Has anyone here done their pilots license?

**AntRobertson** · 07-10-2015, 03:00 PM

I've got all the pertinent info re: the course (costs etc.) but I was wondering if anyone had any general info/tips from their experience?

Standard of instruction, that kind of thing.

**Topper** · 07-10-2015, 03:02 PM

Originally Posted by AntRobertson

I've got all the pertinent info re: the course (costs etc.) but I was wondering if anyone had any general info/tips from their experience?

Standard of instruction, that kind of thing.

I've got a couple of work acquaintances doing it/done it. I won't see them till Saturday but if you PM me a email address, I'm sure they'd be happy to tell you their experiences.

**AntRobertson** · 07-10-2015, 03:06 PM

Cheers, that would be great.

**Topper** · 07-10-2015, 03:06 PM

There's torrents out there for this book: Aviation English - English Language course for pilots and air-traffic controllers

While it's focus is non native speakers, I've used it before for classes and found listening to the radio transmissions rather demanding for me.

**chassamui** · 07-10-2015, 03:16 PM

Had you considered asking a high flyer like Smeg maybe?

**AntRobertson** · 07-10-2015, 03:18 PM

Don't be silly.

He only has his helicopter license.

**kingwilly** · 07-10-2015, 03:24 PM

You just know that this is already going into his stalk files.

**AntRobertson** · 07-10-2015, 03:25 PM

Oh no doubt.

It will be spat back at me in some unrecognizable way/shape/form at some point.

**chassamui** · 07-10-2015, 03:33 PM

^

**slackula** · 07-10-2015, 03:53 PM

Whiskey tango foxtrot?

You'll never make it! You'll be arguing with your co-pilot Sir Isaac all the way up (or down as the case may be) until he's proved correct!

**AntRobertson** · 07-10-2015, 03:56 PM

No I won't.

But if I did he'd be wrong!

**palexxxx** · 07-10-2015, 06:39 PM

I believe Roger Ramjet is a qualified pilot, has his own plane. Don't know if he posts anymore.

**kingwilly** · 07-10-2015, 06:39 PM

Nice to see you posting slackbladder

**panama hat** · 07-10-2015, 07:35 PM

Originally Posted by kingwilly

Nice to see you posting slackbladder

Have a red, monkey-butt

**Neverna** · 07-10-2015, 07:47 PM

I have. Here's a snapshot of my experience as recorded in the Nakhonburi court files.

"We're going through!" Neverna's voice was like thin ice breaking. He wore his full-dress uniform, with the heavily braided white cap pulled down rakishly over one cold gray eye. "We can't make it, sir. It's spoiling for a hurricane, if you ask me." "I'm not asking you, Lieutenant Berg," said Neverna. "Throw on the power lights! Rev her up to 8,500! We're going through!" The pounding of the cylinders increased: ta-pocketa-pocketa-pocketa-pocketa-pocketa. Neverna stared at the ice forming on the pilot window. He walked over and twisted a row of complicated dials. "Switch on No. 8 auxiliary!" he shouted. "Switch on No. 8 auxiliary!" repeated Lieutenant Berg. "Full strength in No. 3 turret!" shouted Neverna. "Full strength in No. 3 turret!" The crew, bending to their various tasks in the huge, hurtling eight-engined Navy hydroplane, looked at each other and grinned. "The old man will get us through" they said to one another. "The Old Man ain't afraid of Hell!" . . .

"Not so fast! You're driving too fast!" said Mrs. Naverna. "What are you driving so fast for?"

**AntRobertson** · 07-10-2015, 08:26 PM

... So what you're saying, if I'm understanding you correctly, is that there's drinking involved??

**Nawtier** · 07-10-2015, 08:28 PM

You know the engineers that maintain the planes are thai....just sayin

**Troy** · 07-10-2015, 09:36 PM

Where are you thinking of doing your pilots' licence? Thailand??

**helge** · 07-10-2015, 09:49 PM

Originally Posted by Nawtier

You know the engineers that maintain the planes are thai....just sayin

Amulets will take of that. The maintaining that is

Just saying

**Roobarb** · 08-10-2015, 12:58 AM

Ant, I did my PPL whilst living in KL in the late '90s. I did the training at the Royal Selangor Flying Club: Royal Selangor Flying Club - Decent value from what I remember, operates from Simpang (the original Malaysian airport that's in downtown KL) and good quality instruction. They had a few Cessna 172s and a Piper Warrior which they used for instruction and rental.

Royal Selangor Flying Club Cessna 172:

Flying in Malaysia was a real pleasure with professional yet friendly air traffic control and a fairly easy going approach to general aviation. We were allowed - in fact in some ways encouraged, by the authorities to land and take off at KLIA before the airport was officially opened as they felt a bit of live action was good training for the controllers there. Subang (then the international airport) and Penang would give us a chance to play with the big boys and the landing fees everywhere were pretty minimal.

I then moved to Thailand and in comparison it all became more difficult. I managed to use my Malaysian PPL to get some form of permit to fly in Thailand, but I seem to remember that it was limited in some way. I flew several times at the Thai Flying Club near Pattaya but each time had to take an instructor and ended up just flying up and down Jomtien beach. At the time they just had a couple of aging Cessna 150s and an old Grumman AA5, each of which had a bit more reliance on gaffer tape than I was entirely comfortable with. A lot of the time the general radio communications slipped into Thai which, unless you understand the language, gives you no idea of what other aircraft are in the airspace around you and what they were up to. I realized after a while that I simply wasn't going to enjoy flying in Thailand in the same way as Malaysia, so gave it up.

Thai Flying Club Cessna 150:

Things may well have now changed, although looking at the current Thai Flying Club fleet status on their website it doesn't look too much like it there: THAI FLYING CLUB -- General Aviation and Sport Flying in Thailand -- AOPA Thailand -- www.thaiflyingclub.com - three of the five aircraft are waiting for parts.

When I was doing my PPL in KL there were a couple of people who were learning simply to do their first solo flight. This took about 12 hours of instruction and gave them 'I can fly a plane' bragging rights without the cost and hassle of doing the test and gaining a full licence.

An easier way to get into flying is to take up flying microlights, there's far less regulation, you fly lower and you spend most of your time actually flying rather than navigating/making radio calls and learning stuff in the classroom etc. If I was to do it again it's probably the way I would go. Light aircraft are fine if you want to go from point A to point B, but to just take off, have a blast around for half an hour or so and return to the same place I reckon a microlight is much more fun.

If you have the chance to learn to fly, and a yearning to do it, then go for it. Doesn't really matter what you do it in as long as you find something that will continue to be enjoyable.

Good luck!

**nigelandjan** · 08-10-2015, 01:17 AM

You thinking of doing it Tone ??

One thing I will say is dunno how well your minted , but when you get it as a few of my mates found out , it costs so much in flying hours each year to keep it.

Anyway good luck with it all

**Roobarb** · 08-10-2015, 01:20 AM

^^ Thought I'd also mention - the Malaysian PPL licence was at the time transferrable to a UK CAA licence, all I had to do was pass one written test (Air law I think) and I then received a full UK licence. I'm not sure if this is still the case, but it may be worth checking if the Thai licence is transferrable should you ever have the need to do it...?

**Roobarb** · 08-10-2015, 01:28 AM

Originally Posted by nigelandjan

You thinking of doing it Tone ??

One thing I will say is dunno how well your minted , but when you get it as a few of my mates found out , it costs so much in flying hours each year to keep it.

It's a fair comment. From memory I think you need to do at least five hours a year to keep the licence current, realistically you probably want to do more than that as at five hours a year you are likely to be something of a liability to anyone on the ground. It's why I eventually stopped flying in Thailand as I realised I was only doing it so as to maintain the licence.

I think that with microlights there isn't the same level of regulation.

**can123** · 08-10-2015, 01:29 AM

I obtained my pilot's licence shortly after deciding that ballet was not for me. I funded my studies from my income as ghost writer for Pope John Paul II.

**panama hat** · 08-10-2015, 07:01 AM

Originally Posted by Roobarb

If you have the chance to learn to fly, and a yearning to do it, then go for it. Doesn't really matter what you do it in as long as you find something that will continue to be enjoyable.

I enjoyed your post, thanks.

Reliance on Thai engineers and mechanics - as Helge mentioned - perhaps not a good thing

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