The cost of getting a PPL?

PPL Training

The cost of getting a PPL?

Lee Butcher 05/07/2003, 9:03 PM
Hello all.

I currently investigating into starting on the process of gaining a PPL. From what I can work out it will cost about £5000 with lessons, flying hours etc. However are there any other costs? Does the CAA charge you for your license? (I would expect them to, I just can't find anywhere that says how much.)

Thanks all.

Lee Butcher.

Re: The cost of getting a PPL?

Andrew Sinclair 05/07/2003, 10:46 PM
Hello Lee,

I'll start the ball rolling.....

CAA fees can be found at the URL below:

http://www.caa.co.uk/srg/licensing/fcl/document.asp?groupid=332

Other costs to consider are:

Initial Medical around £100-£150. Here is a list of Authorised Medical Examiners (AME). Best to ring and ask how much they charge as they are all different. Here is a search engine to find your local:

http://www.caa.co.uk/srg/med/ame/amesearch.asp

For a JAR PPL you will need a Class 2 medical and for an NPPL read through this page:

http://www.caa.co.uk/srg/med/document.asp?groupid=305

Then other things that are required are ground school, books, basic flying equipment (I took a look through a flight suppliers catalogue and a starter pack of books +basic chart, nav instruments etc is £190)

Also not to forget are landing fees for when you land away during dual and solo navigation training. These can be anything from £5-£20 but normally in the region of £10. So set aside £100 for those.

You might want a headset and a standard David Clark set costs about £220. Flying schools loan these out no problem, so you can put that off for a while.

I think that is a good start. It sounds a great deal of money, but there are many ways to reduce the costs so it is worth using these or similar figures for budgeting, then work out how to reduce them.

Lastly but by no means least, remeber that if you buy 45 hours flight training that does not mean that at the end of it you will have a Pilot Licence, it can take a great deal longer dependant on how frequently you take lessons and how quick a learner you are. An instructor will only recommend a pilot for his skills test when he is ready and not after a prescribed amount of hours. It took me 64 hours!

If you know most of the information above then great, hope some helps to answer some of your questions. Most importantly "Welcome to aviation". You will get totally hooked like the rest of us. It is an enormous priviledge to sail along with the birds - just wonderful!

Good luck!

Andy

Re: The cost of getting a PPL?

Jane Giffould 06/07/2003, 12:12 AM
Took me even longer, 131 hours. But so what. The aim was to enjoy myself learning a new skill. And some of that time was me turning up at the flying school wanting to hire a plane and get signed out by an instructor to do such things as solo cross country and land away practice. So as such some of it was not actual formal lesson but still had to pay the instructor. Set backs such as weather, low on pennies and poor understanding of how to put a plane down to the satisfaction of the instructor (!) meant extra time was needed but I just saw the extra time as part of my hours building. Part of the cost is also dependent on where you learn to fly. Different schools charge different rates. You might want to shop around to find the best value compared with the distance you have to travel. Cheapest is not necesarily best as although it might look cheapest there might be extras such as having to pay a landing fee every time you land in touch and go for example, whereas in other places in is all included in the price.

Re: The cost of getting a PPL?

mike currill 06/07/2003, 1:22 AM
Hi Lee

I would like to add one thing to what Andy saied about getting hooked. There is no probably about it if you enjoy(ed) your first flight you WILL get hooked -flying is a disease with no known antidote, all you can do is treat the symptoms (with more flying!) - sounds good to me

Re: The cost of getting a PPL?

Jane Giffould 06/07/2003, 1:24 PM
Trouble is that not flying then generates withdrawal symptoms - am suffering those at the moment hence hoping to go and flap wings this afternoon, but bank account advises that I should not go too far!!

Re: The cost of getting a PPL?

Andrew Sinclair 06/07/2003, 4:24 PM
I support Jane's comments 100%. The learning experience is great and I enjoyed it immensely. I wouldn't advocate rushing to get you PPL, relax take your time, absorb and enjoy the initial learning phase. Also another valid point "Cheapest is not necessarily the best". Very true in most of life's spending opportunitites and flying is no different in this respect.

Of the time I spend on the aviation hobbie, I suspect I only spend 20% actually in the air. The rest of the time is spent doing all sorts of other things connected with aviation. Reading, talking to other pilots and aircraft owners, attending fly-ins. I have also been fortunate enough to pay visits to Farnborough ATSU, AIS at Heathrow Control Tower, Thames Radar and other places all through networking with other people. The last visit to NATS/AIS at Heathrow has resulted in spending some time trying to find ways of improving the PIB tool on the web and helping to get a better understanding of the best ways to use it to obtain PIBs. The whole scope of aviation opens up and I have always tried to embrace as much as possible. All of this 80% other activities are predominately free. A little volunteering and helping others provides some good opportunities and helps for the good and benefit of the GA community.

On the other side of the coin there are plenty of challenges. Private General Aviation has some enemies who would like to restrict/unecessirily regulate or just plain build houses everywhere on the airfields. It is worthwhile when learning, getting involved in the whole show. Join AOPA or the PFA or whichever body fits your bill. These are great organisations and provide extra support during initial learning and later hours-building and adding extra skills to your toolbox.

Anyway my C172 is itching to go flying so I am off. Cheers for now!

Andy

Re: The cost of getting a PPL?

Lee Butcher 06/07/2003, 7:00 PM
Hi again all.

Thank you very much, you have all been very helpful, it is a lot to take in, but I will take my time (still need to get a new job to pay for it all, which will probably take me a year or more to generate the kind of funds I will need) For the time being are there any books you would recommend that I start to slowly digest? I think it might also be a good idea to pop into my local flying school and just introduce myself and get familair with it. Thank you so much so far, just a warning, I am off for two weeks so if I don't reply I am not being rude, just I can't get to a computer (off excavating a Roman Villa, my other passion and alas there are no computers handy ;) )

Again, thanks very much!

Re: The cost of getting a PPL?

mike currill 06/07/2003, 9:21 PM
Well Lee enjoy your two weeks off and good luck for the future when you do get started

Re: The cost of getting a PPL?

Jim Dougans 16/07/2003, 4:23 PM
You might want to explore alternative routes, one example being to go initially for a PPL TMG (Touring Motor Glider) licence, then add an SEPL rating (or an NPPL SLMG but not quite sure of the ins and outs of converting).

In training for a TMG licence you'll fly in something like a Motor Falke, Grob 109 or Dimona - the key point being that hire rates are generally a lot less than an SEP class aeroplane. Typically the Motor Flake will be the cheapest, and although Falkes re somewhat underpowered and sedentary, they do the job. Grobs and Dimonas are lovely to fly, but will cost a bit more. Don't know where you're based, but Oxford Sport Flying at Enstone will hire a Falke with instructor for (I think) around 55 - 60 quid a hour. A lot less than your usual fees for 152s etc, which are usually pushing £100.

The syllabus is the same, the written exams are the same, the skill test is the same. Sweeping statement - I'm not an authority, so happy to stand correction, but to all intents and purposes, they are equal.

Once you've got your PPL TMG, this can be easily converted or upgraded to a full PPL SEPL - you'll need to do some differences training and re-take a skill test, but I know a few folk who've done this, and its generally not an issue - few hours, more or less.

Best of luck!

Jim