Currency for Private Pilot

[trevor3999]

Hi, I am 16, and extremely close to getting my recreational permit. I would be getting my private, but you need to be 17. I am planning on getting my private as soon as I turn 17, and then later commercial.
So while I have my rec, and even private, I'm planning on flying as much as I can, and of course staying current. So heres my dilemma, I don't have the greatest cash flow right now, and my parents are paying for the initial training, and I owe them when I'm able to pay it back. I would like to pay for all the rental costs after I get my license, and stay current by taking people up just for a quick joy ride, maybe throw in a forced approach, stall, etc.
So how many times a month/week do you suggest flying? I can only afford about 1, very short flight a week on my own. Do you guys think thats enough? Or do I need to ask for even more financial support?

[AUGER9]

IMO once a week is fine UNTIL you start your PPL training, then increasing the frequency while doing that.

Do you have a part time job? At your age that is probably your best/only option. If possible, check out your local airport for a job- cutting grass, washing/ fuelling planes etc.

[hairdo]

Like auger said, until you get the ppl, one short flight a week isn't too bad. Keeps, you fresh on most things, though if you could get in a longer flight every so often to practice some things that you may have been neglecting, you would probably be fine. After PPL, if you plan on having a fairly large gap (say a year) before you go for CPL, then you would definitely want to fly a bit more frequently. If nothing else, it gets you closer to the required hours anyway.

Of course, money will always be a factor, but as auger said, if you can get an aviation related job (whatever that may be), it keeps you in the loop in different ways, while still making money (ramp if you work near a larger airport), and you will likely meet some good contacts for later on.

[deflux]

I think most schools require 1 flight a month to rent their airplanes before you have to do a checkout again..

Once a week is enough to keep you sharp though

[trevor3999]

thanks for the input!

I will definitely try and get a job at the airport (ZBB)
Although I don't know how well that would work, because by bus its about an hour and a half getting there...
I'll get my N soon enough though.
Isn't that weird! I can legally fly a plane by myself, and with a passenger, but I still am not allowed to drive, without a "supervisor".

[jeta1]

Hi, I am 16, and extremely close to.... ...and stay current by taking people up just for a quick joy ride, maybe throw in a forced approach, stall, etc.

Good for you to be able to start so well and so young. One strong recommendation about what you said above, once you are allowed to take passengers. Never "throw in" a practice emergency when you carry friends or family. Period. No stalls, no PFLs , no slow flight and good grace, no SPINS! Since you are on your way to a commercial licence, leave all that fun stuff to you and your flight instructor to practice together, no one else.

[trevor3999]

Hi, I am 16, and extremely close to.... ...and stay current by taking people up just for a quick joy ride, maybe throw in a forced approach, stall, etc.

Good for you to be able to start so well and so young. One strong recommendation about what you said above, once you are allowed to take passengers. Never "throw in" a practice emergency when you carry friends or family. Period. No stalls, no PFLs , no slow flight and good grace, no SPINS! Since you are on your way to a commercial licence, leave all that fun stuff to you and your flight instructor to practice together, no one else.

Haha, I wasn't planning on it, I meant doing flights like that by myself, like a solo flight, just for practice, and to stay fresh.
My friends and family would not appreciate any of that stuff, lol, they are used to flying in a big jet, in a relatively straight line, and thats it.

[RFlyer]

thanks for the input!

I will definitely try and get a job at the airport (ZBB)

Hey Trevor,

I'm guessing you already know about this, but SeaLandAir has a nice little Sportstar for a very reasonable price. The low cost will help keep you in practice, but the hours won't count toward anything because it's registered as an Ultralight.

RF

[trevor3999]

thanks for the input!

I will definitely try and get a job at the airport (ZBB)

Hey Trevor,

I'm guessing you already know about this, but SeaLandAir has a nice little Sportstar for a very reasonable price. The low cost will help keep you in practice, but the hours won't count toward anything because it's registered as an Ultralight.

RF

I always see it taxi by, and I always think that it looks really fun. Might have to try it out!
Can't you log 20 hrs (or something around there), towards the commercial? It counts for total time right?
What kind of training would I need before flying it? Beside the written exams of course...

[deflux]

thanks for the input!

I will definitely try and get a job at the airport (ZBB)

Hey Trevor,

I'm guessing you already know about this, but SeaLandAir has a nice little Sportstar for a very reasonable price. The low cost will help keep you in practice, but the hours won't count toward anything because it's registered as an Ultralight.

RF

The Sportstar is nice and everything but for $17 more you can rent a Katana and use the hours towards a license...

[trevor3999]

thanks for the input!

I will definitely try and get a job at the airport (ZBB)

Hey Trevor,

I'm guessing you already know about this, but SeaLandAir has a nice little Sportstar for a very reasonable price. The low cost will help keep you in practice, but the hours won't count toward anything because it's registered as an Ultralight.

RF

The Sportstar is nice and everything but for $17 more you can rent a Katana and use the hours towards a license...

I love the Diamonds! I always thought they looked so fun! I just looked at Sea Land Air, and realized that the DA-20 was just 9$ more than a 152, and I figured, those 9 dollars will be justified by the 10 kt speed increase!
Do you think it would be easy to switch from PFC to Sea Land Air, and by that, switching from Cessna to Diamond? I know that the main differences from a diamond and a Cessna is the constant speed propeller, lower wing, etc. So how many flights do you think they would make me do, in order to become proficient in the diamond DA-20?

[deflux]

My checkout on type took 1.1 hours. I did all my training on Cessnas and Pipers but I had some time on a single comanche with a constant speed prop.

Also I knew the instructor very well so he knew what he had to go over and what he didn't...

[RFlyer]

I love the Diamonds! I always thought they looked so fun! I just looked at Sea Land Air, and realized that the DA-20 was just 9$ more than a 152, and I figured, those 9 dollars will be justified by the 10 kt speed increase!
Do you think it would be easy to switch from PFC to Sea Land Air, and by that, switching from Cessna to Diamond? I know that the main differences from a diamond and a Cessna is the constant speed propeller, lower wing, etc. So how many flights do you think they would make me do, in order to become proficient in the diamond DA-20?

The Katanas would be a better choice if you can afford the extra few bucks - if you are tall you should definitely ask to sit in one before you make the final decision because they can be a bit cramped for some.

As for how long to get checked out, generally you could be through it in 2 hours, but YMMV. The cost of the additional dual will give you access to another type of aircraft, but depending how much you use it it might end up costing more than if you stayed at PFC. If you could swing it, though, you'd have access to planes from SLA and// PFC as long as you stayed current with both organizations. And variety is the spice of life, so they say.

Cheers,
RF

[sapper6fd]

if you are tall you should definitely ask to sit in one before you make the final decision because they can be a bit cramped for some.

This is a definate must. I went for a fam flight at SLA in the DA20, just cant seem to fit in the thing (I'm 6'4"). I found that my right knee kept hitting the electronic flaps switch when their deployed. At one point I even raised it up a notch, caught it right away though. they need to move that thing.... very dangerous for tall people like me

[all_ramped_up]

deff go for the DA-20... i did my PPL on them at Victoria Flight Training in 2000. enjoyed the Katana way more than a 172.

they're fun machines to fly, although on a long x-country i found that the seat is at such an angle where after 3 hours you hop out of the plane and can't feel anything below your lower back. lol