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ifresh21 Starting to 'Torque


 Joined: Aug 10, 2010 Posts: 25
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Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 8:11 pm Post subject: How long does it take to solo? |
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Hey,
I am considering flight training in R22s. I have pre solo experience in cessna 172s (about 14hrs) and am good but am waiting till I turn 16 at the end of the year so I can solo.
But anyways how many hours does it take someone to solo? Like low average and high estimates kinda thing.
How long did it take you? to those who have done it
Im just trying to find out for cost reasons
Thank you very much |
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rjc High Flying 'Torquer


 Joined: Jul 11, 2006 Posts: 189 Location: Cambridge

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Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 8:25 pm Post subject: |
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Should not make any difference when you go solo for costs when training, as even solo flights are charged at the dual rate until you have passed your PPL.
Seems odd, but technically you are being supervised hence the dual rate. |
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ifresh21 Starting to 'Torque


 Joined: Aug 10, 2010 Posts: 25
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Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 8:30 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the quick reply
Forget what I said about cost then. I just want to know how long it takes. Please  |
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oi_martin H Addict


 Joined: May 06, 2005 Posts: 671 Location: Didcot

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Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 11:47 pm Post subject: |
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I dont fly myself but the answer is probably how long is a piece of string, depends on how quickly your instructor thinks you are competent to go solo.
There is a lot more to know about flying helicopters than planes.
Always good to go along to a school and have a trial lesson, see what you think from there. Think most people on here got hooked from the trial lesson. |
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LoachBoy H Addict


 Joined: Mar 03, 2010 Posts: 253 Location: Devon
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Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 8:06 am Post subject: |
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If memory serves me correctly, I think there is a 25hr minimum (it may be 20 - sure someone will correct me if so), before you can solo.
You will also have to have passed a couple of the theory exams, and obviously completed a number of the flying exercises to a satisfactory standard prior to your instructor stepping out.
Think I went solo at 27hrs (flying once a week). |
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flip2 High Flying 'Torquer


 Joined: Sep 05, 2009 Posts: 225
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Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 10:36 am Post subject: |
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Which country you are flying in will also have a bearing:
This forum has a UK bias.
The responses on Bladeslapper have an Australian bias.
If you were to try Just Helicopters you'd get a US bias.
The reason the country has an impact is because of local legislation (eg the US 'SFAR 73' requires a minimum of 20 hours dual for Robinsons), different syllabi, different training environments (complex and/or busy airspace) and, to an extent, some institutionalism.
This is on top of:
Insurance minimums
Frequency of training
Competence
School policies
Differing opinions of instructors |
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PilotWolf H Addict


 Joined: Sep 7, 2004 Posts: 1328 Location: Southern California.

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Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 3:05 pm Post subject: |
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rjc wrote: | Should not make any difference when you go solo for costs when training, as even solo flights are charged at the dual rate until you have passed your PPL.
Seems odd, but technically you are being supervised hence the dual rate. |
'Only' in rip off Britian Most of the US schools charge the solo rate for solo flights.
Rightly or wrongly... depending which side of the cash till you are I guess.
W. _________________ In memory of Skippy the Dog - "www.pilotsnpaws.org" - RIP Scruffy.x |
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lancsman High Flying 'Torquer


 Joined: Jan 26, 2008 Posts: 147 Location: Bedford

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Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 3:11 pm Post subject: |
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PilotWolf wrote: | 'Only' in rip off Britian Most of the US schools charge the solo rate for solo flights.
Rightly or wrongly... depending which side of the cash till you are I guess.
W. |
So if you have an incident whilst flying solo under "supervision" would the non present FI potentilly loose their licence in the UK? and is this why they charge?
Mark |
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flingingwings H Addict


 Joined: Apr 12, 2008 Posts: 280

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Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 5:23 pm Post subject: |
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Ifresh21,
Who cares? It's not a race.
When an Instructor feels a student is ready then they'll solo. Some places do 'it' once a student has just about managed the basics, others wait a few hours longer : a) to stop any ego competitions b)to further safeguard that in the unlikley event of an incident the solo student stands a higher chance of responding correctly.
lancs - if there was an incident/accident it would be fair to assume that the CAA/AAIB would be taking a close look at training records and the FI's decision making if prevailing conditions or pilot ability were in question.
Another reason for the dual rate logic may well be that as FIs are predominately paid per flying hour only, and whilst supervising they can't really go off and do (earn) anything else, it safeguards an FIs income. My pet hate is charging dual rate for tests and a test fee too  _________________ W.Y.S.I.W.Y.G. |
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rjc High Flying 'Torquer


 Joined: Jul 11, 2006 Posts: 189 Location: Cambridge

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Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 9:06 pm Post subject: |
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flingingwings wrote: | Who cares? It's not a race.
When an Instructor feels a student is ready then they'll solo. Some places do 'it' once a student has just about managed the basics, others wait a few hours longer : a) to stop any ego competitions b)to further safeguard that in the unlikley event of an incident the solo student stands a higher chance of responding correctly. |
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WhirlyGirl Administrator


 Joined: Jul 20, 2004 Posts: 3702 Location: Birmingham, UK

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Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 9:49 pm Post subject: |
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Flinginwings is absolutely right, it is not a race and whilst I'm sure the original poster is only curious, I have come across people who have all but TOLD me when they are planning to go solo! I even came across a student once who booked in and said that he would cancel if the weather conditions were not good enough as he HAD to go solo on that day.
I don't get annoyed very often but people who think they know better and think they can influence your judgement as an instructor shouldn't be flying. Same goes for people who tell you they are going to complete the course in 45 hours no matter what when they have only done about 10 and have absolutely no qualification to make that decision!
Do they want to be released into the sky with minimal knowledge and skill? I wouldn't want any student going out there without having thoroughly covered the relevant exercises and emergencies. Having myself gone solo at just 13.9 hours and finished the PPL in 45, I know how much can get left out and how many holes there can be in one's training if corners are cut! Scares the crap out of me when I think about what I DIDN'T know as I bimbled around the circuit at 14 hours!
Don't rush... better to be safe than sorry.
Sarah _________________ CPL(H) / FI(H) - Cabri G2, R22, S300, R44, B206
Flight Examiner (H), Ground Examiner (H) |
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ifresh21 Starting to 'Torque


 Joined: Aug 10, 2010 Posts: 25
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Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 10:30 pm Post subject: |
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flip2 wrote: | Which country you are flying in will also have a bearing:
This forum has a UK bias.
The responses on Bladeslapper have an Australian bias.
If you were to try Just Helicopters you'd get a US bias.
The reason the country has an impact is because of local legislation (eg the US 'SFAR 73' requires a minimum of 20 hours dual for Robinsons), different syllabi, different training environments (complex and/or busy airspace) and, to an extent, some institutionalism.
This is on top of:
Insurance minimums
Frequency of training
Competence
School policies
Differing opinions of instructors |
Thanks guys. And this one rwas realy helpful. flip2
I should definitely check out a US forum.
I looked up sfar 73 and that really sucks. Singling out the 22s like that
Thanks again.
Btw im gonna solo December 27, 2010
[jks] |
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PilotWolf H Addict


 Joined: Sep 7, 2004 Posts: 1328 Location: Southern California.

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Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2010 9:29 am Post subject: |
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ifresh21 wrote: | flip2 wrote: | Which country you are flying in will also have a bearing:
This forum has a UK bias.
The responses on Bladeslapper have an Australian bias.
If you were to try Just Helicopters you'd get a US bias.
The reason the country has an impact is because of local legislation (eg the US 'SFAR 73' requires a minimum of 20 hours dual for Robinsons), different syllabi, different training environments (complex and/or busy airspace) and, to an extent, some institutionalism.
This is on top of:
Insurance minimums
Frequency of training
Competence
School policies
Differing opinions of instructors |
Thanks guys. And this one rwas realy helpful. flip2
I should definitely check out a US forum.
I looked up sfar 73 and that really sucks. Singling out the 22s like that
Thanks again.
Btw im gonna solo December 27, 2010
[jks] |
I guess you are in the US then? There are several US based/orinentated pilots and CFIs on here - and this is probably friendlier than most of the other helicopter forums - especially compared to the US ones
Where abouts are you?
The sfar73 isn't as bad as it seems and doesn't take that long until you met the requirements that means you don't have to complete it regularly. It is usually covered in any recurrent training or the safety course, etc.
W. _________________ In memory of Skippy the Dog - "www.pilotsnpaws.org" - RIP Scruffy.x |
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ifresh21 Starting to 'Torque


 Joined: Aug 10, 2010 Posts: 25
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Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2010 10:13 pm Post subject: |
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PilotWolf wrote: | ifresh21 wrote: | flip2 wrote: | Which country you are flying in will also have a bearing:
This forum has a UK bias.
The responses on Bladeslapper have an Australian bias.
If you were to try Just Helicopters you'd get a US bias.
The reason the country has an impact is because of local legislation (eg the US 'SFAR 73' requires a minimum of 20 hours dual for Robinsons), different syllabi, different training environments (complex and/or busy airspace) and, to an extent, some institutionalism.
This is on top of:
Insurance minimums
Frequency of training
Competence
School policies
Differing opinions of instructors |
Thanks guys. And this one rwas realy helpful. flip2
I should definitely check out a US forum.
I looked up sfar 73 and that really sucks. Singling out the 22s like that
Thanks again.
Btw im gonna solo December 27, 2010
[jks] |
I guess you are in the US then? There are several US based/orinentated pilots and CFIs on here - and this is probably friendlier than most of the other helicopter forums - especially compared to the US ones
Where abouts are you?
The sfar73 isn't as bad as it seems and doesn't take that long until you met the requirements that means you don't have to complete it regularly. It is usually covered in any recurrent training or the safety course, etc.
W. |
Yup. NY, USA
Do you know who they are? I actually have a few other questions like:
When you solo a helicopter at age 16, are you completely on your own? Or do schools usually have the instructor listening in and tracking you and stuff.
What about for airplanes
Thats probably something worth starting a new topic for. But yea I can probably find the answer on the internet idk im being lazy by asking here. You guys dont have to answer
thx |
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flingingwings H Addict


 Joined: Apr 12, 2008 Posts: 280

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Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 5:53 pm Post subject: |
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You need a dictionary
Solo -a flight in an airplane (or helicopter) during which the pilot is unaccompanied by an instructor or other person.
So 16 or 116 its basically the same.
I wonder if you're missing the point though. It's not you that decides when you'll solo. It's your instructor. Your attitude is just as important (if not more so) than your ability.
Are you merely looking to fly until you've flown the 1st solo? _________________ W.Y.S.I.W.Y.G. |
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