Hi I am looking to start pilot lessons

I agree with Moggy here. Especially on #2. The minimum for NPPL (microlight) is 25 hours. I am currently on about 30 and still quite a long way from first solo but learning is fun anyway . Even if you get shouted at, and you can pretty much guarantee that you will at some point, or in my case lots of points.

Re 8

I hope that on reading the following you don’t sigh a resigned sigh !

I thought that part of your penultimate sentence was a bit dismissive. A Medical Declaration (sign off from your GP) is a rather better indication of the aviation health of the individual than a Class 2 The issue of a Class 2 medical is indicative of the physical – and to a lesser extent, the mental – health of the applicant on the day of the examination and issue.

A Medical Declaration, on the other hand, is issued by the applicant’s GP on the basis of the applicant’s known medical history and obtainable from his/her medical records – perhaps going back many years. The GP will know the applicant intimately, and guided by the CAA notes which accompany the application will be sure as to whether the applicant’s medical history supports the demands and requirements of aviation.

Depending on the type of flying you want to do there are limits attached to the Medical Declaration. The cost of obtaining one is to the order of £15 to £20 pounds. A lot less than £150 – £200 or more, which is the average cost of a Class 2.

Well if he pops up again and says “I have found this really great flying school….” we can all guess what is behind the question.

Time will tell.

Moggy

So a neighbour of yours! Wonder if he will write again? I always have a suspicion about single posters 😉

Good thinking.

Appears to be Eastern UK

Moggy

Thanks for the info Moggy! As you are a mod, you will be able to see the OP’s IP address and therefore have his location. If he is in the UK your advice is spot-on. If he is in another location, he should say so and we can adapt the information accordingly.

Visit a few flying schools that are conveniently close (if you have a choice), see which feels most comfortable to you. Buy a pilot’s logbook first, then take a couple of trial lessons with the best of the schools and see how they do. Get the instructor to help you fill in the logbook after the flight and sign off that flight.

This has two effects

1) It shows you are serious and they will treat you more seriously than someone on a ‘see my house from above’ jolly

2) You are not wasting money, because that time will count towards the minimum hours you need to qualify

The medical advice is good – but I personally would take a couple of flights first. It’s all good experience and in the unlikely event you have a major problem, you have still flown, experienced handling the controls.

There are two types of licence now. NPPL and PPL. The NPPL looks superficially attractive as it qualifies you in less minimum hours so looks like a saving. This is an illusion for two reasons

1) Very few people ever qualify in the minimum hours

2) After you qualify you will still be flying and paying for hours – it makes little difference if, when you reach 100 hours 50 or 60 of those are instruction. You can never have too much instruction.

PPL requires a class two medical with a qualified Aviation Medical Examiner (AME), NPPL just needs some kind of sign-off from your GP

Remember flying training is flying. It is hugely enjoyable in itself, it isn’t a barrier to be got out of the way before real fun starts.

Good luck – report back.

Moggy

Isotabird, same to you, calling a school near you and talk it through with an instructor, he will if he is any good give you details and advice, do the same for several schools and compare them,

That is basically how I found my flight school 30 years ago. Out of those I visited, one instructor made such a profound impression on me, I had no hesitation in my choice.

Alan, before you do any medical etc, book and do a trial flying lesson, this will count towards your licence and if you tell the instructor you are intending to learn yo fly he will structure it accordingly, flying in light aircraft is not everyone’s cup of tea, so it is better to see if it is for you before committing too the costs of the medical.

Isotabird, same to you, calling a school near you and talk it through with an instructor, he will if he is any good give you details and advice, do the same for several schools and compare them, then speak to their students and check them out on the web. DO NOT PREPAY FOR LOTS OF HOURS UNLESS ON A CREDIT CARD as the card will / should reimburse you if anything happens to the school.

These will help

http://www.pprune.org/private-flying-63/

http://www.pprune.org/professional-pilot-training-includes-ground-studies-14/

It’s better to do the medical first as you will need it when you apply for the student pilot licence. Especially if the ultimate aim is to hold a PPL or Comm, you wouldn’t want to pay for the 10 hours only to find out afterwards that you have a problem which excludes you from holding a licence (although that is rare).

Do you need a medical first, or is that only needed when you apply for your licence ?

1. Go to your nearest flying school.
2. Say, “I wish to learn to fly”.

It’s that easy. Or you can look up “flying schools” + desired location on the internet and you will probably get many hits (unless you are in the Antarctica or Libreville, Gabon as there aren’t any flying schools there):dev2:. If you do some homework first and come back here for further advice, we will probably be able to to help you better. 🙂

Your location would be useful for any one wanting to help!