Wed Oct 13, 2021 10:28 am
#1876182
This is a student question, although might be thought of as a postgraduate student question, as it were!
I have my NPPL(A) with Microlight Rating and fly a 3-axis (Zenair 601). I learnt on the C42, which can be (although 99% of the time isn't) registered as a Group A aircraft.
AIUI, there is still the option for me to 'upgrade' to SSEA from NPPL but the onward journey beyond that is still blocked and SSEA still limits the range of aircraft I can fly (in spite of lots of conversations over the past 24 months between various authorities - correct me if I am wrong?).
So, hypothetically - if I had some spare money, spare time and patience over the next couple of years - if I wanted to go back to square 1 and now obtain a PPL (rather than NPPL), my question is: what expectations should I have from that journey?
- I'm aware that this is 1 step back and then 2 steps forward
- Have any others done this (I assume it's not a common approach!)?
- I assume that none of my hours in my logbook today will count for anything
- I assume that - given I already hold a licence and am flying - it is not an unreasonable expectation that I might be able to pass closer to the minimum 45 hours?
- I assume that - as above and assuming competence - it is not an unreasonable expectation that I might be able to do the minimum 25 dual hours and can spend the rest solo hour-building?
- I assume that the dual hours have to be on the PPL syllabus and I can't spend that time doing off-piste things
like tailwheel training, aerobatics etc
Essentially, what I'm seeking some sort of feedback on is this: I'm aware that going back to the drawing board post NPPL is a bit of an odd choice, but thinking of the long term (wanting to fly IMC conditions, night rating, carry 3 passengers etc) although I made the right choice at the time to do NPPL, I'm thinking seriously about restarting from scratch given I've hopefully got 40+ more years of flying ahead of me (touch wood).
I'm not in any rush. If it takes 5 years then so be it - I'm still flying in the meantime. If the rules change during that time, I haven't lost much.
I do not want the above to sound over-confident and I'm obviously aware that there are differences between a 3-axis microlight and a Group A. But given my experience has been (mostly) on an aircraft that can be registered as a Group A, I just want to know what to expect if I decided to go down that route.
My thinking was that - in effect - alongside my usual day-to-day bimbling I can spend a couple of hours each month chipping away at 45 hours for a PPL and that - once I've ticked off the dual hours - in effect it's no different to renting a Group A aircraft for the remainder. And, given that I fly already, perhaps it would be possible to spend some of that dual time doing things that wouldn't ordinarily be on the syllabus.
This might be a very flawed plan, but all feedback very welcome. I doubt anyone has done this, but if you have I'd love to know what your experience was like.
I have my NPPL(A) with Microlight Rating and fly a 3-axis (Zenair 601). I learnt on the C42, which can be (although 99% of the time isn't) registered as a Group A aircraft.
AIUI, there is still the option for me to 'upgrade' to SSEA from NPPL but the onward journey beyond that is still blocked and SSEA still limits the range of aircraft I can fly (in spite of lots of conversations over the past 24 months between various authorities - correct me if I am wrong?).
So, hypothetically - if I had some spare money, spare time and patience over the next couple of years - if I wanted to go back to square 1 and now obtain a PPL (rather than NPPL), my question is: what expectations should I have from that journey?
- I'm aware that this is 1 step back and then 2 steps forward
- Have any others done this (I assume it's not a common approach!)?
- I assume that none of my hours in my logbook today will count for anything
- I assume that - given I already hold a licence and am flying - it is not an unreasonable expectation that I might be able to pass closer to the minimum 45 hours?
- I assume that - as above and assuming competence - it is not an unreasonable expectation that I might be able to do the minimum 25 dual hours and can spend the rest solo hour-building?
- I assume that the dual hours have to be on the PPL syllabus and I can't spend that time doing off-piste things
like tailwheel training, aerobatics etc
Essentially, what I'm seeking some sort of feedback on is this: I'm aware that going back to the drawing board post NPPL is a bit of an odd choice, but thinking of the long term (wanting to fly IMC conditions, night rating, carry 3 passengers etc) although I made the right choice at the time to do NPPL, I'm thinking seriously about restarting from scratch given I've hopefully got 40+ more years of flying ahead of me (touch wood).
I'm not in any rush. If it takes 5 years then so be it - I'm still flying in the meantime. If the rules change during that time, I haven't lost much.
I do not want the above to sound over-confident and I'm obviously aware that there are differences between a 3-axis microlight and a Group A. But given my experience has been (mostly) on an aircraft that can be registered as a Group A, I just want to know what to expect if I decided to go down that route.
My thinking was that - in effect - alongside my usual day-to-day bimbling I can spend a couple of hours each month chipping away at 45 hours for a PPL and that - once I've ticked off the dual hours - in effect it's no different to renting a Group A aircraft for the remainder. And, given that I fly already, perhaps it would be possible to spend some of that dual time doing things that wouldn't ordinarily be on the syllabus.
This might be a very flawed plan, but all feedback very welcome. I doubt anyone has done this, but if you have I'd love to know what your experience was like.