Is there a cheaper way to get private pilot licence instead of paying thousands.?

Answer 1

Accept the fact that flying is expensive, to fly small light aircraft is a very expensive hobby, I did it years ago and even in the eighties it cost many hundreds of pounds to learn in a small local flying club.

The only way you can possibly hope to get your Pilots license with all that is involved is be prepared to spend what-ever it costs knowing its expensive.

Make sure your are medically 100% fit before you spend any money on lessons - you will have to undertake a Civil Aviation Medical examination to fly solo and if you are on any medicaments (even certain high blood pressure pills pescribed by doctors are not approved) so check this out first before spending any money on lessons.

Assuming you are fit and healthy and can pass the medical examinations the best possible way is to join the Air Force or similar service and let them do their checks on you and see if you would make a pilot.

I speak with personal experience and knowledge having done just what you are asking and having eventually (when I was wealthy) even progressed to owning my own 8 seat pressurised Piper Navajo aircraft but even after all that failed the medical because of the particular prescription I was on at that time and I had to employ a pilot - Good Luck and I hope you succeed, its well worth it if you can make it !

Answer 2

Join any local flying clubs/groups that you can.

Also, spend a lot of time around airports. You can sometimes pick up extra work around the airport doing various odd jobs for pilots and fixed base operators (FBO) and sometimes the pilots will offer to take you up if you split gas money with them.

This way you can get into the air and learn some of the things you will need to know from them.

The first rule of flying is to always remember:

There are bold pilots and old pilots - but no old bold pilots!

Be Safe First - Learn All You Can About the Machines You Are Using.

Answer 3

Go to Florida and learn there if you can. The weather here is too unpredictable and you have to be very aware of zones and traffic. There it is flat and conditions generally stable. Definitely the way to learn the basics quickly. Hanging about the airfield in this country for the right conditions for a student pilot can mean waiting days when flying experience needs to be reinforced very regularly. The longer you take to get the conditions right the more expensive it is because you have to go over all the basics again if there has been a gap of more than 3 days!!!!!

Answer 4

Go to Texas and learn flying there. It is a lot cheaper than in england but I am not sure whether they have tightened up on this because of 9/11. Otherwise try to get BA to sponsor you.

Answer 5

Join the RAF.... or if you are under about 28 years old most major airlines companies such as British Airways have scholarship/sponsorship programmes and will train you to fly and pay for it all.. but I know there is an age limit ... I believe that EasyJet do this as well...

Answer 6

Join the Air Force!

Answer 7

There are some very reasonable PPL courses in USA, specially in the south as the weather is so good, over a very short period too, but it doesn't really equip you for flying in the British weather. Cloud, what the xxx is that? Try googling PPL worldwide.

Answer 8

Join the military and get paid to fly...assuming you can qualify as a pilot. That's how most everyone I know who flies did it.

Answer 9

I sincerely doubt it... you have to get flying time and that costs money. Unless you have a relative or friend who is willing to cut you a break on the cost, you'll have to pay up.

Answer 10

If you are in the UK, it's thousands cheaper to do it in The US, if you are in the US already - sorry i can't suggest anything that isn't already on here!!