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time for PPL?

Old 06-23-2015, 10:08 AM
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Default time for PPL?

What advice would you guys give to someone that is trying to finish their PPL in a short amount of time? I have 15 hours(none solo) and I have exactly 2 months to finish all the training and pass the checkride. Is this a reasonable goal and what would help me to accomplish this?
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Old 06-23-2015, 10:24 AM
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Get all your written work done first. Do the pre-solo test and your PPL written. Get your third class medical done, so you can solo when ready. Study and "chair fly". Fly 3x/week, but don't fly more than your learning speed will allow. Remember, the cockpit is the WORST learning environment. It is there for you to practice what you have learned. Your instructor should be able to combine some lessons too. Like VOR tracking to/from the practice area after you become familiar and hood-work here and there, so you don't waste valuable time.
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Old 06-23-2015, 11:07 AM
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I have already completed the pre-solo exam and I have my medical so when ever my instructor thinks I'm ready to solo Ill be ready to go. I have the Jepsen PPL textbook do you think I should read maybe a chapter per week or something like that? Or should I just stick to the PPL exam study guide?
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Old 06-23-2015, 07:52 PM
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Weather is going to screw your timeline. It always does. You need to plan to finish in 6 weeks, leaving those extra 2 - 3 weeks to cover any extra learning you need and weather days to finish by your deadline. If you plan it so you get everything done right at the 2 month point, guaranteed you won't get it done.
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Old 06-23-2015, 08:00 PM
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What state are you based out of? Try to find the most mom&pop type school around. Let them know that you are in a rush and itll be done within a month. Most small schools have a couple dedicated instructors who will work with your schedule. Set a timeline goal together and commit to it.

Like mentioned above get the written test done asap. If you have an iPad you can look into Sportys Study Buddy apps, or the ASA Prepware app. Both are nearly identical. Basically just memorize the crap out of the questions and answers. The best study software is through Shepperd Air, they have a great study program that if you follow you will do well. Regardless of what program you choose spend a solid 3 days on it, memorize everything and take a couple practice tests to see how you did, then go to a CATS testing center and get it done.
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Old 06-24-2015, 04:56 AM
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Originally Posted by Stets656 View Post
I have already completed the pre-solo exam and I have my medical so when ever my instructor thinks I'm ready to solo Ill be ready to go. I have the Jepsen PPL textbook do you think I should read maybe a chapter per week or something like that? Or should I just stick to the PPL exam study guide?
Just to make sure you kow - the pre-solo exam is not the written. I did the shortcut method and just memorized the answers. Rather than spend 15 minutes with a plotter/wind thingy, I just used a clue in the question to send me to the correct answer.

You do need to understand/know how to use the tools to manually prep for a cross country - the examiner may want to see it - just not for the written.

Why the 2 month deadline to finish?
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Old 06-26-2015, 08:54 AM
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Not easy, but doable. I did my zero-PPL including written and medical in 16 days.
Needs good weather (Did mine in FL), and a full-time dedicated instructor.
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Old 06-26-2015, 03:01 PM
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Originally Posted by N9373M View Post
Just to make sure you kow - the pre-solo exam is not the written. I did the shortcut method and just memorized the answers. Rather than spend 15 minutes with a plotter/wind thingy, I just used a clue in the question to send me to the correct answer.

You do need to understand/know how to use the tools to manually prep for a cross country - the examiner may want to see it - just not for the written.

Why the 2 month deadline to finish?
Going to college next year and I will save 10,000$ off tuition if I come in with PPL
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Old 06-26-2015, 03:02 PM
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Originally Posted by dera View Post
Not easy, but doable. I did my zero-PPL including written and medical in 16 days.
Needs good weather (Did mine in FL), and a full-time dedicated instructor.
16 days!!!!? Holy crap! Did u fly like 8 hours a day? And what do u mean the pre-solo isn't the written????
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Old 06-26-2015, 04:53 PM
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Originally Posted by Stets656 View Post
16 days!!!!? Holy crap! Did u fly like 8 hours a day? And what do u mean the pre-solo isn't the written????
I'm not sure if you are for real, based on your questions, and how many times you ask the same ones over and over, but................

The pre-solo test is usually just a one pager from the flight school making sure you know the airplane (wt+bal, V speeds, emergency procs, etc).

To get a PPL, you must pass a written (multiple guess) exam, pass an oral exam with the examiner, as well as pass a flight test with an examiner.

It's been 20+ years, but when I took it, it was a 50 question test out of a bank of 700 (?). The FAA gives you the questions and the answers to study. You don't know which ones you'll get on the written test.

The day of the flight test with the examiner, he/she will give you an oral exam. This can last from 1 to 3 hours. The better you do on the written, the better you are prepared (documents, logbook, x-cty planning, etc), the quicker the oral.

The flight test will consist of items from the PTS (I think it's now called something different). Stuff like short/soft field takeoffs and landings, stalls, steep turns, slow flight, etc.

I'd sit down with your CFI, let him know what you're trying to accomplish (PPL in 2 months), and have him explain what you need to do (written, minimum flight hours, etc) and how he plans on helping you achieve your goal.

Here's a brief outline pulled from AOPA's website

Aeronautical knowledge and FAA knowledge test (the written)
Pre-solo training in the airplane
Solo training
Flying to other airports (cross-county training)
Solo cross-county training
Practical test preparation
Practical test

Good luck.

Last edited by N9373M; 06-26-2015 at 05:17 PM.
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