Buy a PPL ?

[Phil Perry]

Had a thoroughly nice evening at the flying club last week, where a very early member of the club, who left for better things aoround 15 years ago, gave a talk about his experiences flying cargo worldwide.

 

After the presentation finished, we had a general knockabout discussion about life the universe and everything, and the subject of flight training costs came up. This chap, who is a 747 captain now for a major cargo airline, told us that whilst he was hour building as a freelance flying instructor, he was approached by a bloke who had purchased "Some" aircraft, and would like to do some flying. He agreed to help and travelled to the appointed place, which was a large farm with a very good strip around 8oo metres in length more or less aligned with the prevailing S/W winds that we get in the UK for most of the summer months. . . the bloke was, apparently involved in import / export of all sorts of stuff, and had bought some aircraft in a business deal. ( six in all apparently )

 

He told the instructor that he had once held a pilot's license years ago but had not flown for a long time. When our instructor arrived, he was taxying a battered Cessna 150 aerobat quite quickly up and down the runway.

 

Anyway, long story short,. . .after checking the paperwork on another C-150 aircraft, as there didn't seem to be any for the aerobat. . .( ! ) the instructor flew with the chap, allowing him to carry out the takeoff after being told that the man had over seven years flying experience some years ago. . . . He said that it became rapidly apparent that this bloke really had no idea of what he was doing, manipulation of controls and switches, and even basic checks were lacking.

 

The llanding, after a 45 minute flight, was handed over to the instructor as the feller said, he couldn't remember how you do it. . .

 

After the instructor had told the chap he would pretty well have to start from sctatch, he was offered a very "Substantial" amount of cash, in order to give the guy a few hours, and allow him to, in effect, "Buy" the license, as he needed it for travelling, and quick, and he could afford it, but not the time to do 40 or 50 hours. . . .

 

We asked him if he took the money ! ! he insisted that he wouldn't do that, but the bloke had told him he'd soon find someone who would. . . . . this happened in the summer of 2003, dunno if the chap actually managed to "Buy" a ticket from someone else ! ! !

 

I'd heard of various people teaching themselves to fly ( many years ago ) but I'd have to file that idea with the old lawyer story, ie, a pilot who teaches himself has a fool for an instructor. . and an even worse fool for a student. . . .

 

 

[Soleair]

I'd heard of various people teaching themselves to fly ( many years ago ). . . . .a pilot who teaches himself has a fool for an instructor. . and an even worse fool for a student. . . .

I resemble that remark! (http://www.recreationalflying.com/threads/getting-a-round-tuit.48985 )

 

Bruce

 

 

[Ferris]

We had a bloke turn up to our airport several years ago with an aircraft he'd purchased interstate and somehow arrived in Victoria. The gent wanted some hangar space and for somebody to give him a few lessons. Didn't want to pay for an instructor. Somehow the fool managed to get his plane into a hangar, bypassing the Committee. When asked to remove it, the bloke threw a fair tantrum, made threats and generally tried to intimidate everybody. Fortunately the Committee stood fast and ejected him, and then watched in amazement as he bounced the wings off the hangar doors and walls, bending the plane. This guy had absolutely no idea. He then wanted to buy avgas which was refused. The committemen decided the best thing was to lock everything and leave this guy to his own devices. Neither he nor the aircraft were ever seen at the airport again. We made a few enquiries and ascertained the plane hadn't flown for more than a decade and was bought over the internet for a few hundred dollars. Word got round very quickly and every instructor within cooee heard the story and hopefully nobody took him on as a student. The post script to this story is that some months later our 'gentleman' and I use the term loosely, was featured on tv when he was caught trying to smuggle illegal weapons into the country. One can only guess at what nefarious activities he had planned for that aircraft.

 

 

[Gnarly Gnu]

Interesting licensing system in India pretty sure this works for drivers licenses also: Pilots in India certified after only 35 MINUTES of fly time

 

 

[facthunter]

Rather disjointed article, with a lot of unrelated comments. The multi crew licence wasn't mentioned, nor language comprehension or the expectation of passing if money was paid, which appears to be widespread. Nev

 

 

[eightyknots]

Interesting licensing system in India pretty sure this works for drivers licenses also: Pilots in India certified after only 35 MINUTES of fly time

 

 

[jetjr]

When liviing near YBHI, heard of guy flying in from remote station to recieve lessons