PPL Training advice wanted for 14 year old
Discussion
I know there are a few pilots on here so I'd like to ask your advice. My son, who is 14, has designs on becoming a pilot, flying either freight or commercial. He doesn't care just so long as he can fly for a living.
I know he is serious about this. He's fanatical about flight sims (had to buy a proper yoke, controls and X-Plane for Christmas) and has already had one accompanied flight on a single prop from Bournemouth last year. He's quite the aircraft geek.
From what I understand now he's 14 he can start logging hours towards a PPL. Can anyone recommend a flying school suitable for him (New Forest/Southampton/Bournemouth area)?
I know that many, many people try to become commercial pilots and never succeed but if you never try, you'll never know.
There is money put aside for after A-levels/Uni for further training.
I know he is serious about this. He's fanatical about flight sims (had to buy a proper yoke, controls and X-Plane for Christmas) and has already had one accompanied flight on a single prop from Bournemouth last year. He's quite the aircraft geek.
From what I understand now he's 14 he can start logging hours towards a PPL. Can anyone recommend a flying school suitable for him (New Forest/Southampton/Bournemouth area)?
I know that many, many people try to become commercial pilots and never succeed but if you never try, you'll never know.
There is money put aside for after A-levels/Uni for further training.
don't think you can solo a SEP until 16, think the age limit is lower for gliders. If you can't go solo i really don't see much value in starting the training until solo age - 6 months.
i think you could do a lot worse than get a load of gliding hours, considerably cheaper than powered flight, will hone the skills to an extent combined with the age that you should be then looking at the minimum hours when it comes to powered training, again saving cash and time. i believe the minimum age for glider solo is 14.
presumably this experience would also be looked upon favorably at any future interviews.
there are other benefits to gliding:
its community based, build social skills with the club pilots, gets you outdoors.
drive the airfield vehicles retrieving the winch etc - all good fun at 14 i would imagine
awards to aim for - cross country distance medals etc
i think you could do a lot worse than get a load of gliding hours, considerably cheaper than powered flight, will hone the skills to an extent combined with the age that you should be then looking at the minimum hours when it comes to powered training, again saving cash and time. i believe the minimum age for glider solo is 14.
presumably this experience would also be looked upon favorably at any future interviews.
there are other benefits to gliding:
its community based, build social skills with the club pilots, gets you outdoors.
drive the airfield vehicles retrieving the winch etc - all good fun at 14 i would imagine
awards to aim for - cross country distance medals etc
It's got to be gliding at that age. Luckily your nearest club is probably Lasham - the biggest in Europe and has a thriving junior scene. Not to mention it's laughably cheap for anyone under the age of 21 - £20 a year for membership I believe!
It's an absolutely fantastic sport which will teach the art of stick and rudder skills, not the mention make one very aware of what's going on outside the cockpit, not just looking at instruments.
It's an absolutely fantastic sport which will teach the art of stick and rudder skills, not the mention make one very aware of what's going on outside the cockpit, not just looking at instruments.
ninja-lewis said:
+1i got quite a bit of flight time during my cadet days.
My son started flying helicopters when he was 12. The hours, under official instruction, can be logged from that age, but only qualify towards PPL from age 14. Minimum age for solo flight is 16. He went solo on his 16th birthday, last year, in both jet turbine and piston engine helicopters on the same day - a world record.
Forgot to say, it might be of value to take him to one of the Professional Flight Training Exhibitions. You've just missed the ones at LHR (Sofitel)and Oxford Aviation Academy (Easyjet) in April, but there's another at LHR on 20 Oct. These will give him an insight into the career opportunities, and various training programmes, and you an idea of the potential costs.
Or, http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=a39ea3df78778a...
Or, http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=a39ea3df78778a...
Edited by Geneve on Thursday 9th May 23:56
Definitely get him in the ATC.
Not only will it develop him as a person but it will offer great chances for him, I've recently left and I've achieved way more than the average person does in the ATC and I'll happily talk to you in more detail about it...
To expand a little bit more;
I did my gliding scholarship at 16, and went solo in 2 days. I have then stayed on at the gliding school as an instructor, I was teaching cadets to glide at the age of 18.
I did my powered flying scholarship at 17, was solo in 8 hours... this scholarship gives 12 hours towards the PPL. During the scholarship you are also assesed by the instructors and a report is sent to HQ Air Cadets, I was the second highest performing scholar in the 2012 flying year and have been awarded another 13 hours of free flying in Dundee.
On the non flying side of things - Last July I spent 2 weeks in Singapore on an international exchange... ALL PAID FOR!!
In 2009 I went to Canada for 2 weeks backpacking around the forests
Met a fair amount of royalty, done loads of adventure training... And the best thing, I have made life long friends!
Get him signed up at your local SQN asap.
Drop me an email if you want to know more
Not only will it develop him as a person but it will offer great chances for him, I've recently left and I've achieved way more than the average person does in the ATC and I'll happily talk to you in more detail about it...
To expand a little bit more;
I did my gliding scholarship at 16, and went solo in 2 days. I have then stayed on at the gliding school as an instructor, I was teaching cadets to glide at the age of 18.
I did my powered flying scholarship at 17, was solo in 8 hours... this scholarship gives 12 hours towards the PPL. During the scholarship you are also assesed by the instructors and a report is sent to HQ Air Cadets, I was the second highest performing scholar in the 2012 flying year and have been awarded another 13 hours of free flying in Dundee.
On the non flying side of things - Last July I spent 2 weeks in Singapore on an international exchange... ALL PAID FOR!!
In 2009 I went to Canada for 2 weeks backpacking around the forests
Met a fair amount of royalty, done loads of adventure training... And the best thing, I have made life long friends!
Get him signed up at your local SQN asap.
Drop me an email if you want to know more
Edited by EdBarrett on Friday 10th May 12:41
EdBarrett said:
Definitely get him in the ATC.
Not only will it develop him as a person but it will offer great chances for him, I've recently left and I've achieved way more than the average person does in the ATC and I'll happily talk to you in more detail about it...
To expand a little bit more;
I did my gliding scholarship at 16, and went solo in 2 days. I have then stayed on at the gliding school as an instructor, I was teaching cadets to glide at the age of 18.
I did my powered flying scholarship at 17, was solo in 8 hours... this scholarship gives 12 hours towards the PPL. During the scholarship you are also assesed by the instructors and a report is sent to HQ Air Cadets, I was the second highest performing scholar in the 2012 flying year and have been awarded another 13 hours of free flying in Dundee.
On the non flying side of things - Last July I spent 2 weeks in Singapore on an international exchange... ALL PAID FOR!!
In 2009 I went to Canada for 2 weeks backpacking around the forests
Met a fair amount of royalty, done loads of adventure training... And the best thing, I have made life long friends!
Get him signed up at your local SQN asap.
Drop me an email if you want to know more
Theres a Typhoon with an Ed Barrett shaped hole in the cockpit somewhere. Not only will it develop him as a person but it will offer great chances for him, I've recently left and I've achieved way more than the average person does in the ATC and I'll happily talk to you in more detail about it...
To expand a little bit more;
I did my gliding scholarship at 16, and went solo in 2 days. I have then stayed on at the gliding school as an instructor, I was teaching cadets to glide at the age of 18.
I did my powered flying scholarship at 17, was solo in 8 hours... this scholarship gives 12 hours towards the PPL. During the scholarship you are also assesed by the instructors and a report is sent to HQ Air Cadets, I was the second highest performing scholar in the 2012 flying year and have been awarded another 13 hours of free flying in Dundee.
On the non flying side of things - Last July I spent 2 weeks in Singapore on an international exchange... ALL PAID FOR!!
In 2009 I went to Canada for 2 weeks backpacking around the forests
Met a fair amount of royalty, done loads of adventure training... And the best thing, I have made life long friends!
Get him signed up at your local SQN asap.
Drop me an email if you want to know more
jonnyb said:
EdBarrett said:
Definitely get him in the ATC.
Not only will it develop him as a person but it will offer great chances for him, I've recently left and I've achieved way more than the average person does in the ATC and I'll happily talk to you in more detail about it...
To expand a little bit more;
I did my gliding scholarship at 16, and went solo in 2 days. I have then stayed on at the gliding school as an instructor, I was teaching cadets to glide at the age of 18.
I did my powered flying scholarship at 17, was solo in 8 hours... this scholarship gives 12 hours towards the PPL. During the scholarship you are also assesed by the instructors and a report is sent to HQ Air Cadets, I was the second highest performing scholar in the 2012 flying year and have been awarded another 13 hours of free flying in Dundee.
On the non flying side of things - Last July I spent 2 weeks in Singapore on an international exchange... ALL PAID FOR!!
In 2009 I went to Canada for 2 weeks backpacking around the forests
Met a fair amount of royalty, done loads of adventure training... And the best thing, I have made life long friends!
Get him signed up at your local SQN asap.
Drop me an email if you want to know more
Theres a Typhoon with an Ed Barrett shaped hole in the cockpit somewhere. Not only will it develop him as a person but it will offer great chances for him, I've recently left and I've achieved way more than the average person does in the ATC and I'll happily talk to you in more detail about it...
To expand a little bit more;
I did my gliding scholarship at 16, and went solo in 2 days. I have then stayed on at the gliding school as an instructor, I was teaching cadets to glide at the age of 18.
I did my powered flying scholarship at 17, was solo in 8 hours... this scholarship gives 12 hours towards the PPL. During the scholarship you are also assesed by the instructors and a report is sent to HQ Air Cadets, I was the second highest performing scholar in the 2012 flying year and have been awarded another 13 hours of free flying in Dundee.
On the non flying side of things - Last July I spent 2 weeks in Singapore on an international exchange... ALL PAID FOR!!
In 2009 I went to Canada for 2 weeks backpacking around the forests
Met a fair amount of royalty, done loads of adventure training... And the best thing, I have made life long friends!
Get him signed up at your local SQN asap.
Drop me an email if you want to know more
jonnyb said:
Theres a Typhoon with an Ed Barrett shaped hole in the cockpit somewhere.
HaHa, according to the exact words of a lovely RAF careers officer I'm ''too stupid'' to fly for the 'Rif'RAF.So I took his words, and walked over the the RN desk and off goes my application for pilot in the Royal Navy. My aptitude testing is on the 10th June, but I also have an interview on the 21st of this month for the Bristow helicopters scholarship.
I am contemplating sending the said RAF careers officer my aircrew aptitude test scores that I did at Cranwell, considering pilot in the RAF only needs 112, my 139 may just be enough for him to eat his beret :P
(as you can tell I'm not at all bitter :P)
Edited by EdBarrett on Friday 10th May 14:22
EdBarrett said:
jonnyb said:
Theres a Typhoon with an Ed Barrett shaped hole in the cockpit somewhere.
HaHa, according to the exact words of a lovely RAF careers officer I'm ''too stupid'' to fly for the 'Rif'RAF.So I took his words, and walked over the the RN desk and off goes my application for pilot in the Royal Navy. My aptitude testing is on the 10th June, but I also have an interview on the 21st of this month for the Bristow helicopters scholarship.
I am contemplating sending the said RAF careers officer my aircrew aptitude test scores that I did at Cranwell, considering pilot in the RAF only needs 112, my 139 may just be enough for him to eat his beret :P
(as you can tell I'm not at all bitter :P)
Edited by EdBarrett on Friday 10th May 14:22
And on a more sensible note, theres a lot more money in fixed wing eventually.
jonnyb said:
Don't do helicopters! Even now, no ones quite sure how they stay airborne.
And on a more sensible note, theres a lot more money in fixed wing eventually.
Makes it a little bit more fun And on a more sensible note, theres a lot more money in fixed wing eventually.
If I end up down the RN route, I could end up on the JSF if the timings all fell into place. But the civi side of fixed wing, I'm afraid there are no sponsorships around that don't require a security bond (which is the sum of the trainig)... Making it still a job for the priviledged few. I've tried, got a cadetship, but couldn't get the bond... at 18 that puts a huge downer on your life and dreams, but hey, 2 years later and I'm loving it!
EdBarrett said:
Makes it a little bit more fun
If I end up down the RN route, I could end up on the JSF if the timings all fell into place. But the civi side of fixed wing, I'm afraid there are no sponsorships around that don't require a security bond (which is the sum of the trainig)... Making it still a job for the priviledged few. I've tried, got a cadetship, but couldn't get the bond... at 18 that puts a huge downer on your life and dreams, but hey, 2 years later and I'm loving it!
A Navy friend of mine is surely destined for JSF - he's currently at Cranwell but his FATS score was...If I end up down the RN route, I could end up on the JSF if the timings all fell into place. But the civi side of fixed wing, I'm afraid there are no sponsorships around that don't require a security bond (which is the sum of the trainig)... Making it still a job for the priviledged few. I've tried, got a cadetship, but couldn't get the bond... at 18 that puts a huge downer on your life and dreams, but hey, 2 years later and I'm loving it!
...171
jonnyb said:
Don't do helicopters! Even now, no ones quite sure how they stay airborne.
And on a more sensible note, theres a lot more money in fixed wing eventually.
Not remotely true at all And on a more sensible note, theres a lot more money in fixed wing eventually.
Check out UK North Sea salaries as a starter for ten, let alone foreign offshore operations.....I had a beer with a North Sea training captain the other night who was on circa £130k+ for working 6 months a year, which is also as a relatively lowly instructor, ie not even a TRE or Chief Pilot (but still way above my miserable status!). Most of my buddies in the plank-wing world in both legacy and low-cost carriers earn way, way less than that and unless you join a legacy carrier at a very young age, or are prepared to live in the sandpit, you never will. Things have changed drastically for the worse in the fixed-wing world and hopefully rotary won't go down the same horrible pay to fly spiral of doom. Back ot
to backup the other posters the air cadets is an awesome experience, until recently I used to fly air cadets at an RAF Air Experience Flight and seeing the smile on their faces after doing a loop or barrel roll was a pleasure. It is a great way of doing something fun and if he is as mad keen on aviation as you suggest, he would love it Siko said:
Not remotely true at all Check out UK North Sea salaries as a starter for ten, let alone foreign offshore operations.....I had a beer with a North Sea training captain the other night who was on circa £130k+ for working 6 months a year, which is also as a relatively lowly instructor, ie not even a TRE or Chief Pilot (but still way above my miserable status!). Most of my buddies in the plank-wing world in both legacy and low-cost carriers earn way, way less than that and unless you join a legacy carrier at a very young age, or are prepared to live in the sandpit, you never will. Things have changed drastically for the worse in the fixed-wing world and hopefully rotary won't go down the same horrible pay to fly spiral of doom.
Back ot to backup the other posters the air cadets is an awesome experience, until recently I used to fly air cadets at an RAF Air Experience Flight and seeing the smile on their faces after doing a loop or barrel roll was a pleasure. It is a great way of doing something fun and if he is as mad keen on aviation as you suggest, he would love it
Blimey! things have changed. However, 130K for flying the North Sea, you're welcome to it! Check out UK North Sea salaries as a starter for ten, let alone foreign offshore operations.....I had a beer with a North Sea training captain the other night who was on circa £130k+ for working 6 months a year, which is also as a relatively lowly instructor, ie not even a TRE or Chief Pilot (but still way above my miserable status!). Most of my buddies in the plank-wing world in both legacy and low-cost carriers earn way, way less than that and unless you join a legacy carrier at a very young age, or are prepared to live in the sandpit, you never will. Things have changed drastically for the worse in the fixed-wing world and hopefully rotary won't go down the same horrible pay to fly spiral of doom. Back ot
to backup the other posters the air cadets is an awesome experience, until recently I used to fly air cadets at an RAF Air Experience Flight and seeing the smile on their faces after doing a loop or barrel roll was a pleasure. It is a great way of doing something fun and if he is as mad keen on aviation as you suggest, he would love it To be honest most of our TREs are on that, thats why they wont retire, b
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