Another PPL question

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Discussion

Private Pile

Original Poster:

754 posts

197 months

Saturday 14th July 2012
quotequote all
Reading the PPL threads has got me thinking. I got my PPL in 1992, and i haven't flown since '93. I take it, that if i wanted to fly again, that i would be starting from scratch. Is this right?

Cheers
Gordon

speedtwelve

3,513 posts

275 months

Saturday 14th July 2012
quotequote all
Have a look at LASORS via the flight-crew licensing website. PPrune also.

AFAIK you'll need to do training as required to get up to speed to do a renewal flight-test with an examiner as per your original PPL. You still hold a licence, it's just that everything has expired big-time.

Private Pile

Original Poster:

754 posts

197 months

Saturday 14th July 2012
quotequote all
Thank you for your reply. I'll check those sites out tonight.

I'd imagine an hours lesson now costs more than £60 / hour!

Thanks again

mattdaniels

7,353 posts

284 months

Saturday 14th July 2012
quotequote all
Double that easily, on a C152 IME

Private Pile

Original Poster:

754 posts

197 months

Saturday 14th July 2012
quotequote all
Cheers Matt, i thought that would be the case. I'll pay a visit to my old club ( Edinburgh ) in the next week or so, and ask some questions.

This is gonna end up expensive.


mrloudly

2,815 posts

237 months

Saturday 14th July 2012
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Look at revalidating into three axis microlights. Compare the stats on a C.152 against a Flight Design C.T. You may be in for a shock!

ninja-lewis

4,268 posts

192 months

Saturday 14th July 2012
quotequote all
Private Pile said:
Cheers Matt, i thought that would be the case. I'll pay a visit to my old club ( Edinburgh ) in the next week or so, and ask some questions.

This is gonna end up expensive.
Edinburgh will be even more expensive (£190 for a Piper Warrior + instructor, not including landing fees or airport security pass at Edinburgh IIRC). Unfortunately, BAA don't really want them or any general aviation at Edinburgh. Much like cars really!

You might want to look further afield at Fife, Perth, Cumbernauld or even Dundee. Alternatively you could look into microlights at East Fortune, Perth, Strathaven and Balado to name a few schools.

Chuck328

1,581 posts

169 months

Sunday 15th July 2012
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ninja-lewis said:
Edinburgh will be even more expensive (£190 for a Piper Warrior + instructor, not including landing fees or airport security pass at Edinburgh IIRC). Unfortunately, BAA don't really want them or any general aviation at Edinburgh. Much like cars really!

You might want to look further afield at Fife, Perth, Cumbernauld or even Dundee. Alternatively you could look into microlights at East Fortune, Perth, Strathaven and Balado to name a few schools.
Sorry for the slight hijack. Reading between the lines, would you be referring to Race the Runway? I've had a look but not found anything for this year. Even asked around as I work there, seems the new owners aint interested. Mind you, typical of BAA, been anti GA/fun for years now. I did offer a silent prayer that things might change - but nope...

ninja-lewis

4,268 posts

192 months

Sunday 15th July 2012
quotequote all
Chuck328 said:
Sorry for the slight hijack. Reading between the lines, would you be referring to Race the Runway? I've had a look but not found anything for this year. Even asked around as I work there, seems the new owners aint interested. Mind you, typical of BAA, been anti GA/fun for years now. I did offer a silent prayer that things might change - but nope...
I was thinking more of the drop off charge they introduced a while ago. Haven't heard anything about Race the Runway either for that.

Fat Albert

1,392 posts

183 months

Monday 16th July 2012
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speedtwelve said:
Have a look at LASORS via the flight-crew licensing website. PPrune also.

AFAIK you'll need to do training as required to get up to speed to do a renewal flight-test with an examiner as per your original PPL. You still hold a licence, it's just that everything has expired big-time.
This is correct, you just need to renew your SEP rating with a flight test (includes an oral exam from the examiner)

I had a 17 year gap and then did 16 hours to get myself back to a safe level, and also revised all the exam subjects back up to exam standard, my CFI put me through a mock Air law exam to test me, as that was the biggest subject to change in the 19 years since i last took it!

fatboy b

9,504 posts

218 months

Monday 16th July 2012
quotequote all
Hmmm,, I think I prefer the American method.

I got my PPL in 1990 while living over there. Moved back here in '91, but went back on various trips until '97. They have a rule that you have to do a flight review every 2 years (unless in that time you get a rating requiring a test, then the 2 years starts again).

If you don't do a flight review after 2 years, of course you can't fly. But in order to revalidate, all you do is the flight review. That is at least 1 hour on the ground going through regs, and at least 1 hour in the air with an instructor doing a few manouvers and emergencies.

I've just redone mine after 15 years. 2 hours on the ground doing a thorough review of the regs, and 1.7 in the air. As long as the instructor feels you know the regs, and are safe in the air, that's all it takes.

mattdaniels

7,353 posts

284 months

Monday 16th July 2012
quotequote all
Fat Albert said:
my CFI put me through a mock Air law exam to test me, as that was the biggest subject to change in the 19 years since i last took it!
That surprises me. If any exam was going to change massively in 19 years, I wouldn't have picked Air Law!

Still, at least you're up to speed next time you fly non radio over a signal square and the tower shines a green light at you. laugh

Private Pile

Original Poster:

754 posts

197 months

Monday 16th July 2012
quotequote all
Thanks for all the replies. I am shocked at the near £200 / hour prices though! I'm thinking i'll maybe get a 1 hour lesson at my local club ( Cumbernauld ), and see if i still enjoy it. I've no idea how many hours it'll take to get me up to speed.

How many flying hours will i need a year to keep current?

Thanks again

magpie215

4,447 posts

191 months

Monday 16th July 2012
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Private Pile said:
How many flying hours will i need a year to keep current
Your license is valid for five years, however, do not be fooled into thinking you don't have to do anything for that length of time! Your Single Engine Piston (SEP) rating within the license is only valid for two years and if you let this lapse you will have a pilot's license but you won't be able to pilot any aircraft! So how do you keep your SEP valid?


Keeping your SEP valid

Two ways:

Have a proficiency check with an examiner: Lasts about an hour in which time you demonstrate general handling, just to make sure you are not too rusty. The examiner will then sign you SEP ratings page for another 2 years.

Flying Experience: 12 hours flown within the preceding 12 months of your validity period. Of these, six must be Pilot in Command, and you must have made 12 takeoffs and 12 landings in this time. There must also be a dual flight of at least one hour that has been signed off, but this does not need to be any kind of test. If you have done all this, then you need to find an examiner who can sign your SEP ratings page, but you do not need to do a test with them.
Both of the above need to be completed within three months of your SEP rating expiring. You will then be sorted for another two years, at which point you go through the hoops again.

If you miss the date, but your PPL is still valid, then you will have to do a proficiency test with an examiner in order to get signed off again, regardless of hours.


Keeping your PPL valid

After five years, your PPL will expire. As long as you catch it before it expires (and the CAA say they will send out reminder cards! How handy) this really isn't much of a drama - as there are no flight tests or anything, it is just give some money to the CAA - how much, I couldn't say. But it will definitely be more than it is now.

Private Pile

Original Poster:

754 posts

197 months

Monday 16th July 2012
quotequote all
Appreciate your reply Magpie.

magpie215

4,447 posts

191 months

Monday 16th July 2012
quotequote all
Private Pile said:
Appreciate your reply Magpie.
ctrl+v ;-)

Fat Albert

1,392 posts

183 months

Tuesday 17th July 2012
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mattdaniels said:
Fat Albert said:
my CFI put me through a mock Air law exam to test me, as that was the biggest subject to change in the 19 years since i last took it!
That surprises me. If any exam was going to change massively in 19 years, I wouldn't have picked Air Law!

Still, at least you're up to speed next time you fly non radio over a signal square and the tower shines a green light at you. laugh
We didn't have the interception procedures in 1986!!