| If you have had a trial flight and you find yourself | | | | cannot be relied up to provide the ideal conditions for |
| determined to learn to fly, then you're probably eager | | | | lessons and if your chosen airfield has grass runways |
| to start right away, but before you embark on this | | | | then there may be days lost in the winter when the |
| project spend a little time planning a study schedule. | | | | ground is waterlogged. Bear in mind that in three of |
| Obtaining a Private Pilot's license is a rewarding | | | | your weekend lessons might be canceled due to |
| experience in many ways, but it will take up time, | | | | adverse weather conditions. If you only fly at |
| effort, and money. You can save on all three by | | | | weekends and one lesson is canceled then it could be |
| having a structured training plan. | | | | two weeks between your lessons. How much will you |
| Unless you are retired or fortunate enough not to have | | | | remember from one lesson to the next? |
| to work for a living then most of your time will be | | | | Your choice of airfield may involve weighing up the |
| taken up by your employment. You may be footloose | | | | pros and cons of each. If you live near a grass airfield |
| and fancy free or your may be in a relationship and | | | | but another with a hard runway is within reasonable |
| you will have to take into account the time you devote | | | | distance it might be better to travel to the further field |
| to your partner and to your home and any other | | | | in order to take advantage of the reliable runway and |
| responsibilities. | | | | other advantages like the busier control tower. A |
| Learning to fly is like acquiring any others skill; it takes | | | | busier tower will mean more radio calls and that is |
| practice and diligent study. So the first question you | | | | never a bad thing. R/T (Radio Telephony) i.e. talking on |
| have to ask yourself is how much time you have | | | | the radio, is often a bit of a psychological block to |
| spare to devote to your studies. Ideally you should | | | | some student pilots. Fear of saying the wrong thing |
| have at least one flying lesson per week but you will | | | | and appearing ignorant has caused many a student to |
| also need time to study books, CDs, and other | | | | feel anxious about using the radio. The only way to |
| materials. Two lessons a week would be preferable, | | | | overcome this is to develop confidence through |
| but it would be difficult to arrange more if you work full | | | | practice and knowledge. The more you use the radio |
| time. If you're not working then of course you could | | | | the better you'll feel about it. |
| book lessons whenever you like. However, you also | | | | So assuming you have assigned blocks of hours each |
| need to spread the lessons out and add ground school | | | | week that you can commit to learning to fly then your |
| studies into the schedule as they are an essential | | | | training should keep to a healthy pace and you will |
| component that compliments the practical lessons. | | | | soon be marveling at the new skills and knowledge |
| A flying lesson consists of a pre-flight briefing in which | | | | that you have acquired. You will also save yourself |
| your instructor will explain the purpose of the lesson | | | | money because the continuity of practice and study |
| and the desired outcome, and a post-flight briefing in | | | | will cut down the number of flying hours it takes for |
| which your instructor will review the lesson. Add to that | | | | you to reach the required standard for the practical |
| the time spent traveling to and from the airfield and an | | | | exams at the end of the course. Once you've bought |
| hour long flying lesson can easily take up three hours. | | | | the study materials it costs no more to study for one |
| There will be days in which you have two lessons | | | | hour than it does for ten, but being in the air costs hard |
| back to back, and later on in the course you'll go on | | | | cash for every minute of fuel burnt. You want to be |
| longer flights across country so the time factor will | | | | good enough to be a competent certified pilot but you |
| increase. | | | | don't want to spend more money than is necessary. |
| The point to remember is that one or two flying | | | | Flying schools often advertise a price for a course of |
| lessons and accompanying ground school studies can | | | | lessons that will take your from beginner to someone |
| easily take up eight hours per week when you start | | | | who has flown all the hours required in the license |
| your lessons. Your enthusiasm will be high so these will | | | | syllabus, but these figures are based on the minimum |
| be hours you'll enjoy but you may need to explain to | | | | number of hours in the syllabus and most students will |
| your partner that you need to make this commitment | | | | exceed this figure for a variety of reasons. So budget |
| in order to achieve the goal. Drops in continuity of | | | | for more than the price in the advert as it's unlikely you |
| training and practice will eventually cost you more time, | | | | will be ready for the final exams in the minimum time. |
| effort, and money as you catch up when training | | | | Save time, effort and money by sticking to your |
| resumes. | | | | schedule and keeping to a pace of practice and |
| Weather will be a huge influence on your continuity of | | | | learning that will eventually reward you with your pilot's |
| practice. If you live in the UK then you'll be very familiar | | | | wings. |
| with the unpredictable weather. Even the summer | | | | |