Learning to fly...

megakid

megakid

megakid

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What does it take to learn to fly and get my PPL?

I've been considering it for a while now and when I move back to London in March, it's definitely something I will look into.

I'm 23 and have a fulltime job, 9-5. What sort of commitment am I looking at, both financially and time?

If anyone here has got their PPL, is it worth continuing for a CPL?
 
Cost is around 6000 quid minimum. Time is entirely up to you, you could do 1 hour a week or as many as you can squash in. It's only worth continuing for a CPL if you want to fly for a living, clue is in the name ;)
 
My brother just got his license last week.

It's around 50-60 hours at about £150-200/hr.

He started off just doing circuits (take off, go round the airport and land again) which only took an hour or so each time but then you have to move up to longer flights to nearby airports and you'll need 2-3 hours spare for that.

Bare in mind that you can't fly in the dark or the rain or high wind etc so you won't get many lessons in now before the nights start to draw in and a 5pm lesson will be a no go. Might be worth doing some research and maybe getting the exams done and looking at starting lessons in March/April next year but you have to take the final test within 12 months of the final exam or you have to sit them again.
 
Joke response time! Build some wings and JUMP!

/back to reality

Im a little interested in this too, is it worth just wondering up to an air field and asking about? (half tempted to go back to cranfield and do this next summer)
 
My cousin did his at Southend airport. I'd imagine you can do them at any of the smaller airfields to be honest.
 
I did a trial lesson last year and since then I've really wanted carry on and get my license.

Sadly due to crappy job I just can't justify the expense, as unless you spend loads and do it professionally then it's always going to be an expensive hobby.

Got a lesson in Microlight coming up soon, if thats a laugh I might see if I can continue with that.

Flying is an amazing experience though, I'd recommend that everyone should have at least one trial lesson. :cool:
 
I was also looking into this, but I know it costs around £5000 - £6000.

Also there is a serparate license for night flying.

I have been told it is much cheaper to do it in the USA. I have heard of like "crash courses" where you go there for 6 weeks and do it over 6 weeks, which includes night flying etc. And that costs around £4000 which includes flying there.
 
peetee said:
im also debating this now, pay for one lesson a month or something
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Not worth it. 1 lesson a months means you'll do around 11 hours a year, and you'll spend most of the time going over the basics as when you start, it's a lot to go in. 3-4 lessons a month is what to aim for. It's a lot, and will cost a lot of money, but flying is by no-means cheap.

Myth said:
I was also looking into this, but I know it costs around £5000 - £6000.

Also there is a serparate license for night flying.

I have been told it is much cheaper to do it in the USA. I have heard of like "crash courses" where you go there for 6 weeks and do it over 6 weeks, which includes night flying etc. And that costs around £4000 which includes flying there.
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Whilst flying in the US is cheaper, it won't allow you to fly over here as the standards set by the CAA are different to the ones in the US, meaning you'll at least have to do your exams again, and i'm pretty sure another 10 hours of flying to understand the different UK rules/regs.
 
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Myth said:
I was also looking into this, but I know it costs around £5000 - £6000.

Also there is a serparate license for night flying.

I have been told it is much cheaper to do it in the USA. I have heard of like "crash courses" where you go there for 6 weeks and do it over 6 weeks, which includes night flying etc. And that costs around £4000 which includes flying there.
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And then you come back and do a conversion course to get you flying in this country, and everyone laughs at you for learning in the US, It is well known in the community that British trained pilots are among the best in the world.

@ OP London really isn't the ideal place for learning to fly, there's tonnes of extra airspace rules and regulations, It's hard enough learning to fly, without the added worry that you're not doing the right thing for the airspace you're in. As well as the fact that landing fees for most of the airports in London (And definitely the major ones; Heathrow, City, etc.) are ridiculous. Like upwards of £200 ridiculous.

But obviously if you have to be in London, you have to be in London, so don't let that deter you from doing your PPL. Learning to fly is by far the best thing I've done so far and I say go for it.
 
Am happy to answer any questions you guys have. Are we mainly wanting to know just about getting a PPL? or do you want to go on to become a CPL?

PPL as has been said is around 6000 quid, depending on how many hours you need. The minimum is 45 at £150 ish an hour. You also need to be able to pass a medical, but this can be simplified if you can't get a class 2 medical.

CPL there are 2 ways, modular and intergrated. Simply but modular is cheaper at around £40,000 but it generally takes longer. Intergrated is quicker but costs £70,000.
 
Thanks for the responses - the figures quoted were approximately what I expected.

I don't really plan on doing it for a living, just is something I've always wanted to do. I only mentioned CPL because of the restrictions of the PPL - I gather you can't fly in anything other than excellent weather plus only during daylight hours with a PPL?

Does anyone know if I can begin lessons here in Australia over summer (more flight time?) and continue, do exams when I get back in March? I'm finding myself at loose ends at weekends so could probably do a fair few hours - plus I have a car here, unlike London. Saying that, I don't want to rush it so perhaps I will just wait.

Where do the extra airspace restrictions end around London? Are all the small airports like Biggin Hill and Southend included?

I definitely want to start with fixed wing flights (seems far more reachable, given the costs etc). Does anyone have any recommended flight schools? Any particular aircraft I should be looking to train in?

Cheers!
 
My girlfriend got me a flying lesson for my 21st, just reminded me that I need to use the voucher before March next year D=
 
Have you considered getting a Microlight licence instead?
It costs about £3000 to get a licence and you could probably buy a used microlight for a couple of thousand.
 
Tomsk said:
Have you considered getting a Microlight licence instead?
It costs about £3000 to get a licence and you could probably buy a used microlight for a couple of thousand.
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Not really interested in a microlight licence.

I'm going to ring around the local Sydney airfields to find out if I can get some hours in before returning to the UK, it's cheaper here and I am pretty keen on getting up there before March '10 which is when I'll be returning to London.
 
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