View Full Version : Anyone here done their PPL
sharriso74
02-05-06, 12:45 PM
Decided to go and do the Private Pilots License. Has anyone here done it?
Anonymous
02-05-06, 12:49 PM
No. Was working on similar training in VGS though, but failed instructors medical. Had i passed it, its the equivalent to a PPL.
My mate Jim has done his though. Did it at Sherburn Aerodrome near Leeds.
DanDare
02-05-06, 12:51 PM
Looked into it sometime ago, but found it flippin expensive.
Mate did his in Florida will full board accommo which was almost half price of over here. Plus the weather was great and could see for miles.
I wanted to make money out it, which involved doing CPL on top and then your ATPL in order to take many passengers. Your looking at about 60k for that.
Still get a Job with BA and you'd recoup that in no time.
Lot of money to gamble on.
I might do my HPPL in the states in a few years.
It all depends what your looking to do.
sharriso74
02-05-06, 01:34 PM
Just looking to do it for pleasure furthes I may go is to a multi engine rating
Mr Toad
02-05-06, 03:41 PM
I think BillyC has one
tigersaw
02-05-06, 04:58 PM
Still get a Job with BA and you'd recoup that in no time.
Don't believe it. I rub shoulders with pilots all the time, things are not what what they used to be. You need to be a seasoned captain on long haul to get the megabucks. At the lower end of the scale, a first officer with a budget airline.... 21K
Still get a Job with BA and you'd recoup that in no time.
Don't believe it. I rub shoulders with pilots all the time, things are not what what they used to be. You need to be a seasoned captain on long haul to get the megabucks. At the lower end of the scale, a first officer with a budget airline.... 21K
bloody hell i earn more than that...
Always fancied doing my PPL - even fancied doing the light one to go hang gliding/microlighting
No. Was working on similar training in VGS though, but failed instructors medical. Had i passed it, its the equivalent to a PPL.
My mate Jim has done his though. Did it at Sherburn Aerodrome near Leeds.
lol VGS as in volunteer gliding school?
I used to be staff at one of those and its not quite the same as a PPL :wink:
Havent done the PPL myself, just done some gliding (VGS/RAF Qualifications which are meaningless in civvy flying :cry: )
However I've got a good mate who has his PPL so can pass on any questions.
Ward8124
03-05-06, 09:00 AM
How much does it cost btw as ive got virtually every land based vehicle license going so need to change my medium to Air!
sharriso74
03-05-06, 09:14 AM
If I pay for it as a package it £5600 but as my bank manager doesn't love me that much I'm going to do it as pay as you fly it's about £125 an hour.
It's expensive but something I've wanted to do for years and have kept finding excuses not to do so this year as I got a nice pay rise I'm going to do it and if I manage to give up smoking I've worked out that what I spend on fags each month will pay for 2 hours a month
Anonymous
03-05-06, 09:22 AM
No. Was working on similar training in VGS though, but failed instructors medical. Had i passed it, its the equivalent to a PPL.
My mate Jim has done his though. Did it at Sherburn Aerodrome near Leeds.
lol VGS as in volunteer gliding school?
I used to be staff at one of those and its not quite the same as a PPL :wink:
Havent done the PPL myself, just done some gliding (VGS/RAF Qualifications which are meaningless in civvy flying :cry: )
However I've got a good mate who has his PPL so can pass on any questions.
Yeah as in Volunteer Gliding School.
And actually you're wrong. If you get a PPL you can use your flying at VGS to keep your license hours current.
Also, if you are C Cat or above at VGS, you can use those hours towards your PPL to reduce your outlay. My mate is B Cat at a VGS, did went to do his PPL, instructor took one look at his log book, said "crap, you're more qualified that i am", he got his PPL in 5 hours flight time. Only cost him £400 and he keeps it current flying SCT trips at the VGS. :wink:
Ward8124
03-05-06, 09:51 AM
If I pay for it as a package it £5600 but as my bank manager doesn't love me that much I'm going to do it as pay as you fly it's about £125 an hour.
It's expensive but something I've wanted to do for years and have kept finding excuses not to do so this year as I got a nice pay rise I'm going to do it and if I manage to give up smoking I've worked out that what I spend on fags each month will pay for 2 hours a month
Its a bit on the expensive side and you dont even get a plane for that either! How much does a cesna cost these days and what are all the other costs like av fuel, storage maintenance and all that gumf? Must cost a fair whack!
warden1974
03-05-06, 11:02 AM
Thing is are you actually going to use the licence when you got it, I did a flying schol at 17 when they gave you 30 hours and completed my ppl hours and exam but never bothered with my licence cos i knew i wouldnt reallt ue it and keeping current was gonna cost... if you are gonna use it then go for it. Thought about joinging the forces, I flew as a backseater for 4 years and loved it...now training to be a commecrial diver. Not that I am fickle.
sharriso74
03-05-06, 11:09 AM
My original plan was to join the RAF, went to Biggin Hill was awarded a University Cadetship but as a result of having a plastic plate in my face I was listed a TU (temporarly unfit) to be a pilot or navigator. Which was a bit of a bummer :(
I intend to keep it going not sure about buying my own plane quite yet unless someone knows what 6 numbers I need this Saturday
warden1974
03-05-06, 11:10 AM
I intend to keep it going not sure about buying my own plane quite yet unless someone knows what 6 numbers I need this Saturday
The winning ones might help?
sharriso74
03-05-06, 12:40 PM
Booked my first leason for the 13th of May at 10:30 so anyone who lives around Biggin Hill and sees a Cessna flying badly don't panic it'll be me.
Anonymous
03-05-06, 02:30 PM
Just remember:
Push stick forward, speed increases and houses get bigger.
Pull stick back, speed decreases and houses get smaller.........
........
.........
Keep pulling back and eventually speed increases again and houses get bigger.
:lol:
Dont be doing this will you? (http://www.wimp.com/pilotsdrunk/)
No. Was working on similar training in VGS though, but failed instructors medical. Had i passed it, its the equivalent to a PPL.
My mate Jim has done his though. Did it at Sherburn Aerodrome near Leeds.
lol VGS as in volunteer gliding school?
I used to be staff at one of those and its not quite the same as a PPL :wink:
Havent done the PPL myself, just done some gliding (VGS/RAF Qualifications which are meaningless in civvy flying :cry: )
However I've got a good mate who has his PPL so can pass on any questions.
Yeah as in Volunteer Gliding School.
And actually you're wrong. If you get a PPL you can use your flying at VGS to keep your license hours current.
Also, if you are C Cat or above at VGS, you can use those hours towards your PPL to reduce your outlay. My mate is B Cat at a VGS, did went to do his PPL, instructor took one look at his log book, said "crap, you're more qualified that i am", he got his PPL in 5 hours flight time. Only cost him £400 and he keeps it current flying SCT trips at the VGS. :wink:
skills are transferrable yes... but the training you get there doesnt enable you to just take an aircraft away, not even a civvy glider!
Interesting about using your VGS hours to keep PPL up to date though. Will pass that information on.
I've got 15 hours (paid for by a previous employer) and thought it was ok... but not worth £140 an hour!
Personally I'd budget £7k for a PPL, on top of your hours don't forget most of the clubs make you pay landing fees - an hour of touch + gos can add up. Then you need your Jeppensen/Pooleys, headset, whirly wheel, theory books, exams, RTF test... £7k is what most people spend.
If you really want to become a pilot, good luck! You'll need 40-60k plus, depending on how you take to IFR flying. Then, once you have your CPL-IR (the professional license) and your massive bank loan you'll be out there with thousands of others all in the same position. IF you do finally get a jet job, you can expect to start on about 20k, and be bonded to the company for three years to pay for your training.
Don't be a pilot because you want to get rich. It won't work. Only become a pilot if you dream of it, and will do anything to get there. Otherwise you'll fall by the wayside and have a massive loan as well.
MilleonAir
03-05-06, 11:03 PM
I got a PPL and it cost me about 4500 quid. That's the cheap bit! :shock:
Have a chat with a few flying schools before you sign up and find out what it costs to keep flying post-PPL. Check with syndicates and aircraft owners on the cost of flying an aircraft and look at further courses to get IMC (Instrument Meteorological Conditions) ratings and Night ratings.
I'm not trying to put anybody off as my PPL is one of the best things I ever did. But keeping it and augmenting it is something you need to plan for and I didn't do that. I can't afford to fly now and my PPL lapsed long ago.
Ian
Essex of Essex
05-05-06, 07:36 PM
Look round for competitive prices, anything inside the M25 commands a premium on the price. I used to instruct for PPL and IMC and standards vary from school to school so do shop around, these days I instruct on the 737 circuits in that are "interesting".
When qualified group membership can be cost effective, my cub costs £65 a month and £35 for every hour I fly. Six in the group, share £4000, availability is very good, and we have an internet booking system.
If you have any specific questions just ask, although I have no first hand knowledge of the schools/clubs at Biggin Hill.
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