How long for a PPL?

[BTyyj]

Just curious. What is the length usually now adays.

[Typhoon]

Hey Jack,

How long are semesters? If my memory serves me correctly, is it around 5-6 months?

If it is, I would probably recommend you start training sooner. Extra time is never a bad thing, especially when those pesky bad weather days role in. Even if you start your ground school a couple months before that/get your PSTAR out of the way it will definitely help. I'm pretty sure mine took me roughly 7 months, and that was a lot of work.

Good luck.

[Air Monkey]

The last semester of high school along with the summer should be enough. There are factors, The amount of flying weather, if you are able to afford flights two- three times a week and how fast it takes you to solo/ bring your skills to a PPL level. You will also have to dedicate time to study for the PPL written. Are you going into grade twelve after this summer? If so start this summer you will be that much ahead. Good Luck and have fun.

[BTyyj]

Hi Typhoon,

Thanks for the reply. Yes, a semester is about 4-5 months.

I might start the summer prior, go through it at a light pace during the first semester, so to gain a bit of experience with it not being detrimental to my school work, and then go at it much harder during the second semester. I know my first semester of grade 12 will be pretty heavy, with Physics, Chemistry, and Social diploma exams. I might decide to switch it around though.

Do you think that would give me enough time? Keep in mind, I will have the two summer months right after graduation completely free.

[Typhoon]

Hi Typhoon,

Thanks for the reply. Yes, a semester is about 4-5 months.

I might start the summer prior, go through it at a light pace during the first semester, so to gain a bit of experience with it not being detrimental to my school work, and then go at it much harder during the second semester. I know my first semester of grade 12 will be pretty heavy, with Physics, Chemistry, and Social diploma exams. I might decide to switch it around though.

Do you think that would give me enough time? Keep in mind, I will have the two summer months right after graduation completely free.

Hey Jack,

Not a problem. Starting it the summer prior would probably be a good choice, that way you can work away at it slowly and develop a solid understanding of the material (it'll definitely make the CPL stages a lot easier). As far as wanting to switch up your grade 12 semester, I would suggest you keep it the way it is. I did all of the heavy courses in the first semester and it paid off as it provided a fairly stress free way to finish off high school.

Providing you stick at the training, that should be plenty of time! I wouldn't count on trying to get everything done in the two months after graduating (you've got to factor in trying to rent a plane, weather, maintenance, etc...). It could turn into a bit of a nightmare. However, having said that, I've never really experienced trying to crunch time like that. Maybe someone else could speak from experience on that?

Typhoon

[BTyyj]

Hi Typhoon,

Again thanks for the info. Finishing off high school nice an easy would be awesome. From past experience, I know I work best under pressure and when what I am doing seems difficult to me. Having a heavy semester may just turn out to be overall beneficial.

Thanks

[Shiny Side Up]

I need to get my PPL before that fall if I do decide to go to Mount Royal.

Bit of advice. Get your PPL then worry about Mount Royal. You will probably end up saving yourself some greif. While it is entirely possible to do a PPL in 5 months, don't set it up so you have a deadline. If you get your PPL then have to wait a year to start the college program it won't be the end of the world. The problem with signing up for the college program before having your ducks in a row is if something happens that delays your finishing your PPL then you're going to be out some money depending on what the college's stance is. In the past they used to be lenient, but word has it not so much anymore.

[Soupy]

Every year the air cadets pumps many people through their piloting program from 0 hours to PPL in 7 weeks tops.

In reality I don't think you'd be doing that though just saying that that is really the shortest allowable time for it that I have seen.

It comes down to a couple things, it take a minimum of 45 hours for a PPL. err on the side of caution allow for 55 hours. now, assuming that you are available to fly twice a week for 1 hour times, you'd be looking at 6 months. Anything less than that is do-able For sure, but I would say give yourself six months to be certain.

Though I too work best under pressure, Flight Safety's worst enemy is a schedule to keep. It could end up taking you longer if you don't have the proper amount of time outside of flights to prepare for them. So make sure you are not over doing it.

Another thing to account for is that getting the hours is one thing, but booking a TC examiner can be difficult at times, make sure you have that done well in advance.

Good luck, and all the best

[burninggoats]

Every year the air cadets pumps many people through their piloting program from 0 hours to PPL in 7 weeks tops.

Honestly, I wish people would stop telling this to the run-of-the-mill wannabe PPL.

Sure, it can be done. But what usually fails to get through, either they aren't told or they don't listen, is that essentially these cadets live and breathe their private licences.
1) they come in with prior knowledge/aircraft feel from gliding
2) they LIVE AT THE AIRPORT. If they aren't flying they are studying or in groundschool
3) they fly at least twice a day every day, in the season with the best weather, and a schedule that applies to them. If a thunderstorm rolls through when they were supposed to fly, the go study and come back when it's done.
4) they are at almost the prime age for learning
5) it's PAID for. they don't even have to look at the $10,000 leaving their bank account

It's frustrating when people come to me and expect to be done in 6 weeks "because thats what the cadets do" or "someone told me I could" and they aren't willing to put the effort in or adapt their schedule to allow for it. then they try and argue me on the point.

As for the OP, It sounds like you are set up pretty well, your last semester flying most days + summer flying every day should be enough to finish a PPL by fall, but i'd tend to agree with shiny, flying and deadlines generally don't agree with each other.

[Soupy]

burninggoats, I completely understand your frustration, and I completely agree with everything you mentioned about how the Cadets are able to do it in such a short amount of time.

I do not think that it is possible for someone outside of the Cadet program to realistically be able to think they could get it in such short amount of time, if I gave off that impression I apologize.

[ant_321]

I know of a non-cadet who finished everything in 6 weeks. It was under very special circumstances though.

[BTyyj]

Thanks for all the replies.

I have no intentions to finish in 6 weeks because that is just ridicoulous. Besides, if I did it that fast I would be bored for the rest of the year.

I agree that I shouldn't put deadlines on flying, but in this situation, I kind of have to. I think I am set up well enough to be able to finish by that fall, which is over a year to do it. That way I can spread stuff out. And with that much time, I hope to start looking at completing the flight test June hopefully. That should give me plenty of time to prepare and set up a for the test. Again, I shouldn't be giving myself a deadline, but with that much time, a deadline is just something to aim for.

Thanks again for all the help. I really appreciate it.

[Shiny Side Up]

I agree that I shouldn't put deadlines on flying, but in this situation, I kind of have to.

There's only two things you have to do in this lifetime and finish a PPL isn't one of them. From what I can see you're going to fall into the trap of a lot of students I've seen. If you wish to persist in this course of action here's two more points.

1) Tell your PPL instructor of your intentions and the deadline you have. I know it seems like you have a lot of time, but life just has that funny way of interfering. Give them the notice so they can help you achieve this goal. Don't spring it on them at the last moment.

2) Don't give any money to the College until you have to. They will make you put this on account. If you don't have a flight test booked at this point I would advise backing out before chunking down some change. If you don't have your PPL completed and the semester starts you stand a large likelyhood of losing that money.

[KK7]

My advice regarding your deadline is this:

Sit down with the CFI of a school. Inform him/her of your goals and the timeline you would like to achieve, and ask to see an outline of when you'll do each part of your training. Keep in mind that this is a basic outline, and you can't expect it to be adhered to due to an infinite number of outside influences, but it gives you a starting point, and make sure it gives you a little leeway at the end to tack on a couple of weeks for when that flight test booking seems to always end up on a terrible weather day.

Aim to stick to the timeline planned, but have a back up prepared if everything fails and you're not going to be able to meet your deadline. Don't be too disappointed if you don't meet the deadline, rather have a huge celebration if you meet it.

[BTyyj]

Okay thanks for the advise from both of you.

[dirk82]

I did mine in a bit over 6 months (including bad winter weather) and had I 65 hours in, try not to rush it to much. You need build up hours anyways so you might as well get as comfortable flying as you can and fly as many solo hours as you can fit in, it will make your flight test a breeze and once you start your CPL you will feel more comfortable in the plane and have and easier time adapting to the course.

The programs that spit you out in 6-8 weeks are tough and you miss alot ( not as much study/reading time) and I would think for a PPL if you have no prior avitation experiance that going from knowing nothing to a pilots licence in 6 weeks is a bit shady.

Good Luck

[jump154]

I took 18 months, fitting in around work and real life. About 90 hours to flight test, due to some long breaks causing repetition of elements, but i'm in this for a hobby not a career. On the plus side - I got to fly through 2 winters and gain a Ton more experience than doing it quickly, and had a blast doing it (flying is flying, whether on a Student Permit or a PPL!). the result, and examiner telling me "That was the best flown flight test i've seen for a few years". Focus on the destination - becoming a competent, well rounded Pilot. It's not a race, not something to be 'got out of the way' quickly. You need hours for the CPL, and it really does nto matter if they are pre or post PPL (apart from the CPL dual ones!). I also got in 18 months of reading, studying and absorbing aviation, interpreting weather on those frustrating winter days (which helped to make the No-Go decision on the first attempt of my flight test- talk about outside pressure to fly!). Don't accept "good enough", strive for perfection. Always go pack to practice (like I did recently after a landing at the end of a cross country that, well, just made me think "Glad Hedley didn't see that"!. That and the wife's comment "That was not one of your best was it?")

I've still got lots to learn, always will have. Take time to learn, don't rush.

[BTyyj]

Alright. Do you guys think it would be worthwhile to get the PPL books and start studying beforehand?

[jump154]

Alright. Do you guys think it would be worthwhile to get the PPL books and start studying beforehand?

A resounding YES! You'll read FTGU multiple times before you are done. Preparation is invaluable.

Note: Air Cadets start ground school when they are 12/13 - preperation for a flight test at 17.

[KK7]

Alright. Do you guys think it would be worthwhile to get the PPL books and start studying beforehand?

Absolutely. Two books to start:

From the Ground Up
Flight Training Manual

You will require both in your training, and you can read both of them anytime before hand. The more you already know going in, the more you will learn in your training and the further you'll be when you get your PPL.

[BTyyj]

Alright, I will definitely go out and buy those two books.

Thanks for all the help from everyone.

[supercub7]

I just ordered some books myself. I used vipilot.com. Prices are very reasonable and the shipping is supposed to be quick.