Life time Dream ...

[bennz]

Hello to everyone,


I know this topic has been discussed many times and probably by now you are sick of reading it.
Like many of you I have had the dream of being a pilot. However, mostly because of financial reasons I wasn't able to do it.

I tried so hard to find a scholarship worldwide but didn't have any luck in that either.
Now I am considering to go ahead and get my PPL even over a long period of time, As you can imagine I need to work hard and save a lot for it.

So my question is :

Where is the most recognised and well known place in Wellington that I can do my PPL course at?
What is the best way to get the PPL with the minimum fee?


Any suggestions , opinions and advice is highly appreciated


Cheers,
Ben

[NZ255]

QUOTE (bennz @ May 14 2009, 11:01 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What is the best way to get the PPL with the minimum fee?

Air Force....not guaranteed though. I plan to go through them, good to have top grades

[bennz]

QUOTE (NZ255 @ May 14 2009, 04:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Air Force....not guaranteed though. I plan to go through them, good to have top grades

Not much fan of joining Airforce for that purpose, Been to forces before.
But good luck with it

[husker]

Wellington Aero Club - get to learn to fly at Wellington airport with the big boys flying around - which is actually very safe as you have ATC keeping an eye on you...

Costs about $12,000 all up - pay by the lesson, take as long as you want... start with the $99 intro lesson and go from there

http://www.flywellington.co.nz/

One day for me too (once the wife lets me)

[benwynn]

Id avoid training at Wellington. Really nice aero club and all, but over time its going to cost you more money, due to that fact your going to need to pay extra landing fees at a major airport etc. Depending where you live, it might be easier to get to Paraparaumu. If not, im sure Wellington will be fine, just expect to pay more.

Secondly, on advice from instructors, Id advise against doing your PPL over a long time. From what I've been told, its only going to cost you more money, because you will have to retake lessons a fair bit, to re-train yourself over the time you haven't been flying. Real flying is something that flight simulator just cant supplement, so I've been told to fly at least once per week to keep yourself current.

[husker]

Estimated landing fees all up over a PPL is about $1000 ($23 per landing) so not a big part of the cost, although the overheads for Kapiti Aero club are probably less too?

http://www.kapitiaeroclub.co.nz/

Do a trial flight at both and go from there... (as Ben says it will depend a lot on where you live).

As far as I know, these are your only options for learning in Wellington itself?

Wellington Aero Club are using FS2004 to supplement instrument training (which CAA accept as valid time apparently)...

[ardypilot]

If you are prepared to shift to Auckland- you can get all your training done up to a MEIR at Ardmore Flying School, on a interest free student loan. Works out a little more expensive than other places- but the only down payment you will need to make is for your Class 1 medical beforehand.

[pacblue]

I do my training at the Kapiti aero club, $14.35 is the landing fee there, theres always going to be pros and cons for each place. at parapram airport there is the kapiti aero club and associated aviation
http://www.associatedaviation.co.nz/ associated has more of a structure and more aircraft though.

[bennz]

Many thanks to all of you. I appreciate your great support.

At the moment Wellington is my only option. I actually don't mind to pay the extra and be in Wellington Airport as it is an International airport and it helps to learn more.

My problem is paying the $12000 in a short time. I have done few trial flight at Wellington Aero club and I quite enjoyed it. But I just wanted to make sure they have good instructors.

I doubt I can get any interest free loans if I am going to do my PPL at Wellington Aero club , I might need to marry a rich lady then:P

[benwynn]

If you dont have the cash to pay upfront, Id recommend just waiting. Maybe if you really needed a flying hit, you could take a TIF every few months until you have enough cash?

[husker]

Might be difficult to find a lady who will marry a guy who wants to fly 'those tiny planes' (Tomahawk) - my wife sure ain't keen.

Also, remember that the $12,000 is just the beginning - you need to be prepared to keep on flying regularly - forever basically - it's a lifetime 'sickness' untill you give up. Otherwise I don't consider a safe endeavour either... while I can find the money, I can't find the time to do that at the moment (to busy taking care of the money bit! catch 22 all right...)

Cheers, Wayne.

[pacblue]

you could save up and whenever you need that flying hit just give me a yell for an ultra cheap flight

[bennz]

POints taken.

I do agree that doing the PPL over a very long time is kind of waste of time, But in the other hand starting early is good that I never know what tomorrow brings.

Everytime I tried to save up I had to pay it for something elsem Which was so painful. And you are right about $12K is just the begining, But when I have the PPL at least it is easier to save up for occasional flights now and then.

I would like to be able to find a funded or semi funded scholarship. I am not sure if anyone sponsors a 26 year old guy for PPL and the rest?

[benwynn]

Not in Wellington

If your willing to move, a few places around NZ work in conjunction with the Nelson Marlborough Tech. This way, if you sign up to do a Dip Aviation (Which includes everything up to MEIR, CPL etc, and ATPL or Cat C Instructor) You can get full funding through Studylink.

[bennz]

QUOTE (benwynn @ May 14 2009, 10:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Not in Wellington

If your willing to move, a few places around NZ work in conjunction with the Nelson Marlborough Tech. This way, if you sign up to do a Dip Aviation (Which includes everything up to MEIR, CPL etc, and ATPL or Cat C Instructor) You can get full funding through Studylink.

Sounds great !
But my work is located in Wellington and I can't move much , And I am not able to leave my job and go to studying full time.
I will keep that option in my mind , Thanks a lot for your help mate

Ben

[benwynn]

But wait, there's more!

Im pretty sure you can still get funding on any part-time course, as long as its over 30 weeks or whatever- Which this course is. Im not sure of your line of work, but im sure if your keen/determined enough to fly, you could possibly find something similar in another city.

[bennz]

Thanks a lot . I haven't lost hope yet so I am determined to get what I have been dreaming to acheive for more than 20 years !

[A185F]

There is nothing wrong with welly aero club, I know all the guys there and they're all good instructors. You don't need to save up 12k lump sum and pay for it because it's simply not how it works or what it costs. It could end up costing you anything from 8k-20k dependant on many factors, - and over time. If you can fly once a week (as most people do when gaining a PPL) that's great and will work out fine, even once a fortnight would be OK. I know people who have taken over 10 years to get their PPL and they got it, who knows what it cost them in the end they were just paying as they went.
Best thing to do is join the club, go out when you can, participate in club activities (fly aways, comps etc) and the whole thing will be a ball. Get the books and start studying and doing the exams and get them out of the way, even before you start flying regularly to save up a bit of a fund. The main thing that lengthens the time taken for people getting their ppl is almost definitely not getting the exams out of the way and being held up by that.

Another,
BEN !! haha

[bennz]

QUOTE (A185F @ May 15 2009, 01:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

There is nothing wrong with welly aero club, I know all the guys there and they're all good instructors. You don't need to save up 12k lump sum and pay for it because it's simply not how it works or what it costs. It could end up costing you anything from 8k-20k dependant on many factors, - and over time. If you can fly once a week (as most people do when gaining a PPL) that's great and will work out fine, even once a fortnight would be OK. I know people who have taken over 10 years to get their PPL and they got it, who knows what it cost them in the end they were just paying as they went.
Best thing to do is join the club, go out when you can, participate in club activities (fly aways, comps etc) and the whole thing will be a ball. Get the books and start studying and doing the exams and get them out of the way, even before you start flying regularly to save up a bit of a fund. The main thing that lengthens the time taken for people getting their ppl is almost definitely not getting the exams out of the way and being held up by that.

Another,
BEN !! haha

Thanks for the advice, I shall join them and see where I will be heading.

Who is the best instructor in the club ?


Cheers

[shotgun]

Start off by getting a few hours up Gliding.
It really cuts the amount of time (and money) out of learning to fly.
I completed 15 hours of Gliding before i converted to powered flying and have saved lots.