Private Pilots License - Real costs?
Discussion
Hi All
This is probably just a pipe dream but I am seriously investigating the option!
I live near Bristol and there are a few operators around here that will rent or provide storage.
A few questions:-
1) It seems a pilots license is typically around 50 hours flight time (for a single engine) plus tests at around £6000-7000. Is it advisable to consider going to the US for a few weeks solid and taking the lessons/test there? As it seems to be considerably cheaper (but believe you do have to take an instrument test in the UK?)
2) The main drive at the moment is that I could drive to a hanger somewhere in Bristol, take the plane over to a hanger in the La Rochelle airport/or somewhere near Longeville Sur Mer. There definitely seems to be a runway nearby as planes are always flying overhead. What would my typical costs be if I was to rent/take a share in a plane. I would probably go around 3 times a year with 2-3 friends in tow. Just trying to get an idea of real life costs!
3)Given I would want to go to France and maybe Italy, see a friend in Sweden e.t.c I don't consider myself to be a heavy user, is rental the way to go?
4) Maintaing the license, how many hours/tests do you need to maintain the license?
Any websites of places I can look at taking a share in a plane or renting would be great. I am 26 at the moment...is insurance ridiculous?
This is probably just a pipe dream but I am seriously investigating the option!
I live near Bristol and there are a few operators around here that will rent or provide storage.
A few questions:-
1) It seems a pilots license is typically around 50 hours flight time (for a single engine) plus tests at around £6000-7000. Is it advisable to consider going to the US for a few weeks solid and taking the lessons/test there? As it seems to be considerably cheaper (but believe you do have to take an instrument test in the UK?)
2) The main drive at the moment is that I could drive to a hanger somewhere in Bristol, take the plane over to a hanger in the La Rochelle airport/or somewhere near Longeville Sur Mer. There definitely seems to be a runway nearby as planes are always flying overhead. What would my typical costs be if I was to rent/take a share in a plane. I would probably go around 3 times a year with 2-3 friends in tow. Just trying to get an idea of real life costs!
3)Given I would want to go to France and maybe Italy, see a friend in Sweden e.t.c I don't consider myself to be a heavy user, is rental the way to go?
4) Maintaing the license, how many hours/tests do you need to maintain the license?
Any websites of places I can look at taking a share in a plane or renting would be great. I am 26 at the moment...is insurance ridiculous?
V6Alfisti said:
Hi All
This is probably just a pipe dream but I am seriously investigating the option!
I live near Bristol and there are a few operators around here that will rent or provide storage.
A few questions:-
1) It seems a pilots license is typically around 50 hours flight time (for a single engine) plus tests at around £6000-7000. Is it advisable to consider going to the US for a few weeks solid and taking the lessons/test there? As it seems to be considerably cheaper (but believe you do have to take an instrument test in the UK?)
2) The main drive at the moment is that I could drive to a hanger somewhere in Bristol, take the plane over to a hanger in the La Rochelle airport/or somewhere near Longeville Sur Mer. There definitely seems to be a runway nearby as planes are always flying overhead. What would my typical costs be if I was to rent/take a share in a plane. I would probably go around 3 times a year with 2-3 friends in tow. Just trying to get an idea of real life costs!
3)Given I would want to go to France and maybe Italy, see a friend in Sweden e.t.c I don't consider myself to be a heavy user, is rental the way to go?
4) Maintaing the license, how many hours/tests do you need to maintain the license?
Any websites of places I can look at taking a share in a plane or renting would be great. I am 26 at the moment...is insurance ridiculous?
1) Endless debate on this one. The US will probably work out a lot cheaper, apart from anything else geting the licence in concentrated effort means you don't spend several expensive minutes getting back into it at the start of every lesson. On the other hand nobody will rent you an aircraft in the UK on the basis of a new licence gained in the US, they will want to check you out and ensure you are familiar with UK procedures. At least in the UK you can start by renting from the place you learnt and are used to UK conditions. This is probably just a pipe dream but I am seriously investigating the option!
I live near Bristol and there are a few operators around here that will rent or provide storage.
A few questions:-
1) It seems a pilots license is typically around 50 hours flight time (for a single engine) plus tests at around £6000-7000. Is it advisable to consider going to the US for a few weeks solid and taking the lessons/test there? As it seems to be considerably cheaper (but believe you do have to take an instrument test in the UK?)
2) The main drive at the moment is that I could drive to a hanger somewhere in Bristol, take the plane over to a hanger in the La Rochelle airport/or somewhere near Longeville Sur Mer. There definitely seems to be a runway nearby as planes are always flying overhead. What would my typical costs be if I was to rent/take a share in a plane. I would probably go around 3 times a year with 2-3 friends in tow. Just trying to get an idea of real life costs!
3)Given I would want to go to France and maybe Italy, see a friend in Sweden e.t.c I don't consider myself to be a heavy user, is rental the way to go?
4) Maintaing the license, how many hours/tests do you need to maintain the license?
Any websites of places I can look at taking a share in a plane or renting would be great. I am 26 at the moment...is insurance ridiculous?
Either way, getting from having a new licence to having the spare capacity to cope with talking to foreign controllers and fly long distances over water would take a certain amount of study and practice.
2) Renting a serious 'go places' aircraft for that kind of trip would be well over £100 per flying hour, especially if you want to take 3 passengers in reasonable comfort. Not wildly expensive between 3 or 4 of you, but bear in mind the rental will usuall involve a minimum number of hours per day. If you want to fly off and stay overnight, a share is a better option but you will need a certain amount of experience to satisfy the insurance company. Age wouldn't be a particular factor.
As for costs, around £6000 plus £100 mnth + £100 an hour would b the righ ballpark for a 1/6th share in something that could take 3 people comfortably.
3) For a light user rental is certainly cheaper, but for long trips sharing or owning gives you more flexibility..........
4) Essentially, every 2 years you have to show you have done at least 12 hours in the last 12 months. Including at least 12 landings and 1 hour under instruction. I'm not sure of the exact position options if you haven't met these requirements but unless it's years since you've flown it isn't too onerous, just a few sessions with an instructor.
Realistically though, try and fly at least once a month. The best option might be a share in something basic to keep in regular and relatively inexpensive practice, then rent a fast and comfortable 4 seater when the occasion demands.
Have a look through the adverts in the back of Pilot magazine for examples of shares for sale.
Edited by Dr Jekyll on Sunday 10th July 15:57
If you are thinking of Bristol Airport then it might be expensive with it being a commercial Airport and getting busier and busier. However I did almost all my PPL(H) flying hours from Bristol Airport using Bristol and Wessex and also some time with Bristol Helicopters. I found the experience of a busy airport much more rewarding, lots more radio work making landing at smaller airports a piece of cake.
These days I've found Kemble Airfield nicer to fly from as it has more of a community feel. Plus you are waiting less to land, taxi, take off as the bigger passenger jets get too much priority at Bristol Airport. You could always try Filton or even Gloucester Airport might be closer?
Price vary between clubs (don't forget adding in the landing fees which are not always included). Speak to the flying clubs and the people within them as there always seem to be people wanting to part-share in a flying machine.
Best of luck and remember it takes up a lot of your free time (especially waiting around for the weather to change), but going cross-country solo for the first time is indeed one of the greatest feelings.
These days I've found Kemble Airfield nicer to fly from as it has more of a community feel. Plus you are waiting less to land, taxi, take off as the bigger passenger jets get too much priority at Bristol Airport. You could always try Filton or even Gloucester Airport might be closer?
Price vary between clubs (don't forget adding in the landing fees which are not always included). Speak to the flying clubs and the people within them as there always seem to be people wanting to part-share in a flying machine.
Best of luck and remember it takes up a lot of your free time (especially waiting around for the weather to change), but going cross-country solo for the first time is indeed one of the greatest feelings.
Take a look at the student section of the Flyer Forum, all uqestions are valid
Also take a look at Leia's excellent guide at learning to fly as that will answer many questions and give you some insight into the differing approaches:
http://forums.flyer.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=...
Also take a look at Leia's excellent guide at learning to fly as that will answer many questions and give you some insight into the differing approaches:
http://forums.flyer.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=...
Thanks for all of the detailed responses, really very useful.
I am quite flexible about the departure airport, whichever one gives me the most flexibility and value.
Leia's guide is fantastic, just had a quick scan and have already learnt so much.
Will review the options/costs and see if it works for me.
I am quite flexible about the departure airport, whichever one gives me the most flexibility and value.
Leia's guide is fantastic, just had a quick scan and have already learnt so much.
Will review the options/costs and see if it works for me.
Lasors is your friend. All the licencing type questions are answered there.
Doing a JAA PPL(A) in the UK within 50 hours is pushing it to the point of being almost impossible. To do it you'd need the same instructor and to be having lessons every day so they know where you got up to and what the next step is plus you need to pick everything up first time plus you need the weather to be able to fly day after day plus you need all the other planets and variables to align. In short - quite tricky.
Get the groundschool done early. I didn't. This is why I have 50 hours and my QXC and everything else apart from the GFT, because I only passed about 3 or 4 of the written exams. Get the exams done. Then youve got 2 years to get the flying nailed.
Wherever you are learning get the RT sorted early. If you are at a full ATC airfield try and get to an A/G station and vice versa. IME its quite a culture shock as a stude going from a full ATC airfield with spinning roofs and lots of professional traffic to a bit of grass with a bloke in a shed who can't see the runway and a few old boys who have "always flown like this" who give their life story on the r/t. All good fun and learning.
Flying schools don't make loads of money. It's not a great business mode. Be vary wary of packages where you give them loads of money up front. Pay for everything on credit card.
Doing a JAA PPL(A) in the UK within 50 hours is pushing it to the point of being almost impossible. To do it you'd need the same instructor and to be having lessons every day so they know where you got up to and what the next step is plus you need to pick everything up first time plus you need the weather to be able to fly day after day plus you need all the other planets and variables to align. In short - quite tricky.
Get the groundschool done early. I didn't. This is why I have 50 hours and my QXC and everything else apart from the GFT, because I only passed about 3 or 4 of the written exams. Get the exams done. Then youve got 2 years to get the flying nailed.
Wherever you are learning get the RT sorted early. If you are at a full ATC airfield try and get to an A/G station and vice versa. IME its quite a culture shock as a stude going from a full ATC airfield with spinning roofs and lots of professional traffic to a bit of grass with a bloke in a shed who can't see the runway and a few old boys who have "always flown like this" who give their life story on the r/t. All good fun and learning.
Flying schools don't make loads of money. It's not a great business mode. Be vary wary of packages where you give them loads of money up front. Pay for everything on credit card.
Edited by mattdaniels on Sunday 10th July 19:19
mattdaniels said:
Lasors is your friend. All the licencing type questions are answered there.
Available from here:http://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?catid=33&...
..although the link might expire overnight. You do need to know LASORS off by heart, and be able to recite the whole thing as a Gregorian Chant, before you can get a PPL. Transair will sell you the "Gregorian Chant for PPLs - Thomas Tallis Does LASORs" CD for £120, but you might be able to get a second-hand copy on eBay.
Well, not really. But in the grand scheme of things, the money spent on getting a PPL is a drop in the bucket compared you what you'll end up spending afterwards, so poking off to the US to avoid dodgy weather, crowded & complicated airspace, eye-watering avgas prices and overhead joins is a bit pointless, because all of those will be waiting for you when you get back...so you may as well spent a bit more money and train in the UK. I know a number of people who trained abroad, and had a rude shock when they started flying back in blighty (and one lass who trained in South Africa essentially ended up doing the whole thing again in the UK).
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