Where to begin flying?

corglass

Hey Guys,

I've decided that I want to get a private pilots license with the ultimate intention of flying around Ireland.

I'm new to this game, so any tips etc would be appreciated. I'm based in Dublin for 5 days a week, and longford for the weekend, so I'm thinking of flying somewhere in either Kildare or Abbeyshrule in Longford.

What's the most cost effective, most enjoyable route to getting the 45 hours done?

I've never flown at all before, and come from an engineering background.

Please advise?
thanks

yaeger

Hey there

If your ultimate goal after your PPL is to fly around the country and not persue commercial flying, I would suggest a flying club .. Generally an environment which is more suited to a fun flyer so to speak and can be a little cheaper also per flying hour although you will pay an annual sub for the club.

Weston in Lucan has flight schools which can charge various prices depending on aircraft you fly plus you pay for instructors time, They cater well for PPL'ers and even better for wannabe airline pilots so may suit you.

I would still strongly suggest you go with clubs as I believe the social aspect of the members on those slow lazy summer evenings, getting to sit as a passenger on some flights the general chit chat of all things flying and the more relaxed approach is spot on for what you may need.
When you pay a club membership you hourly rate is lower then most schools and you don't pay money to the instructor as they are voluntary so You would also save money there...

Ask what you will here and plenty will come to your aid with tips...

All the best and go get flying while there still some long evenings.

Deatr

Flying Club is the best way to go as stated above the social aspect is great and it would be the cheapest way to learn.

Not sure if this helps but I know that Trim Flying club is looking for new members at the moment.

You can find all the information you need on their web site:

http://www.trimflyingclub.ie/

However, if you wanted to get your PPL done quickly I would recommend the US.

nuggetclv

Avoid Abbeyshrule!!

Lustrum

If you want to go on to get a PPL get yourself sorted out with a Class 2 medical.

No medical, no licence

Damokc

The sky?











sorry couldn't resist

Nforce

nuggetclv wrote: »

Avoid Abbeyshrule!!

Care to elaborate? I've being flying at EIAB for 25+ years and have always found them to be a friendly bunch.

The most cost effective way of flying about Ireland would be in a modern microlight... http://www.ultraflight.ie/abbeyshrule/

I was checking out this Pipistrel with the owner at last Sunday's Fly In and was very impressed. Glass cockpit too.

nuggetclv

Well, I don't know much about the microlight club, but..

I had about 40 hours with an EIAB flying club when I switched training to EIWT.

I found the training at the club good at first, and I had a good instructor. Suddenly, the club decided to put me in with another instructor who was impatient and uncommitted - always late, and generally just had a bad attitude. I was at 40 hours and had only 1hr solo. Of course, I needed a lot more. I went solo at around 22hours, and they didn't send me up solo again for 3 months. Even then I was only allowed do 3 circuits - 20minutes.

I felt the club had no intention of getting me through the PPL. I last flew with them in Dec 2009. I remember my instructor saying "..and maybe get your PPL this time next year".

I went to EIWT to continue my training. The pilots there seemed suprised I had so much time (nearly 45 - enough to do the test), and only had 1 hour solo time. The school seemed to be alot more organised - weather and NOTAMs ready to view etc. My instructor was brilliant - I take it because he had a great deal of experience as Weston is busy.

As soon as I was approved to go solo on their aircraft, every time the weather permitted, I did 2 or 3 circuits with my instructor and was allowed up solo for a great deal longer than I had been in EIAB. Also, the instructor's confidence in my ability was evident in Weston, but not at all in Abbeyshrule. If your instructor doesn't show that they trust you to go solo for up to an hour, then I don't think you'll trust yourself!

I passed my test just over 2 months before my old instructor's estimate. Also, having sat the ground school, I was told to leave the PPL Theory exams until I was further into my training. Bad advice, I think, as after the ground school course is finished the information is clear in your mind. Besides, you've got two years to complete your PPL Skills Test - plenty of time.

Ultimately, I felt that the club had no intention of getting me through the PPL, and would have kept me coming to EIAB to hand over copious amounts of money as long as the could have. As I said, I don't know anything about the microlight flying club, or other clubs at other airfields around the OP's location. However, my experience at Abbeyshrule was a negative one, and I'm sorry I ever set foot in it!

COYW

nuggetclv wrote: »

Well, I don't know much about the microlight club, but..

I had about 40 hours with an EIAB flying club when I switched training to EIWT.

I found the training at the club good at first, and I had a good instructor. Suddenly, the club decided to put me in with another instructor who was impatient and uncommitted - always late, and generally just had a bad attitude. I was at 40 hours and had only 1hr solo.

That is a serious amount of hours to have for one hour solo on a PPL alright. What were you flying?

Aside from the above, I too would recommend a flying club. The likes of EIWT is geared towards people who want to go commercial. Personally, I completed my PPL in EIWT but wasn't too keen on the instructors and staff I came across, so I moved elsewhere for my training after my PPL.

Before you spend a penny, I would get a class II medical.

Sky King

What kind of flying are you after?

Check out www.midlandmicrolightcentre.com for microlight action in Laois.

Nforce

Speaking of Laois...here's another option

http://www.gyroflying.com/



Something that I plan to have a crack at in the not to distant future.

Stovepipe

Hi there,
Go and get an introductory flight first. Do not get a voucher, just go to the school and book a flight. You need to find out if you are not going to have a problem with being in a noisy confines metal space for a minimum of 45 hours and if you can cope with learning in such an environment. With regard to exams, best to do them as early in your training as possible. Also, consider America or the UK for your PPL.
regards
Stovepipe

paperplanes1988

COYW wrote: »

[
Aside from the above, I too would recommend a flying club. The likes of EIWT is geared towards people who want to go commercial. Personally, I completed my PPL in EIWT but wasn't too keen on the instructors and staff I came across, so I moved elsewhere for my training after my PPL.

+1

I started my PPL training down in Cork a couple of years ago, with a view to going commercial but training over a number of years due to college etc. Basically I feel that many flight schools are much more orientated to full time students than part time SPPL's. I accumulated in excess of 28 hours before deciding a club may be better for what I was doing. Despite moving to a grass field and different aircraft, was solo in two hours in the club.

pclancy

Lustrum wrote: »

If you want to go on to get a PPL get yourself sorted out with a Class 2 medical.

No medical, no licence

Very good avice! Corglass do this before even thinking about getting a PPL or spending money on lessons. Once you've got the medical then start thinking about where to actually fly.

Would also recommend the club route, i've had amazing flights as pilot or passenger with 4 other club members for dawn raids, lunchs or nav trips, sharing the cost and if the club has them you'll get to fly often in larger planes then you would be able to get rated on at your level.

@ Sky King Wow I didnt know that place existed, next time i'm home to Portlaoise i'll have to drive out and go for a flight, amazing to think there are New Zealand made Bantams buzzing around Laois

Sky King

The club is just getting started so flying is intermittent at present but there has been great interest so far!

I would be inclined to do a half hour or so before the class 2 Medical, because you could spend €150 on that - pass it and then decide you don't like flying after all.

I'd probably do it in this order:
1: free / cheap colour blindness test (online / wherever)
2: hour introductory flight
3: class 2 medical
4: now try different types of flying - microlight - gyro or whatever and settle on a school that's convienent to get to with a flying type you like and an instructor you're happy with. There's a world of difference between an open cockpit bantam and a cessna 172! figure out which you like best.
4: start takin' lessons!

Nforce

Sky King wrote: »

The club is just getting started so flying is intermittent at present but there has been great interest so far!

I would be inclined to do a half hour or so before the class 2 Medical, because you could spend €150 on that - pass it and then decide you don't like flying after all.

I'd probably do it in this order:
1: free / cheap colour blindness test (online / wherever)
2: hour introductory flight
3: class 2 medical
4: now try different types of flying - microlight - gyro or whatever and settle on a school that's convienent to get to with a flying type you like and an instructor you're happy with. There's a world of difference between an open cockpit bantam and a cessna 172! figure out which you like best.
4: start takin' lessons!
5: Pray for decent wx so you don't have a gap of weeks/months between lessons

Sky King

Unpossible!