I've been planning to get mine, for a long time. I've just never gotten around to it. I want to do it soon, just don't have a ton of free time at the moment, not to mention the thousands of dollars required for the flying time.
I know you can do one of those one-hour "intro" flights for less than $100 that counts towards your training. I've never even taken one of those, because I know that as soon as I do, I'll be hooked, and I'll want to start flight training immediately.
So for the guys who have it already (I think we even have a commercial pilot or two on CP?), what kind of commitment does it take? And I mean an overall commitment, including (but not limited to) financial investment and the time required.
- I haven't looked into it in a long time, but I somewhat remember that it can be done at your own pace? Sort of rent the aircraft and instructor hours as you go, rather than all at once. At least in regards to the in-aircraft instruction. The ground school is more all at once at regular intervals?
- Those cheap "intro" flights, are they worth it? Does the instructor let you do anything, or do you just sit there and watch him and look outside?
- Do PPL holders have to re-certify every year, and is there a cost to that? I wouldn't fly very often, but I'd rather go straight for the PPL rather than the RPP, because of the ability to fly with more than one passenger, at night (with a night rating obviously), etc.
- Do any of you actually rent a plane and fly yourself somewhere (within driving distance) on vacation, or strictly just for fun out of YBW? Obviously you can't do that for a long trip because of the rental and parking fees (plus a car rental at your destination), but it would be quicker and more fun than driving!
- What's the best flight school at YBW?
- Any other tips for a 'newbie'?
In hindsight...instead of going into IT, I should have just gotten the PPL at 17, then gone into commercial flying. If only I had a time machine...
- I haven't looked into it in a long time, but I somewhat remember that it can be done at your own pace? Sort of rent the aircraft and instructor hours as you go, rather than all at once. At least in regards to the in-aircraft instruction. The ground school is more all at once at regular intervals?
You can go at your own pace, but I don't recommend leaving too much time between lessons. You want to form good habits and not have to "re-learn" techniques because too much time elapsed between training flights.
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- Those cheap "intro" flights, are they worth it? Does the instructor let you do anything, or do you just sit there and watch him and look outside?
You won't get to control the take-off or landing, but you'll get to perform basic maneuvers like turns. IIRC, on my first flight the instructor gave me control shortly after take-off and didn't take it back until we were part-way into our final approach. Of course, if you're about to do anything dangerous like cause a spin or stall, the instructor will take control.
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- Do PPL holders have to re-certify every year, and is there a cost to that? I wouldn't fly very often, but I'd rather go straight for the PPL rather than the RPP, because of the ability to fly with more than one passenger, at night (with a night rating obviously), etc.
Your license is valid forever, but you need to pass a medical exam every 1-2 years (depending on your age). Different flying clubs also have their own rules about remaining current. Where I used to fly, the rule was you needed one hour of PIC (pilot-in-command) time every month to remain current or else you needed to re-certify with an instructor before they would allow you to rent one of their planes.
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- Any other tips for a 'newbie'?
Step on the ball.
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You won't get to control the take-off or landing, but you'll get to perform basic maneuvers like turns. IIRC, on my first flight the instructor gave me control shortly after take-off and didn't take it back until we were part-way into our final approach.
Thanks, that's good to know. Confirms the fact that if I take one of those flights, I'll be hooked instantly. If I get to take control of the plane mid-air, I'll IMMEDIATELY want to learn how to land it.
I did some digging into it, and everything I've read in the past started to come back to me.
When I do it, I think I'll go for the RPP first. It can be easily upgraded to a PPL, and it'll cost less/take less time to get initially.
Thanks, that's good to know. Confirms the fact that if I take one of those flights, I'll be hooked instantly. If I get to take control of the plane mid-air, I'll IMMEDIATELY want to learn how to land it.
I did some digging into it, and everything I've read in the past started to come back to me.
When I do it, I think I'll go for the RPP first. It can be easily upgraded to a PPL, and it'll cost less/take less time to get initially.
You will pay far more completing a RPP and then upgrading to a PPL instead of doing the PPL from the onset. The RPP is a waste of time IMO. RPP = Daytime VFR only, 1 passenger only, no entry to the U.S. along with other caveats. I know of zero pilot's who hold or have held an RPP.
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Boeing 707: The aircraft that changed the way we fly
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Whenever Frank Sinatra sang “Come fly with me, let’s fly, let’s fly away,” the image of a Boeing 707, all etched-white vapour trails jetting across some deep blue transcontinental stratosphere, could never be far from mind. This song was from Sinatra’s album of the same name. It was released in January 1958, a month after the epochal, swept-wing jet airliner made its maiden flight. Before the year was out, the sleek 707 was in service with Pan-Am. It was to change the way we fly and see the world.
Video of Cathay Pacific Cargo departing Saturday afternoon. Fun fact, one of the pilots operating this flight lives here in Calgary, Roger Millions informed me of this on twitter when I put one of my pics up on there, he's neighbours with the guy and his family.
