm]

Sport_Turismo_GTS said:

Just seen this:
https://flyer.co.uk/shorehams-fta-flight-school-cl...

But the Shoreham website suggests that they are offering training / flight experiences again, so I assume this got resolved.

Edited by Sport_Turismo_GTS on Sunday 31st December 15:09

Are Shoreham Aviation and FTA Global 2 different companies? I'm sure there used to be 2 separate Flying Schools at Shoreham.

[Sport_Turismo_GTS]

CanAm said:

Are Shoreham Aviation and FTA Global 2 different companies? I'm sure there used to be 2 separate Flying Schools at Shoreham.

That would explain it!

[eharding]

Sport_Turismo_GTS said:

eharding said:

Since when? A Class 2 or LAPL medical certificate will suffice, depending on the type of PPL you are training for.

I read about the need to get a Class 2 medical ahead of the first solo flight?

You'd need to check with your flying school as things have changed (a lot) in the past few years, but as I understand it you would need for an initial PPL application (and hence first solo) as a minimum an UK Class 2 certificate if training for an UK Part-FCL PPL, or an UK LAPL certificate if training for an UK Part-FCL LAPL. It *might* be the case that if you're just aiming for an NPPL, then a self declaration is all you require.

Edited: The latest terminology now refers to 'UK' rather than 'EU', unsurprisingly. It was all 'JAR' when I was learning...

Edited by eharding on Monday 1st January 17:46

[MesoForm]

Sport_Turismo_GTS said:

Thank you.

As described in my original post, I’ve yet to experience an initial ‘flight experience’, so thoughts of a PPL are some way off, but I was keen to find out more about the process etc.

At this stage I have no intention of going beyond the PPL, for me this would be very much enjoying the journey and potentially having a new leisure activity that I could participate in in the future.

I did the 1 hour experience from Norwich airport, the instructor said the main difference between me (who has no intention of taking it further) and someone doing the PPL was him explaining the pre-flight checklist in more detail.
Was quite a shock being told I was in control of taxiing around Norwich airport near the airliners steering with the rudder controls! It’s good fun though, I was lucky and had a clear blue sky with next to no wind at the third attempt after cancellations due to weather and a broken plane.

[Sticks.]

eharding said:

You'd need to check with your flying school as things have changed (a lot) in the past few years, but as I understand it you would need for an initial PPL application (and hence first solo) as a minimum an EU Class 2 certificate if training for an EU Part-FCL PPL, or an EU LAPL certificate if training for an EU Part-FCL LAPL. It *might* be the case that if you're just aiming for an NPPL, then a self declaration is all you require.

Can you still fly the likes of Cessnas/Robins on a NPPL and take passengers? It's something I didn't look into when I did my Class 2/PPL but might now.

Sorry, thread hijack.

[Sport_Turismo_GTS]

MesoForm said:

I did the 1 hour experience from Norwich airport, the instructor said the main difference between me (who has no intention of taking it further) and someone doing the PPL was him explaining the pre-flight checklist in more detail.
Was quite a shock being told I was in control of taxiing around Norwich airport near the airliners steering with the rudder controls! It’s good fun though, I was lucky and had a clear blue sky with next to no wind at the third attempt after cancellations due to weather and a broken plane.

For the flight experience, I’d assumed that the instructor would do everything up to and including take-off and when we were up in the air i might be able to feel the controls and undertake some very simple manoeuvres, before the instructor took over and brought us back ‘home’.

I hadn’t expected it to be so ‘hands on’.

[Sport_Turismo_GTS]

Sticks. said:

Can you still fly the likes of Cessnas/Robins on a NPPL and take passengers? It's something I didn't look into when I did my Class 2/PPL but might now.

Sorry, thread hijack.

I read something about the NPPL allowing you to fly up to 3 passengers, subject to certain restrictions. But, quite clearly, I’m not the expert here!

[Sticks.]

Sport_Turismo_GTS said:

I read something about the NPPL allowing you to fly up to 3 passengers, subject to certain restrictions. But, quite clearly, I’m not the expert here!

Thanks though Good luck getting 3 passengers in a Robin! (you can but I wouldn't want to be in the back). I was thinking occasional VFR with a friend who still flies.

[eharding]

Sticks. said:

eharding said:

You'd need to check with your flying school as things have changed (a lot) in the past few years, but as I understand it you would need for an initial PPL application (and hence first solo) as a minimum an EU Class 2 certificate if training for an EU Part-FCL PPL, or an EU LAPL certificate if training for an EU Part-FCL LAPL. It *might* be the case that if you're just aiming for an NPPL, then a self declaration is all you require.

Can you still fly the likes of Cessnas/Robins on a NPPL and take passengers? It's something I didn't look into when I did my Class 2/PPL but might now.

Sorry, thread hijack.

I think (IANAAL) that you can now fly anything on the G register on an NPPL following an amendment to the regulations in 2021 - I recall there was a phase when owing to the general fustercluck that was licensing due to the 'B' event you could only fly aircraft on a CAA or LAA permit, but not with a full CofA.

[Sticks.]

eharding said:

I think (IANAAL) that you can now fly anything on the G register on an NPPL following an amendment to the regulations in 2021 - I recall there was a phase when owing to the general fustercluck that was licensing due to the 'B' event you could only fly aircraft on a CAA or LAA permit, but not with a full CofA.

Ok thanks very much, will have a think about it and a chat with said friend.

[MesoForm]

Sport_Turismo_GTS said:

For the flight experience, I’d assumed that the instructor would do everything up to and including take-off and when we were up in the air i might be able to feel the controls and undertake some very simple manoeuvres, before the instructor took over and brought us back ‘home’.

I hadn’t expected it to be so ‘hands on’.

I can only speak for my experience but on the ground he got us going and off the grass, I steered when we were on the concrete around up to where we stopped to do the checklist (5 minutes I guess), he was in control of the throttle and brakes.
He took off, got us a few minutes away from the airport then I did all the flying up to the last few minutes before landing. Again, he had the power so I just did the ‘steering’, we did a few turns, tried the rudders to show what they did but mostly just flew around North Norfolk enjoying the view

(He was flying those circles just South of Fakenham too while I was taking photos!)

[Sport_Turismo_GTS]

MesoForm said:

I can only speak for my experience but on the ground he got us going and off the grass, I steered when we were on the concrete around up to where we stopped to do the checklist (5 minutes I guess), he was in control of the throttle and brakes.
He took off, got us a few minutes away from the airport then I did all the flying up to the last few minutes before landing. Again, he had the power so I just did the ‘steering’, we did a few turns, tried the rudders to show what they did but mostly just flew around North Norfolk enjoying the view.

(He was flying those circles just South of Fakenham too while I was taking photos!)

Thanks.

[bearman68]

Hi. I had a glider experience in 2017, and been flying them ever since. I now have a SPL, and some experience, and I'm now training to be an instructor. Along the way, I've flown in one way or another most of the kit the club has, including the 2 seat Eurofox, and a couple of Grob 109's.
To date, I suppose it has cost me £6k or so, including all the club fees and so on.

To convert from SPL to LAPL, I think is 10 hours?

If you wanted to learn to fly, sail planes have all the features of powered aircraft, with a much lower running cost, and much cheaper access to the learning bit.
Not only that, when you are flying, you don't have that big noisy thing at the front, so it's a much more immersive experience. And if you are not flying for anything other than fun, you don't need to worry about getting places, which, I admit, requires some skill and experience in a UK glider. But of course, learning the skills to fly cross country in a glider is what the sport is all about.