Private Pilots License...

I'm glad you posted this as I was thinking about it 2 or 3 days ago. I have 14 or 17 hours in a Cesna 150 from back in 1993, but being in college I couldn't afford to finish either. I was to solo next and got scared and poor all at once. I also want the instrument rating, but I really don't want to fly in poor conditions as I really don't want to die hitting a wire on a tower.

 

Rob
I have a Glider ticket which I haven't used since my son was born. I loved it BUT, this is a serious hobby and unless you have somewhere to go regularly and the time to fly at least every 2 weeks IMO you'll not be safe. You may want to consider gliders as they are a lot of fun, less $, and will make you a good pilot. You can transistion for gliders to powered very easily. Glider ports are also less congested which is very nice as sitting and waiting for TO clearance isn't much fun.
Best

 

Go out and start taking lessons.
If your airport has a good groundschool it isnt a bad idea but it isn't neccessary.
Get a few tapes of that hot biatch Martha King and fall to sleep watching them .

It takes longer than 40 hours. If you go out a few times a week it can be quick but if you only go every other week expect about 60hrs.
Solo time varies with each student and instructor-don't get hung up on the hours that it took you to solo, no one ever ask you how long it took after the fact.

Instrument rating- Just get your liscense and go have fun flying, take the wife on short trips and enjoy why you wanted to learn to fly. The Instrument is all work and not much fun, if you are still flying after 125 hrs then think about the instr license.

My advice is to rent a Piper warrior and fly that until you solo, then progress up to an Archer before you get your license that way you get some good supervised time in a plane that you are more likely to fly after you get your ticket. I see to many guys who fly trainers to save a few bucks and then go put their family in a more advanced plane with only the minimum checkout.


Have Fun It is a Blast

 

First, a couple of resources: The FAA's FAQ and the StudentPilot.com message boards

You know I was studying for my PPI before I messed up my knee last year -- and I still need to go back. If you go to a Cessna-affiliated school they now have the ground school on computer lessons. You buy the packet and use it to learn the ground school stuff at your own pace. The test is now computer based too.

I was up at Northwest Regional at 35W and 1171. http://www.nwratx.org/ Small uncontrolled airport but close to Alliance and Denton for ATC practice. I've heard that Addison is a pain to fly from, but I'm sure you'd learn how to handle ATC faster! I went to MarcAir for the short time I was a student. I flew a 150 (that they don't have now) for cost reasons and also because it felt lighter on the controls that the 172

That's all I know, good luck

 

I would suggest that you have the money put aside to draw from for a solid six months. In parallel, if you do not have the time commitment, you will waste your money.

I have 275 hours as a solo student and could never make the time to study for my license! I love to fly (and have owned two Cessna's), but the time thing is critical in order not to do things half a$$. Once you start, you have to stay proficient.

 

What does everyone recommend for ground school? The options I know about are a combo flying/ground school with the flight school, DVD/VHS series, or a separate ground school only at community college.

I went through Monarch Air they do both and you instructor will be teaching you ground school makes it easier when you are in the flying. Before you start any school go in for a visit they usually take you and show you the planes that they use and show you the school.

Do you recommend passing the ground school before even starting the flying, vice versa, or doing both at once?

I would do both together makes it easy to understand.

I believe it use to be 20 hours instruction and 20 hours solo to get Private Pilot. What is a good (typical) timeline? How many hours usually before first solo (I use to hear between 10-15)? Over how many months should the 20+20 (if that is accurate) take?

Depending how often you fly. You can probably do it in 2 months.

What should ground school plus the 20 hours instruction plus extras run? When I was 14 I could have done the entire thing for a little under $2,000. I bet it's much more now.

You pay as you go for flying it ranges from $50-$70 depending on type.

I would also want to get Instrumental ASAP after Private Pilot just to improve my personal safety. Any recommendations and advice about the instrumental rating?

I said the same thing "to improve myself". But this will be as expensive as your Ferrari.

Any other advice?

It is a very expensive hobby.

GOOD LUCK!

 

Looks like great minds think alike.

I've looked into doing this too, if fact, I've got about 4 hours of logged time with a Certified Flight Instructor. It was informal, a college buddy's father is a CFI and gave me the "lessons" during a long weekend when I went to visit their family in E. Texas a couple of years ago. Out of the 3 aircraft I did the time in, my favorite was the Cirrus with a "left hand" stick. (see pic below) I'm a righty, but it was much more natural than I expected to fly with a left-handed control. www.cirrusdesign.com

The same friend recieved an EE degree from Tx Tech last year and went to work for Lancair, helping develop their "all-glass" cockpits. (i.e., the only analog instruments are for backup, most of the avionics are displayed on large LCD screens) www.lancair.com

Private Pilot License is up there on my to-do, right underneath a Ferrari.

EDIT: I CAN PROVIDE TAIL NUMBERS!
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275 Hours as a solo student!!!!! WTF?
A talking monkey can pass a private pilot license

 

This is exactly the advice I recieved from the CFI, and another friend who has PP License with instrument and aerobatic licenses.

 

Rob

It is not rocket science. If you have the money(not alot and can pay hourly) and the time (4+/- hrs a week) You can get a PP license.

It is very easy and the written is a JOKE.

Once you get the ticket you do need to fly every other week to stay proficient but it is not a big deal. You will be flying around in the sunny Flat texas skies with not much to hit.

Go do it and have fun !

 

If I had it to do over again, I'd have taken the flight lessons first and saved the ground school for last. Still have all the ground school material and sample exams, but most of this info. can be found in "how to fly" books.

 

LOL! There is a difference in 'passing' and 'passing with an absolute understanding of everything you have learned'. Making the time for total immersion was just too difficult. I had a very few very cool CFI's who signed me off to make cross country trips for commuting and business in exchange to use one of my planes. If I had an incident, they probably would have got into trouble with the FAA.

 

I have to admit after flying a ton of airplanes and owning a few the ULTIMATE High in Aviation was the Solo and the first hours after the license.

 

Rob Peters

Flying is so easy- even my little girl can do it!
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With that visibility, I hope she's instrument rated!

 

i have 66 hours and i waited until the end to get my written out of the way so I will proabably will finish at 80-90 hrs, i wish I would of hit the books from the start, it would of made everything easier. 80 - 90 hrs which if you ask around is normal for older, non-student types with full time careers. so unless you can take 2 months off just to do this, it will take longer. with weather and stuff it will take a year or more.

Its awesome, and well worth it!

john

 

17 posts and NO ONE has mentioned a loop or a roll. WTF!?

On a serious note: Do you guys take parachutes up with you?

 

LOL, i love this site...

 

haha great quote tillman and pic Mr. Hill
Erik

 

Only wear parachutes if you are flying aerobatics even then most planes are very hard to get out of if a problem happens and you need to bail.

Loops and rolls are fun but they are only the beginning for aerobatics

 

Another reason the Cirrus is a way cool airplane: "The Cirrus Airframe Parachute System" http://www.cirrusdesign.com/aircraft/safety/CAPS/
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Don't...

To keep your skills up... a lot.
To be safe... that many hours spent on maintaining the plane the way commerical airlines do.


I know waayyyy too many people who have died in private planes. Its never clear to what degree it was conditions vs. pilot error vs. mechanical failure... and it may be combinations.

But I will NOT fly private any more... even if it was me doing the flying.

I've long ago given up my desire to have my own plane and pilot's license.

Just MHO,

Brian

 

Brian, sorry to hear about your experiences. I've studied a lot of accident reports and IMO most single engine prop plane incidents are caused by pilot error. So, I agree..... keep your proficiency up.

I've got 30+ hours and didn't finish my license because I couldn't see myself flying around in a little scrunched up 172, etc. going 110 kts. and refueling to get to Florida. But, with the advent of the micro jets, (Eclipse) I'm reconsidering getting back in the cockpit. FYI - I have done actual spin training, zero g's, wing overs, and loops, but never a roll.

(BTW - The two recent charter jet incidents, I believe, will be determined to be pilot error.)

 

Brian makes some good points. If you do not plan on flying very often or as a career I would say take a look at why exactly you want to do it. There can be serious consequences for errors. If you start taking lessons you will get hooked! That's why the flight schools offer that introductory rate of $49 for your first flight.

If you are dedicated I say go for it. I had always wanted to be a pilot, but went to law school instead. Later, I decided I would like my life a whole lot more being a pilot. I started in March with 2.5 Hours. Got my private at 36 hours (Part 141 school), went right into the instrument training, got my commercial single and multi rating and just finished up my CFI and CFII last month. I have 178 hours. You can get through it fast if you dedicate yourself (I worked full time during this period).

As for ground school, do not waste your time in a classroom style ground school. Buy the Jep book and study it. You will learn more effectively if you study as you fly and can apply what you read about to actual flying.

I suggest going to a school over a CFI with a plane. Also I would go to a busy airport to train. You will be better off if you learn where there is a lot of traffic and radio congestion.

Costs? Private should cost you about $5000 if you stay with it, and about another 5-7000 for the instrument (recommended). I would say you should have nearly 100 hours before you start taking friends or family up. I just think that even though you may have a license you are not that competent until you have about 100 hours under your belt.

Per hours costs: Piper Warriors are what I initially trained on and they cost 130/hr with an instructor. You may find it for less as I am in South Florida.

Best of luck and PM me if you need more info.