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#1
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Mid Life Crisis gift to myself, Pilot Training
I'm 48, and time to have me som fun...
Been flying as a passenger since I was 8 months, have had 102 flights on commercial flights that I can recall ... Have flown Schweizer 232 sailplanes, and Cessna 172's (not take off or landings.) Have played with MS Flight Sim since 1995, and probably have logged over 400 hours of flight on that game....the new ATC versions make it more fun. I understand flight theory and dynamics, and have felt at home and at ease while behind the yoke or stick while in the 172 and 232's. So I looked at flight training, and here west of Toronto at the Guelph airport, it's about $4500 allowing me to carry one passenger, $7500 to carry multiple passengers, or $8500 (plus 200 hrs @ $125/hr) for commercial pilot...(all in Canadian $$$) So I have time, might as well go for the commercial licence, and have me some fun...not that it will get me a job by the time I'm done (I'll be 51 - 52 by my training timeline). Never too late, and since having sex with Jeannie (Barbara Eden) is out of the question (Hey, she's still hot for 72), I might as well fulfill anpother dream, eh? |
#2
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Mid Life Crisis gift to myself, Pilot Training
Har,
I certainly don't want to tell you what to do, but here is an observation. $8500 is a LOT of money. You could certainly use it to get your commercial license, but I am wondering how useful a commercial license will be to you. The whole purpose of getting a commercial license is to get a job with a commercial carrier. Even though you may have a commercial license, most carriers will not hire anyone who does not have a minimum number of hours logged IN ADDITION to the minimum numer of hours logged for your commercial license. This is because of insurance liability. Most commerial carrier require at least 300 hours or more above the minimum that it takes for your commercial ticket. By the time that you get your commericial license, AND the minimum hours logged for insurance coverage, you may well be in your mid to late 50's. Unfortunately there are not very many carriers that will hire someone in this age range. I'm not saying you shouldn't do it, but I'm just wondering if that $8500 could be better used to perhaps purchase an airplane of your own. You might do a little investigating before you plunk down a lot of money on a commercial rating, and see just what the minimum requirements are for employment with a commercial carrier. It's just something to think about. Randy L. -- "When making an emergency off-field landing at night, turn on the landing lights just prior to touchdown. If you don't like what you see, then turn off the landing lights." "HarDeeHarHar" wrote in message .. . I'm 48, and time to have me som fun... Been flying as a passenger since I was 8 months, have had 102 flights on commercial flights that I can recall ... Have flown Schweizer 232 sailplanes, and Cessna 172's (not take off or landings.) Have played with MS Flight Sim since 1995, and probably have logged over 400 hours of flight on that game....the new ATC versions make it more fun. I understand flight theory and dynamics, and have felt at home and at ease while behind the yoke or stick while in the 172 and 232's. So I looked at flight training, and here west of Toronto at the Guelph airport, it's about $4500 allowing me to carry one passenger, $7500 to carry multiple passengers, or $8500 (plus 200 hrs @ $125/hr) for commercial pilot...(all in Canadian $$$) So I have time, might as well go for the commercial licence, and have me some fun...not that it will get me a job by the time I'm done (I'll be 51 - 52 by my training timeline). Never too late, and since having sex with Jeannie (Barbara Eden) is out of the question (Hey, she's still hot for 72), I might as well fulfill anpother dream, eh? |
#3
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Mid Life Crisis gift to myself, Pilot Training
(flight-sim newsgroup trimmed)
"RandyL" wrote in message ... Har, I certainly don't want to tell you what to do, but here is an observation. $8500 is a LOT of money. You could certainly use it to get your commercial license, but I am wondering how useful a commercial license will be to you. Note that in his case, the difference between the Commercial and the "Multi-passenger" (must be some Canadian thing) is only $1000 CDN. The whole purpose of getting a commercial license is to get a job with a commercial carrier. "The whole purpose"? Not even close. Yes, many commercially certificated pilots want a job with a commercial carrier. But there are a lot of jobs involving commercial certification that don't involve a commercial carrier, most of which are not subject to the mandatory retirement at 60 rule. Beyond that, many pilots get their commercial certification without any intention of ever flying for hire. [...] I'm just wondering if that $8500 could be better used to perhaps purchase an airplane of your own. If he spends $8500 on a new airplane (and by the way, $8500 CDN, doesn't get you much of an airplane...that's ultralight territory, tops...it's not even enough for a 1/4 share of a Cessna 172). You might do a little investigating before you plunk down a lot of money on a commercial rating, and see just what the minimum requirements are for employment with a commercial carrier. It's just something to think about. If he has no intention of being employed with a commercial carrier, then the minimum requirements for doing so are irrelevant. He may have other, entirely valid, reasons for wanting a Commercial certificate. Pete |
#4
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Mid Life Crisis gift to myself, Pilot Training
A few observations:
1) You're not talking about $8500 vs $7500. With the added hours you're talking about $33500 vs $7500. As you said you're not likely to become a commerical pilot, so why waste $25k (or be constrained by rules on how to spend it if you're allocating it to going up)? 1) $7500 is quite a bit of money, but less than what it would cost to do the same in AUS. I have a friend here at work that had his commerical license. It cost him around AUD35000 about eight years ago to get his PPL and CPL and then he couldn't get a job. He considers it wasted (but I disagree with that and told him as much). However the kicker I think is the minimum to get your PPL is in AUS is something like AUD12-15k. I think your dollar is worth a little more though. 2) If it's what you want to do, and you have the cash to spare (ie no family commitments etc. you'd have to neglect) go for it. Do expect it to be hard work (but that doesn't mean it won't be fun). 3) I'd disagree with the other poster about putting the money towards a plane. Even $33500 won't go far unless you're talking ultralight. But what about putting $7500 towards a nice computer, projector, yoke and pedals, extra monitors and build a home cockpit? Have you looked at the traffic, scenery and weather addons you can buy or download for free? That's another option certainly within reach of $7500. It's never going to be as good as the real thing, but if you're just doing it for fun you won't have to worry about weather, time of day or night, medicals, motion sickness, currency of your license. Plus if you crash you don't die or end up in hospital. Just another option. 4) Do you have to decide right away whether you're going for the multi-passenger or commercial ticket? I'd put that decision off until the absolute last minute and do as much as possible of the training and exam that's common to both. Circumstances both medical and financial change, and you don't want to be out a lot of money or obligated to do 200hrs unless you have to be. Bottom line is real world flying's what you want to do go for it. Do it safely and smartly, have fun, and lots of luck to you! |
#5
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Mid Life Crisis gift to myself, Pilot Training
"HarDeeHarHar" wrote in message
.. . So I looked at flight training, and here west of Toronto at the Guelph airport, it's about $4500 allowing me to carry one passenger, That's called a Recreational Pilot permit... $7500 to carry multiple passengers, That's the Private Pilot Licence... And hopefully you realize that these costs are estimates only, and usually ends up being more? or $8500 (plus 200 hrs @ $125/hr) for commercial pilot...(all in Canadian $$$) Hopefully you realize that it's not "or", the cost is in *addition* to the Private Pilot license you already need, so for your commercial license, youwould be looking at: $7500+ (private license training) 8500+ (commercial training) 25000 (200 extra hours) ----------------------------- $41,000+ total (And again, these are conservative estimates, not set prices.) So I have time, might as well go for the commercial licence, and have me some fun...not that it will get me a job by the time I'm done (I'll be 51 - 52 by my training timeline). Not only would you need money as well as time, but also please be aware that for the Commercial rating, you'd need to pass a class 1 medical, which is stricter than the class 3 that you'd need for the Private pilot licence. Jeff Shirton (PP-ASEL) |
#6
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Mid Life Crisis gift to myself, Pilot Training
I want to do it because it's something that I can be proud of, something I
accomplished. And all for the price of a new SUV....which will turn to rust in 10 years... "RandyL" wrote in message ... Har, I certainly don't want to tell you what to do, but here is an observation. $8500 is a LOT of money. You could certainly use it to get your commercial license, but I am wondering how useful a commercial license will be to you. The whole purpose of getting a commercial license is to get a job with a commercial carrier. Even though you may have a commercial license, most carriers will not hire anyone who does not have a minimum number of hours logged IN ADDITION to the minimum numer of hours logged for your commercial license. This is because of insurance liability. Most commerial carrier require at least 300 hours or more above the minimum that it takes for your commercial ticket. By the time that you get your commericial license, AND the minimum hours logged for insurance coverage, you may well be in your mid to late 50's. Unfortunately there are not very many carriers that will hire someone in this age range. I'm not saying you shouldn't do it, but I'm just wondering if that $8500 could be better used to perhaps purchase an airplane of your own. You might do a little investigating before you plunk down a lot of money on a commercial rating, and see just what the minimum requirements are for employment with a commercial carrier. It's just something to think about. Randy L. -- "When making an emergency off-field landing at night, turn on the landing lights just prior to touchdown. If you don't like what you see, then turn off the landing lights." "HarDeeHarHar" wrote in message .. . I'm 48, and time to have me som fun... Been flying as a passenger since I was 8 months, have had 102 flights on commercial flights that I can recall ... Have flown Schweizer 232 sailplanes, and Cessna 172's (not take off or landings.) Have played with MS Flight Sim since 1995, and probably have logged over 400 hours of flight on that game....the new ATC versions make it more fun. I understand flight theory and dynamics, and have felt at home and at ease while behind the yoke or stick while in the 172 and 232's. So I looked at flight training, and here west of Toronto at the Guelph airport, it's about $4500 allowing me to carry one passenger, $7500 to carry multiple passengers, or $8500 (plus 200 hrs @ $125/hr) for commercial pilot...(all in Canadian $$$) So I have time, might as well go for the commercial licence, and have me some fun...not that it will get me a job by the time I'm done (I'll be 51 - 52 by my training timeline). Never too late, and since having sex with Jeannie (Barbara Eden) is out of the question (Hey, she's still hot for 72), I might as well fulfill anpother dream, eh? |
#7
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Mid Life Crisis gift to myself, Pilot Training
As others have noted, you might reconsider pursuing the
multi-passenger and commercial licenses. Assuming you have the money and the question is how to spend it, you might try: - a few long cross-countries once you have your certificate. Can you get your 1-passenger rating and add on night and controlled airspace? That would be a help on cross-countries though not required. Anyway the overnight/several-night cross-country trips are a wonderful learning and aesthetic experience. - get endorsements/certificates for tailwheel, acrobatic, seaplanes, gliders, and so on. - buy into a partnership and own part of an airplane. I own a small two-seater and have never regretted it. Well ok for two weeks each year during the annual I am cussing and swearing but otherwise it's great. |
#8
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Mid Life Crisis gift to myself, Pilot Training
If you want something to be proud of, reachable, and get a return on your
investment, consider getting your Instructors certificate as well. |
#9
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Mid Life Crisis gift to myself, Pilot Training
So I have time, might as well go for the commercial licence
US rules are different; we can do our training in stages. Can you not do that in Canada? Train for the one passenger certificate, and then if you like it, continue the training. More valuable (in the US for personal flying) than the commercial certificate is the instrument rating. Although it may be different in Canada, it is worth looking into. Jose -- The price of freedom is... well... freedom. for Email, make the obvious change in the address. |
#10
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Mid Life Crisis gift to myself, Pilot Training
I know what you mean, - GO FOR IT - good luck, have a ball! "HarDeeHarHar" wrote in message .. . I want to do it because it's something that I can be proud of, something I accomplished. And all for the price of a new SUV....which will turn to rust in 10 years... "RandyL" wrote in message ... Har, I certainly don't want to tell you what to do, but here is an observation. $8500 is a LOT of money. You could certainly use it to get your commercial license, but I am wondering how useful a commercial license will be to you. The whole purpose of getting a commercial license is to get a job with a commercial carrier. Even though you may have a commercial license, most carriers will not hire anyone who does not have a minimum number of hours logged IN ADDITION to the minimum numer of hours logged for your commercial license. This is because of insurance liability. Most commerial carrier require at least 300 hours or more above the minimum that it takes for your commercial ticket. By the time that you get your commericial license, AND the minimum hours logged for insurance coverage, you may well be in your mid to late 50's. Unfortunately there are not very many carriers that will hire someone in this age range. I'm not saying you shouldn't do it, but I'm just wondering if that $8500 could be better used to perhaps purchase an airplane of your own. You might do a little investigating before you plunk down a lot of money on a commercial rating, and see just what the minimum requirements are for employment with a commercial carrier. It's just something to think about. Randy L. -- "When making an emergency off-field landing at night, turn on the landing lights just prior to touchdown. If you don't like what you see, then turn off the landing lights." "HarDeeHarHar" wrote in message .. . I'm 48, and time to have me som fun... Been flying as a passenger since I was 8 months, have had 102 flights on commercial flights that I can recall ... Have flown Schweizer 232 sailplanes, and Cessna 172's (not take off or landings.) Have played with MS Flight Sim since 1995, and probably have logged over 400 hours of flight on that game....the new ATC versions make it more fun. I understand flight theory and dynamics, and have felt at home and at ease while behind the yoke or stick while in the 172 and 232's. So I looked at flight training, and here west of Toronto at the Guelph airport, it's about $4500 allowing me to carry one passenger, $7500 to carry multiple passengers, or $8500 (plus 200 hrs @ $125/hr) for commercial pilot...(all in Canadian $$$) So I have time, might as well go for the commercial licence, and have me some fun...not that it will get me a job by the time I'm done (I'll be 51 - 52 by my training timeline). Never too late, and since having sex with Jeannie (Barbara Eden) is out of the question (Hey, she's still hot for 72), I might as well fulfill anpother dream, eh? |
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