Private Pilot's License

Haven't begun any training yet. Still considering time and cost factors. One
problem is my job will only avail me to fly every other week, so I figure
it'll take me at least the better part of a year to get licensed. My
question is, after licensing what would be a likely minimum flight time and
frequency to maintain proficiency? Appreciate any helpful comments.

"Vern Torino" wrote in message
...
Haven't begun any training yet. Still considering time and cost factors.
One problem is my job will only avail me to fly every other week, so I
figure it'll take me at least the better part of a year to get licensed.
My question is, after licensing what would be a likely minimum flight time
and frequency to maintain proficiency?

You didn't ask, but frankly, if you're only flying every other week, "the
better part of a year" is overly optimistic. You'll spend enormous amounts
of time reminding yourself what you did last lesson, rather than making
forward progress on your learning.

That's ignoring the fact that flying every other week only gets you about
25-30 hours of training in, for a certificate that has a *minimum* of 40
hours, and the only people who do it at or near the minimum hours are people
who pick up flying naturally, AND who are having their lessons regularly (a
couple of times a week, at least).

I'd guess a person flying every other week could wind up with at least 80
hours before they are good enough to pass the checkride, which is more like
three years at that rate.

As far as your actual question goes: it depends a lot on the pilot, but
generally speaking, flying at least one hour once or twice a month is
probably enough to stay reasonably proficient. For some pilots, once a week
is the absolute minimum, and for others they can pick it up again after a
couple of months. But both of those possibilities are unusual, IMHO. Of
course, it also depends on your definition of "proficient". And more
seriously, it also depends on what you do with those flights. One takeoff
and one landing aren't going to help that much if you only do that once a
month.

Pete

Although I am in agreement with some of this, I am doing most of my training
at every other week intervals. I have only accumulated 36 hours, and I am
right around the corner from my checkride. It really depends on the pilot.
If you pick it up quickly, and retain it well, every other week is fine. If
not, then Peter is absolutely correct.

--
John Huthmaker

"Peter Duniho" wrote in message
...
"Vern Torino" wrote in message
...
Haven't begun any training yet. Still considering time and cost factors.
One problem is my job will only avail me to fly every other week, so I
figure it'll take me at least the better part of a year to get licensed.
My question is, after licensing what would be a likely minimum flight
time and frequency to maintain proficiency?

You didn't ask, but frankly, if you're only flying every other week, "the
better part of a year" is overly optimistic. You'll spend enormous
amounts of time reminding yourself what you did last lesson, rather than
making forward progress on your learning.

That's ignoring the fact that flying every other week only gets you about
25-30 hours of training in, for a certificate that has a *minimum* of 40
hours, and the only people who do it at or near the minimum hours are
people who pick up flying naturally, AND who are having their lessons
regularly (a couple of times a week, at least).

I'd guess a person flying every other week could wind up with at least 80
hours before they are good enough to pass the checkride, which is more
like three years at that rate.

As far as your actual question goes: it depends a lot on the pilot, but
generally speaking, flying at least one hour once or twice a month is
probably enough to stay reasonably proficient. For some pilots, once a
week is the absolute minimum, and for others they can pick it up again
after a couple of months. But both of those possibilities are unusual,
IMHO. Of course, it also depends on your definition of "proficient".
And more seriously, it also depends on what you do with those flights.
One takeoff and one landing aren't going to help that much if you only do
that once a month.

Pete

"John Huthmaker" wrote in message
ink.net...
Although I am in agreement with some of this, I am doing most of my
training at every other week intervals. I have only accumulated 36 hours,
and I am right around the corner from my checkride. It really depends on
the pilot. If you pick it up quickly, and retain it well, every other week
is fine. If not, then Peter is absolutely correct.


I agree with John. It took me more than two years to get my private. I had
to get another flight physical it took so long. Passed my checkride at 44
hours with an FAA examiner. Everybody learns and retains information at
different rates.

Start training and keep your nose in the books as much as you can. Flying
is 90% mental and 10% physical. You will get there!

Allen

I'll probably have just over 100 hours by the time I take my checkride.
This is mostly thanks to medical paperwork! I was just about ready to
take my ride this past spring, when we (my instructor and I) looked into
what was needed to be done because of my medical restriction. Turns out
I didn't have the letter of authorization in my file for the medical
flight test, so I had to get info on the FAA on what they needed, which
was an eye exam cause of my LASIK surgery (had this done before, but
they didn't get the form the doctor fills out), then after I sent that
in, they (FAA) wanted up to date hearing tests and a recommendation on
headsets from my audiologist, who went had to ask the manufacturer of my
cochlear implant if the method I used was OK, then she went on vacation...

I've just been told she's sent me the letter to send to the FAA, which
then I'll have to wait for the FAA to send the letter of authorization.

I haven't flown for over 2 months at this point, but now I'll start again.

John

"John T" wrote in message
...
I'll probably have just over 100 hours by the time I take my checkride.
This is mostly thanks to medical paperwork! I was just about ready to take
my ride this past spring, when we (my instructor and I) looked into what
was needed to be done because of my medical restriction. Turns out I
didn't have the letter of authorization in my file for the medical flight
test, so I had to get info on the FAA on what they needed, which was an
eye exam cause of my LASIK surgery (had this done before, but they didn't
get the form the doctor fills out), then after I sent that in, they (FAA)
wanted up to date hearing tests and a recommendation on headsets from my
audiologist, who went had to ask the manufacturer of my cochlear implant
if the method I used was OK, then she went on vacation...

I've just been told she's sent me the letter to send to the FAA, which
then I'll have to wait for the FAA to send the letter of authorization.

I haven't flown for over 2 months at this point, but now I'll start again.

John

Mine was a medical checkride also, I do not have a left hand. It was a much
simpler thing 23 years ago.

Allen

Peter is pretty much right on. I guess the real question is, why do you
want to learn to fly? If it is important enough to you then you will
make the adjustments needed to fly frequently enough to make it
worthwhile. If not, then not.

Once licensed, you should be able to remain reasonably proficient
flying once a month or so, depending on what you want to do.

You might consider taking some vacation time, if that's an option.
It's hard to progress on a fortnightly lesson!

I don't feel comfortable if I don't fly 50 hours a year. That's a bit
more than an hour a week, since in the nature of things (New Hampshire
winters, grass field, Piper Cub) I don't fly much if at all from
January through March. (And yes, I feel very rusty in April.)

I read of a pilot who quit flying because he couldn't maintain the 80
hours a year that was his comfort level.


On Thu, 22 Sep 2005 05:51:55 GMT, "Vern Torino"
wrote:

Haven't begun any training yet. Still considering time and cost factors. One
problem is my job will only avail me to fly every other week, so I figure
it'll take me at least the better part of a year to get licensed. My
question is, after licensing what would be a likely minimum flight time and
frequency to maintain proficiency? Appreciate any helpful comments.



-- all the best, Dan Ford

email (put Cubdriver in subject line)

Warbird's Forum: www.warbirdforum.com
Piper Cub Forum: www.pipercubforum.com
the blog: www.danford.net
In Search of Lost Time: www.readingproust.com

Cub Driver wrote:
You might consider taking some vacation time, if that's an option.
It's hard to progress on a fortnightly lesson!

I don't feel comfortable if I don't fly 50 hours a year. That's a bit
more than an hour a week, since in the nature of things (New Hampshire
winters, grass field, Piper Cub) I don't fly much if at all from
January through March. (And yes, I feel very rusty in April.)

Two of the partners in my 172 have flown probably 25 hours per year in
the last two years. Generally they fly shorter trips, on nice days, and
maybe one longer XC each year. They take instruction every spring
before returning to regular flying. Both are also instrument-rated and
maintain legal currency, but do not fly in IMC.

I think one distinction here is that some planes (a J-3 comes to mind)
require more sharpness on the controls, and some, like a 172 or
Cherokee, are more forgiving. I certainly would not want to ride in the
back seat with either of these guys flying a Bonanza, but I feel fine
with them in the 172.

-cwk.

Haven't begun any training yet. Still considering time and cost factors.
One problem is my job will only avail me to fly every other week, so I
figure it'll take me at least the better part of a year to get licensed.
My question is, after licensing what would be a likely minimum flight time
and frequency to maintain proficiency? Appreciate any helpful comments.

As much as it pains me to say this: Don't get your PPL right now.

If you can only fly once every 14 days, you will spend most of your time
re-learning what you have already been taught. It will be enormously more
expensive, and you will be more likely to get frustrated and quit.

The best way to get your PPL is to treat it like a semester of college.
Fly 3 times each week, Mon-Wed-Fri. Study bookwork on Tue-Thu. By doing
it this way, you will maximize retention of what you have learned, and your
progress will be smooth and quick. My wife, Mary, and I both did it this
way, and it took us each about 4 months, start to finish.

Was it tough, with kids, a house, and two jobs? You bet. But, in the long
run, we knew it was the best way to do it.

As far as proficiency goes, when you're a new pilot you will need to fly
more often to stay in that "comfort zone" -- probably an hour a week, or
more. As time goes on, and your flying skills becomes more ingrained, you
can probably drop down to every other week -- although personally I am not
comfortable flying that seldom.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"