52 hours of x-country

Maximilian_Jenius

Maximilian_Jenius

Super User
It has to be done, but how can it be done cheaply? My instructor and I Sunday did the math, it will cost me $7200.00. At $120 an hour for the plane, and $50 an hour for the instructor. He says the benefit, of flying with him is that I get the req. night and hood time, (40 hours) toward my rating. The downside, it's obviously more expensive.

Another option is to fly free with a friend who sits right seat, who's also be a CFII, who can sign me off. For the hood time. Maybe @X-Forces can help me out, when he's not too busy.

The other two options would be to fly alone to build the time. But obviously I can't fly under the hood, so I can't log it. Or fly with another PPL rated pilot. Memory escapes me at the moment here at work if, I can log it with another PPL rated pilot. Problem though, I don't know too many local pilots.

This conversation came about Sunday because my school just bought another 172 in Florida. And my instructor recommended me to the owner to fly it out with another time builder, working on his comm. But they're not sure when they'll ferry it out. It's still in the really early stages. My instructor said if I could do it, I'd get 22 hours toward my 40 hr. hood time req. And it would only cost me $2100, vs $7200. The problem, I train PT so I have work and school responsibilities first and foremost. So not sure if on the fly, I'll be able to get 3-4 days off to ferry the plane. But I definitely appreciate my instructor looking out for me, and throwing my name in the hat.

So opinions or suggestions? I'm listening.
 
3-4 days on a new airplane, literally across the country. Hahaha. So, IME buying a new airplane, even after a pre-buy/annual. Count on a day or so for weather, and expect some mx issue to come up that will further delay you. Possibly before you even leave. Navs go out precluding night flight. Plug wire gets burnt. Fuel tank develops a leak. Exhaust cracks just off the cylinder causing the 1400F gases to burn a hole in the cowling(this actually happened to me recently). All kinds of fun stuff.

You know the saying... if you have time to spare, go by air.
 
Screaming_Emu said:
How about including airports greater than 50 miles out on your normal training flights?
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We've been doing that, lots of flights down to Tucson, Show Low or Flagstaff. We've even talked about taking some flights to California also. Like maybe Blythe, CA.

The X-Country portion of my IFR is so far the most expensive part of my training. It's a huge money suck. I had budgeted myself $6-8k for my IFR, but it'll easily probably be over that.

Oh well, right? Gotta get it done.
 
Maximillian_Jenius said:
We've been doing that, lots of flights down to Tucson, Show Low or Flagstaff. We've even talked about taking some flights to California also. Like maybe Blythe, CA.

The X-Country portion of my IFR is so far the most expensive part of my training. It's a huge money suck. I had budgeted myself $6-8k for my IFR, but it'll easily probably be over that.

Oh well, right? Gotta get it done.
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That's a good method for all kinds of reasons. It allows you to check the XC box while accomplishing your other stuff. Plus instead of training on the same approach 15 times, you might be able to do 15 different approaches.
 
Screaming_Emu said:
That's a good method for all kinds of reasons. It allows you to check the XC box while accomplishing your other stuff. Plus instead of training on the same approach 15 times, you might be able to do 15 different approaches.
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That's what my instructor said, while talking up the benefit of doing it with him. But acknowledging upfront that it's gonna be pricey, while also offering up alternatives. Since he wants to get me done as fast, safe on target and cheap as possible.
 
tcco94 said:
Part 141 is the way to go. Pay a little extra for a ground school and save thousands by getting a commercial cert 60 hours less.
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It's really a trade off though, because on the race to 1500 hrs. part 61 will finish training with more hours towards that ultimate goal. But yes, definitely less coin spent.

Are there even any part 141 schools in the valley?

P.S. Bro... do you even sleep? Lol.
 
Maximillian_Jenius said:
It's really a trade off though, because on the race to 1500 hrs. part 61 will finish training with more hours towards that ultimate goal. But yes, definitely less coin spent.

Are there even any part 141 schools in the valley?

P.S. Bro... do you even sleep? Lol.
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I wouldn't waste the money on hours now when you can get paid while getting the hours later.
 
KLB said:
I wouldn't waste the money on hours now when you can get paid while getting the hours later.
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True. But the of only local 141 programs that I could think of, off the top of my head is collegiate programs. Then afterwards you're saddled with $100-150k in debt. But yeah, I see your point. But part 141 isn't in the cards.
 
Maximillian_Jenius said:
True. But the of only local 141 programs that I could think of, off the top of my head is collegiate programs. Then afterwards you're saddled with $100-150k in debt. But yeah, I see your point. But part 141 isn't in the cards.
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I wouldn't do all of that with an instructor. Find another guy/gal looking to build time and play safety pilot for one another. There is no reason to waste 50 bucks an hour to have an instructor next to you while time building.
 
KLB said:
I wouldn't do all of that with an instructor. Find another guy/gal looking to build time and play safety pilot for one another. There is no reason to waste 50 bucks an hour to have an instructor next to you while time building.
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Definitely would be willing to do that! One question though, I need 40 hrs. of hood time for part 61, to be able to go for the checkride. How would I get that requirement filled and signed off, with the safety pilot scenario?
 
Maximillian_Jenius said:
Definitely would be willing to do that! One question though, I need 40 hrs. of hood time for part 61, to be able to go for the checkride. How would I get that requirement filled and signed off, with the safety pilot scenario?
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Matthew, are you talking about the 40 hours of simulated instrument time with a CFII, or 50 hours of XC, or both?

Not clear from the thread what the goal is here.
 
Maximillian_Jenius said:
Both really. 40 hrs. of the 50 hours of XC, has to be simulated instrument time, right?
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2 different things. You need 40 hours of actual or simulated instrument time. You also need 50 hours of XC time, which must be PIC.

Of course, you probably already have some PIC XC time - like the solo flights you did for your PPL at least. Plus whatever you have flown since then. None of this needs to be with a CFI.

For the instrument time, less than half of that needs to be with a CFI. You probably have at least a few hours already. You are going to do at least 15 hours with an instrument instructor anyway, so you probably need something more like 20 hours instrument. Easiest/cheapest way is to find someone also working on the IR, be their safety pilot. Take turns either acting and Logging PIC, or logging simulated instrument as the sole manipulator.

NOTE: The simulated instrument or XC times do not need to be in an IFR equipped airplane. So the cheapest Cessna 152 you can find works just as well...
 
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