PPL--Now What?

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rt4388

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rt4388
So I'm a student pilot who is about to wrap up my PPL fairly soon. At some point in time I would like to get my instrument rating and most likely my commercial rating as well; however, I don't plan on being a commercial pilot. Any advice on what to do next? Should I take some time off from training, enjoy my PPL, then go back and get my instrument/commercial rating? If so, which one? Thanks guys!
 
I got my PPL and tried to move on to my Instrument soon afterwards.

Did a 'crash course' over a small handful of days and got 69/100 on the written. Then college and finances got in the way of flying again. That was...jeez, 7 years ago :sad: Aug 2008.

It's probably more of a personal preference. I'd say strike while the iron is hot and your passion is strong and keep going on to ratings that will make you more safe or give you more experience. Maybe even throw in some spin training/tailwheel/etc to liven things up a bit too. :)
 
So your question is now that you got your license to fly, what should you do?
 
Fly cross country trips with flight following to get used to the system. Study for your Instrument Written and get that done and out of the way.

I've been trying to start my commercial and multi but keep getting sidetracked :(
 
Fly,go to places you thought you would like to fly to after you got your license.take some long cross countries,I like to visit air museums.
 
I think that primary training equips you with just enough skill to get by.... My opinion is spend a little time getting more of a handle on the airplane before starting your instrument.

I just started IFR and am about 90 hours post-checkride. Everyone is different but I can say for certain that I'm much better equipped mentally to deal with the IFR things now that I've spent some time flying beyond the DPE's signature.
 
Get your HP and Complex ratings. Will give you a little more dual time, and open up more aircraft for you to fly. It will also make getting around a little faster so XC trips are either easier or you can get to more interesting places. Then get another 20 to 30 hours under your belt, and start IR.
 
Because it opens job opportunities where there previously were not any. It's always good to have options.

Or, just to say you have it:)
 
I feel like it will be something useful to have. I won't actively seek commercial operations, but if a friend asks for a ride somewhere, I'd like to be able to provide it to them... And it'll keep doors open.
But I like the idea of just enjoying some VFR weather and cross country flights until I really get comfortable with the plane. Then taking on my instrument rating.
 
Get instrument asap. PPL isn't worth much without it unless your ok with canceling a flight/ trip over some low friendly clouds.
 
If the opportunity arises for a rating, endorsement etc - do it.
So many stories of people who did not take the opportunity when it presented itself....and were never able to again.

Plus, I am thinking of all the people who said to me "I really regret getting that rating"....oh, wait - there weren't any.
 
rt4388 said:
I feel like it will be something useful to have. I won't actively seek commercial operations, but if a friend asks for a ride somewhere, I'd like to be able to provide it to them... And it'll keep doors open.
But I like the idea of just enjoying some VFR weather and cross country flights until I really get comfortable with the plane. Then taking on my instrument rating.
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You can give a friend a ride without a CPL.
 
zwaustin said:
Get instrument asap. PPL isn't worth much without it unless your ok with canceling a flight/ trip over some low friendly clouds.
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That's going to depend what the weather is like in his area.

Plenty of good VFR flying days here. I'd hardly call the PPL without an IR something with little worth.

You can give a friend a ride without a CPL.
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I'm guessing he was getting at giving a ride to a friend for compensation.
 
rt4388 said:
So I'm a student pilot who is about to wrap up my PPL fairly soon. At some point in time I would like to get my instrument rating and most likely my commercial rating as well; however, I don't plan on being a commercial pilot. Any advice on what to do next? Should I take some time off from training, enjoy my PPL, then go back and get my instrument/commercial rating? If so, which one? Thanks guys!
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10 hour aerobatic course in a Citabria.
 
Kritchlow said:
I don't think a CPL by itself allows for that...
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I don't know what is all required to be able to do that, I was just saying that I'm sure the poster in question knows he can give a friend a ride with a simple PPL.
 
zwaustin said:
Get instrument asap. PPL isn't worth much without it unless your ok with canceling a flight/ trip over some low friendly clouds.
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:rolleyes2:


I flew hundreds of hours VFR in the PNW, kenmore air does it everyday as a charter op, plenty of folks get quite allot of use without a instrument rating.


Building time up and really learning to fly VFR would be wise before starting in on the IFR world.
 
James331 said:
:rolleyes2:


I flew hundreds of hours VFR in the PNW, kenmore air does it everyday as a charter op, plenty of folks get quite allot of use without a instrument rating.


Building time up and really learning to fly VFR would be wise before starting in on the IFR world.
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I'm VFR too as of last September and have 100 hours in my new plane since October. Luckily I've only been grounded twice on a scheduled trip for weather.
There is certainly value in the IFR and I'll be getting mine in January, however I'd hardly call flying useless without it.

If you are not necessarily in a rush and going into a career in aviation then have fun with it for a while. Take some trips, have some $100 burgers, take some friends for a ride, get some other endorsements. Have fun and be safe!
 
I passed my checkride May 12th. My plan was (and is) to get out and fly as much as possible for several months. I'm trying to do at least one longish XC a month (150nm each way). Plus getting used to a new plane and trying to correct some sloppy flying habits that didn't get corrected in training. I want to get my wife into a pinch hitter course before I start IFR training too. That's MY 'Now What'.
 
Go fly alot. Explore, make xc's trips. You need 50 hours at least for the instrument unless your going part141. Get a tail wheel endorsement, upset and recovery training. Fly a pilots n paws mission. Introduce people to aviation. So much to do, get in the plane and go fly!
 
Going on 5 years with just my PPl and I'm loving it. I may get an instrument rating at some point but I'm honestly not sure. I fly for fun and flying in bad weather does not seem that fun to me.

I'm actually considering skipping the instruemnt ticket and going straight to commercial. In my wild fantasies I'd love to open a smal scenic flight company one day in the side during the summer. Don't need my IFR for that!
 
My advice would be to fly for a few months and see how it goes. It will become obvious to you pretty quickly if the type of flying you do could benefit from an IR.
 
JCranford said:
. I'm trying to do at least one longish XC a month (150nm each way)..
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Good call, though I wouldn't consider 150nm a long cross country at all, shoot for closer to 500nm, you'll have a blast and learn much more.




jspilot said:
Going on 5 years with just my PPl and I'm loving it. I may get an instrument rating at some point but I'm honestly not sure. I fly for fun and flying in bad weather does not seem that fun to me.

I'm actually considering skipping the instruemnt ticket and going straight to commercial. In my wild fantasies I'd love to open a smal scenic flight company one day in the side during the summer. Don't need my IFR for that!
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I'd wager the insurance company and whatnot will feel differently about you not having a IFR ticket. Outside of AG I haven't really encountered many people flying for money who don't have their IFR.
 
Here is what I recommend once you have your PPL ticket:

Plan and take a fun long VFR cross country trip outside of the areas where you trained and did your xc solos. Get at least 20-50 hours VFR flying in before worry about instrument training.

I flew 500 nm up north with family and had a blast.

Second, fly with other pilots. You will learn a lot of things that your CFI did not teach or show you.

Case in point: I fly safety pilot with few friends who are finishing up their instrument rating. Makes the whole IR come together in a practice way.

Here in California it is VFR 90% of the year. But we get low marine layer clouds out on the coast here so having the IR is useful for leaving in the morning on a trip. I was at KMYF in San Diego and it was marginal VFR at 1pm. One guy was still waiting for the overcast to clear up.
 
Maybe try to think about what you might need in case you do pursue your IR and/or commercial. You'll need 50 hours of PIC XC (greater than 50 nm straight line distance) for the IR, and for the commercial, one long solo XC at least 250 nm (straight line distance) with stops at 3 points, and the total flight must be > 300nm.

have fun!
 
Enjoy flying.

Do you have HP or complex or tailwheel endorsements? You will want at least HP at some point. You could get those in the time you have to spend building your 50 hrs XC to get the IR. You could try out various aircraft types. You could go do some acro or spin training. Or you could learn while doing the XCs and leave that other stuff for later and just enjoy not having an instructor next to you all the time.
 
James331 said:
I'd wager the insurance company and whatnot will feel differently about you not having a IFR ticket. Outside of AG I haven't really encountered many people flying for money who don't have their IFR.
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Also to add... if one doesn't have an instrument rating, they can't carry passengers for hire on day flights beyond 50nm, and can't carry passengers for hire at night period.
 
James331 said:
Good call, though I wouldn't consider 150nm a long cross country at all, shoot for closer to 500nm, you'll have a blast and learn much more.
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I second this! I'm willing to say that I learned more in the 930 (x2) mile trip to/from OSH this year than I did in any of my primary training. Not to mention, it was a trip with more purpose than a burger and was a blast. Even getting stuck overnight (two nights, for wx) in BRL was an adventure!
 
I don't know why more people don't do an aerobatics intro.:dunno: I can't think of any thing that will make you safer in an emergency as you really learn and understand the entire energy envelope of the plane and what it does at the fringes. After a few hours, there are no more unknowns with regards to all those things you were taught to avoid without ever fully understanding why and what the consequences would be. You don't have to be good at it, you don't have to keep doing it, but it will always serve you to have learned it, much like an instrument rating when you don't intend to fly instruments. The knowledge and experience you gain will be a significant benefit to you and your passenger's safety regardless.

And yeah, fly long cross countries as well, ones that take you through weather regions and burn a couple tanks of gas in a day and last a weekend. Get a few of those down before starting your instrument.
 
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