If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Private pilot license
I'm considering going in for a private pilot license. Just wanted
general feedback from anyone who has one or is considering opting for one. Cheers |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Private pilot license
|
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Private pilot license
|
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Private pilot license
It is very much a worthwhile endeavor and a great
experience. The time required is often somewhat longer than the minimum times listed in the regulations, often taking 50-100% longer and costing more money. There are many things to learn and skills to develop and each student is different. Getting books and videos and studying before you begin the flight portion will save money and time once you begin to fly. Try to have the money available so you can fly at least every other day [3-4 times per week]. Try to devote this as a full-time schedule, don't mix up your time with a family vacation, or start any new businesses, in other words, focus on the flying. There many obstacles, mostly time and money and more things to learn every day that passes, as new regulations are added, new navigation technologies develop. The weather is always a factor in flying and that includes pilot training, schedules are often hard to meet. It is possible to get a private pilot certificate in as little as a month or so , but many people take a year or more because of time and money issues. If you get the test passed in one season, you won't have learned about the other three seasons yet. If you learn to fly in Florida, you won't know about Kansas winds or Colorado mountains. If you want motivation to begin, get started. Get the catalogs from Sporty's and Aircraft Spruce, join the AOPA and the EAA. Go to Oshkosh for the national flying of the EAA [July 24-30 this year]. Checkout the FAA website http://www.faa.gov/ where you can download all the current regulations and many text books at no cost. You can get a PDA or laptop computer and save the cost of printing these documents which are mostly PDF files. Buy some commercial text books and get two copies of some of them, keep one at home and carry one with you to work and read it instead of the newspaper. You will need a medical exam before you can solo, unless you want to learn to fly gliders or get the new Sport Pilot certificate as a stepping stone or even final goal. You can find which doctors in your area are FAA DME [designated medical examiners] by calling the nearest flight school or looking on the Internet at the medical link on the FAA site, or the AOPA. www.aopa.org www.eaa.org www.aircraftspruce.com www.sportys.com Don't be concerned about whether the airplane is high wing or low wing design, don't forget to have fun. wrote in message oups.com... | I'm considering going in for a private pilot license. Just wanted | general feedback from anyone who has one or is considering opting for | one. | | Cheers | |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Private pilot license
|
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Private pilot license
|
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Private pilot license
|
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Private pilot license
G raris:
Oops, I forgot - There's Skylune who doesn't have one, but admits he's considering getting one! He'll also be happy to give you "general feedback" :-)" I might yet do it, as I sold the boat, and will have some free time. If I can't find the time to fly at least once per week, I won't bother. I tried that once, and realized I could develop just enough skills to be dangerous, but still legal. That, plus the totally unprofessional CFI at FRG (I can't mention the companies or individuals name: that could start a libel suit) caused me to pull the plug after 15 hours... |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Private pilot license
"Skylune" wrote
I might yet do it, as I sold the boat, and will have some free time. If I can't find the time to fly at least once per week, I won't bother. I tried that once, and realized I could develop just enough skills to be dangerous, but still legal. That, plus the totally unprofessional CFI at FRG (I can't mention the companies or individuals name: that could start a libel suit) caused me to pull the plug after 15 hours... Everything you write seems to contain at least one slam against the AOPA, FAA, NTSB, or flying in general - you just can't seem to help yourself, can you? If you feel that your skills have deteriorated to the point that you are dangerous, does it really make any difference whether you are "legal" or not? The amount of flying it takes to stay "current" varies from individual to individual, and is also somewhat related to experience level. That being the case, how do you regulate the amount of flying it takes for everyone to be "safe"? It would be nice if we could start to give people at least some credit for having a minimum amount of common sense. Some things in life were not meant for everyone - flying is one of them, especially if you expect to be able to abdicate your responsibility for keeping yourself safe to the FAA. BDS |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Private pilot license
BDS: It would be nice if we could start to give people at least some
credit for having a minimum amount of common sense. Some things in life were not meant for everyone - flying is one of them, especially if you expect to be able to abdicate your responsibility for keeping yourself safe to the FAA. The REASON I decided to stop is that I do take responsibility for my own actions, and realized I could get the PPL but only be a marginally competent pilot. Maybe some people can maintain proficiency by flying 1-2x per month. I didn't think I could, and would not subject any passengers to unnecessary risk. I still think it was the right thing to do. (Where was the slam against AOPA, FAA, NTSB in that post? The CFI was a jerk. So what? I'm not intimating that all CFIs are jerks, or that all flight schools are bad.) |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
AOPA Stall/Spin Study -- Stowell's Review (8,000 words) | Rich Stowell | Aerobatics | 28 | January 2nd 09 02:26 PM |
Private Pilot without Medical -- Sport Pilot operation? | Danny Deger | Piloting | 29 | September 3rd 04 03:56 AM |
Diamond DA-40 with G-1000 pirep | C J Campbell | Piloting | 114 | July 22nd 04 05:40 PM |
AOPA Stall/Spin Study -- Stowell's Review (8,000 words) | Rich Stowell | Piloting | 25 | September 11th 03 01:27 PM |
Private Pilot in 10 days | Gilan | Piloting | 31 | July 16th 03 12:12 AM |