Thread: Sitting in the EGBO control tower...

... after a lesson on circuits!

Shorter Runway (RWY 10) with trees on approach, either side are ones as high as we are! Apparently at regulation height but it's hairy when your throwing a SR20 over them!

Polishing lesson at 3!

Nice lesson this evening with some good improvement and a fully independant circuit!

Did some stuff on PFATO and I did some crosswind landings.

Enjoyable in the nice evening sky!

I was expecting an ATC story from the title of your thread Chris! Sounds like you're only a few hours off from your first solo though. I remember mine like it was yesterday- pure exhilheration looking at an empty right hand seat and knowing it was only me that could bring this little plane in, mixed with a little bit of nerves and just hoping the instructor knew what he was doing when he let me off by myself!

Haha - hopefully! Focussing on Air Law now just to get it out the way. Nearly there!

The club is considering changing the SR20 as the training aircraft though, to a nice C172 or a Piper Warrior III. I think in terms of learning I would benefit from changing to these types as the association of the shear cost of the machine comes down some and the complexity of the systems will be reduced.

However, my Instructor does think that I am finding my way around the aircraft systems / Avidyne nicely now. Having spent quite a lot of time in the SR20, I will miss it, but something still attracts me to the Warrior!

I believe though, in doing this, if i change type again - I invalidate all my previous hours towards the SEP rating? Since the rules say all hours must be on the same aircraft type to count towards PPL? Obviously the experience isn't lost but the feel for the aircraft is.

Originally Posted by Aviator|Chris

I believe though, in doing this, if i change type again - I invalidate all my previous hours towards the SEP rating? Since the rules say all hours must be on the same aircraft type to count towards PPL? Obviously the experience isn't lost but the feel for the aircraft is.

Where did you get this from Chris?

Standards Document 19 which is your bible for the PPL test states:

An applicant for the PPL SKILL TEST shall have completed any training necessary in the same type/class of aeroplane as used for the flight test.

So whether you use the Cirrus/Warrior/172 etc etc, they are all the same class, ie SEP or single engine piston.

Ahhh right!

Sorry - that was me mis-reading my Air Law!!! I was reading that type being the particular variant flown i.e PA28, C172, SR20 etc.

Thank goodness for that - a big sigh of relief on this side!

Cheers McGoo!!

No problem Chris, I bet the Warrior is a lot cheaper than the Cirrus too?

Indeed!

I mean, I do feel that learning in the Cirrus means that aircraft such as the Warrior and C172 would feel slightly less challenging in terms of the systems. But it really does come down to money, and also being aware that I may not always get runway 34 as runway in use and have to deal with trying to squeeze the SR20 over the trees.

As I said to my instructor, the purchase price of the SR20 is in my mind when I fly, along with the very very strict rules about how to fly the aircraft and how expensive it is to repair even if you go slightly outside the specified school operating envelope (not the flight envelope). Its like a looming threat if you can understand what I mean?

Its a hard one, as its growing on me at quite a pace and I do get attached to flying machines and their qualities.

Absolutely, that's why it may be better to go back to the simpler Warrior and jump through the hoops to get your licence and then you can do what you like in the more complex aircraft without the worries or distractions affecting your test.

This is the thoughts in my mind at current!

On the 1 hand i hope its a C172 because I've always wanted to try a Cessna, but on the other hand I need to just crack on with my training and the way the Warrior handles is already known to me albeit in Diesel FADEC language.

Can't go wrong with the Warrior really, and the new ones (Warrior III) have an Avidyne PFD anyway which might cushion the returning blow and differences training.

All in all, a change to either of this would drop the cost.