Flying for free?
Guest
Posts: n/a
Flying for free?
After screwing up final board with BA and as I'll be too old to reapply next year, I've been considering my alternatives.
Since my rejection in March, I've got a Class 1 Medical (JAA and FAA - £400 in the UK, $55 in the US, what the hell is that about? We all fly in the same damn sky after all) and completed 36 hours or so towards a PPL both in the UK and the US (though intention is to take exams, etc. in the UK to get a JAA PPL not an FAA one). Then it's time to apply for the rest of the sponsorships - Air2000, Atlantic, BMI et al, who seem to either insist on, or at least prefer, those with a PPL or higher.
In the meantime, once I've actually got my PPL, does anyone know the score when it comes to doing unpaid aerial work. I know that with just a PPL it's illegal to fly for monetary gain, but what is the situation when it comes to flying for parachute clubs etc. where you receive no payment for your services yet still log hours?
If it is indeed legal, are there places out there that would be glad of a relatively low (ie 50-60) hour pilot offering their services for free, or are parachute schools and the like fed up with hour building wannabes pestering them constantly?
Any info gratefully received.
WGW
Since my rejection in March, I've got a Class 1 Medical (JAA and FAA - £400 in the UK, $55 in the US, what the hell is that about? We all fly in the same damn sky after all) and completed 36 hours or so towards a PPL both in the UK and the US (though intention is to take exams, etc. in the UK to get a JAA PPL not an FAA one). Then it's time to apply for the rest of the sponsorships - Air2000, Atlantic, BMI et al, who seem to either insist on, or at least prefer, those with a PPL or higher.
In the meantime, once I've actually got my PPL, does anyone know the score when it comes to doing unpaid aerial work. I know that with just a PPL it's illegal to fly for monetary gain, but what is the situation when it comes to flying for parachute clubs etc. where you receive no payment for your services yet still log hours?
If it is indeed legal, are there places out there that would be glad of a relatively low (ie 50-60) hour pilot offering their services for free, or are parachute schools and the like fed up with hour building wannabes pestering them constantly?
Any info gratefully received.
WGW
Guest
Posts: n/a
Go on mate! Crash Barrier is right, but I'll help you put out the flames...Halon or Co2?
PPL wanting to fly for free, how ridiculous! You should be ashamed of ourself, spend your time in front of the JAR altar chanting praise to ATPL hour-builders whilst ridding your mind of such impure thoughts.
... next thing you know you'll want to instruct for free. See a doctor at once!
PPL wanting to fly for free, how ridiculous! You should be ashamed of ourself, spend your time in front of the JAR altar chanting praise to ATPL hour-builders whilst ridding your mind of such impure thoughts.
... next thing you know you'll want to instruct for free. See a doctor at once!
Guest
Posts: n/a
Ah....
Just read 'So you want to be an instructor?'. Not been to pprune for a few weeks and seems flying for free is a bit of a sore point. Serves me right for not checking recent posts before I put my big foot in it. No offence meant guys.
Now which smiley looks most like an ingratiating smile......?
WGW
Just read 'So you want to be an instructor?'. Not been to pprune for a few weeks and seems flying for free is a bit of a sore point. Serves me right for not checking recent posts before I put my big foot in it. No offence meant guys.
Now which smiley looks most like an ingratiating smile......?
WGW
Guest
Posts: n/a
I've just been polishing up on my aviation law for the PPL exam and had been wondering the same thing: from what I can gather you can do 'aerial work' but only glider towing or parachute dropping, and you need a CAA 'Permission to Drop' for the parachutes (sounds a bit too toilety for my liking!). You also need to be a member of the club that is doing the work.
I'd be curious as to what the chances of getting free flying like this are, anyone any ideas?
I'd be curious as to what the chances of getting free flying like this are, anyone any ideas?
Guest
Posts: n/a
This is a bit of a 'grey' area, and I'll probably find myself in the Thames with cement boots on, courtesy of the Mob.......but what I did see the other day was an ad on the Web for PPLs to fly back-packers around the states. Apparently this company has a database of students / back packers wishing to travel round the US as cheaply as possible, and when convienient (ie. bum a lift but pay costs). As long as the Pilot pays an equal proportion of the cost and is INTENDING to make the journey anyway, then there is nothing to prohibit him / her in carrying a passanger...apparently!
[time to dive for cover....]
[time to dive for cover....]
Guest
Posts: n/a
It's a different situation to the 'so you wanna be an instructor' case. From what I can ascertain, here in the UK a great amount of glider towing and para dropping is indeed already done unpaid, by PPL's & retired CPLs for the love of it. A funny situation, you'd think the likes of para dropping would be a purely commercial operation and it is indeed treated as such in most other parts of the world - but I don't really think you'll be rocking too many boats if you pursue that avenue of hour building, because it's already gone the way of the hobby pilot many years ago. Another reason for us selfish, greedy, immature, lynch mob wannabe airline pilots, to get a bit precious about instructing - since it's now about the last remaining PAID way to get some hours 
However, I think you'll find that many clubs aren't interested in 50 hour pilots from a purely insurance point of view. Most jump- and tug- machines are a bit more powerful and a lot more of a handful than the old C152, and many of them have a minimum insurance requirement of at least 100 or 200 hours pilot in command.
Good luck to you, the British Parachute Assn has a website www.bpa.org.uk which has on it somewhere a list of all accredited drop zones in Blighty.
However, I think you'll find that many clubs aren't interested in 50 hour pilots from a purely insurance point of view. Most jump- and tug- machines are a bit more powerful and a lot more of a handful than the old C152, and many of them have a minimum insurance requirement of at least 100 or 200 hours pilot in command.
Good luck to you, the British Parachute Assn has a website www.bpa.org.uk which has on it somewhere a list of all accredited drop zones in Blighty.
Guest
Posts: n/a
I'm currently building hours at a parachute club. The requirements generally wanted are at least 100 hours P1 as this saves on the training on the aircraft. Training can then be reduced to 5 hours whereas if you had less than 100 P1, you must have at least 10 hours training. Most chief pilots probably don't want to bum around for 10 hours in the C206 doing training so they generally pick someone with over 100 P1. Great fun flying and to date, I have had two flights as a FO on the Turbolet 410 with a chance to get checked out in it.
Email me if you want more info.
------------------
"Jerry, just remember, it's NOT a LIE if YOU believe it." - George Costanza
[This message has been edited by v1rotate (edited 26 May 2001).]
Email me if you want more info.
------------------
"Jerry, just remember, it's NOT a LIE if YOU believe it." - George Costanza
[This message has been edited by v1rotate (edited 26 May 2001).]
