How much is too much?

[Gowyn]

Background: Closing in on retirement (54yo,) work full time, odd schedule 24Hr days, day on, day off, day on and five off. Already have my PPL and night, working on recurrency (17 years since last flown.)

So original plan was to fly twice a day for four days in a row on my days off. That was too much.
Backed down to once per day for four days in a row, this is tough too but way better. Still exhausting but do-able.
Considering switching to fly every second day so four times out of eight day cycle. 48 hours off between each flight. Only thing is I would be flying on my days off from work in between, I'd fly in the afternoon in case I need a nap and won't fly if too tired or distracted.

So question is: would flying every second day be better than everyday?

Only reason I'm doing this is because I can. I have the money put aside, I have the time and I don't want to waste time relearning in between flights.

End goal is to get recurrent, CPL with instrument and then flight instructor. Ultimate end goal is to be done late 2021/beginning 2022 and instruct part time until retirement (1.5-6 years) then full time.

Thank you

[Pilotdaddy]

I think it's very much dependant on the individual.

Every second day seems like a reasonable pace. It also sounds like you're doing this as a side gig for retirement so money and speed shouldn't really be an issue for you. Might as well enjoy the process and move at a pace that works for you.

[NotDirty!]

Ask yourself if you are getting training value out of each flight. If the answer is no, then it is too much. If you are able to prepare for each flight, make a plan for what you want/need to practice, and get the right value from each trip! If you just want to go sightseeing, that’s fine too — it’s the beauty of having a PPL! But in order to get to CPL level, you want to work on improving your skills on a regular basis! Make sure you spend some time going places: get some cross country time, see a different airport, get comfortable in a different environment! Experience some marginal weather, and put yourself in the situation where you have to make a decision! Circuits are valuable too, we all can use practice doing different types of takeoffs and landings, and that makes a great lesson plan for those days when the weather is not good enough for a cross country.

[Gowyn]

Thanks all.

Leaning towards every second day. Dealing with it now ok but it's a lot. I won't fly if tired or not prepared but that being said it's starting to feel like work instead of fun so slowing down might be more beneficial for overall enjoyment and performance.

Been good so far. Instructor is laid off Dash 8 pilot and I bit off a real challenge. Seventeen years no flying then straight into DA40. Slightly complex with c/s prop, slipperier and faster than Cessna's plus low wing which is totally new to me. To top if off G1000 and GPS!

Still trying to get used to the glass panel, miss the steam gauges...

[trey kule]

From personal experience with a few dozen pilot trainees, there is a too much. Learning slows down, and long term retention is poorer.
For a five day period, one flight day is lots (IMO). But, I think you should probably getting some x-country flying in, so that could well work into 7-10 hours. Every second day is fine as long as you don’t take a hit from weather.
Don’t be in a rush to get all your dual time in. Get your PIC time and then finish up the dual when you have more experience . Night rating, and if applicable, IF rating excepted to this rule.Like the man with the hammer who sees the world full of nails, some instructors only see training as dual. Fly. Fly by yourself. Fly xcountry. Lots of it, as that is most likely what you are really learning to do.
Coordinate your instrument time. Canada requires a huge amount more dual than other countries, but , unless things have changed, instrument is fragmented. 5 hours for ppl. 5 hours for night. More for Cpl. Find an instructor who will defragment these hours fir you.

Great that you can do this.
Take your time and enjoy. But there is work involved

[tsgarp]

Background: Closing in on retirement (54yo,) work full time, odd schedule 24Hr days, day on, day off, day on and five off. Already have my PPL and night, working on recurrency (17 years since last flown.)

So original plan was to fly twice a day for four days in a row on my days off. That was too much.
Backed down to once per day for four days in a row, this is tough too but way better. Still exhausting but do-able.
Considering switching to fly every second day so four times out of eight day cycle. 48 hours off between each flight. Only thing is I would be flying on my days off from work in between, I'd fly in the afternoon in case I need a nap and won't fly if too tired or distracted.

So question is: would flying every second day be better than everyday?

Only reason I'm doing this is because I can. I have the money put aside, I have the time and I don't want to waste time relearning in between flights.

End goal is to get recurrent, CPL with instrument and then flight instructor. Ultimate end goal is to be done late 2021/beginning 2022 and instruct part time until retirement (1.5-6 years) then full time.

Thank you

I would suggest shorter duration flights (2ish hours per day) everyday.

There is only so much your brain can absorb in a single session, going past the point we’re you are learning is pointless. Do a two hour flight, take an hour or so break (eat lunch, watch TV), and then spend an hour or two reviewing the flight you did. Visualize how you would correct your errors. Then spend a hour visualizing the flight you are going to do tomorrow.

Do this everyday, (don’t give yourself time to forget the ‘feel’ of what you did). This is the approach the flight colleges and the military take.

[CensoredLF]

I would commit to flying once during each period of time off. Have a training/practice schedule for the flight. Then if you want to fly more, do it.

YMMV
CLF