[cherrytaz]

Hi all,

Seriously considering doing my PPL next year Florida with a long-term view to gain ATPL. I have the funds available and am in a full time job so it will have to be done over a month (maximum). Have 20 days holidays a year with work so will more than likely take all these. Going to go the modular route and try keep the costs to a minimum.

Just wondering what the total price of this would be (including flights over, accom, exams etc). Basically just a final price. Any advice/info would be great from someone who has gone down this route.

Also any suggestions for a school would be great.

Thanks

[Crey86]

I can't quote you a price as I did my PPL here in Ireland. But, there's probably a couple of things you can do before going out to the States. One thing to do would be try and have the exams done before you go out, or at the very least be ready for them with all the study done. Remember though if your going to the states it'll be under the UK CAA so you'll need to do their exams.

One thing that might be worth your while doing, is joining a club here first and getting a few hours under you belt before going out. You might not be under as much pressure when you go out there and it's a chance to figure out whether flying is really for you or not.
Another benefit of doing the few hours here is that you'll be well established in a club here and it might make it easier for you to settle into flying in Ireland. Chances are you'll be expected to do the same couple of hours anyway to get checked out if you arrive into a club here with your fair weather license.

In hindsight that's the way I would have done it. In the end I stuck it out with my flying club(glad I did in a way). The only down side to it was that it took so long nearly 3 years, but I could have got that down to a little over a year I'd say if I'd put a bit more pressure on myself.

Just one final point, I did my PPL at a flying club and not a school, Limerick Flying Club to be exact. From my experience and bank balance I'd high recommend joining a club over a school. Taking into account every single expenditure I had from my initial membership to LFC, my flight log, exams(including flight test), 55 flight hours, the whole thing cost me 7960euro. My average flight hour was just over 100euro/hr(130e and later 140e per/tach hr). These kind of rates will make hour building much more affordable than the 180e the flight schools look for. Having done about 20ish hours in the Pipers/Cessna's I much prefer coming back to the Tecnams especially for potting around Ireland and they're so much cheaper to operate.

Anyway best of luck with whatever route you end up taking. Happy flying.

[Contrails]

If you do it right you won't regret doing it in Florida, it's what I did and can't really complain about my experience at all.

I reckon you're looking at about €9500 from start to finish (excluding class 1 medical if you go ahead with that first, that's an extra 650). That's basically what I spent. The actual course itself will be about 7k with accom included. Then you'll need to buy your ppl books, pay visa fees to the us embassy, flights, food and drink when you're over there and some equipment, like headset, maps etc..

I was doing it in Weston initially before deciding to stop and head over there. All things taken into account I saved at least 2-3k. It's a good experience and if you put in the work before you fly out, you'll get what you went over for, the PPL. It can be stressful though, managing your money, if the weather turns crap you can run out of time (I did my skills test on the day I flew home cause of ****e weather for the 3rd week, got it by the skin of my teeth!!), coping with the study, flying, exams and the long days.

But I did it in the end, in one month... bish bash bosh.

[Ald]

Originally Posted by cherrytaz

Hi all,

Seriously considering doing my PPL next year Florida with a long-term view to gain ATPL. I have the funds available and am in a full time job so it will have to be done over a month (maximum). Have 20 days holidays a year with work so will more than likely take all these. Going to go the modular route and try keep the costs to a minimum.

Just wondering what the total price of this would be (including flights over, accom, exams etc). Basically just a final price. Any advice/info would be great from someone who has gone down this route.

Also any suggestions for a school would be great.

Thanks

What's your location? The North of Ireland could be an option. You could drive up & fly when you have time off and for those 20 annual leave days you have off rent a room for a month and get your cross countries and exams done.

[cherrytaz]

Thanks for the replies all. Just found out that taking a month solid off work in a no go (I only started recently) so it looks like I will hve to do ppl in Ireland.

I am based in Dublin Mon-Fri and Cavan most weekends. Got a few quotes from NFC/ Skytrace etc but they are very pricey (in my opinion). Any recommendations for cheapish hours? Looked into Trim/Eniskillen but just not sure.

Thanks

[Ald]

I think there's 2 or 3 up North. Derry, Aldergrove and Newtownards. Ring ahead and visit them. If you're a good negotiator you'll get 1/2 years free membership thrown in 'cause subs are a lot cheaper up there. Good luck...

[cherrytaz]

Just looked up Newtownards and its very reasonable but its a 2.5 hour drive which I think is too much. Abbeyshrule and Enniskillen are both fairly close so might see what the story is with them.

Would be handy to be able to fly mid-week during the summer but that means finding somewhere drivable from Dublin. Most places around Dublin seem to be seriosuly expensive

[Ald]

Try Trim, Waterford and Kilkenny.

Kilkenny is actually reasonable on the flying rates but the subs put me off. It's a pity there isn't more business sense there 'cause it would get a lot of business being just over an hour's drive from Dublin... And it's a joke that you have to book and pay for an instructor for 2 hours minimum. www.joke.ie

[cherrytaz]

Just checked out Trim there. Are my figures below correct based on this:

http://www.trimflyingclub.ie/index.p...d=62&Itemid=58

Initil joining fee:500
Yearly memberrhsip:420
Minimum 45 hours:45*130

Total:6770

I know I am been very conservative with 45 hours but just for comparing like for like with other schools. Also add in Class 2, esxams etc, still seems ok?

Trim is ideally locacted between Cavan an Dublin also

[Ald]

It would be €150 per hour for you. You'd also have to factor in exam costs too and fee for the PPL skills test and examiner fee. You will also need the books, CRP, confuser and logbook.

IAA is a bit cumbersome in comparison to the CAA. With the IAA you have to go to a central examination centre to sit the exams and book an IAA examiner for the skills test. With the CAA you can sit the exams when you like so long as there is a CFI about the club and can have an examiner in the club test you for skills test once you haven't flown much with them before the test.

[cherrytaz]

Ok thanks. Still seams "fairly reasonable". I think I might give them a call and see what happens. I have a few hours from Abbeyshrule but not their biggest fan.

Would be ideal to get a few mid week hours in during the summer. Less than an hours drive from my house in Dublin

[Xpro]

Ireland is a rip off mate, 200quid an hour to fly is a bloody joke. They could atleast do something for you like charging by tach but instead you are getting whacked out of it the minute you start the plane.
Im also doing my ppl at the minute, i fly a lot when i can weather permiting and im trying to get it done as quick as i can but very hard tbh. Weather here is a big disadvantage thats the only thing that puts me off.
Half thinking of heading to states myself and get this done

[cherrytaz]

I'd love to go the Florida route but its simply not an option for me. Just started a new job as a graduate and would look awful if I asked for a month off in my first year. Might be a bit easier to pay it off over a longer time here also.

Trim looks like a good option for me

[cherrytaz]

Just updating my situation again, apologies for delay I have decided to go the Florida route early next year (around April or May) and have gained approval from work to take a month off. Currently looking at either FlyEasa of EFT but looking more likely FlyEasa due to costs.

I plan to complete my CAA PPL Exams here prior to going and leave all my time there for flying. I currently live in Dublin mon-fri and Cavan at the weekends so I suppose Enniskillen may be the best place to do the exams? (open to siggestions).

On another note is it possilbe to study the ppl course on my own time (evenings etc having purchased required books myself) and then just sit the exams? Just suggesting this as want to try and keep the costs to a minimum.

Thanks

[Bsal]

On another note is it possilbe to study the ppl course on my own time (evenings etc having purchased required books myself) and then just sit the exams? Just suggesting this as want to try and keep the costs to a minimum

I don't see why not, the PPL exams are fairly simple.