In a month.

[justwanttofly]

Good day ya'll,

My question today is in regards the completing the ppl. I have been doing my ground school online, have put in around 11hrs of flight training, and just about confident enough to sit the written. I have done it this way because the airport I have been doing my training at is around a hour away, and I don't have a car. The plan is to take a leave of absence from work, to go home to complete the flight component of my training, but they would only give me a month. Do you think that is enough time? I hate to rush my training but as you can see I don't really have a choice. At home, I live within walking distance, and because I would be on a leave of absence from work I could devote all my time to flying.

If it is possible could anyone offer some advice as to a plan in how to go about it/scheduling

Thank you,

Justwanttofly

[Shiny Side Up]

Possible to do, not probable to do. Especially given that we're in the part of the year where days are getting shorter. Weather could play a lot of havoc with this plan, and it would be entirely probable that you could lose a week or more of time due to weather.

If you're commited to this course of action, I'd say you need to find a place that will let you board at the airport, or camp on the field (in which case you'll need a winterized trailer soon) to be able to take advantage of every possible opening in time.


Personally I would find a place that's closer to train at and/or obtain a car first.

[justwanttofly]

Thanks shiny,

I still have yet to pick a month to do it. Your saying around spring or summer would probably be best right? Another thing the place I would be staying(home), during my leave, is a stone throw away from the airport. Therefore staying at the airport or camping would not be necessary. I shouldn't have any problem getting over to the airport should something open up. I work up north, because that's only so I can afford to pay for my training. I have a fair amount saved, and plan to move somewhere in southern Alberta pending the completion of my PPL.

Justwanttofly

[200hr Wonder]

Well the Cadets routinely do there licenses in six weeks every summer. They are all in about the same boat as you give or take. They have a glider license most of them so they would probably have close to your 11hr hand and feet. Now the nice part is they spent the first 3 weeks in 1/2 day ground schools so you would want to have your written test out of the way before you start this.

I would recommend that you have 2 flights per day six days a week. Take Sunday off and do not come near the airport. Everyone needs a day off. Do this during the summer when you get the best chance of good weather.

Now you will need to PLAN PLAN PLAN to make this happen as it is unusual for a school to do this. Talk to the CFI and let him know what you are doing. You are going to need his full support for your plan. You will need to be able to book the plane for the 2 flights per day months in advance so that you are guaranteed to get them. You also will need to make sure you get the same instructor day in and day out to make sure that are working as a team. Set out some goals and bench marks. If you struggle with flight #12 be prepared for a third flight to get things fixed up and so forth. Pick a date for your flight test and work backwards to get everything done in the month. Plan some bad weather days so you can make it work. Keep Sundays available if bad weather has ruined things.

So yeah a month is doable but you will need to work closely with a school to make sure that it happens. Just be careful a little error and the plan could get derailed. And moving schools just prior to flight test and not flying very often would be a huge setback.

[kevinsky18]

I took a couple of Korean students from Zero hours to PPL flight test in 6 weeks. But these guys were super serious. All they did was eat, breath and fly. No parties, no late nights, no Atari game machine (we didn't have X-Box back then) .

2 flights a day should be your max as any more than that and you'll just be burning yourself out, not learning anything and wasting money. Also make sure the flights aren't back to back, give your self enough time to get away relax and I strongly recommend a nap in between flights. It's a human learning factors thing. Your brain cements in what you've learned while you sleep so if you can get a nap in between flights you're not just rested you actually have allowed your body to start the remembering and learning process.

Also book your flight test when you start not part way through. If you wait until the instructor thinks you're ready it could take another week or two to get a booking.

Save up way more cash than you think you're going to need. It always cost more. Budget on 65hrs 45 dual and 20 solo. Andif you wait until next summer to get started don't count the 11 you already have done because by next summer you'll have forgotten most of what you learned. Even if you think thats a high amount of time it's still far better to have money left over than to be a couple hours short of finishing and run out of money.

What's the longest day of the year? I believe June 21 so if you are looking for maximum sun light 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after would be about right. Of course you'll want to check your weather for that time of year. You may find you get long days but they could be rainy days. . .

Lastly tell your boss sorry but you need 6 weeks not 4. If you get it done in 4 great go back early but same as before you dont want to be so close to finishing and then have to give up becuase you ran short on holidays.

[justwanttofly]

Thanks for the advice folks, as its greatly appreciated. Another factor might come into play though. I've read posts online in regards to age being a hindrance on the learning curve. I'm 26, and will be going on 27 come summer. Do you think this will play a factor in my ability to grasp the skills needed to pilot an aircraft at the commercial level? Seeing as I plan to go to the commercial level how much do you think I should have saved before I start my training if I plan to complete my training over a year or two? (PPL, COM without MIFR, but including INSTRUCTORS)

Thanks again,

justwanttofly

[Hedley]

*** edited ***

[Rockie]

Hedley equates "skills" only to stick and rudder mechanics of controlling an aircraft, and there are countless incidents proving that those kind of skills coming up short isn't limited to airline pilots. They appear in every facet of aviation but in some, like aerobatics and military jets operating low level, they often end up in fatalities. Judgement, flight and crew management, and knowledge are equally as important in commercial aviation as stick and rudder skills. Some argue even more so, but not me.

To give you some idea of what I mean, this is a video of an airline pilot flying his airplane at an airshow in Portugal. In it he demonstrates pretty good stick and rudder skill, but his judgement is totally AWOL.


http://www.flixxy.com/airbus-a310-air-show.htm

To answer your question...no, you are nowhere near old enough for that to be a detriment in learning how to fly an aircraft. If anything being a little older and more mature will be an advantage.

[Hedley]

*** edited ***

[Rockie]

equates "skills" only to stick and rudder mechanics of controlling an aircraft

er, no, what I said was:

airline flying really isn't all about stick & rudder ability

which I think is pretty much the same as what you said

True. My apologies.

[Shiny Side Up]

I still have yet to pick a month to do it. Your saying around spring or summer would probably be best right?

I can't speak for all of Canada, but historically September is actually the best month where weather is concerned here. If I had a short time to do a PPL I would probably choose to start around the last weeks in August. As most have said above, six weeks would be doable, 4 weeks is just a little short for time when gambling with the weather.

[shitdisturber]

As others have said, it can be done in a month; I've seen it happen, twice. But as they said as well, you need to be flying at least twice a day for six days a week and the weather gods have to be your friends; if you know a virgin you can sacrifice to them it's worth considering. If the CFI at your school of choice is willing to play ball, I'd even consider flying three trips a day after you reach solo status; just to make up for those inevitable days when the weather doesn't cooperate. It'd be tiring, but it can be done.

[justwanttofly]

Thanks again for the replies. The only problem with waiting until August or September is that its nearly a year away, and I would like to be starting on my CPL by that time.

As per flying twice a day, I think I could manage that, but three would be stretching it. What is considered one flight in regards to hours? I understand lessons are anywhere from 1-2 hours. So I assume by two flights a day you mean two lessons, or one lesson followed by reviewing the lesson solo later in the day?

I also have the choice of flying a DA20 or Cessna 172. What would you recommend for someone trying to complete their PPL as efficiently as possible? Prices are par. And lastly, which aircraft would you recommend for someone hopefully going on to become a career instructor and perhaps light twin charter/medevac pilot?

Cheers,

justwanttofly

[200hr Wonder]

Thanks again for the replies. The only problem with waiting until August or September is that its nearly a year away, and I would like to be starting on my CPL by that time.

If you go with a less than optimal time of the year I think you may find one month to be not enough time to complete the rating due to weather.

As per flying twice a day, I think I could manage that, but three would be stretching it. What is considered one flight in regards to hours? I understand lessons are anywhere from 1-2 hours. So I assume by two flights a day you mean two lessons, or one lesson followed by reviewing the lesson solo later in the day?

As for flying twice a day that would be 2 flights of about 1.5hrs with the appropriate briefings. In the begging they would be dual but once you go solo it may be 2 solo flights, or 1 and 1 just depends where you are and what you are working on.

I also have the choice of flying a DA20 or Cessna 172. What would you recommend for someone trying to complete their PPL as efficiently as possible? Prices are par. And lastly, which aircraft would you recommend for someone hopefully going on to become a career instructor and perhaps light twin charter/medevac pilot?

I don't think it really matters it is a light single

Cheers,

justwanttofly

[justwanttofly]

Thanks for the advice folks, as you all have been more than enough help. Six weeks it is. Now I just have to convince my boss to give me that much time off. I have a few months ahead still to do it, so wish me luck.

justwanttofly

[justwanttofly]

There must be a province and flight school in Canada that has good enough weather in January, February, or March to have me done in six weeks. Anyone care to recommend a school or area? I would consider going anywhere in Canada perhaps vs. waiting until next summer/fall as I would like to be working on my CPL by that time.

Thanks,

justwanttofly

[Shiny Side Up]

There must be a province and flight school in Canada that has good enough weather in January, February, or March

Are you living in Canada now? I have to ask because somehow it seems you've forgotten what the weather's like in this country. If you're in a hurry and have a limited time to get done you also need a maximum of daylight hours to work with. Its not to say that flight training is impossible during these months, but I certainly wouldn't be in a hurry during them.

You're 2 biggest hurdles seem to be your restrictive job and your lack of transportation. Personally if you're planning on working on your commercial licence and want to accomplish it in a reasonable ammount of time, your job is incompatible with that goal. Assuming you're shooting to be a commercial pilot you're going to have to leave that job sometime. Not to say to burn bridges, but now's as good a time as any.

[Bede]

I did the flying portion of someones class 4 FI rating in 8 days. If you're serious anything is possible.

[justwanttofly]

I'm only keeping my job until I start my CPL then I plan on moving somewhere that is more accessible to the airport. At that point I will have enough saved along with some extra assistance to train on a full-time basis. I will be relying heavily on a student loan though pending the completion of my PPL, so it would be nice to bang it off nice and fast. I guess there is no where in Canada that has good weather during the winter?

justwanttofly