So, how many hours did it take you to do you PPL?

C

CaliforniaSonoma

New Member
Hopefully starting my PPL in a month and a half.

I've heard a lot of talk about the national average (anywhere from 60-85 depending on which FBO you call). Of course, this includes people who fly a few times a month and take forever.

My plan is to go live at the school (Mazzei - seems well regarded or California Aviation Services - about which I can find no independent info).

Seems from a learning perspective if you do something more frequently, less time elapsed between, you learn faster. Common sense.

Mazzei claims that assuming a good attitude and an average or better level of aptitude they can get you done in under 40 hours.

Does this seem plausible?

How many hours did it take you? And, what were the circumstances (flying frequently, etc.)?

I just want to avoid a situation of arriving somewhere thinking it should take this much time and X number of dollars only to find it's really more time and X+5,000.

Of course, I am a variable also. But, assuming I have a decent aptitude and approach it with some diligence.

What's realistic for a school where you are immersed and fly frequently?
 
at flight safety, i had many students finish around 40-45 hours...the syllabus was built for a 35 hour program.....I personally took 78 hours flying once or twice a week over a year. I'd definitely say 40 hours is plausible in an "academy" environment. For the money though, I'd build in a buffer in your budget because you will go over the quoted price......10-15% should give you enough extra for what you'll need.
 
46.1 (dicked around too much solo :() first flgith was 2/9 xride was 6/12 or something around there. there were a couple periods where i didn't fly for a few weeks, but never really had to re-learn anything. VORs took me a lil while to understand but i got on flightsim and figured it out.

if you know your stuff you can easily get it done at 40.0. You just have to plan your xc's very carefully. i needed .3 solo xc more after my 2 solo xcs. I'm sure you knwo that an xc must be >50nm. 1.7 hours later, i was done with my xc req. :)

i flew at skymates.

gee you knit holler yo
 
55 hours at one of the many flight schools at KFRG on Long Island. That was considered very short for the area considering you had to navigate around airspace for up to .5 to get to and from the practice areas...and of course the notorious days of being number 8 for landing when trying to get touch and goes. Point being....consider location as well into how long it will take you. If you train at an airport that is GA friendly and not too busy you wont have any delays. Go to a place with alot of corporate traffic like FRG or TEB and expect to add 10+ hours for long taxis, long departure delays, and transitions to and from practice areas.

Will
 
My checkride was my 41st hour and did mine at an FFBO in Orlando....just stay focused and fly as much as you can and it wont take long
 
CaliforniaSonoma said:
How many hours did it take you? And, what were the circumstances (flying frequently, etc.)?
Click to expand...

37 hours, and it was done in about four months so on average probably two to three flight lessons each week not including ground classes.
 
60 hours, due to a milky and inexperienced CFI.

Most of my students were done in the mid 40's. Some a little more, some a little less. The ones on the 'little more' side came at irregular intervals, didn't study, didn't read ahead for the upcoming lesson, and jumped CFI's frequently. The ones on the 'little less' side studied (a lot!), flew three times or more a week, came prepared for the lesson, and only switched CFI's if there was a personality clash or strong suspicion of milking.
 
50.1 including the checkride. I did mine at a flying club out of KCRQ in Carlsbad Ca. Flew the majority of it in a 152 with a handful of cherokee and 172 time when the 152 wasnt available. I flew around 1-2 times per week on average. I dont have my logbook with me, but i would say i got serious around the month of April or so and i finished on November 6th.
 
I'm right around 63 and I have 3 more lessons left. and just a FYI :P I'm not a lazy student ;) We fly out of S.L.C International which is a class Bravo. Usually It takes us a good 45 minutes to get our Class B and take off clearence and then we have to fly to Tooele ( about 28 NM west of S.L.C ) to do our practices.
 
41.....checkride included. 3 weeks flying almost every day and sometimes twice a day. Lots and lots of studying when I wasn't flying!
 
70 hrs. here. :mad:

My mom wanted to make sure that I was commited to aviation so she made me pay for half my PPL. Then she dropped the remainder. Since I was working I could only afford both financially and time wise to maybe 1-2 times a week.

Tucson is a low wage city. The average hourly wage is $6.50 and the median income is typically below the poverty line. I was making $9.50 and thought I was hot ####.

Due to the fact I worked and flew so little I got caught in that trap of having to do ALOT of refresher flights due to infrequency. It sucked.

But I suffered it out and proved to my mom I was serious and she dropped $13k for me to finish my PPL and start and finish my IR.
 
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