Private Pilot Certificate

[MiragePilot]

I just started back flying again, after a year long break (I only had about 10 hrs even then). I finally decided just to get the loan and do it. So i'm flying three times a week now, but I have seen several PPL journals on the internet where people take 70-100 hrs and so forth to complete the PPL. Is this with everyone? How long should it take flying three times a week?
Thanks

 

[Kream926]

took me like 5 months. but at one of them flying acamedys. right around 55 or so hours

 

[MiragePilot]

Is it crazy to think I could get mine done in three months flying three times a week and average about 1.2-1.4 per flight?

 

[Kream926]

dont rush it, its not like learning how to drive a 5sp. when you understand how to do no matter if its 40 hours or 300, just as long as you're safe

 

[dabandermac]

Just to give a realistic timetable. My first lesson was Feb 18th, and I have been flying approx. 3 times/week. Average flight time per lesson is around 1.4 hrs and have accumulated 34 hrs thus far. I will take my checkride in two weeks... just over 3 months from when I started. Good luck, it shouldn't take more than 60 hours if you stick to it, but a more realistic time is ~50.

 

[I.P. Freley]

I don't know if this is still accurate, but about ten years ago I remember reading that the national average for getting the PPL was around 80hrs, so 50hrs is not exactly "realistic" for the AVERAGE student. Obviously, doing it all in the shortest period of time will work in the student's favor, since you'll retain more of what you learn with more intensive training.

3 times/wk would probably get you finished within 4mos, that sounds about right. This assumes the weather cooperates with your scheduled lessons...

 

[wrxpilot]

Create your own lesson plan!

I just started back flying again, after a year long break (I only had about 10 hrs even then). I finally decided just to get the loan and do it. So i'm flying three times a week now, but I have seen several PPL journals on the internet where people take 70-100 hrs and so forth to complete the PPL. Is this with everyone? How long should it take flying three times a week?
Thanks

I think flying 2-3 times a week is a great way to do it. Less than that and you'll be getting rusty between lessons. More than that and you can get overloaded. At least that's how it was for me, doing a full time job on the side. I ended up getting it done in about 5 months and 50 hrs, and that was with two hurricanes thrown in to really screw up the schedule for awhile.

One thing that I've heard is a lot of students blow off the lesson prep stuff, so a lot of the prep is spent in the air. The cliche that an airplane makes a lousy classroom is very true. Go to your pilot shop and get the little blue book called (I think) "Visual maneuvers for Highwings". They have one for low wing trainers too if that's what you're doing. It really helped to study the maneuvers the night before a lesson (ground reference, short/soft field ops, PTS stds, etc.). Study the a/c manual for emergency checklist items (in flight fire, etc.). Memorize a "flow" for engine stoppage (start at the fuel selector, move up to mixture, then to carb heat, etc.) Also get a flight sim (MSFS is fine and cheap) and get the basics of VORs down. MSFS doesn't help for actually flying the plane (definitely DON'T use it for that!), but it's great for the basic nav stuff req'd for the PPL.

Finally, I don't know where you're training, but the airspace (and thus radio work) is pretty busy where I'm at. I really sucked on the radio, so I bought a GREAT book called "Say Again, Please" by Bob Gardner. I then practiced calls to appch, twr, etc. in my car (yeah, I'm a dork). I still suck, but not nearly as bad. It was a great confidence booster.

I think overall the amount of time spent on the rating is the same, but you can shift that time from hobbs time to book learnin' time considerably. Which is great because self study is free! Probably sticks w/ you longer too.

The funny thing is that now I only fly around once a week, I think I was more consistent on landings as a student. Particularly with the short field/soft field stuff. A lot of that is probably because as a student I practiced landings A LOT more than I do now. I usually t/o, cruise for over an hour, then land. So I get 2 landings in a week vs. 10 or so as a student. OTOH I'm probably better at navigation now, so it's all a tradeoff I guess. Good luck and feel free to PM me w/ any questions. I'm not a CFI, but I was very recently in your shoes.

 

[Tinstaafl]

Some general principles that applies to training:

* Frequent training reduces the total number of hours required to reach a given standard compared to training only infrequently. A couple of times per day is better than once per day which, in turn, is better than a couple of times per week, in turn better than a couple of times per month, etc etc. This is most critical during the initial stages of any skill development.

It's always struck me as backwards that many (most?) people start by flying once or twice per month & then, as the flying bug bites, fly more & more often towards the end of their training. Far better if the initial part of their course has frequent flying & then, if absolutely necessary, tails off towards the end.

* Younger student is better than older. Reaction times are reduced & rate of learning is faster. On the other hand, my experience has been that many older students have maturity & discipline to ensure that pre-lesson study is done and also a lifetime of experiences that can be applied to the new task (on the third hand, some older students are doubtful about the skills of a much younger instructor which can hinder their rate of learning. Not really the instructor's fault though...)

* ***Good*** weather ie smooth conditions & excellent visibility with a clearly discernible horizon is important for the student's maximum rate of learning during the early stages ie first flight (effects of controls) to first solo & consolidation (early morning lessons, anyone? ). Thereafter increasing x-winds & turbulence is beneficial.

* Learn the 'theory' on the ground, not in the air. As was mentioned earlier in this thread, aircraft are **terrible** class rooms. They're not the place to discover the how's & why's of doing things. It's cheaper to learn 'how' & 'why' in your own time than paying $$$ per minute in the aircraft

* An experienced instructor can make a difference compared to an inexp erienced one. Not to deride the enthusiasm or interest of a junior instructor - many are more enthusiastic than a long time bloke keen to leave - but experience develops instructor technique, skill & judgement. No different to any other field of skill.


Although my instructing was in Australia so whilst some fo the elements required to be learnt for any particular licence/certificate might be different, the fundamentals of learning are the same.

In Oz a PPL was able to be gained in a *minimum* of 40 hrs flight training i.a.w. the rules & regulations, however the typical mature age student required a median ofaround 60 or 70 hrs, allowing for the items I mentioned above.