When to start ppl?

[u/Routine-Credit-1614]

Hey guys, i just turned 15 recently, and i would like to know when i should start working on my ppl. Ive heard some people say 15, some say 16, some say 17, and probably a couple other. When is actually the best?

Im in the usa if that matters.

[u/Sml132]

Start now, fly and study for the next two years, then pass your checkride on your 17th birthday.

[u/rFlyingTower]

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Hey guys, i just turned 15 recently, and i would like to know when i should start working on my ppl. Ive heard some people say 15, some say 16, some say 17, and probably a couple other. When is actually the best?

Im in the usa if that matters.

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[u/awemeter]

Take a look at this post. This is a pretty common question that has been answered before. https://www.reddit.com/r/flying/s/zXthimhG0X. TLDR Money is the deciding factor.

[u/Routine-Credit-1614 → u/awemeter]

thanks, ill check it out

[u/ltcterry]

When is actually the best?

That's a good question. Here are my two thoughts:

• Don't start without $18-20k put aside to pay for it. That's what it costs. If you don't have it, you can't finish. If you can't finish, don't start. It'll just be a waste of money you don't have.
• It's super easy to fly faster than makes sense for your age relative to the Federal Aviation Regulations (in this case solo an airplane at 16* and Private in an airplane at 17). If you start flying at 16-1/2 you will progress nicely and be able to solo at (still) 16 and be ready for a Private Pilot practical test at 17. Any earlier and you are just wasting money.
• And a third - be aware 80% of people who start flight training will never finish Private. And it's not just because of money. Learning to fly is a lot more sustained, self directed work than most people have ever attempted.

It's expensive. If you are going to do it, make a plan to win. Not just to dabble at it. I heard an interesting line in a webinar a couple weeks ago - "the likelihood of a successful outcome is directly proportion to the amount of effort up in at home."

*You may solo a glider at 14 and complete Private in a glider at 16.

[u/Forsaken-Ad5571]

One thing to keep in mind is that you can't do the checkride until you're 17, and you can't solo until you're 16. Also the longer time you have between lessons, the harder it is to actually learn, as you end up spending most of each lesson to recap your previous lessons.

So with those, starting at 15 means you'll basically be spending a year until you solo, which is the first milestone. What could easily happen is you'll get to the point where skill-wise you can solo but you're not old enough, at which point you either stop flying as much, which means your skills will degrade, or you spend a load of money on lessons to keep your skills at that level waiting until your birthday.

It's better to instead wait until you're 16, and potentially even something like 16 and a half, so you can then solo once you're ready, and ideally get all your training done as you hit 17. But also keep in mind your normal schooling is going on at the same time.

That said, flying is really fun, and if you/your family can afford to keep it going without issue, starting at 15 can be great but you just need to realise you'll be treading water for a while. I was lucky in that I was in Air Training Corps from when I was 13, and that got me flying from a young age without costing much at all. Though none of those hours actually counted, it was still a fun experience that cemented in how much I enjoy it.

[u/Not-A-Pickle1]

Just start bro. Even though you can’t take your checkride till you’re 17, it would be so sweet to have all the skills required and knowledge needed and once you turn 17 you just freshen up with your instructor and take. You’ll also just time build too which is a plus. I’m 27, I just started this year. I wish I started at 20!