Whats the best way to go?

Beechlover · July 2nd, 2006, 18:56

I plan to enter the VA Pro course hopefully by the beginning of October at the latest. I currently have a PPL SEL with about 92 hours. My last flight was 15 yrs ago so I know I'll need a refresher. What I'm trying to decide is what study material could I be working on now before I get there. I thought about ordering Gleim's PPL refresher course, but I wonder if I should just get the Commercial/Instrument material as I imagine it will cover the same info but in more detail. Which do you think would be a better way to go?
Also what do you think the process will be to get me requalled in the plane once I get to ARI-BEN? eg, Will I first get requalled in the single then move to the twin?
Finally, will I have to take the written and a check ride/flight eval? That seems to make the most sense but again it's been a while. Thanks in advance.

Adam2006 · July 3rd, 2006, 06:00

Ok, 109 views no response, so I'll give it a shot. 1st off, I'm not at Ari yet, but I've read almost every thread on here about them(and I'd advise you do the same, for such a large investment) and asked current and former students many questions. I would recommend you get current(medical,oral,and flying) before going into any type of more advance/faster paced flying. Get back in a single and fly a few hours to get yourself back in the groove. I would advise towards getting all your writtens out of the way before attending. Also, make sure you get a 1st class medical. If you need a list of all the writtens just ask. Good luck.

Catherine · July 3rd, 2006, 09:32

Adam is right to a big degree. You do need to make sure you have a current medical. As for the flying, yes, I would also probably get some stuff and go over it and I would guess the private stuff would be where to start. Why? Because if it's been 15 years ago and if you haven't kept up with the changes, there have been a lot of changes. Airspace is totally different than it was then, for instance.

As for your flying, if you have your PPL the Pro course starts you in a Duchess, so studying Cessna stuff at this point isn't going to help a lot, however refreshing your flying skills might. If you want to do that, find out what it costs there at a local FBO to grab a few hours and find out what you might be able to do it here for. It will likely help you out in the Duchess if you have a bit of time lately in a plane. If you haven't done a biennial flight review in years and years, you could either plan on coming here and getting it right before the pro course or doing so before you come. Now...studying before you leave to come here would be good, flying before you come here, especially if you end up taking a month off before you get here may or may not be the best idea. When getting into flying again, it's best to do compress your flights into a short period of time, you'll learn faster and have less to relearn on each flight.

Check and see what you can get it here for before you do the actual flying there...if it's a lot cheaper where you are now for single time, do it there, if not, consider doing it here.

BTW, new ratings/certificates reset your biennial clock so you don't have to get requalled in the single first, but it would probably cut down your time in having to learn all of the systems in the complex airplane when you start flying the Duchess. Or you could just get in a few hours of dual to freshen your flight skills back home before you get here. You can't log PIC in the Duchess until after you get your multi-PPL anyway.

Either way, see you when you get here!

Beechlover · July 3rd, 2006, 13:16

Thanks Adam and Catherine. I think what I'll do for now is order the PPL refresher then, dive into the Inst/Comm stuff. I'll start working on getting those writtens accomplished. Catherine, I agree on the issue of flying here then taking a month to move and get settled problem. The CFI I spoke with there mentioned that I should wait till I get there, that the school is able to somehow combine my requal with the VA Pro course so that the VA will cover it financially. I'll definately get a game plan set up with the school soon. Thanks again. I'll stay in touch

July 2nd, 2006, 18:56	#1
Beechlover Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Flyin with my Sweetie!!! Posts: 265	Whats the best way to go? I plan to enter the VA Pro course hopefully by the beginning of October at the latest. I currently have a PPL SEL with about 92 hours. My last flight was 15 yrs ago so I know I'll need a refresher. What I'm trying to decide is what study material could I be working on now before I get there. I thought about ordering Gleim's PPL refresher course, but I wonder if I should just get the Commercial/Instrument material as I imagine it will cover the same info but in more detail. Which do you think would be a better way to go? Also what do you think the process will be to get me requalled in the plane once I get to ARI-BEN? eg, Will I first get requalled in the single then move to the twin? Finally, will I have to take the written and a check ride/flight eval? That seems to make the most sense but again it's been a while. Thanks in advance.

July 3rd, 2006, 06:00	#2
Adam2006 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Socal Posts: 214	Re: Whats the best way to go? Ok, 109 views no response, so I'll give it a shot. 1st off, I'm not at Ari yet, but I've read almost every thread on here about them(and I'd advise you do the same, for such a large investment) and asked current and former students many questions. I would recommend you get current(medical,oral,and flying) before going into any type of more advance/faster paced flying. Get back in a single and fly a few hours to get yourself back in the groove. I would advise towards getting all your writtens out of the way before attending. Also, make sure you get a 1st class medical. If you need a list of all the writtens just ask. Good luck. __________________ adam

July 3rd, 2006, 09:32	#3
Catherine Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 149	Re: Whats the best way to go? Adam is right to a big degree. You do need to make sure you have a current medical. As for the flying, yes, I would also probably get some stuff and go over it and I would guess the private stuff would be where to start. Why? Because if it's been 15 years ago and if you haven't kept up with the changes, there have been a lot of changes. Airspace is totally different than it was then, for instance. As for your flying, if you have your PPL the Pro course starts you in a Duchess, so studying Cessna stuff at this point isn't going to help a lot, however refreshing your flying skills might. If you want to do that, find out what it costs there at a local FBO to grab a few hours and find out what you might be able to do it here for. It will likely help you out in the Duchess if you have a bit of time lately in a plane. If you haven't done a biennial flight review in years and years, you could either plan on coming here and getting it right before the pro course or doing so before you come. Now...studying before you leave to come here would be good, flying before you come here, especially if you end up taking a month off before you get here may or may not be the best idea. When getting into flying again, it's best to do compress your flights into a short period of time, you'll learn faster and have less to relearn on each flight. Check and see what you can get it here for before you do the actual flying there...if it's a lot cheaper where you are now for single time, do it there, if not, consider doing it here. BTW, new ratings/certificates reset your biennial clock so you don't have to get requalled in the single first, but it would probably cut down your time in having to learn all of the systems in the complex airplane when you start flying the Duchess. Or you could just get in a few hours of dual to freshen your flight skills back home before you get here. You can't log PIC in the Duchess until after you get your multi-PPL anyway. Either way, see you when you get here! __________________ Catherine "A pilot can't help second-guessing every other pilot; it's an occupational disease. Sorry" Richard Ames, THE CAT WHO WALKS THROUGH WALLS Instructor at Ari Ben Aviator

July 3rd, 2006, 13:16	#4
Beechlover Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Flyin with my Sweetie!!! Posts: 265	Re: Whats the best way to go? Thanks Adam and Catherine. I think what I'll do for now is order the PPL refresher then, dive into the Inst/Comm stuff. I'll start working on getting those writtens accomplished. Catherine, I agree on the issue of flying here then taking a month to move and get settled problem. The CFI I spoke with there mentioned that I should wait till I get there, that the school is able to somehow combine my requal with the VA Pro course so that the VA will cover it financially. I'll definately get a game plan set up with the school soon. Thanks again. I'll stay in touch

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