Can I learn to fly a plane?

[whatshallonedo]

I don't know where to post this but I hope it is ok here and that I can get answers

I haven't got a driving license but wondering if I can take flying lessons to fly small planes or AIBU?

It's not a silly question to ask on mumsnet though. Mumsnet users might have a license or know the answer.

Yes but it's quite expensive and the medical requirements are the same as for a driving licence. A cheaper way into aviation would be gliding, so that's also maybe something to consider. You could also do an NPPL on a motorglider to reduce costs if you prefer powered flight.

Thank you.

I don't mind being corrected if it is coming from a 'good, well intentioned place' but, obviously the smart-Alec above wasn't.

Learning to fly in the UK is very expensive.
Have a trial lesson.
Then look into flying lessons in the US.
Go there for a month of intensive lessons.
Voila - you're a pilot 😎

My brother learnt to fly before he passed his driving test.

He was taking a sabbatical in Australia to do hiking and got friendly with the pilot that would drop hikers in the middle of nowhere to walk back and ended up getting lessons

@whatshallonedo

I'd second a lot of the previous advice...

Probably most people can learn enough of the basic skills to be able to fly a light aircraft around their local airfield/local area in good weather (basically qualify for a private Pilot's licence).

Try a trial lesson at a local flying school.

It's expensive (certainly in the UK and to some extent in Europe).

Before spending too much money get the medical side sorted out.

If you do go ahead try and get the training done over a fairly short period of time to avoid having to relearn stuff that you've forgotten from the previous lesson(s).

Good luck from this now retired professional pilot's licence holder who was also an instructor for a while...funny who does pop in on mumsnet isn't it...😉

There are stringent medical requirements too so check the CAA list if you have (or ever have in the past) taken regular medication or had prohibited conditions.

You can do a taster lesson without the medical but if you want to go beyond that you need look at the medical situation and that you can not only afford lessons but keep up the minimum flying time per year to maintain your licence

1. It's very expensive but if you can afford it go for it
2. I think you need to pass a medical to be allowed to learn to fly - not sure. I'm abroad and the medical is quite complex and expensive.
3. You could look at gliding as that is cheaper
4. What do you intend to do with the licence once you have it? Can you afford to keep flying to keep up the number of requisite hours you have to fly every year to keep the licence?
5. What is the reason for not having a driving licence and would the money be put to better use getting one as it will be more useful in the long run? THough if you live in a city with excellent transport links I can see why you might not need one.

You can normally do anything if you have got the cash.

Provided it is not illegal or there is a medical reason why you can't.

I would ask the question though what is your aim ? Ultimately flight lessons are very expensive and the licence is expensive to maintain.

But if you aren't bothered about flying solo and just want a flying plane experience then you could probably just pay for a few lessons every year and get to fly a plane without even bothering to get a licence. Without all the expense of getting a licence, maintaining it etc.

Anyway, if you want to you can take a few lessons at low expense and low risk and work out whether it is for you, and whether you really want to go for a licence.

I think you need to pass a medical to be allowed to learn to fly - not sure. I'm abroad and the medical is quite complex and expensive.

One for the PPL?NPPL experts to answer but I'm not sure the basic medical(?Class 2) is that complex and for some categories of really basic licence I believe you can now self certify.

The medical is definitely a bigger hurdle and much more expensive if you are looking at getting a Class 1 (required for the professional licences).

I did my first solo flight at age 16 (barely, I'd been 16 for 2 months) in a motorised glider when I learnt to fly with the cadets.

It's absolutely doable! The only real barrier is price, if I hadn't done it through the cadets I'd never have been able to afford it. I keep looking into it now but I can't justify the cost when I'm saving for a house.

I'm working towards a pilot's license currently. I'm about 25 hours into my training. I'm doing it just for fun. I do dream about being a commercial pilot one day but having a 4 year old DD, medical history, the cost and the fact I'm in my 30s makes me think it'll never happen. But one can dream.

It's about £250 a lesson so it's not cheap.
You also have 9 theory exams to do, one big practical exam and a radio telephony exam.

If you've got the money it's an amazing hobby and I've loved every second. Going solo for the firs time was incredible. I honestly think it has been my best life achievement to date.

You need a class 2 medical, and they're very twitchy about anything MH related so I had to take in alot of GP paperwork relating to my PND after having my daughter. I've also got a blood disorder so had to provide years of hospital letters etc.

Where was the "ridicule" exactly?

No you don't needs a driver's licence. My husband had a pilot's licence but has let it lapse as its just too expensive to keep It as you need so many hours flying time a year. We just couldn't afford it and he part owned the plane so it cost less per hour (but you have monthly fees for maintainence, storage, petrol, etc)

He had his licence for a long time but even he said it was extortionate when he had lessons.

However I do miss him flying, you can not believe how beautiful it can be up there.

I'm training for my Private Pilot's Licence :) I do have a driving licence but it's not helped me at all, in fact, sailing a boat is more like flying a plane.

There are 9 exams, which cost £55 each now, a skills test (practical) and medical exam, which you'll need to renew every few years depending on your age. At an absolute minimum of 45 hours flying time before passing your PPL (although usually it's around 60 hours), probably to the cost of about £12/14k.

Your licence will be valid for life but your flying privileges need to be revalidated every two years, meaning you'll need to have to have a proficiency check in the last 3 months of your validity, orrrrrr you can fly at least 12 hours per year.

You should contact your local flying school for a taster lesson. I fly a Piper PA28 Cherokee. It's not cheap but it is exhilarating!

@minimadgirl he will never lose his license. It's just the rating on it (SEP rating) which lapses after 2 years if you don't keep up a certain number of flying hours. You can get it back though.

It's something I'm a little concerned about financially as I can only afford flight training due to us gaining a lump sum to help pay for it, but once I'm qualified we don't quite have the cash flow to pay for flying more than maybe once or twice a month. I was hoping I'd get a share eventually but even then it's getting more and more expensive.

@soupandcrackers cross posted a bit there! How many hours have you done? I'm flying a piper pa28 too!

@Crishell Nice! I've done 9 hours so far, so I have a long way to go still, but I've read a lot of theory and that seems to be very helpful. Solo flight coming up soon!

Made a big mistake in choosing autumn/winter to learn to fly. The weather has been awful 😆

Learning in a Cessna 152 tends to be cheaper, but it is cosy. Plus I wanted to be able to take passengers with me when I get my licence so I thought I'd just learn in a 4-seater.

There's 8 million regular monthly users of Mumsnet. Even if only 0.001% of MN users have a licence, that's still 80 people who could help the OP. Who made you MN police?

Not having a car will make the whole thing harder

My partner had learnt to fly, getting to airports is hassle. He generally rents a car for those days. Even if bus goes near the airport, you also need to walk around the airport to the flying school which may be very far away from entrance and several places don't let walkers onto the site.

But your original comment was 'smart-alec'

So ok for you to be dismissive of someone?

To those that have started, what made you start, why did you want to?

Not judging at all, genuinely interested in what makes someone want to do it (not just flying, base jumping, free diving, lots )

I have always wanted to do this as I love aviation! Do you need to be good at physics to pass the theory, does anyone know?

@WeeJimmycranky

What a daft response - I don't have a pilot's licence (we spell the noun with a C in the UK BTW - check your driving licence for confirmation)

Speaking of daft responses...